“Glen is out there somewhere, and I can’t forget about him.”
* * *
“What doyou mean he’s out there somewhere?” Cait grabbed Brian’s arm. “I thought I told you not to get in touch with him.”
“You did.” Here was another situation where he would have to omit information. Everyone else did it, and like Alana said, it was a life skill used to diminish conflict.
“Yes, I did, because you don’t know he’s your son.”
“He is my son.” Brian bristled at Cait’s stern voice. “I have proof.”
“Did you do a DNA test?”
“No.” He fumbled for the locket in his jeans pocket. “But look at this. I found it at the accident site. See the writing?”
Cait’s eyes popped wide and her jaw dropped. She flipped the picture over and back, shaking her head. “It doesn’t prove anything. She calls Glen her little wonder. Maybe she meant miracle.”
“She capitalized Wonder, my last name. That means he’s mine.”
“That might not be capitalized.” Cait furrowed her brow. “The ‘W’ is only a tiny bit higher than the rest of the letters.”
“I know what she meant,” Brian said. “This is a message to me letting me know Glen is my son.”
“But, does the senator know?” She tucked the picture back into the locket. “You said Alana maintained Glen is not yours.”
“I don’t care if the senator knows or not. He’s a horrible father. He dumped the dogs at a pound and sent Glen to Marshall Military down south.”
“Right, he’s horrible, but legally, Glen is his son.” Cait stared at him, as her expression froze. “Don’t tell me you were planning on busting him out of the school.”
“I’m not that stupid. I deleted my Twitter account already.” Not that she had to know about the Realm of Rogues account. “I’m not going to kidnap him or anything, but he knows we have his dogs, and I’m sure he’ll figure out how to find them.”
“Uh, Brian? You could get in a lot of trouble if you’re helping him run away from school.”
“I’m not helping him run away from school.” Technically, that was true. Glen would have to figure his own way out, but Glen was a smart boy, and if he happened to show up at their cabin—well, they couldn’t very well turn him away.
A smile tickled Brian’s cheeks, and he averted his face from his ever-observant wife.
“You’re up to something.” She narrowed her eyes and her nostrils flared. “What did you do now?”
“Nothing.” Brian shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. “Let’s go into town and buy ornaments and tinsel. We have to decorate our tree.”
“Not so fast.” She chased after him, almost tripping over one of the dogs. “You told him to come here, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t tell him anything. Honest. But don’t you think a kid needs to be with his father?”
“He does, and his father is Senator Thornton. He probably doesn’t even know you from squat. I’m sure his mother never told him about you. Heck, he probably thinks you’re a child predator tweeting at him about his dogs and trying to lure him away from school.” Cait threw her hands up and waved them in his face. “You’ve built this fantasy world with you, Alana, and Glen, and this locket. How do I know you didn’t write the words on the back?”
“You don’t know anything.”
“No, I don’t.” She put her hands on her hips the same way his mother used to do before giving him a thorough scolding. “I don’t even know why I crashed your car. I don’t know what I’m doing here, trying to have a Christmas with you alone. I want to help you, Brian. But you can’t seriously be entertaining taking a child from his parent.”
“But, I’m—”
She put up her hand to stop his protest. “Legally, he’s the senator’s kid. I’m sure his name’s on the birth certificate. You have no claim unless you can get a DNA test. The locket is not proof. It won’t hold up in a court of law.”
“Then I need to get a lawyer.”
“You were going to get one,” she agreed, her expression softening. “Until I got in the accident.”
