dishwasher. She walked out into the front of the restaurant, strolling by Timothy without even pausing.
“I’m taking my hour break.”
Timothy didn’t argue. It was the one measure Hayley had demanded when she came to work here. That she would be given a break once a day, during the lull in the afternoon, when her cousin Ariel came by with little Mason.
Mason, Hayley’s three-and-a-half-year-old son.
She grabbed Mason up in a hug, tickling him, breathing in his scent that meant so much to her, that calmed her and the tight spot inside her that grew whenever they were apart.
She and her son were together. They were both healthy, they were both happy, they were both free. A piece of paper signed while Hayley was in prison had made Ariel Mason’s legal guardian hours after his birth, but her cousin had made sure that Mason always knew Hayley was his mom.
Hayley wrapped her arm around Ariel also. “Hey, coz. Thanks again.”
Hayley knew it had to be difficult for Ariel to get Mason here every day. They were trying to figure out exactly how to transition him back from Ariel’s care to Hayley’s with as little trauma as possible for Mason.
“No problem. It’s the best part of our day.”
Hayley’s cousin had been a godsend. Hayley honestly had no idea what she would’ve done if it hadn’t been for Ariel’s willingness to care for Mason while Hayley was still incarcerated. He’d be a ward of the state otherwise.
Because there was no way in hell she would’ve told Cain he had a son. He’d made it very clear how little he thought of her when he’d used sex between them just to further his career by arresting her.
“It’s raining outside, so do you want to go to the mall play area, champ?”
Little Mason nodded his head vigorously. “Yeah yeah yeah.”
The drive to the mall took less than five minutes and soon they were watching Mason run around the enclosed area for children, made of soft foam material shaped like cars and rocket ships. It was one of Mason’s favorite places to go.
Mason took after her—slender build, sandy-blond hair, and a zest for life that unfortunately had been driven out of her in prison. Hayley loved seeing the energy in Mason, and that energy fed her soul, especially on days when work seemed never ending.
“I know I sound like a broken record,” Ariel said, taking a sip of the coffee she had picked up in the food court. “But you look exhausted.”
Hayley rubbed her eyes and looked at the coffee with jealousy. She’d love to have the caffeine, but food court coffee was out of her budget. She didn’t want to admit how good sitting down for an hour felt. “I’m okay, no need to worry.”
“You’re working twelve-to fourteen-hour days, six days a week. You can’t tell me that’s not taking a toll.”
“It’s not forever. I just want to make sure I’m as financially situated as possible before you leave.”
Ariel took a sip of her coffee and worked to avoid making eye contact with Hayley. “About that... I’ve been thinking that maybe now isn’t the right time. There will be another fellowship next year.”
“No!” Hayley’s tone brooked no refusal. “You’ve given up three years of your life for Mason and me. It’s time for you to go do what you really want.”
That included a full scholarship to Oxford, studying medieval literature for her master’s degree. It was what Ariel had dreamed about her whole life. She’d postponed that dream to take in Mason, but Hayley refused to let her cousin give up any more time than she already had.
Ariel leaned over until her head touched the side of Hayley’s shoulder. “I haven’t given up zilch. If anything, I’ve gained. Mason has been a blessing.”
Hayley leaned her cheek against the top of Ariel’s head. “I’m sure you didn’t think that during middle-of-the-night feedings when he was a newborn.”
Hayley tamped down the heartbreak she still felt at having missed that part of her son’s life. The important thing was that Mason had been cared for by someone who loved him.
“You’re working yourself to the bone to try to make money for when I’m gone. If I applied for next year’s fellowship you’d be in a much better situation.”
Hayley wasn’t just trying to save up money for Ariel’s absence, but she didn’t want to burden her cousin with any of that.
“But we both know they’re not going to offer it to you again if you turn them down this year.” They both watched as Mason ran up over a foam bridge. He’d already met another little boy and girl and was giggling with them both as they ran.
“There are other places I can study. Closer to home, not across the ocean.”
“Ariel, you’ve done your part. I don’t know how I would’ve survived without you. But you need to take care of yourself now. And Mason and I need to get to know each other, on our own. To become a mother and son.”
Hayley had lived in the tiny apartment with Ariel and Mason since she’d gotten out of prison four months ago. Any hours she didn’t spend working she spent with her son. And once Ariel left for Oxford, Hayley wouldn’t be able to work these insane hours. Someone would need to be with Mason after day care, and Hayley planned to be that person.
So if she had to work herself nearly to death over the next two months to have enough money to get by while Ariel was gone, then she would damn well do that.
She would do whatever she had to in order to be able to live a normal life with her child.
“I know you don’t like to talk about this, but what about contacting Mason’s father?”
Hayley didn’t even hesitate. “Not an option.”
Ariel rolled her eyes. “You know I don’t believe that nonsense about Mason’s father being ‘unknown’ like you put on the birth certificate. There’s no way you had some sort of one-night stand and didn’t know the guy’s name.”
Hayley shrugged. “Yeah, well, we all make mistakes.”
Cain Bennett had been hers.
All too soon it was time for Hayley to get back to the Bluewater. Ariel and Mason came inside to get Mason’s normal scoop of Wednesday ice cream in the last few minutes Hayley had of her break.
Mason sat next to her in the booth and told about his friend he met at the play area.
“He came over and showed me his red car. Let me play with it,” Mason said between bites.
Hayley reached over and kissed the top of his head. “Sounds like a pretty good friend you made there, buddy.”
Mason moved on to talk about his favorite toys at preschool while Ariel and Hayley listened attentively.
Thank God Mason had taken to Hayley’s presence in his life with such acceptance, that Ariel had constantly shown him pictures of Hayley
