The morning sun was barely over the horizon when I heard the rhythmic thump-thump of a suitcase in the hallway. I checked my watch: 6:30 AM. Javier had promised to be here by 9:00 AM.
I walked out to find Manny sitting by the front door. He was wearing a miniature version of a safari outfit—complete with a pith helmet and a disposable camera around his neck. He looked like he was ready to discover a lost civilization, or at least the best churro stand in Santa Monica.
"He's coming early, Mason," Manny said, his eyes bright. "I can feel it. A man who flies a helicopter doesn't worry about traffic."
"Maybe, Manny," I said, leaning against the doorframe. My Total Recall was whispering the truth: in the original timeline, Javier didn't show. He sent a text or a telegram or some other dramatic excuse while he was halfway to a baccarat table. "But remember what we talked about? If the wind changes, the plan changes."
[INTERVIEW - MANNY]Manny is sitting on the edge of a chair, adjusting his pith helmet.Manny: "Mason is very... grounded. He talks about 'contingencies' and 'risk management.' But Papa is a dream-weaver! He lives in the moment! And in this moment, I am ready to see the Ferris wheel!"
By 10:30 AM, the brightness in Manny's eyes had started to dim. The pith helmet was sitting on the floor next to him. Gloria was pacing the kitchen like a caged tigress, her phone clutched in her hand so tightly I thought the screen might crack.
"I am going to kill him," Gloria hissed as I walked into the kitchen. "I am going to find him, and I am going to pull out his beautiful hair one by one!"
"He's not coming, Mom," I said calmly.
"He sent a text," she spat, showing me the screen. 'Querida, the winds were not in my favor. A business emergency in San Diego. Tell the boys I love them like the sun.' "The sun! He is a giant, lying sun-of-a—"
"Don't," I interrupted. "Manny's listening."
I walked back to the foyer. Manny didn't look up. He was staring at his polished shoes. The silence was heavier than the "Lion King" reveal. This was the moment that usually defined Manny's childhood—the crushing weight of an absent father. Not on my watch.
"Change of plans, Manny," I said, my voice projecting that calm, "Quarterback" authority. "The pier is too crowded today. Too many tourists. I did some scouting."
Manny looked up, a tiny flicker of hope in his eyes. "You did?"
"Yeah. I called a guy. We're going to the private airfield. Then, we're taking the boat out. Not a rental—Jay's friend has a catamaran. And afterward, we're going to that steakhouse Jay likes where they let you pick your own cut."
"But... Papa said..."
"Javier had an emergency," I said, sitting down next to him. I didn't sugarcoat it, but I didn't let it sting. "He's a pilot, Manny. He follows the wind. But I'm your brother. I follow the schedule. And the schedule says today is the best day of the year for the Delgado brothers to take over the coast."
[INTERVIEW - GLORIA]Gloria is wiping a tear away, smiling proudly.Gloria: "Mason didn't even look at the text. He just knew. He saw his brother's heart on the floor and he picked it up. Jay wanted to go out there and yell at the phone, but Mason? Mason just became the man Javier will never be. He is the anchor for my little Manny."
I grabbed my keys and Manny's bag. By the time we hit the driveway, I'd already texted Alex.
MASON: Operation 'Big Brother'. I need the guest list for the Marina club. Use the 'Legacy' account.ALEX: Already on it. I also booked the corner table at The Grill. I told them you were Jay Pritchett's son. They didn't ask for ID.MASON: Ten percent, Alex.ALEX: For this? It's on the house. Seeing Javier lose is its own reward.
The day was a masterclass in distraction. I used my Peak Athlete Physique to teach Manny how to actually cast a fishing line without hitting himself in the ear. We sat on the deck of the boat, the salt spray in our faces. For the first time all day, Manny forgot about the pith helmet and the "missing" father.
"Mason?" Manny asked as the sun began to set, painting the Pacific in shades of gold and violet.
"Yeah, Manny?"
"Jay says you're going to be a pro one day. That people will cheer your name in stadiums."
I looked out at the horizon. "Maybe. But stadiums are loud. This is better."
"I think so too," Manny said, leaning back. "Papa tells great stories. but you... you make the stories happen."
[INTERVIEW - JAY]Jay is holding a glass of scotch, looking out the window at the driveway as Mason's car pulls in.Jay: "I spent twenty years trying to figure out how to be a 'dad' to a kid like Mitchell. I thought it was about the talks, the sports, the tough love. Then I watch Mason. He doesn't give speeches. He just shows up. He fills the space that's empty. Javier thinks he's the king because he has a helicopter? My kid just bought his brother's happiness with a phone call and a firm handshake. That's a Pritchett move right there."
As we walked back into the house that night, Gloria smothered us both in hugs. Manny went to bed exhausted and happy. I stayed downstairs, heading to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Javier was sitting at the island, looking disheveled, a half-empty glass in front of him. He'd crept in the back door.
"The emergency ended early," Javier whispered, his usual charm replaced by a defensive edge. "Where is he? I will take him to breakfast tomorrow. We will go to the desert!"
I didn't raise my voice. I just stood there, my frame casting a shadow that covered the entire kitchen island. "No, you won't."
"Mason, don't be like this—"
"You're leaving tonight, Javier," I said. "I already called your car. It'll be here in ten minutes. If you're still here when it arrives, I'm going to tell Jay exactly which 'business emergency' involved a blonde in a cocktail dress in La Jolla."
Javier blinked, his mouth opening and closing. He looked at me—really looked at me—and saw the Total Recall in my eyes. He saw a kid who knew his secrets and had the physical power to enforce the exit.
"You are a cold one, Mason," Javier muttered, standing up and smoothing his linen suit. "You have no poetry in your soul."
"I have a brother who slept through the night for the first time in a week," I replied. "That's all the poetry I need. Goodbye, Javier."
I watched him walk out. The "Firework" was gone. The "Pillar" remained. And tomorrow, the business would grow again
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