Page 28 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

On the way home she opted for the silent treatment, hoping some distance between them would remind her that Mason Klaus was thelastperson she should want to kiss.

Chapter Twelve

FOR THE REMAINDER of the day, Lyla kept to the house while Mason went to the workshop. After a nap and a long shower, she felt more like herself. When Mrs Klaus called her for dinner she considered pretending to be asleep, but her rumbling stomach quickly voided that option.

Mason tried to talk to her as she helped set the table, but she simply nodded along. Looking at him only made her think of the kiss. He gave up once everything was ready, and she took the opportunity to sit across from him instead of at his side. She needed to get her feelings in check, and pretending to be a couple was too confusing.How could one kiss throw me so off balance?Lost in her own thoughts, she barely noticed that the family ate their dinner in silence until dessert –a rhubarb crumble that Lyla, along with the rest of the table, couldn’t resist.

“I didn’t think you would be able to get away from the workshop. It’s a pity Sara couldn’t join us,” Mrs Klaus said to Lou, who was feeding Jones scraps beneath the table. They had let him out of Lyla’s room to roam.

“I know. One of the sleigh engines isn’t working, and she won’t leave until she figures out why. I’ll bring her some food in a bit and then try get her home at a reasonable hour,” Lou said, sounding utterly exhausted.

“You should have replaced the parts like I suggested,” Kevin said, rolling his eyes.

“We were expecting more parts, but with Dad gone, the order wasn’t put through in time.” Lou’s voice was quiet, as though she didn’t want to blame her father.

All eyes fell to Mason. He didn’t even look up from his food. Lyla would have given all the gold coins in Yule to know what he was thinking.

“I’m sure she can figure it out,” Mrs Klaus said, though the tension could have been cut with a knife. She turned to Lyla. “How did your meeting go with the council?”

Lyla choked on her crumble. She covered her mouth, and Kevin, beside her, patted her back.

“That well?” he joked, and Lyla nodded in thanks as he handed her some water. She took a sip and looked to Mason, hoping he would answer his mother.

“Frederick gave us a grilling. I think he’s rather cosy in Dad’s seat,” he said, putting down his fork.

“Your dad wouldn’t want you saying such things about his brother. He’s grieving, and worried about the season,” Mrs Klaus rebuked him.

“Worried about Mason taking his position, more like,” Kevin said.

Lou threw the piece of ham she was going to give to Jones at him. Lyla was surprised that the cat didn’t lunge after it, but he seemed far too cosy on Lou’s lap.

Kevin dodged it and grimaced at his sister. “What? It’s the truth! I bet he thought with Mason gone, he was guaranteed the seat. Out of the blue, big bro comes back and with a new Mrs Klaus.” He looked at his mother. “No offence, but Uncle Fred was hardly going to roll out the welcome mat.”

“I didn’t come back for the seat. I came back to say goodbye to Dad,” Mason said sombrely.

“You couldn’t have come back to say hi?” Lou muttered, and Lyla felt like crawling under the table.

“Communication goes both ways. He could have written, but he chose not to. I didn’t close the door on our relationship,” Mason said, and Lou held up her hands defensively.

“But we didn’t deserve to be punished because you fought with Dad,” Kevin told him. The hurt in his voice threatened to break Lyla’s heart.

Mason stared at his brother, and shook his head with a sigh. “I wasn’t punishing you. I wanted to see you– all of you. But even when I tried to write in the beginning, Dad wouldn’t respond. I couldn’t fight any more, and if I came back I wouldn’t have left again.” It was the first time Lyla had seen him upset, or at least without the help of alcohol.

“Was it worth it? Not seeing us? I’m your brother and I barely know you,” Kevin shot at him. Lyla instinctively placed her hand over his, surprised when he let her.

Mason scrubbed his face with his hands, and Lyla feared he would get up from the table to avoid the conversation.

“I wish I hadn’t had to make a decision between my life and family, but Dad made that decision for me. You were too young to understand, and I was too young to think of what my leaving would do to our family—”

“But it was worth it,” Mrs Klaus interjected for him.

Mason, and the rest of the table, stared at her in wonder.

“You wouldn’t be the man you are now if you hadn’t gone, and this lovely lady wouldn’t be sitting with us. We can’t change the past. We have each other now, and that’s all that matters,” she insisted.

A silence descended.

“It’s a good thing you get to witness the crazy before you walk down the aisle,” Kevin said in a hushed tone, nudging Lyla, and she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t think they were crazy; she thought they were a family who loved each other very much.

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