I said as Mason guided the rowboat to the shore. He wore a pair of white shorts and a light blue tank top, and he was barefoot. He got out of the boat to load my art equipment and supplies. “There’s no dinner preparations. Tonight we’re going to the restaurant where I first saw you.” “Oh, what’s the occasion?” I didn’t want to get into my mother’s unexpected visit. “No occasion. My grandfather talked my grandmother into doing it.” He smiled and put his arm around my waist, kissed me softly on the lips, and lifted me comfortably into his arms. He didn’t move. “Claudine can put all the makeup in the world on and teach you how to use it, but it won’t matter. You’re a naturally beautiful girl, Elle. I can’t get tired of saying it.” “I don’t really want to put on a lot of makeup anyway,” I said, recalling how made-up my mother was. “Good.” He kissed me again and set me softly in the rowboat. “You’ve got to meet my parents. They know I came to get you.”
