A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel (32 page)

“Having fun.”

Cassie reached in her purse and handed Trent a small
hairbrush. “Here, go clean him up.”

“Am I supposed to use that to scrub his face? He’s
got enough dirt and sweat on him for ten boys.”

Cassie giggled as Trent took his son’s hand.

“Dr. Cassandra Jones, what are you doing here?” Brad
Shoemaker asked.

“I could ask you the same question,” Cassie
replied.

“I grew up in the house behind the Schulster’s. Our
parents are close friends. And you?”

“Amy is a friend, and Trent knows Amy and Berto. If
you grew up in that neighborhood, then guess you really do know
Trent Callahan.”

“Of course. I thought I saw you with him. How’s Shawn
doing?”

“Great.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Hey, Brad. Good to see you.” Trent gave Cassie back
the hairbrush and extended his hand to Brad.

Cassie put her arm around Trent and leaned into
him.

“So are you two next?” Brad asked.

“I think so,” Trent answered with a grin. “And you? I
don’t see a date on your arm.”

Dallas joined them and rolled her eyes. "I never see
Brad with a date."

"That's not true, Dallas. I date. I've just never
found anyone who has captured my heart."

Dallas raised her eyebrows. "What exactly do you want
in a female?"

“Well, since Amy is taken…” Brad laughed. “Find me
one just like her, and I’ll marry her.”

"Has anyone heard where they are going on their
honeymoon?" Cassie asked.

"Colonial Williamsburg," Dallas said with a grin.
"Berto arranged everything. I heard he booked a special room at the
historic Williamsburg Inn. They're driving down tomorrow afternoon,
and after spending several days there, they are going to the Outer
Banks."

"That sounds lovely," Cassie replied.

"Amy is thrilled." Dallas smiled. "Everyone figured
they'd spend tonight in Mac's condo, but apparently not. Berto
won't say where they are going."

***

It was early in the evening when Trent and Cassie
returned home with Shawn. Cassie slipped out of her dress and into
something more comfortable, while Trent chased Shawn into the
tub.

“Are you going to have a big wedding like we went to
today?” Shawn asked.

Trent splashed his son. “No. We’re going to do
something much smaller, but it will still be a wedding.”

“Are you going to have a wedding cake and
everything?”

“Better ask Cas. I think she’ll be the one planning
it.”

“Is Cassie pregnant?”

“Why would you ask something like that?”

“Because you said you and my mother got married
because she was pregnant.”

“That was different. Here, wash your hair.” He
squeezed a glob of shampoo into Shawn’s hand. “Scrub.”

Trent turned on the hand-held sprayer and then helped
his son rinse the shampoo.

“You never answered me,” Shawn said when he was
finished rubbing his eyes dry with a clean washcloth.

“About what?”

“Did you and Cassie make a baby?” Shawn grabbed his
sponge shaped like a dinosaur and squirted the liquid soap on
it.

“No. This time I’m getting married because I love
Cas. I don’t need another reason to marry her.”

“Did you love my mother?”

“Yes. And I think I’ll always love her. She was very
special to me, and she gave me the most wonderful son.”

“Do you love Cassie more?”

“It’s not a matter of loving someone more. I had your
mother, and now I have Cas.”

“Are you going to make babies?”

“Babies are expensive, and with this house, I’m not
sure we can afford any right now.”

“I want a little brother.”

“We can wish for whatever we want, but we get
whichever one happens. Time to get out.”

Trent helped Shawn out of the tub and into his
pajamas.

“I don’t want to go to bed yet.”

“It’s still early, but I wanted you clean.”

“Will Cassie read one of her big stories to me?”

“Go ask Cas.”

Trent chased his son out of the bathroom and then
cleaned up behind the child. By the time he made his way to the
living room, Shawn was curled up in Cassie’s lap, while she read a
classic to him. It didn’t take long for the boy to fall asleep.
Cassie carried him to his bed and tucked him in.

When she returned, Trent was waiting for her with two
small gifts. He handed her the first one and she opened it to find
a small pendent of tiny diamonds.

She tilted her head and gazed at him through slightly
squinted eyes. He handed her the other box.

Inside was a tiny gold chain. The grin that spread
across her face was worth the cost.

“It’s not an engagement ring.”

“Oh, I think I like this much better.”

“I promise I can handle this clasp with one
hand.”

“I think we need to get naked.”

“So do I.”

~~34~~

Cassie turned off the shop vac and looked carefully
at the freshly sanded hardwood floors to make sure she had not
missed a spot. Then she put a tack cloth over a mop and began to
remove all traces of dust.

“Cas?”

“Don’t come in. I’ll come to you.”

She smiled broadly at Trent and asked, “Need
help?”

“Yes. I need three hands, not one to load them onto
the hand truck.”

She went out to the big delivery vehicle Trent had
borrowed from River City Manufacturing. She fingered a cabinet door
and looked at it carefully. “Are you sure it will match?”

“Yes. I took a sample over to Mom’s and double
checked.”

“These cabinets are beautiful. She’s going to be
shocked.”

“Speaking of samples, I’d like your opinion on the
countertop.”

“I wish she’d say yes.”

“She will. We’ve got to give her time.”

***

Cassie watched the team that came to pack up the
dinosaur exhibit. She almost hated to see it go, but she had
paintings and mummies to display. A small smile crossed her face as
she turned and headed for her office. Time was too precious to
spend it watching other people work. She flipped through her phone
messages, then spent a few more minutes answering emails. Seemed
she was always one exhibit ahead of what was happening, but at
least now she had what she needed from Brad Shoemaker, a real
budget.

The ringing of her phone pulled her away from the
seafaring navigational tools. “Dr. Jones, how may I help you?”

“Well, I certainly don’t need any help. I called to
tell you I have several pieces of mail for Trent.” Trent’s mom’s
voice was rather curt. “I thought I’d drop them off with you before
I went to work.”

“Are you working three to eleven?”

“That’s the shift I always work. No reason to change
it.”

Cassie’s mind flew with ideas, but quickly settled on
one. “Robin, I’m not going to be in the office this afternoon.
Would it be too much trouble for you to stop by the house?” Cassie
knew that would be easier for Trent’s mom, but she sat quietly and
waited for the woman’s answer.

“I can do that.”

“Wonderful. But if it’s too much trouble, I’m sure
Trent could stop over to your house this evening.”

“Well, several envelopes appear to be important. I
wouldn’t want them to get lost.”

Cassie furrowed her brow, wondering what would make
the woman say such a thing. Certainly Trent was capable of
retrieving his mail from his mom's kitchen table. “Um, I have an
idea. I’ll be leaving here in another thirty minutes and it will
take me ten or fifteen minutes to get home. Why don’t you meet me
then and we’ll have lunch. Besides, Shawn goes to therapy at two
and it’s my turn to take him.”

“Just the two if us?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t help but smile as she doodled on
a scrap of paper. “I don’t have anything special for lunch, just
salad and sandwiches.”

As soon as she ended the call, she packed up her
things and took a quick walk through the museum before leaving for
home. Robin Callahan had been a thorn from the very beginning, but
Cassie knew the woman was being overly protective of Trent and
Shawn.

Cassie opened her front door and inhaled. She quickly
scurried around the living room, picking up Shawn’s toys and making
the place look as neat as possible. Then she went into the kitchen,
started wiping the counters, and loading the dishwasher with the
morning’s bowls and cups. She wished she were more domestic, but it
just wasn’t important in her life. When the doorbell rang, she
wiped her hands and almost ran to the front door.

“Hi. Come in. Your timing is perfect. I just got
here.”

“No you didn’t. You’ve been home for at least twenty
minutes.”

Cassie looked at her watch, then
at Robin, and shrugged. “I guess so. It feels as if it’s been less
than five.”
What the heck was she doing
sitting down the road watching me? Making sure I had enough time to
clean up?

“Here’s his mail.”

“Thanks.” She took the packet of envelopes and put
them on the small table by the front door. “Let’s go into the
kitchen.”

“Aren’t you going to look at it?”

“What? His mail?” She gazed at Robin. “It’s his, not
mine.”

“Not even curious?” Robin raised her eyebrows.

“Why? We have no secrets from each other.” She didn’t
like where this conversation was heading, and she didn’t want this
to be an unpleasant lunch. “Please, let’s go into the kitchen.
Trent can deal with his personal matters when he comes home
tonight.”

She had an inkling that Robin was referring to the
envelope from Riverside University. That logo was unmistakable,
even though she only saw a tiny piece of it when she put the
letters down. She wanted to rip it open and read it, or at least
hold it up to the light to see if she could decipher if it was an
acceptance or rejection. She knew there were only a few openings
left, but she saw no reason for Trent to be rejected. His high
school grades were excellent.

Trying to stay sociable and chatty, she asked, “Iced
tea, water, juice, or coffee?”

“Iced tea will be fine, if it’s not laden in
sugar.”

“Oh, I make it plain.” She put the sugar bowl and
another small container of artificial sweeteners on the table.
“Seems we don’t exactly drink our tea the same way. I like a little
less sugar than Trent does.”

She filled two glasses with ice and put the pitcher
on the table, along with some spoons. “Help yourself.”

Her insides were churning with molten lava. She
wanted this lunch to go well, and so far, Robin wasn’t giving an
inch.

“Your grandson misses you.” She peeked over her
shoulder as she mixed several types of lettuce into a large
bowl.

Robin added sugar to her tea and stirred it. “Well, I
would suspect that, after all, I’ve raised him.”

Cassie bit her lip as she cut up a tomato. “Robin,
please. I want us to have a nice lunch, but mine won’t sit very
well if you are going to constantly snipe at me. I’m not sure why
you seem to hate me--”

“I don’t hate you.”

She let out a breath and inhaled deeply. “Okay, maybe
hate is too strong, but you don’t like me very much.” Cassie picked
up the bowl and turned to where Robin was sitting.

“That’s not true.” The woman pursed her lips.

Cassie put the salad bowl on the table and grabbed
two soft rolls for sandwiches. “Turkey or roast beef?”

“Turkey is fine.”

“Humus?”

“What’s that?”

Cassie smiled. “I’ll put it on the side. You can try
it. If you like it, you can add it to your sandwich.”

She put the sandwiches, silverware and napkins on the
table, and took a seat. “I’m not trying to steal your son or your
grandson.”

“You’re wrecking his life. I’ve worked hard to make
him take his responsibilities seriously. He made a major mistake
when he got Colleen pregnant.”

Cassie placed a generous amount of salad on her
plate, but decided against taking a bite because her stomach
continued to churn with pent-up anger. “That was a long time ago,
and he was still very young. He loved her and he loves his son.
Don’t hold that against him for the rest of his life.”

“I don’t have to. Shawn is the proof of that
mistake.”

“No, Shawn is Trent’s son, and the little piece of
Colleen that still lives. Right or wrong, Shawn was conceived with
love.” She looked directly at Shawn’s grandmother. “Colleen is
Trent’s past. Now, he has a future.”

“With you?”

“Yes. I love him.”

“You’re too old for him.”

Her stomach tied in a knot and she pushed her lunch
away. “I’m a few years older. Four years isn’t much.”

“But you’ve got your doctorate.”

“Yes. I do. And your son dreams of being an
architect. Did you know that about him?”

“He can’t afford to go to the university.”

“With financial aid, we’ll manage.”

“You’re putting ideas into his head.”

“Because I’ve shown him how dreams can become a
reality?” She shook her head. “I love him, and I love Shawn. You’ve
raised two wonderful boys, and from what Trent has said, you’ve
done it alone. I admire that.” She picked up her sandwich and put
it back down without taking a bite. “Whether or not you realize it,
we’re both on the same side. We want what is best for them.”

She watched Robin spread a little humus on the
sandwich and take a bite.

“I know you and Trent have had a few differences
lately, and I doubt it’s the first time that has happened.”

"That's none of your business."

"True. But when it affects our lives, it becomes my
business." Cassie took a bite of her sandwich and chewed it as she
thought about what she would say next. "It's going to be hard for
Trent to keep up two houses. If you were here, you'd have your own
place, yet you'd be close to your son and grandson. Shawn misses
you." She took another bite and waited.