Chapter 28
Seamus was up long before the boys and Caro and had already drunk two cups of coffee he’d brewed on the gas grill by the time she joined him on the deck.
“Another scorcher,” she said, grimacing at the heat.
“Looks that way.”
“Still no power?”
“Nope.”
“We need a generator for the next time this happens.”
“I already made some calls about getting one installed this fall.”
“Did you sleep?”
“Nope.”
“Seamus…” She sighed as she lowered herself into the chair next to his. “You can’t make yourself sick over this.”
“Too late.” He got up, poured her a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “I wouldn’t trust the cream at this point.”
She made a face at the thought of drinking it black.
“I’ve been thinking…” Seamus returned to his seat, shifting so he could look directly at her.
“What if we allowed the boys’ father to see them, but we introduce him as a friend of ours, not as their father.
We could offer him that in exchange for him leaving us be.
Then later, when they’re older and more settled, we could tell them who he really is, and it’d be up to them whether or not they wish to continue seeing him. ”
“What if he wants more than that?”
“He can’t have more than that. We’re their legal guardians.”
“He could challenge us in court.”
“I don’t think he will. There’s a reason Lisa kept him out of their lives and didn’t even consider contacting him when she knew she was dying. He knows what that reason is, and it probably wouldn’t take much digging on our part to discover what it is. What do you think of my idea?”
“I worry the boys will resent us someday for not telling them who he is from the beginning.”
“I think we could say—truthfully—that we wanted the chance to get to know him and make sure he’d be a good influence in their lives before we told them the truth.
There’s also a chance he might want to see them once, and we’ll never hear from him again.
If we tell them who he is, and he disappears after seeing them, then they have someone else to mourn. ”
“That’s true.” She reached for his hand and linked their fingers. “You seem calmer than you were yesterday.”
“On the outside, maybe. Inside, I’m still a mess of fear and anxiety.”
“You’re hiding it better today.”
“I keep reminding myself of what Dan said, how the law is on our side because Lisa made us their legal guardians. I’m trying to have faith in that.”
“You’re a wonderful father, Seamus. Those boys are so lucky to have you.”
“You really think so? Half the time I feel like I’m making a regular mess of it.”
“I really think so, and you’re not making a mess of it. They adore you. They follow you around like two little puppies, hanging on your every word and watching everything you do.”
“I love them so much.”
“And they know it. I think you should pitch your plan to Dan so he has that information if he needs it when he talks to the other attorney.”
“You’d be willing to let him see them under the conditions I mentioned?”
“If it meant keeping everything the way it is now, I’d be willing.”
“And we agree that not telling them who he is, not now, anyway, is the right thing to do?”
“I think so. If he continues to come around, we’ll owe them the truth at some point. But not yet. It’s too soon after they lost their mother.”
“I’m glad we’re in agreement.”
“Do you feel better?”
“Much. It helps to have a plan.” He withdrew the cell phone he’d charged overnight using a portable charger and texted Dan.
Call me when you have a minute to talk strategy.
Dan called a few minutes later, and Seamus pitched the idea to him. “What do you think?”
“That could work. Let me contact the attorney first thing tomorrow morning and see what he wants. I won’t offer anything until we know what he’s after. I’d also want to know why Lisa cut him out of their lives before we open the door to possible visitation.”
“That’s a good point.” And one he should’ve thought of.
“I’ll call you the second I’m off the phone with him.”
“Thanks, Dan. Appreciate the help with this.”
“No problem at all, my friend. Keep breathing. It’s going to be okay.”
“Thanks for the reminder. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“He likes the idea,” Seamus told Carolina. “He’ll keep it in mind if need be.”
“That’s good. Now let’s try to relax and enjoy your day off.”
Seamus felt better after formulating a plan with Carolina and discussing it with Dan. However, he wouldn’t rest—or relax—until he knew for sure the potential threat to his family had been neutralized.