mother and a father. He wants Emma to have a mother.”
“And what about your baby?”
She gasped. “How did you know?”
“I know everything that goes on in my house. You’ve been looking ill the last several mornings, but by afternoon you glow. It’s been nice to see. My wife looked and acted the same when she was pregnant. Somehow, I always knew before she did. Will you tell Cameron?”
“Not yet. I don’t think it will make a difference. He’s supposed to marry her next Friday. I wanted him to choose me because he loves me, not because I tell him I’m carrying his child. I want to know this thing between us is more than just an obligation, the way he’s treating his impending marriage to Shelly. He makes it seem like he really wants to be with me, and he has no choice but to marry her because of the baby.”
“And you think if she really is pregnant, he doesn’t need to marry her in order to be a good father to the baby.”
“Yes. He doesn’t see it that way.”
“You understand, part of the reason he’s so adamant about marrying Shelly is because he grew up without his father.”
“Yes, and Emma and Caroline are the other reason. I understand, but marrying Shelly won’t guarantee a happy life for those kids. In fact, it will probably make things worse. Children know when their parents don’t love each other. Without a solid relationship between the parents, the children will suffer in some way. I don’t want to see Emma hurt. Or the baby, if there is one.
“I want him to marry me. If Shelly is pregnant, I’d never ask him to give up the baby or be less than the father he is to Emma to the new baby. I want him to see he has options. I guess I want the world,” she said and shrugged.
“Your grandmother gave it to you in a way. I wish I could give it to you now. Things will be difficult for you when I’m gone. I have something to ask of you. I won’t ask you for a promise, but I hope you’ll consider it a favor. If you can, you’ll do it. It’s something you may not be able to do for me, and I’ll understand if you try and can’t finish.”
“I don’t understand. What is it you want me to do?”
His mind ran in circles. “I should have started by saying there’s something I need you to tell Cameron. He has to understand. I think he’ll only understand if you tell him. You have a way of seeing things for what they are and not what we think they are.”
“I’ll tell him. What is it?”
“He’s my son.”
“Of course he is. You’ve been like a father to him since he was born.”
“No. He truly is my son. I had an affair with his mother when my wife and I separated for a short time. My wife and I reconciled later and I found out Cameron’s mother was pregnant. She wanted him. I wanted him, and I wanted to be with my wife. We had a great love despite some problems at the time in our marriage. Cameron’s mother was a good woman. She wasn’t in love with me, nor I with her. We made an agreement. She wanted to raise Cameron. I already had two children, so I agreed, so long as I could stay in his life. My wife was agreeable to the arrangement. When Cameron was born, I became the perfect weekend father, so to speak. I love that boy. I’ve been there for every significant and everyday event in his life. I had a better relationship with him than I did with my own kids, because he didn’t know I was his father. He talked and confided in me because I was a mentor and a friend to him. He could count on me.
“His mother insisted I never tell him I was his father. I’ve kept my promise, even after her death. But when I die, I want him to know he did have a father. Me. I may not have been there every day of his life, but I think I did a fine job raising him. Of all my children, I am the most proud of him. You tell him that.”
“I will tell him. I’ll tell him all of it.”
She knew why George wanted Cameron to know, now. He was in the same situation George faced years ago.