A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel (5 page)

“We’ve shared a few kisses, and you’ve been very
generous to Shawn. But there are a few things you should know, and
right now is not the time or the place.”

She raised her eyebrows and stared at him. “Are you
still married?”

They both spotted Shawn as he ran out of the gift
shop towards the restrooms.

“No, I’m not married." His brow furrowed and he
watched his son disappear behind a men's room door. "Can we talk
about this later? I’ll call you this evening.”

“I won’t get out of here until at least nine thirty.
That’s a little late for you.”

“I’ll call you at ten.”

She nodded. “We do need to talk, and not a
five-minute argument over accommodations, or sleeping arrangements
at the beach.”

~~5~~

Damn. Why did Cas have to say
sleeping arrangements?
Standing, Trent
stuffed his hands into his front pockets, hoping to camouflage the
effect she had on him. He quickly excused himself, went to the
men’s room, and hid in a stall. Taking a few deep breaths, he
attempted to clear his mind and focus on Shawn who had returned to
the gift shop. He washed his hands and practically ignored Cassie,
as he went to check on his son.

“Daddy, they have this and this. And look at these.
We could do them together.” He picked up a three-dimensional puzzle
that was meant to be glued together.

“That’s very expensive. Put it back and don’t touch.”
Trent knitted his eyebrows and pressed his lips into a thin
line.

Cassie’s hand rested on Trent’s back, spreading
intense warmth over him. “The question that remains is, does Daddy
have time to put a puzzle like that together?”

“I make the time to be with my son.”

“Show me which one you like.” She picked Shawn up so
he could see the others on the shelf. He finally settled on the
dinosaur, which didn’t surprise her. She put him down and then
asked. “Did you choose a book?”

Shawn scrunched up his face. “Kinda, but Daddy said
only one item.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “He did say one book.
Which book did you pick out?”

She was surprised to see him return with a book on
geology. “Oh, you do have problem. But I think I know how to handle
it.”

Trent stepped into the conversation. “I said one
book, and the puzzle is too expensive.”

She held her hand up to Trent. “Shawn, you need to
make a decision. You may have the book. It’s something you can read
over and over again. Or you may choose the puzzle. You’ll need your
father’s help to assemble it. When it’s done, you can keep it as a
reminder of the fun you and your dad had putting it together.”

“Geez,” Trent muttered half under his breath.

She turned around and beamed at him, except he didn’t
smile back.

Shawn took the puzzle and the book she was holding,
and disappeared around the corner with Trent behind him.

When Shawn returned, he was only holding the puzzle.
“Daddy said I had to pay half of the cost.” He reached in his
pocket and withdrew a small wad of folded money held by a large
paperclip.

“You have a lot of cash there. Let’s see. Do you know
what is half of thirty four dollars?” She flipped through the money
he was holding.

“No. I know four quarters make a dollar, and that two
fives make ten.”

“Well, this costs more than ten, so let’s make it six
dollars and we’ll call it even, okay?”

“That’s a five and a dollar.”

She held the box and grinned while he carefully chose
the two bills. She’d never met such a gifted child. Her heart went
out to him, as if she could in someway protect him just with her
love. Tears began to fill her eyes, and when she turned, she found
Trent’s biceps next to her face. She leaned into his arm and
whispered, “How do you cope?”

***

At nine that night, as the parents and children were
leaving, Cassie discovered Trent waiting for her. “I’ll be a few
more minutes.”

He nodded and sat on a bench while she finished her
job. It was twenty minutes to ten when she appeared with her
briefcase.

She looked at her watch. “I’d suggest that you follow
me home, but I’m starved. I skipped dinner tonight. I need to eat,
and I don’t do fast foods. There’s a little waterfront restaurant
that still sells food at this hour. The menu is limited because the
restaurant is closed, but the bar is open. Would you like to follow
me there?”

“That’s fine. Is it a place where we can talk?”

She nodded. “If it’s too noisy, we can walk in the
park.”

A few minutes later, they were sitting at a small
table on the café’s patio. She’d ordered the club sandwich and
raspberry lemonade, and he’d ordered a beer.

“You’d better help me with this sandwich, because
I’ll never eat all of it.”

He grinned at her. “I’m sure I’ll find room for
whatever you don’t want.”

She fiddled with her glass and then gazed up at him.
“I know you wanted to talk to me, but I also want to talk to you. I
want you to be straight with me. You’re the father, where’s the
mother?”

Trent looked up and swallowed. “My wife died in
childbirth. My life shattered, and it’s never been the same.”

“Ohmigod, I’m so sorry.” She took his hand and held
it.

“So am I. Later I found out that Shawn had the same
heart problem. The difference was, she never knew she had one. They
don’t routinely check children for such things, but Shawn’s
pediatrician knew the situation and ordered a few tests. The first
time the tests were inconclusive, but when they did it again, they
knew he had a problem.”

“How old was he when you found out?”

“Nine months.”

“And he’s just now getting the surgery?”

He nodded. “My insurance didn’t want to pay because
it was congenital. I got a lawyer who fought with them, but they
refused to pay for this surgery because it’s cutting-edge
technology. It’s robotic and the least invasive. Tate’s dad found
out about Shawn and went back to the company where he works and
explained the situation. They had just started using the robot on
adults, but Shawn needed smaller equipment. They developed it.”

“I only knew bits and pieces, and that Tate’s dad was
involved. It’s very exciting.”

“No, it’s downright scary. There’s a big possibility
that he won’t make it through the surgery, and a bigger possibility
that they won’t be able to fix the problem.” Squeezing her hand, he
continued, “You asked me how I cope. I don’t. It’s one day at a
time.” He stood and went to the railing overlooking the water.

Cassie knew he needed a few minutes to collect his
emotions.

When the waitress brought the food, she brought
another lemonade and asked Cassie if he wanted another beer. Cassie
reached over and sipped it. “Yes, please. This one is warm.”

“Trent, come eat.”

He turned and smiled. She gave him half of her
sandwich, and they didn’t talk much until she was finished.

“Try to explain to me why you don’t want your son to
visit the beach, because I want us to do this.”

“I don’t like imposing on anyone. I can’t afford to
do it. And I’m not ready to share my life with another woman.”

His words stung right to her core. “I already said
we’d be there as friends. We need to discuss this, and I need to
use the ladies room”

She ducked by the cashier and paid the bill while she
was inside. Then she stood and watched him for a moment before she
stepped outside. Handsome was the only word to describe him, and
she knew she was chasing him. She watched him stand, take out his
wallet, and tuck some cash under his glass.

She shoved the door open. “That had better not be
anything other than the tip, because I just paid for the meal.”

“Then you take the money. I told you, I don’t have
time for a relationship.”

She picked up the cash he had left and exchanged it
for a five. His long strides made it difficult for her to catch up,
being she was wearing heels. “You’re not walking away from me, so
don’t even try it.”

He stopped and waited for her.

She took his arm. “I’ll admit, it’s not a deep
meaningful relationship, but there’s something going on between us,
because no man as ever kissed me the way you have.”

“It’s simple. I’m a horny bastard, and you’re easy
prey.”

“I’m not that easy, and it’s not my fault you’re so
damned good-looking that I’d be willing to do almost anything to
get you into my bed.”

He laughed, then grew very serious. “I’m not a
gigolo, and my son is not a pawn.”

“Are you saying that your kisses have meant nothing?
Because they sure as hell did something to me.”

“Yeah, I got a kick out of watching you swoon. Nice
to know I’ve still got it.”

“Then kiss me.”

He did. It sent fire through her system. She ground
her pelvis against the budge that formed almost instantly. Every
sane thought vanished, leaving her only with the heat of the
moment. When his lips broke from hers, he pushed her away and held
her at arms length. “Yeah, I still got it.”

Desire pulsed through her entire body. She licked her
lips and gazed into his face. “Yeah, you’ve still got it and I want
it.”

“Now, right here?”

“No. My place.”

It took them only a few minutes to reach Sweet
Grandview, but in that length of time, some semblance of order came
to her. She closed her apartment door and dropped the lock.

With hands on her hips, she started talking, “A few
rules. If you leave, and I’m not awake, make sure the door is
locked on your way out. We’re not doing a damned thing without a
condom. I’m not into anything kinky, and you’d better know the
meaning of the word no.”

He plopped down on her sofa. “Well, you’re out of
luck for tonight, because I don’t carry condoms in my wallet.”

She reached into a drawer and fished around until she
found the small box that she had purchased. “Here.” She tossed the
box to him.

He caught it and stood, ready to drop his pants.

“Don’t be so crude. I want to talk to you first.”

She grabbed two bottles from the refrigerator and
brought them into where he was sitting. She passed one to him. “You
and Shawn are coming to the beach with me. I want to give him that
opportunity. I don’t want to go alone. I want the two of you with
me.” She took a deep breath. “I’m not easy, and I don’t go jumping
in bed with a guy because he’s cute.”

“Could have fooled me.”

She made a face and continued. “There are a few
things you should know about me. I’ve been married, and I'm now
divorced. I had just started graduate school when I made that big
mistake. We flew out to Las Vegas and got married. Two weeks later,
I walked into his office, and he was banging one of his freshmen
students on his desk. I filed for a divorce the next day, dropped
my classes, and transferred to Riverside University. That was seven
years ago. Since then, I’ve had two relationships. The last one
fell apart over a year ago. Oh, and I’ve always used a condom, even
when I was married.”

He took a long pull on his beer, then set it on the
table next to the sofa. “Colleen was everything to me. We married
straight out of high school. We didn’t tell anyone, other than my
mom. She was five months into her pregnancy when we graduated and
married. Every ultrasound she had showed a healthy, thriving baby
boy. I was with her when she had the contraction and her heart gave
out. In a matter of minutes…I was holding Shawn…and my wife was
gone.” Tears spilled over his cheeks. "Two weeks later, every trace
of her was gone from my life. Our wedding picture was gone along
with all of her little possessions.”

His sadness spilled over onto her. She found a tissue
box and returned to his side. He wiped his cheeks with his hands
and snuffled.

“What happened to everything?”

“I never asked, but I’m sure my mom did it. She told
me I had to move on with my life and forget the past. Shawn is the
only little piece of Colleen that I still have.”

She turned around and stretched out on the sofa,
laying her head into his lap. “I don’t know if the pain of losing
someone ever goes away. I lost my mom when I was sixteen, and I
still cry sometimes. I’m envious of friends who still have their
mother. I can’t imagine the grief of losing a partner.”

“I don’t want to lose Shawn.” One of his hands toyed
with a lock of her hair, while the other rested on her abdomen.

“Don’t lose hope. Do you go to church?”

He nodded.

“I’ll go with you. We’ll pray together.”

Silence filled the room for several minutes as he
closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the sofa.
She took his hand and moved it to her breast. “Open your heart.
There’s always room to love another person.”

“Why are you pursuing me? You could have any guy you
wanted.”

He cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her
nipple, making it bead. Heat shot through her. “I don’t have an
answer that makes any sense. That day I saw you with Shawn in my
office, I… it was as if… Cupid took dead aim and shot an arrow into
my heart. My body instantly pulsed with desire. I’m running around
thinking I’m lusting after a married man, as if I’d lost every
brain cell. Taking those books to Shawn… I wasn’t expecting your
kiss.”

He chuckled.

She smiled at him. “After that, I was hooked. I can’t
explain it. Love at first sight? Okay, I settle for lust at first
sight being we really don’t know each other that well.”

“You’re a PhD and I have a high school diploma. I
have nothing to offer someone like you.”

“I don’t think the levels of education or salaries
have anything to do with it. I like being with you. Even here, like
this, it feels natural, comfortable. But when you kiss me, my
entire body is set aflame.”