Clover shook his head, and Cash tucked him into the blankets before climbing onto the king-sized mattress next to him. After the night’s horrors, he had no intentions of letting his son out of his sight, and Clover was all too eager to sleep in his dad’s room. They stayed at the mansion until an unreasonably late hour, and when they were finally permitted to leave, the kind officer had driven them home.
“I’ll be right here when you wake up.” Cash wrapped an arm around his boy’s shoulders. “You don’t have to be afraid.”
“I’m not,” Clover said. “I knew you’d come for me. I know what you did in the military. Grandpa told me.”
“I hope he didn’t tell you too much.”
“I like the stories,” Clover said. “You’re a hero, so I knew you would find me.”
“I’ll always come for you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Cash kissed his son’s head and turned off the light. He’d plugged in a nightlight in the corner at Clover’s request, though. The boy hadn’t used one for months, but they both needed it tonight.
“So, that was my mom?” Clover asked.
“She was. We’ve talked about her before, but do you have any questions?”
“Is she a bad person?”
“Unfortunately, I think so,” Cash said. “Which is why you shouldn’t be upset that she left us. It had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with her. You’re an amazing kid, and this is her loss.”
“I know,” Clover said. “Grandma tells me that all the time. She says I’m her perfect boy, and anyone who doesn’t want to be with me is dumb. She says it’s why you’re such a great dad.”
“Oh my gosh, what don’t my parents discuss with you?”
Clover shrugged. “We talked a lot about you whenever you were overseas. We talked about my mom too. I know she didn’t leave because of me. I just didn’t think I would ever meet her.”
“Are you upset that you did?”
“I don’t know,” Clover said. “She scared me. I don’t want her living with us.”
“Well, she won’t. I won’t let her hurt you ever again.”
“I know, Dad. I’ve known for a long time that my mother was never coming back. It’s okay. I’m not sad.”
“You sound sad, though.”
“Because I thought Sable loved us.” Clover sniffled, and Cash was glad it was dark so that his son wouldn’t see his pain. “I thought she wanted to live with us and be my mom.”
“Really? What makes you say that?”
“Right here.” Clover rubbed his chest. “Something tugs on my heart whenever I see her.”
“You felt a tugging?” Cash asked in disbelief. Rumor had it that when a single parent experienced the soulmate bond, a parental form of the connection spread to the children, but he’d never seen it happen. It seemed his relationship with Sable was manifesting in his son, though.
“Yeah, right here.” Clover rubbed his chest again. “It started the first day I saw her, and it keeps getting stronger. I know that scary lady is my real mother, but I don’t know her. I know Sable, though, and you love her. I’d hoped you two would get married, but I guess she doesn’t want to be my mom, either.”
Clover dissolved into tears, and Cash wanted to hate Sable. How could she do this to his boy? It was bad enough she’d broken his heart, but now she’d hurt his kid. How could they both feel the soulmate bond when she clearly didn’t care about them?
“Clover, look at me.” Cash cupped his son’s face. “Remember what Grandma said. Anyone who doesn’t want to be with you is dumb. This isn’t on you. She’s being foolish, but I love you. I’m not leaving you. I’ll never leave you.”
“I know, Dad, but I really liked Sable. My heart hurts.”
“I know, buddy.” Cash hugged his son until the boy cried himself to sleep. “Mine does too.”
The phone rang, destroying the silence, and Cash jerked awake. The sunlight peeking through the curtains warned they’d overslept, but he didn’t want to wake Clover. The boy needed his rest.
