Spellbound Falls (9 page)

“Did you love Mama?”

“I cared very deeply for Delia.”

“Then how come you left her before I was born?”

“Because she asked me to.”

Henry craned his head to frown up at him. “But why? Didn’t Mama care as deeply for you?”

Mac nudged him back around. “I believe she did, but I also believe she loved you more,” he said, tightening his arms for emphasis. “I think that when your mama realized she was carrying you, the notion of having my child frightened her, so she asked me to leave before I knew you existed.”

“But what’s wrong with your being my dad?”

“I believe it was your grandfather Delia feared most, Henry. Titus Oceanus is a very powerful man, and his reputation is…” Sweet Prometheus, how much should he reveal to the child? “Well, let’s just say that everyone is afraid of my father.”

Henry patted Mac’s arm. “
You’re
not afraid of him. When Mr. Trace blew that hole in Grandfather’s ship, you stole me right out from under his nose. Why, you’re not afraid of anyone.”

No, only a pint-sized, six-year-old mirror image of himself.

“You know what, Henry? Instead of calling him Grandfather, I think you should start calling him
Grampy
. So the next time you give Trace a letter to take out to sea and toss overboard, go ahead and begin it with ‘Dear Grammy and Grampy.’”

“And can you take a picture of me and Sophie so I can send it to them? I want them to see what a wonderful new friend I have.”

Mac smiled. What he wouldn’t give to be there when his old man opened Henry’s letter calling him
Grampy
. “I’m sure they’d both like that very much.”

“And can I also write to Aunt Carolina and invite her to come visit us?” Henry asked, craning around to look at him again.

Mac disguised his shudder by shrugging. He supposed he couldn’t postpone the inevitable any longer, as Henry had been asking to meet Carolina ever since she’d sent him the giant stuffed whale and book of mythology. But knowing his sister, Mac had sneaked the whale out of Henry’s arms when the boy had been sleeping, carefully taken it apart at the seam, and found Carolina’s little… surprise.

Only upon realizing his brat of a sister—obviously in love with her new nephew sight unseen—was sincerely trying to help him, Mac had taken her inspired gift out of the whale, replaced it with something of equal weight so Henry wouldn’t notice, and painstakingly restitched the seam and tucked the animal back into his son’s arms.

“Yes, I believe it is time you met your aunt. And if we give Carolina an invitation that includes actual dates, at least we’ll know when she’s coming rather than just having her show up without warning.”

Henry relaxed back against him again. “Next week, then?”

“How about next month instead? That way we’ll have time to grow accustomed to our temporary home first.”

“But all the campers will be here then.”

Mac smiled over Henry’s head. “Exactly, as I intend to sign Caro up for one or two of the sessions.” He patted Henry’s leg. “She’s going to love the idea, because I happen to know she’s quite determined to be your favorite aunt.”

Henry frowned up to him again. “But she’s my only aunt.”

Mac lifted the boy off his lap and set him down facing the door. “And if you’re a wise young man, you won’t be too quick to point that out to her,” he said with a chuckle, giving him a nudge to get him moving. “Not if you want her
to keep sending you gifts. Now go brush your teeth and strip off for bed, and I’ll be along to tuck you in.”

Henry stopped at the door. “Are you sure Mama doesn’t mind that I don’t wear pajamas?” he asked, the moonlight revealing his suspicion.

“She never used to mind when I didn’t wear any,” Mac drawled. He stood up. “But if you’re worried, tonight just before you go to sleep maybe you should ask her.”

“But what if she doesn’t answer me?”

“She will, son, I promise. Only remember you’ll hear her answer with your heart instead of your ears. And in the morning, if your mama told you she prefers you wear pajamas, tomorrow we’ll go into town and buy you some.”

Henry’s shoulders slumped. “Can we go to town even if she says it’s okay if I sleep naked? That way I’ll have something to do while Sophie’s gone on her picnic.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve decided picnics must be something only
mamas
do with their children. And dads do… they do something else with them.”

“You mean like teach their sons how to handle a sword?” Mac asked quietly.

Henry’s eyes widened. “A sword? Truly?” He stepped closer. “Will you teach me how to fight with
your
sword?”

Mac folded his arms over his chest, biting back a laugh. “I think we should start with one you can actually lift.” He canted his head. “Perhaps you would enjoy wielding the small sword my father gave me when I was your age.”

The one Carolina had thoughtfully hidden inside the giant stuffed whale.

Henry’s eyes widened even more. “Grandfather gave you a toy sword when you were my age? And you’re going to let me use it? Oh, Father, I promise to be very careful not to break it, as you must hold it dear to your heart. Can we start my lessons tomorrow while Sophie’s gone on her picnic?”

Mac could feel the excitement humming through his son clear across the porch. “I’m not just letting you use the sword your Grampy gave me; I’m giving it to you to hold dear in your heart as a gift from your
dad
. One that I hope
you will someday have the good fortune to pass down to your own son.” He walked over and opened the door of the cabin. “And you needn’t worry about it breaking; it’s a true and lethal weapon, Henry, except that it’s sized for a smaller hand. And for that reason alone you must always treat it with respect.” He turned him around and gently shoved him inside. “Now go get ready for bed.”

Henry took all of two steps and turned back, his young eyes filled with doubt. “We will begin my lessons tomorrow?”

Mac shook his head. “Not in the light of day; but I give you my word we’ll have our first lesson tomorrow night. We’ll go on a hike tomorrow instead, and find a clearing in the forest we can use.” He leaned down to look Henry level in the eyes. “And you will give me your word that you’ll not tell anyone, including Sophie, what we’re doing, if you don’t want to feel the flat of
my
sword on your backside. Understand?” he asked, stifling a smile when his son vigorously nodded.

Mac straightened. “The same rules apply to your lessons as to everything else we’ve talked about. The less people know about us, the better for everyone.”

The boy nodded even more vigorously.

Mac shoved his hands in his pockets. “I know what a burden it is to keep secrets, Henry, especially at your age and especially when those secrets don’t even make sense to you half the time. And I’m really proud of you for handling them as well as you have. A lot has happened to you in the last few months, and… well, I want you to know that every day I thank the gods you’re my son.”

Reading his intentions, Mac crouched down just as Henry charged toward him, catching him and straightening with an exaggerated grunt when the boy threw his arms around his neck in a bear of a hug.

“I’m glad you’re my dad,” Henry whispered. He leaned away just enough to look Mac in the eyes, his young eyes glistening with emotion. “I wished and wished for you to come for me after Mama died,” he said, his voice quivering. “
Because she told me over and over how strong and powerful and good you were whenever I asked.”

“If I had known about you, Henry,” Mac said thickly, “I would have come for you immediately.” He walked to the smaller downstairs bedroom and lowered the boy to the floor, then cupped his face in his hands to make him look up. “Nothing—not even your uncles—would have kept me from you. And remember that if we somehow ever get separated in the future, all you have to do is make your way to the ocean and you will find the help you need to get back to me.”

Henry beamed up at him. “I know that now.” He let out a yawn. “I understand Misneach belongs to Fiona, but I miss him terribly. Can I have a puppy of my own?”

For the love of Zeus, the child changed directions like the wind! Realizing that if he didn’t get him in bed the boy was going to talk all night, Mac pulled back the blankets. “You can have a pet once we settle into a permanent home. Now strip off and climb in. It’s well past your bedtime.”

“But I haven’t brushed my teeth,” he said even as he pulled his shirt off over his head. “And you haven’t read to me from Aunt Carolina’s book.” He shed his trousers and underpants and kicked them to the side. “Tonight I was supposed to learn how Athena took Athens away from Poseidon.”

Mac stifled a sigh. “I’m afraid brushing your teeth six times a day isn’t going to stop them from falling out, son. And as for that particular war between the gods, the people of Athens decided they liked Athena’s gift better than they liked Poseidon’s,” he continued, lifting Henry into bed. He sat down beside him and tucked the blankets under the boy’s chin. “And so they chose Athena as their goddess.”

“What was her gift?”

“She planted an olive tree in the city, whereas Poseidon drove his trident into the ground at the Acropolis and created a spring.” Mac shrugged. “And deciding an olive tree was more useful, the people chose Athena as their patron.”

“Didn’t they know that water is
necessary
for life?”

“They preferred Athena’s gift because they could eat the olives, whereas they couldn’t drink from Poseidon’s spring because it was salt water.”

The boy arranged his stuffed whale under the blankets beside him with a frown. “But weren’t they afraid having a woman as their patron would leave them vulnerable to attack?” He snorted. “Because the gods were warring against each other all the time and people kept getting caught in the middle, they should have chosen Poseidon to protect them because he was stronger.”

“Ah, but Athena was known for her wisdom. And wisdom is far more powerful than brute strength, Henry. Which is why being big and strong and knowing how to wield a sword isn’t always enough; it takes wisdom to recognize if something is worth fighting over, so you can decide when to stand your ground and when to retreat to fight another day.” Mac patted Henry’s chest and stood up. “Now close your eyes and talk to your mama, and let me know in the morning if we need to buy you pajamas.”

“Sophie told me her mama is always running away from people,” Henry said just as Mac reached the bedroom door. “So does that mean Olivia is wise like Athena? Because I think Sophie believes her mama’s just scared of everyone.”

Mac could see he needed to start preparing for bedtime a good hour before he wanted Henry to go to sleep. “Why don’t you wait until you know Olivia better, and then decide for yourself if you think she’s wise or frightened? Good night,” he said with all the authority of a man nearing the end of his patience, closing the door to a crack before Henry could ask another question.

He walked back out to the porch, leaving the exterior door ajar so he could listen for movement inside, and stood staring toward Olivia’s home, which sat back in the woods well away from the main lodge.

Mac chuckled at how alike he and Henry truly were, since he’d found himself wondering the same thing about Olivia as he’d spent most of today trying to find her. But he hadn’t sensed any fear in her this morning when he’d offered
to help her get Inglenook ready for the upcoming sessions; more like… discomfort. Which made him think Olivia wasn’t physically afraid of people but simply preferred to run away rather than deal with whatever they might want from her.

The woman did seem to have a hard time saying no. And Mac suspected she more often than not swallowed her anger to avoid engaging in open warfare. Which was probably why despite being a mere mortal, Olivia Baldwin had somehow mastered the difficult art of becoming invisible.

Even when she was standing in plain sight, it was as if she weren’t there. More than once today when he’d been ripping rotten boards off Inglenook’s endless spans of docks, Mac had looked up to find she’d disappeared. She walked with the stealth of a kitchen mouse, and when she spoke, usually only to give instructions, he’d found himself going very still and even having to cant his head to hear her.

He figured that following yesterday’s attack, Olivia had been as talkative as she got.

Something was weighing down her shoulders, he decided: some deeply rooted… sadness that accounted for her not wanting to draw attention to herself. And though she kept saying Eileen was the brains of their business, Mac would bet his bottomless satchel of money that without Olivia, Inglenook wouldn’t exist.

He wondered about her husband, and whether the sadness he sensed was because she missed him so much. When he’d carefully asked about Sophie’s father at breakfast this morning, John had told Mac that his son had died four years ago fighting in the war in Iraq. John had also mentioned—somewhat angrily, Mac had noticed—that before his death Keith had spent most of his marriage to Olivia away from home.