Cornbread & Crossroads

one you did ask and talk about this vacation. Where and when?”
Mason stopped chewing and swallowed. “That’s a bit of why I was nervous to propose it. I actually need to make a trip up North. I figured taking you up there with me to show you around might be fun. Also, it might help give you a break from all the things stressing you out lately.”
For once, I thanked my mouth for popping off first before my brain caught up. “That’s so sweet, and I can’t lie. It would be great to get a little space and have some time just for us. Big Willie’s gonna give you time off?”
“It would be just for a long weekend plus a couple of extra days, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m overdue to use my vacation days. But I’m okay if you want to stay here and take care of your grandmother. She’s more important than anything.”
The fact that he understood how much Nana’s welfare meant to me erased any lingering doubts about wanting to be with him. Taking a trip where we could focus on each other and he could show me things that would reveal more about himself sounded perfect.
Based on what I’d seen this morning, I felt pretty confident in Nana’s recovery from whatever ailed her before. And if Matt was okay with it, then I wanted to take Mason up on his offer.
“Come on.” I picked up the plate of cookies and my glass. “Let’s go check on my grandmother first and see.”
After we dropped off the dishes in the kitchen, we walked into the house but didn’t make it past the staircase. Nana walked down the stairs dragging something clunking on each step behind her.
I rushed over. “What are you doing? You shouldn’t be up like this.”
“Birdy, I told you to stop treating me like an invalid. I’m perfectly fine, as you can see. Plus, I wanted to get this for you to use.” She presented an old leather suitcase from behind her. “It’s not fancy, but it served me well on many trips with your grandfather. I thought you could use it.”
I stared at the smooth brown leather with only a few nicks in the surface. “But he only just asked.”
“And you took my advice and said yes, right?” She gestured to Mason to come closer and gripped his shoulder. “Take my granddaughter and this with you. It’s time she stops hovering and gets to packin’. And make sure you take good care of her.”
As if unable to refuse, the detective picked up the suitcase. “Yes, ma’am.”
Nana pushed both of us towards the door. “Ada and Mimsy will look after me, and I’m sure your brother and his wife will be over here soon. There’s enough people to look after me, so don’t you fret none.” She kissed my cheek. “Although I do appreciate the attention. Now, git.”
Once we stood on the front porch, Mason and I stared at each other in awe and surprise at how we got there. “How did your grandmother know?” Mason asked, still clutching the suitcase.
His amazement sparked my giggles until I doubled over, trying to catch my breath. “If you’re going to keep hanging around me and my family, you better get used to the idea.”
“What idea?” he asked.
I took the suitcase from him with a knowing shake of my head. “That Nana always knows.”

Chapter Six
With very little planning, Mason whisked me up north where he used to work before he moved to Honeysuckle. The buzz and rush of the big city exhilarated me, and at the same time, I didn’t know if I could live there on a regular basis. Although in my year away from home I’d visited many different places trying to connect with other witches with tracking powers like mine, I’d never stayed long in the more urban areas because they felt too chaotic. Then again, our small supernatural town had its own breed of chaos mixed with magic and mayhem far too often. Maybe life was life no matter where I ended up.
Mason packed in as many activities as possible to show off his favorite things plus a few extras to up the woo factor. How he ever scored tickets to the hottest musical in town, he would never reveal. But we ended up with seats that most people would envy, and he didn’t complain once when I wanted to wait the extra time after the show at the stage door to get the signatures of a few of the cast members on my playbill.
I appreciated being spoiled, but the smaller gestures and more intimate or revealing moments with Mason touched my heart in a deeper way. He walked me all over his old neighborhood where several people still greeted him like an old friend. While we navigated the busy sidewalks, he regaled me with stories about when he first joined the force as a warden and some of his early mistakes plus the things he learned. The more he shared of himself, the more I glowed from his growing trust in me.
Mason held the door open to Bubble & Brew, a cafe that sold bubble tea, coffee, and food. Instead of waiting in line to place an order at the front counter, he held my hand and led me to the back area marked with an Employees Only sign. Pushing the swinging door open, he scanned the kitchen and called out a first name with extreme familiarity.
A plump, petite woman jumped off a stool she stood on to stir the contents of a pot bubbling on the burner. “Officer Clairmont, it’s been a day and an age since you’ve graced this place with your presence.” She wiped off her hands on the front of her apron and opened her arms wide. “You better get over here and give me a proper greeting.”
“How are you, Wanda?” Mason’s large frame almost swallowed up the smaller figure, but she didn’t seem to mind.
After she