Chapter 214

“Lunch is ready,” Becky called and she felt the moment Mason returned to himself completely. He seemed to shake himself free of whatever had held him captive and he made eye contact with each of his friends, a silent communication that only they understood and then finally her turned to her. He bowed his head and rested it on her shoulder, breathing in deeply. “Thank you,” he whispered and Lisa closed her eyes, relishing the closeness. He lifted his head and she opened her eyes to see him smiling at her. “I know you don’t understand,” he said quietly, “But thank you.” She nodded at him, too afraid to speak around the lump in her throat. Unsolicited tears pricked the back of her eyes and she swallowed hard, willing them not to fall. She didn’t even understand why she felt the need to cry except that she felt a kind of kinship with Mason and almost felt his pain in her own body. He cupped her cheek softly and then turned his hand over to run his knuckles over her skin. “Sweet Lisa,” he b