A Father's Secret

He hated waiting, but he knew that each day would just bring him closer to the result he hoped would be music to his ears. And, in the meantime, he’d begun to allow himself to feel happy, to feel a measure of hope for the future.

Every day was brighter, better—something he would never have believed possible—and he could feel the bond between himself and Riley growing stronger. He genuinely loved the little boy. He’d tried to hold back, in case everything just blew right up in his face again, but every day he saw in Riley something of himself, or his family, that underscored his paternity. Now all he needed was the clinical confirmation and he could set new plans in motion. Plans that included Erin and Riley in his future. A future he never dreamed he’d want again, or stood a good chance to have.

He turned away from the mirror just as he heard his cellphone begin to ring from where he’d tossed it onto the bed in his room. A bed he hadn’t slept in for a while. And there it was again, the smile.

Tightening the towel he’d wrapped around his waist after his shower, he limped across to the bed and cast a glance at the caller ID. A rush of adrenaline flooded his entire body with an icy chill. David Fox, his lawyer. He accepted the call and barked a greeting.

“And a good morning to you, too,” David said smoothly.

Sam could hear the smile in the other man’s voice. “Get to the point, Dave.”

“Break out the cigars. It’s a positive match.”

Sam couldn’t speak. There was a lump in his throat the size of Mount Rushmore. He slowly sank to the edge of the bed.

“Sam? You okay, bud?”

He swallowed then coughed a little. “There’s no doubt?” His voice came out a little rough.

“No doubt whatsoever. He’s your son.”

Sam could barely begin to assimilate the news. From the moment he’d been notified about the potential error at the fertility clinic he’d been hoping against hope that Riley Connell was his little boy. Now he had incontrovertible proof. He was a father. Riley was his son.

“What happens next?” Sam asked, still a little shaky.

“We approach his mother with the findings and suggest that a joint custody arrangement be reached. If she’s reluctant to cooperate we can launch action to ensure that your rights as the child’s father are met.”

“Wait on that for a while, okay? I…I just need a couple of days first.”

How would she take the news, he wondered. If he was the one to tell her—and along with that to share with her his feelings for both her and Riley—would that make a difference?

“Sure, if you’re certain that’s what you want.”

“It is,” Sam said, his voice firm now. He didn’t bother to give any further explanation.

Dave had no idea of what he was up to, or that he’d hired a private investigator to find Erin Connell in the first place. He doubted the man would have approved. Whatever, it didn’t matter one bit. He’d wanted to see the child, had wanted to meet the child’s mother. He’d done that—and more. What happened next would need to be very carefully orchestrated.

“Okay then. I’ll wait for your instructions.”

Sam disconnected the call and got to his feet. A part of him wanted to race downstairs—well, as much as he could race with his blasted leg—and give Erin the news. To reveal who he was and what that meant to them as a family. A family. The moniker reverberated through his mind.

His family.

* * *

Erin was humming in the kitchen as she packed the picnic basket she was about to take out to the boat. Today she planned a very special outing. Before she sent the boat away to the storage facility she’d decided to take Sam out on the lake for a day. Just the two of them. Sasha had happily agreed to babysit Riley here at the house and Erin had made a sumptuous lunch. She’d also made sure the small stateroom on board held every possible accoutrement they might need during their day. All going well, she didn’t plan on them being back until shortly before dark.

Her whole body buzzed with anticipation as she mentally ticked off the list she had in the back of her mind, and a tiny thrill of excitement purred through her as she thought about the delights she had planned. After taking Sam on a scenic tour of the lake, and maybe some fishing with the day license she’d secured, she planned to bring him back into the cove, anchoring just the other side of the outcrop that would give them privacy from both the lake and the house.

There, she planned to show him, in word and deed, exactly how much she loved him. Yes, today she would declare her feelings. It was time and it felt right, so right the joy teemed through her.