Chapter 21 - Mason And Noah
Mason and Noah were nineteen and sixteen when they finally spent time alone.
Not forced.
Mom’s birthday had normalized.
Mason asked if Noah wanted coffee while adults talked.
Noah said yes.
They walked.
Later Noah told me.
“Mason said he remembers smiling when Grandpa blamed me.”
“How feel?”
“Bad.”
“Did he apologize again?”
“Yes.”
“What’d you say?”
“I said stop apologizing.”
I laughed.
Then:
“He said Mom used to tell him your family was jealous.”
“Rebecca.”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“I said I thought his family was mean.”
Fair.
Then Mason told Noah about losing private school, moving, watching mother prison.
Noah did not apologize for prosecution.
Good.
They were not best friends.
But cousins.
Years later they followed each other online.
Holiday messages.
No deep wound carrying forever.
Mason went to community college then university.
Studied graphic design? Fine.
He did not become financial criminal.
At twenty five he started small design studio.
When seeking loan, Rebecca said:
“Read everything.”
He laughed.
Progress.
Then he called me once for business advice.
“Uncle Daniel, can I ask?”
I paused.
“Yes.”
He wanted logistics vendor suggestions.
Not money.
I helped.
No trust distribution.
No secret.
Then Noah said:
“You helped him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he asked for advice.”
“Would you give money?”
“Maybe if I chose. Not because family demands.”
May you like
He nodded.
Learning.
