“Who is that? Mason?” She already had knowledge in her voice. She had to know she wouldn’t want the answer.

“He owns the bar I work at. He’s a good friend.”

Shaking her head, she tried to stand but then went back into the chair again.

“Here, let me help you,” Gavin told her but she waved him off, tried again and made it up.

“I don’t understand you. I don’t. Think about what you’re risking. We only want what’s best for you. Is that too much to ask? We want what’s best for you and what’s best for the family.

She didn’t want Gavin to be who he was. “Mom—”

“No. I can’t do this right now, Gavin. Not with everything going on with your father. If you can’t…if you aren’t willing to do what’s best for yourself and this family, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

When she turned away from him, Gavin had no choice except to get up and leave. He wasn’t sure what made him dial his phone before driving, but he did. Maybe Mason would need him to work at the bar.

“Hello.” There was laughter in the background, the unmistakable voice of Isaac.

“Hey.”

More noise in the background. “I’ll be right back,” Mason said to the people who were with him. Gavin could tell he went to another room before he said, “Sorry about that.”

Anger ripped through him. He didn’t have a right to be angry but he was. “It’s okay. I’ll let you go. I just wanted to say hi.”

“No, it’s okay. How are things with your family? Do you guys have plans for tonight?”

Gavin had told Mason earlier that he might stay the night with his mom. He’d figured they could use the time together, but he guessed not. Not since she’d told him to leave.

“Mase, I want to show you something when you’re done.” Isaac.

Gavin’s anger skyrocketed. He probably wasn’t even mad at Isaac, but he felt like it.

“I’ll let you go,” Gavin said.

“No, it’s okay.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Have a good night.” And then, like a child, he hung up the phone.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Mason fought an internal war all day.

He laughed in all the right places and smiled in the right ones. He followed his father along as they took care of some business for the restaurants.

When employees approached him and told Mason they missed him, he returned the sentiment, because it was true. He missed the people. Missed customers that he’d seen weekly since he was a child, or chefs who spent their career working for his father. Even though they owned more than one restaurant, and even though they’d always been insanely busy, his father treated his employees like family. Mason had tried to do the same.

And he knew from the start that’s what this entire trip down memory lane was about.

They wanted him to see what he left behind. They wanted him to come back, even though they hadn’t asked yet.

“Should we go have a glass of wine in the garden?” his mom asked, once they finished dinner.

Mason shook his head. “I should probably be heading back.”

“Come on, Mase. Enjoy the evening with us,” Isaac prodded with a wink. The bastard. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“It’s always so relaxing out there. We’ve always enjoyed our time in the garden, together as a family.” The hurt in her voice stung, ripped through him like the lash from a whip. Christ, he didn’t want to hurt her—didn’t want to hurt any of them—but the wounds were fresh.

“For a little while. No drink, though. I’m good.”

The gardens out back were his mom’s favorite place. As a child, Mason remembered sitting outside with her for hours while she tended to her plants. They often sat at the table as a family. The metal on it twisted and turned, making vines that mimicked the plants she loved so much.

“Mason and I checked in at Fourth St. and Highland today. Both of them look good. When’s the last time you stopped in to speak with Jeremy in Boulder?” Mason’s dad asked Isaac.

“Last month. I made a trip down there. We’ve spoken on the phone since. They had a bad month—low numbers; but things are picking up. We need to put some thought into a meeting with Bryce in Durango. I’m worried about how things are going down there.”

“Why?” Mason asked, and then immediately regretted the question. Durango was always harder for them because it was so damn far away. He’d always thought his parents should sell, but since his mom was born there, and it was the first restaurant they started, it had sentimental value.