Mason is up

As you emerge from the bathroom Mason is shambling out of his room, tying up his bathrobe.

"I'm done in there," you tell him. "I thought I'd check the dining hall for breakfast. I'll wait if you're not going to be long." He nods, looking at you with bleary eyes and muttering an affirmative, before closing the bathroom door.

Fifteen minutes later he comes downstairs dressed in a soft casual shirt and slacks. A knit tie is knotted around his neck and he wears a slightly battered tweed jacket looking every bit the middle aged teacher.

"You look like you've been up for a while," he says as you leave the cottage, and you can't help but notice a certain sourness in his voice.

"I went for a run around the lake. I need to get back to running every morning. I've been letting it slip. If you want to join me we could go tomorrow." He gives a short dismissive snort of laughter.

"My knees won't stand up to running and I doubt I could keep up with you. Is there a trail?"

"A pretty good one, right around the lake. Some side trails too but I don't know where they go."

"Maybe I'll take a walk there, it sounds pretty."

"It is. Very secluded and peaceful too," you grin, remembering plunging into Monica Fulton's ripe body as the two of you step into the dining hall.