This was difficult for her. She knew something about him and found it difficult to explain and make him understand George’s position and actions.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. George indicated he’d asked a lot of you and you might be hurt by his requests. Tell me your way.”
She took a deep breath and sat on the coffee table between his knees in front of him. She met his gaze and pressed on.
“About thirty-four years ago George and his wife had some trouble in their marriage and they separated. During this time, George met a woman and had a brief affair with her. They liked each other’s company and had a few things in common, but they weren’t in love with each other. George and his wife reconciled and the other woman was happy to see George back with the woman he loved. She knew he belonged with his wife, and he knew the woman was better off without him. He learned a few weeks later the woman was pregnant.”
Cameron’s face went completely blank, his eyes bore into her, but she didn’t think he really saw her.
“She told him she was pregnant and wanted to have the baby. She didn’t want to tell the child who his father is. She wanted to raise the child on her own. She was adamant.
“He agreed, but insisted the child be a part of his life in another way. She agreed.” He didn’t respond. “George Knight is your father, Cameron. Your mother made him swear never to tell you.”
She paused and let him take in the news. “He kept his promise even after her death because it was her wish. He kept his promise until his death. Now that he’s gone, he wanted you to know.
“Although you never knew your father’s name, you had a father in every way that matters. He may not have been married to your mother, but he was there for you your whole life. Not every day, but when it mattered most. When you needed him, he was there.
“His wife knew, of course, and you were always welcome in their home. They treated you like a son because that’s who you were to them.
“You are the man you are today because you are very much your father’s son. He asked me to tell you, he may not have been there for you every day, but he thought he did a fine job raising you. He wanted you to know of all his children, he was the most proud of you.”
Tears rolled down his cheeks. He didn’t care, it was just Marti. With her, he could be himself. She’d grown up without her parents, knew how important this was to him. He considered George the father he always wanted. And now, come to find out, he was his father. Cameron was a Knight. It was unbelievable.
Marti took out the paper she had in her back pocket and held it out to Cameron.
“Your birth certificate doesn’t list Knight as your father. This is the only piece of paper Knight had where your mother acknowledges you as his son. She sent him the note the day you were born. He wanted you to have it.”
Cameron opened the paper. Yellowed and creased, well-worn, as if someone had opened and closed it over and over again through the years. Faint watermarks marred the paper as well. When he opened the paper, he dropped it to the floor and put his head in his hands and wept quietly.
The note read:
My dearest Knight,
Our son was born today. He is a fine Knight. I’ve named him Cameron Thomas Shaw. He is waiting to meet his father.
All my love, Amelia.
The watermarks were his father’s tears. He’d wept when he got the news.
“Your mother was very fond of Knight. They just weren’t meant to be together. You were named after your father and grandfather. George’s middle name is Thomas and his father’s first name was Thomas. You are a Knight and Emma was his princess. She’s the only grandchild he ever saw born.”
She put her hands on top of Cameron’s head and just sat there with him.
He looked up and her hands dropped away. “His wife was always nice to me. She treated me like one of her kids.”
“She was your stepmother. She understood your time with George was important. She didn’t want you to feel like you weren’t welcome. You always were. This was your home.”
“So this is why George said you might get hurt. He wanted me