Saving Olivia

The dreadful diner

"I'm getting your hair wet." Mason mumbled as he pulled away from me.

"Mason, let me take you to dinner."

I surprised both of us with those words. They seemed to just slip out. "I mean, you have to eat something and I'm hungry too. The last twenty-four hours have been a nightmare. Let's just get out."

"Are you asking me on a date?" His heart wasn't in his teasing. His words sounded flat with no grin to accompany them.

"I'm serious. These walls will suffocate you, let's get out." I found his coat draped over a chair. I held it out to him. He waited a couple of seconds before finally taking it from me.

Without another word we left his apartment house and headed down the street to a small twenty-four hour coffee house.

Mason grabbed the menus and we seated ourselves. The next few minutes were spent studying the choices. Well, Mason studied the choices, I panicked. I hate situations like this! I don't know what to say to make Mason feel better. That's just it! Nothing I could say would make him feel better. I can't bring his mother back, I can't relieve his sadness. I hate this helpless feeling. I don't want to make it worse for him, but I have no experience in this area.

With my confidence slowly draining away, I looked up at Mason. He brow was furrowed as he tried to decide what to eat. His face was drawn, his eyes sad. His eyes used to sparkle, his lips in a constant grin. His eyes are dull now, his lips pulled downward making him appear stern and forbidding. I'm not used to this Mason. This Mason seems to be a completely different Mason then the one I knew.

"Something wrong?"

I return my gaze to him to find him staring at me. "No, I just can't decided between the steak or the chicken."

Mason shrugged. "Chickens healthier, steak tastes better. Your choice."

I shook my head in amusement. He makes it sound so simple.

"Thanks for coming with me."

"You were right, I needed to get out. If I get used to staying at home I'll never want to leave."

"Will you be going back to work tomorrow?" I asked as I watched the waitress pour coffee in an older gentleman's mug.

"Technically, I could take bereavement. But I don't think I'm going to do that."

"Why?"

"Because you were right."

I didn't have to ask what about, I knew. "Does your building allow pets?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Mine doesn't."

Mason frowned and I could tell he was trying to think of why I asked that. "Do you have a pet you want me to store for you?"

"Mason." I laughed, "you don't store pets."

"Whatever you call it."

"You mean you would let a pet of mine stay with you?"

Mason shrugged, "As long as it cleaned up after itself I wouldn't care."

The waitress finally made it to our table.

"What can I get you?" She asked, a flirty smile in her face just for Mason. She bent slightly. Attempting to give Mason a good show, I assumed. Her eyes lashes were batting so quickly you'd think they were jet-proppelled.

I glanced at Mason to see how he was enjoying her little performance. He was looking at me, a smirk on his face.

"I believe lady's should go first. Did you decide between the chicken and the steak?"