That was as far as he got before a weight barreled into his backside, sending him stumbling forward. Luckily, she caught him before they could both go headfirst into the trifle, which was perched on a wobbly little table, but when he tried to turn, he cracked his head against the low ceiling.
“Ow! What the devil?” Rubbing his head, he turned to see the door was now closed. When he tried the handle, he wasn’t at all surprised to discover it was locked.
And a glance at Athena told him he’d get no help from her. She currently had her hand pressed against her lips to keep from laughing.
“It was Callan,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling. “I saw him pull the door shut.”
It was more likely Matthew had done the kicking, while Callan had locked them in, and Cash was surprised by the burst of pride at the realization the pair worked so well together. Still, he needed to teach these lads they couldn’t trick their parents this way.
Stepping up to the door, he placed his fists on his hips—the impressiveness of which was marred, he could admit, by the fact he had to hunch over—and bellowed, “Callan Oliphant, you open this door immediately!”
Silence from the other side of the door met his demand.
But then, to his surprise, she stepped up beside him. “Matthew Adolphus Roger Merritt! Yer father and I are verra disappointed, young man.”
Cash’s brows crept toward his hairline. When had she learned Matthew’s full name?
Although he could see the twinkle of amusement in her eyes, she’d made her voice sound stern. She knew exactly how to deal with their wayward offspring, and something swelled in Cash’s heart as he saw further evidence of how good a mother she was.
God help him, but she wasmagnificent.
From the other side of the door, he could hear frantic whispering, but he only caught a few phrases. “How did she—” and “…middle names mean you’re introuble!” Then there were some hushed exchanges, and a few scrambling noises, then silence.
He exchanged a questioning glance with Athena, but she just shrugged. They both leaned slightly toward the door, wondering if their gambit would pay off.
Finally, he heard Matthew clear his throat. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But we both think it’s necessary.”
Cash hadn’t expected to be affected by hearing his son’s voice clearly for the first time, especially after they’d figured out the boys’ scheme. But after the last few hoursof worry and frantic searching, his knees went weak. Since he was already bent almost double, he just accepted the inevitable and dropped to one knee.
“Matthew, lad, are you and Callan safe?”
His son responded immediately. “Yes, Da—I mean, Father.”Dawas Callan’s word. Had Matthew been spending so much time with the younger lad, he’d begun to speak like him? “But we needed to get the two of you together. To talk.”
Cash became aware that Athena had sunk to her knees on the pillows beside him, her fingers pressed against the door. He turned to watch as she slowly rested back against the pillows, her eyes wide, as if she could starethroughthe door.
Without tearing his gaze from her, Cash called out, “And Callan’s there with you, Matthew? He’s safe too?”
To his surprise, the younger lad piped up in answer. “We’re both safe, Father. I stole the trifle because it’s Mama’s favorite, and so you wouldn’t starve, even if you’re in there forever and ever because she’s stubborn—that’s what Uncle Lyon says—and you have to remind her she loves you, that’s what Matthew says, Father.”
Father.
Callan called him “father.”Twice.
And Cash’s heartbeat had sped up at hearing it both times.
That’s what you want.
Until today, he hadn’t realizedthat’s what he wanted. Hewantedthe mischievous, devilish little lad to call himFather. He wanted Matthew to be able to call Callan brother.
Cash’s breath caught. He wanted Matthew to be able to call Athena “Mama” instead ofma’am.
He realized he was staring wide-eyed at her, which was making her flustered. She dropped her gaze to her lap and waved a hand too dismissively to be convincing.
“He just heard Matthew say it,” she managed.
“Yes.”
Father.
