Chapter 9 #3
From the other side of the door, he could hear frantic whispering, but he only caught a few phrases. “How did she—” and “…middle names mean you’re in trouble!” Then there were some hushed exchanges, and a few scrambling noises, then silence.
He exchanged a questioning glance with Athena, but she just shrugged. They both leaned slightly toward the door, wondering if their gambit would pay off.
Finally, he heard Matthew clear his throat. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But we both think it’s necessary.”
Cash hadn’t expected to be affected by hearing his son’s voice clearly for the first time, especially after they’d figured out the boys’ scheme.
But after the last few hours of worry and frantic searching, his knees went weak.
Since he was already bent almost double, he just accepted the inevitable and dropped to one knee.
“Matthew, lad, are you and Callan safe?”
His son responded immediately. “Yes, Da—I mean, Father.” Da was Callan’s word. Had Matthew been spending so much time with the younger lad, he’d begun to speak like him? “But we needed to get the two of you together. To talk.”
Cash became aware that Athena had sunk to her knees on the pillows beside him, her fingers pressed against the door. He turned to watch as she slowly rested back against the pillows, her eyes wide, as if she could stare through the door.
Without tearing his gaze from her, Cash called out, “And Callan’s there with you, Matthew? He’s safe too?”
To his surprise, the younger lad piped up in answer.
“We’re both safe, Father. I stole the trifle because it’s Mama’s favorite, and so you wouldn’t starve, even if you’re in there forever and ever because she’s stubborn—that’s what Uncle Lyon says—and you have to remind her she loves you, that’s what Matthew says, Father. ”
Father.
Callan called him “father.” Twice.
And Cash’s heartbeat had sped up at hearing it both times.
That’s what you want.
Until today, he hadn’t realized that’s what he wanted. He wanted the mischievous, devilish little lad to call him Father. He wanted Matthew to be able to call Callan brother.
Cash’s breath caught. He wanted Matthew to be able to call Athena “Mama” instead of ma’am.
He realized he was staring wide-eyed at her, which was making her flustered. She dropped her gaze to her lap and waved a hand too dismissively to be convincing.
“He just heard Matthew say it,” she managed.
“Yes.”
Father.
She risked a peek up at him. “The me-loving-you-thing, I mean.”
He took a moment to really look into her eyes and saw the hesitation and concern there.
“Do you?” he murmured.
She dropped her gaze to her lap. “My feelings arenae a consideration here.”
He disagreed. But… “I was speaking of the fact your son called me Father.”
“Oh!” Her head jerked up quickly enough to smack against the shelf behind her, but she didn’t flinch. “He just heard Matthew say that, as well. He is verra young, remember.”
Smiling wryly, Cash reached for her hand. As he enfolded it in both of his, he settled down on his arse on the pillows beside her. “He’s not so young he can’t mastermind a series of daring thefts to furnish this fabulous hideaway and drop a series of clues for us to follow.”
Her lips twitched, but her gaze remained on their joined hands.
“I am certain it was Matthew who was the mastermind behind that hunt.” Before he could object and point out his heir was mild-mannered and bookish, she lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “Callan only called ye Father because Matthew calls ye that. No’ because he thinks ye are his father.”
“No, his father was an abusive bastard whose nose I’d like to break.” The words popped out before Cash could think better of them.
Athena’s gaze jerked up to his in surprise. She stared at him for a few moments, before finally saying softly, “Which is why I willnae tell ye his name.”
Maybe not now, but one day…
Cash vowed he’d do what he could to help her get the revenge she deserved. If that’s what she wanted.
An unexpected smile tugged at his lips as he held her gaze. Speaking in a normal tone, without looking away from her, he spoke to the door. “Lads, can you hear me?”
“Yes, Father,” they chorused almost in unison, Callan’s little voice half a beat behind Matthew’s.
His smile grew at the sound, and her brows dipped in confusion.
“Go away for ten minutes.”
She blinked at him, and from the other side of the door, Matthew asked, “Ten minutes?”
“Yes, lad. If I can have ten minutes alone with Athena, I don’t think we’ll have to be in here forever and ever.” That had been what Callan had threatened after all.
Her eyes had widened again, and there was a bout of hurried whispering on the other side of the door. When Cash heard Callan hiss, “That means there’ll be trifle leftover!” his smile grew. Then, Matthew said very clearly, “Come along, Callan. They want some privacy.”
There followed the sound of footsteps, and Cash cocked his head to one side, listening to make sure they were really gone. Meanwhile, Athena was staring at him, her hand rigid in his, while her other hand gripped her skirt in her lap.
His smile softened as he understood the signs of her worry. She wasn’t sure what to expect from him, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d been so angry—mainly at himself—when he’d discovered she was an earl’s daughter because it meant he couldn’t have her in his life the way he wanted…as his doxy.
But maybe he could have her in his life the way she deserved.
As Matthew’s mother. As his wife.
Thinking of the way she jumped to discipline Matthew, and the sparkle in her eyes when she’d done it, he asked softly, “You love him, don’t you?”
He remembered the way she’d gently taught him new things beside the river, how she effortlessly touched him as if he were a normal boy, and how gentle she was with him. She did love him.
But the question flustered her further, and she dropped her gaze once more. “Callan? Of course I love him.”
“No, not Callan,” he corrected gently, releasing one hand to raise her chin so he could study her hazel eyes. “Matthew. You love them both.”
She flushed, but because of his touch, she couldn’t look away.
“You love them both,” Cash repeated in a whisper. “And they both love you. Matthew loves you.”
I love you.
His throat closed up.
She was blinking rapidly, and when he realized there were tears in her eyes, he released her so she could look away.
He cleared his throat, deciding to change the subject before she lost control of those tears. “Will you tell me who Callan’s father is?”
She blinked, and her eyes jerked back up. Frowning, she gave a quick shake of her head before her gaze skittered away again.
Taking a deep breath, Cash reached for her other hand. Sitting there, in their sons’ secret hideaway, reclining on pillows stolen from a dozen different rooms and two different homes, he squeezed both of her hands and smiled.
“Will you tell me who Callan’s father is on our first wedding anniversary?”