Page 58 of Highland Flame

“I’m sorry, I didna tell ye, Cam. I had planned on doin’ it, but ye’ve been avoidin’ me. I didna have the chance.”

“Didna have the chance?” He shook his head in disgust. “Ye should have told me before we ever got intimate.”

“I ken, ye’re right.” She truly did look sorry, but he didn’t care. He wanted her to know how badly it hurt him and that it wasn’t all right to keep secrets from him. Not when he’d already opened up and told her his.

“Why didna ye think to mention it before?”

“I – I suppose I was scared.”

“Of what?” he asked, entering the room, dragging dirt all over the floor. “Was it me ye were afraid of? I dinna understand. Lass, what have I ever done to hurt ye?”

“Nothin’,” she replied. “Ye have been ever so kind to me. I was wrong in no’ tellin’ ye about it. It’s just that . . . I mean . . . I have been havin’ thoughts lately, wonderin’ if I even want to keep my baby. I’ve been very confused.”

“What?” That took Cam by surprise. “Do ye mean ye’d consider givin’ up yer baby?”

“I – I dinna ken, Cam. Ye see, I am no’ sure that I willna always think of my abusive husband every time I look at the face of my child.”

“Oh. I see,” he said, starting to understand her now. “Even so, Yvaine, it’s no’ right. It isna the bairn’s fault. Ye canna give away yer child. What is the matter with ye?”

“Me?” she asked, becoming defensive. “Isna that exactly what ye’re doin’ with Avianca? Givin’ her up to another family, rather than to raise her yerself?”

“That’s different,” he said, shaking his head.

“Is it really?”

“Aye, it is. My child had a mathair that was a whore.”

“Just like ye did,” said Yvaine, raising her chin. “So, are ye afraid she’s goin’ to turn out like ye? Is that what puts doubt in yer head?”

“Nay. I mean . . . mayhap. A little, I suppose. Yvaine, I am a man who isna married. I’m a warrior, for God’s sake. I still dinna ken if I’d ever really make a guid faither to any child – especially Avianca.”

“Avianca has no one else, Cam. I dinna even see how ye could have ever considered no’ takin’ her to live with ye.”

“Yer bairn-to-be doesna have anyone else either.”

Her eyes interlocked with his, and neither of them knew what to say. They’d each made their point, and met their match. Finally, Cam broke the infernal silence.

“I havena told anyone yet, but I’ve decided to keep Avianca.”

“Really?” Her features softened. “That’s wonderful.”

“I have grown very fond of her lately. Even though it will be hard, I plan on bein’ the faither to her that she deserves. I decided I need to take responsibility for my actions. I canna let her go to another family, because if I do, someday I will regret it.”

“Oh, Cam, that’s the right decision!” She ran over to him, attempting to give him a hug, but he stopped her.

“Ye really dinna want to touch me right now, I assure ye.”

“Ye’re right,” she said with a smile. “I am truly impressed by yer decision, and ken ye are doin’ the right thing. Avianca will be so happy when she finds out. I ken how hard this is for someone like ye, bein’ a Highland warrior and all. Especially, since ye arena married.”

Cam felt nervous by what he was about to say, but knew it needed to be done. “Yvaine, I must admit that I had planned to ask ye to be the mathair of my daughter. However, I am no’ sure that ye would want to do it. No’ now that ye arena even sure ye want to keep the bairn in yer womb.”

“Y-ye want me? To be Avianca’s mathair?” she asked. “Cam, does this mean ye are askin’ me to marry ye?”

“I – I guess so,” he said, scratching the back of his neck and looking the other way.

Her smile dissipated. “Why do ye look in the opposite direction, and make it sound as if ye’re no’ sure about it, after all. That isna much of a proposal.”

“I suppose no’, but ye need to realize that things have changed.”