After a shower, I donned fresh clean clothes and made my way to the kitchen. Most of the time we ate in the kitchen for Enid's sake, since the dining room was nowhere near the kitchen.
A little wary, I pushed the kitchen door opened and glanced at the clock. It was already five past seven in the evening and I was already dreading dinner. But I was hungry, so I kinda stepped inside the kitchen, with quiet steps.
" Good evening, Miss Abernathy " Mason greeted wearing the same sombre expression, his eyes drifted to his wristwatch. He hated when I was late.
" Hello, dear" Enid greeted with the same warmth she had always shown me, smiling.
" Good evening, Mr Kinnaird, Enid" I nodded to both of them " My apologies for being late" I started with that, trying to mollify Mason.
Mason opened his mouth to speak " How was your day out and about?" Enid cut him off before he had a chance to say anything. And with that, I saw my opportunity to squeeze in the fact that I've been invited to go out.
" It was good, Enid. Thank you for asking " I glanced at Mason " I've made some friends today." As I rambled on about how I'd met David and Laira. Mason's eyes stayed on me, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
" They asked me if I would like to go out to some club in Morston. I was wondering, Mr Kinnaird if it would be alright for me to go?" I locked eyes with Mason who'd been silent the entire time, listening. It was difficult to tell what was he thinking, he didn't grimace, or smile. He was stiff as a statue. Although Adonis paled in comparison.
" No," Mason gave his answer " Thank you Enid" He leaned in his chair when Enid placed the plate in front of him. I was flabbergasted at his answer.
" Mr Kinnaird, may I remind you that you are the one who suggested for me to get acquainted with Morston," I reiterated his own words, trying to make my case. Even though, I wasn't sure if I had one.
" During the day, Miss Abernathy. Not at night, " Mason wasn't budging. I smiled at Enid when she placed the food before me. Enid returned my smile, but it lacked the usual warmth.
" Thank you, Enid. Mr Kinnaird, I'm almost eighteen. You only gave me three weeks out of the entire summer. I'm trying to enjoy it to the fullest. This a good opportunity to make friends. I'm not a child. I do not need a curfew." Once again I was tethering on the edge.
"You are not, but you are most certainly behaving like one. So, in this case, I find myself with no other option than treat you as such," Mason countered, at ease with himself, emotionless. And I was speechless. Was I behaving like a child? I questioned myself, confused, and angry.
" I don't understand. You were the one who told me to go out. Now that I have, you are restricting me." I countered, begrudgingly, stabbing the potato on my plate
" I'm well aware of what I said, Miss Abernathy. I have an excellent memory, unlike you who seem to forget things that inconvenience you." Mason countered and I had no clue what he meant by that.
Out of all things, his calm and stoic nature got the best of me. I found it one of the most irritating traits that Mason had. Once again, I had lost the battle before it even began.
I pouted and carried on eating my dinner, disgruntled. I fell silent and so did Mason. Enid had made herself scarce when things got heated between me and Mason. I didn't blame her, I couldn't. I hadn't met the person able to deal with Mason. I wasn't sure that it existed.
I finished my dinner and took the plate and the cutlery to place it in the dishwasher. As Mason hadn't finished his meal, yet. I knew he ate slow, finicky and it would take him another half an hour to eat his meal. The phone rang, and I knew it was David who was calling.
Hurriedly, I closed the dishwasher door and made my way to the lobby where the phone was, disheartened.
" Hello," I huffed, exasperated with the fact that I wasn't allowed to go out.
" So," David drawled leaving the question hanging in the air, and I filled in the blank he'd left for me, pouting.
"Okay. Then sneak out. He doesn't have to know. Will be there at nine," David said a little louder to make himself heard over chatter and the line cut off.
I placed the phone back on the hook, and puffed my cheeks, pondering whether I should go back into the kitchen. I didn't want to, the air was so thick that I could barely breathe.
I shuffled my feet towards the kitchen to ask if I can be excused since I'd already finished my dinner. He was treating me like a five-year-old. I wasn't five, I was seventeen. I hated him and for the first time since I met Mason, a new feeling was born.
" May I be excused?" I said as soon as I stepped into the kitchen catching Mason's attention.
" Who was on the phone at this hour?" Mason waved towards the chair for me to take a seat. He wasn't done with me, but I was.
" David, " I mumbled as I slid into the seat tucking my long legs under the chair.
Mason hummed " Osyth" Mason took another bite of his food and I had to wait until he chewed his stake at a sloth's pace.
" Is the name of the club. It is a very select club. It makes me wonder how a snotty child was able to gain access to the club?" Mason voiced out his thoughts.
" The father of one of his friends had made arrangements for them to go in," I purposely excluded myself, since I was at odds with myself whether I should take David's advice and sneak out or stay put.
" I see. Addison. He would be the only one in Morston to pull that off. Miss Abernathy, I do not know the people that you've met today but make no mistake that nothing good will come out of it if you will go to Osyth. There is a reason why the place is so select with its clientele." It was a warning. Now, I was worried. Mason placed his cutlery on his plate, and glanced at his watch, timing everything he did.
" I'll keep that in mind, Mrs Kinnaird. Does that mean that I can go?" I gullibly asked, hopeful that the storm had passed and he seemed to have mellowed.
" No," His answer was short and to the point and stood up, to take his plate to the dishwasher.
Once again, I found myself pouting and stood up " Good night, Mr Kinnaird," I said as I scurried out of the kitchen before he found something else to say.