Chapter Nineteen
Luke worked in hisconservatory for hours, trying to decide what he should do now that he knew for certain that Gabriel was his son. All he really wanted to do was run over to Adrian’s house as swiftly as possible and snatch the boy away, then present him like a gift to Serenity and take them both to Hawkesmere House, where they could finally become a family.
But things were not that simple, and first, he needed to tell Serenity what he’d learned.
He knocked softly on Serenity’s bedroom door, his need for her so strong he could barely restrain himself from barging in and pulling her into his arms. He remembered that long ago day at the ruins when she’d given him such comfort. She’d always been his rock, the one person he could show his true fears and insecurities.
How was he going to tell her about Gabriel?
“Come in,” she called softly.
He entered the room and shut the door behind him, leaning against it. She was sitting up in bed, her blond hair shimmering in the low light. An angel, he’d once thought her, and he hadn’t been far from the truth.
“What is it?” she whispered, her gaze intent, as she obviously sensed his turmoil.
He sighed and moved toward her, sitting down on the side of the bed by her hip. “I’m glad Allison is back,” he murmured, deciding his sister’s revelations were the best place to start.
“It must be such a relief,” she murmured, leaning forward to rub her hand soothingly up and down his back.
He melted into her touch with a sigh. “It is. I’ve felt so guilty for returning to London, for not chasing that bastard across the Continent, but it seems my life has always been a never-ending tide of untenable choices.”
“You still managed to find her and bring her home,” she told him softly. “You have the resources to accomplish so many things, Luke. It doesn’t always have to be your hand that accomplishes the goal.”
He laughed bitterly and kicked off his boots, then stretched out on the bed beside her, turning to face her. “She told me a bit of information that Roger related to her while in his cups. And it just proved something I’d already been thinking.”
She stilled. Then she hesitantly reached out and brushed her fingertips across his cheek. “You found out that Gabriel is our son,” she surmised, making it easy for him.
“How did you know?” he asked, shocked by her certainty.
“Oh, Luke, he looks just like you. And you asked me if our child could be a boy, which made me realize you’d found something that indicated that he was.” Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s wonderful to know that he’s safe, that he has parents who love him. I will forever be grateful to Vanessa and Adrian for the love and home they’ve given him.”
“What are you saying?” he whispered. “Do you think we should let him stay with them?”
Her tears spilled over, and she closed her eyes briefly, as though she couldn’t bear to look at him. “Wrench him away from the only happy home he’s ever known? How can we do that to him? I’ve been struggling with it for days now, and I just don’t know what to do. I want him. You have no idea how much I want to hold him in my arms and tell him how sorry I am, how much I regret the time lost. I want to kiss his sweet brow and promise him that I’ll never let him go. But don’t you think that would just confuse him? Do you think he’d resent us for taking him from the parents he knows and loves?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been struggling with the same questions myself.” He pulled her into his arms, nestling her face against his chest, holding her while she cried.
“At least we know he’s alive, that he’s safe, that he’s not being hurt anymore...” She let out a shuddering sigh. “Do you realize how lucky we are? He could easily have been lost to us. We could have spent the rest of our lives searching, never knowing what had happened.”
“You’re right,” he agreed, his heart breaking for them both. “I’ve tried to tell myself that very same thing. That knowing he is safe and loved is so much better than never knowing. We can watch him from afar, spend time with him. It’s got to be better than nothing.”
