James was sprawled on top of his blankets. His legs were tangled in the sheets and his arms were bare where he’d rucked up the sleeves of his night shirt with his tossing and turning.
Cass knelt beside the bed and nudged the boy. “James.”
The boy grunted and rolled over.
Cass shook him gently. “Jamie. We have to get you under the blankets. Your mother’s orders.”
Jamie grumbled as his eyes flickered open. “Mr. Trenton, whaddya doin’ here?”
“I’m making sure you don’t freeze to death, young sir. Let’s fasten the cuffs on your nightshirt and make you snug as a bug in a rug.”
Cass turned up the light in the kerosene lantern and lifted Jamie’s right arm. When he did, he saw there was a mark on the boy’s elbow. Cass’s breath hitched, even as he told himself it was nothing more than a scratch or the imprint of the rumpled clothing.
When the light fell fully on the tiny red mark shaped like a crooked crown, he knew his wildflower had been lying to him. Had held onto her deception for seven years and still clung to it.
The mark on Jamie’s elbow was a twin to the one on his own. The one all Trenton men carried.
Jamie was his son.
She’d been carrying him when Cass left and she’d never bothered to reach out to him. She’d never believed that him and their love was enough to keep her safe. She’d never believed that he was enough, as much as she’d claimed to love him. She hadn’t trusted him enough to reach out to his family, to ask his sister and brother if they knew his whereabouts or where to find him.
He finished fastening the cuffs on his son’s nightshirt, carefully bundled him under the blankets, and went to find the boy’s mother.
He found her in the kitchen, stretching cheesecloth over the tops of the stoneware crocks. He fell into the chair beside the door.
“I saw the birthmark behind his elbow, Deirdre. It’s the same as mine. James Aloysius is my son,” he said hoarsely.
Chapter Ten
Deirdre
He dropped his head in his hands, and his shoulders heaved. When his eyes met hers, Deirdre saw the sheen of tears. His throat bobbed, and he clenched his jaw.
“All this time. And you said nothing. Let another man raise my son.”
“You left me no choice.”
“All you had to do was ask my brother or sister where to send your letter. I know we were young, but I wouldn’t have left. We could have figured it out together.”
“I figured things out on my own because I didn’t have time to go looking for you. Our son was going to be very visible soon. And Patrick was there and a good man.”
“You have Mary Kate now too. So you weren’t pining for me as I was for you.”
The flat of her palm landed on his cheek. “How dare you, Cassius. You have no right.”
“I have every right,” he growled as he caught her hand and held it to his face.
“How many times must I say it? You abandoned me with no word of goodbye. I couldn’t very well confront your parents with my condition.”
“Perry and Archie would have helped you find me. My mother as well once she knew you were carrying her grandchild. You could have found me if you’d wanted to. But you didn’t.”
“Cass, we never belonged together. I was born in another country, the daughter of a man killed rioting for what he believed in. You’re the son of a man who owns the only bank in town. We have nothing in common. When you left without a word I was hurt, but I wasn’t surprised.”
Cass stood, his eyes blazing as he pulled her toward him. “My father said he'd send your mother packing if I insisted on marrying you.”
“And it didn’t even cross your mind to fight for us!” she spat as she stepped away.
“I couldn’t leave you and your Mam to shoulder that burden. and I couldn’t stay here and have my heart break every day seeing you,” he said as his grip on her upper arm tightened. “Deirde, I forgive you.”
