‘Thank you.’
They continued into the woods down a path that cut off from the road, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees.
Clara glanced up at Sam. ‘I’d like to meet the boys properly… I’ve only seen Kaleb that one time.’
‘Of course.’ Warmth spread through Sam’s chest. He smiled at her. ‘We’re going bowling on Friday, and then they come out here on Monday for the whole of next week. I’d be happy for you to come bowling with us if you like.’
‘I’d love that, thanks.’
Sam stopped for a moment, looking at the view down towards a babbling brook tumbling its way through the forest. Just below them, a little wooden bridge crossed over it.
He glanced at Clara, who was watching him. The sunlight caught in her hair, highlighting strands of warm honey amidst the brown. Skye was at her feet, sniffing around the wildflowers springing to life in the tree roots. Soon there would be a carpet of bluebells covering the forest floor.
They walked down the winding path to the stream, then stopped on the bridge, leaning on the wooden railings and watching the water tumbling over the stones on its way through the glade.
‘Clara.’ Sam sighed, linking his gaze with hers. ‘There’s something I need to tell you about the boys.’
‘What is it?’
He swallowed hard, his fingers fidgeting on the rail. ‘The thing is… Kaleb and Jacob, they’re not… they’re not actually my biological children.’
The words hung in the air between them. Clara’s mouth fell open, then her brow creased.
‘I met Olive when she was pregnant with Jacob,’ Sam went on. ‘Kaleb was almost two at the time. So, I’ve known them for a long time. Most of Kaleb’s life and all of Jacob’s. I was at his birth, for god’s sake. They’re my kids in everything but genetics. I’ve always considered myself their dad, even if the law doesn’t recognise that, and neither do some people.’
He paused, eyeing Clara’s face. Her initial shocked look was giving way to a different expression. She tilted her head and reached out, placing her hand on his upper arm. ‘Oh, Sam.’
‘I know other people see it differently.’ He turned away, rubbing his hand over his chin and looking downstream. ‘There’s a weird kind of snobbery among some people. Or a feeling that I’m not adequate somehow, which is crazy. Those boys… they’re my world, just the same as if I was the one who… Well, you know. But I’ve been there for them – always. I may not share their DNA, but I’m their father in every way that matters.’
‘Of course you are. And I think it’s insane that people wouldn’t think that way.’
‘But they don’t. Like maybe you noticed Dominic didn’t mention them once. He doesn’t get why I followed them up here when Olive and I split. He thinks it’s mad that I let my life bedictated by Olive’s moves, and that I should have cut them off along with her. But how could I do that?’
‘You couldn’t, and I’m glad you didn’t. You made a difficult choice, not an easy one.’ She stepped forward, pushed up on tiptoes and wrapped her free arm around his neck, still holding onto little Skye. ‘I think you’re amazing for doing what you did.’ She placed a kiss on his cheek, holding it there for a moment. ‘Those boys have grown up with a loving dad, when they might have grown up having been abandoned by not just one, but two dads.’
‘Thank you.’ Sam slipped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. ‘I’m so glad you see it like that. Normally, I don’t tell anyone. I don’t feel that I should have to explain my life choices to anyone. But I wanted you to know.’
Clara pulled back slightly. ‘Thank you for telling me. And it doesn’t change my opinion of you. Or if it does, it makes me think even more highly of you. You stood by your kids.’
A lump formed in Sam’s throat. ‘Thank you. I’m glad you get it.’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Well, when you meet them, you won’t be left wondering why they don’t look like me.’
People occasionally said that, or commented on how like their mum they were, though amusingly enough, he’d had people say they were very like him.
In personality maybe.
‘I really can’t wait to meet them.’
Sam smiled. In that case, Friday couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter Twenty-One
Clara
The bowling alley in Perth buzzed with the sound of crashing pins and excited chatter as Clara entered her name onto the electronic scoring screen. Kaleb and Jacob were already selecting balls and pretending they were going to drop the heaviest one on each other’s feet. Sam stood behind them, watching with his hands in his back pockets. ‘Are you two ready?’
