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

by E. Ayers

  When Cassie returned that evening, Shawn was already in his pajamas, and Trent was wearing a grin.

  "We had pizza!" Shawn threw himself into Cassie's arms.

  "You did? Did you save any for me?"

  "Daddy said we had to save you three slices."

  "Three? I'll get fat if I eat three."

  "Daddy said you'll never get fat, because you always forget to eat."

  She raised her eyebrows at Trent. "It's not that I forget, it's that I often don't have time to eat."

  "Did you eat this evening?"

  "No. I grabbed a bottle of iced tea from the vending machine."

  Trent shook his head. "That's what I mean."

  She followed her men into the kitchen and washed her hands at the kitchen sink. "So, aside from eating pizza, what have my men been doing while I worked?"

  "Can I show her?" Shawn almost squealed with delight.

  "Yes, you may show her." Trent opened the oven and removed the pizza slices. "I swear that boy has one speed anymore - fast."

  "I'm sure it must make you feel very good to watch him running and playing."

  Trent nodded and slipped two slices onto a plate, then passed the plate to her.

  As Cassie sat, Shawn brought a piece of graph paper to the kitchen table and put it in front of Cassie. "Your new kitchen, and Daddy let me draw it."

  "You drew this?" She looked at the less than perfect lines.

  "Yep! Daddy and I took all the measurements, and I wrote them real careful, and then I used a ruler to draw all the straight lines."

  "What do these lines with the arrows mean?" She put her finger on a long line.

  Shawn bubbled with enthusiasm and explained everything.

  She wasn't certain which one of her men made her heart swell more, Shawn for being such a bright little thing, or his father for all his patience to show his son.

  About halfway through her second slice of pizza, she decided she was full and pushed her plate away. Trent reached over and picked up what remained of the slice and ate it. He wiped his mouth and fingers, then announced, "It's past your bedtime, young man. Give Cas her goodnight kiss."

  "I'm not sleepy." His little eyes grew extra wide.

  Trent chuckled. "Time for kisses."

  Cassie held out her arms and Shawn threw himself into them. "Goodnight, my sweet young man. I love you."

  "I love you, too, Cassie." He dropped a noisy kiss on her cheek and then took his father's hand.

  She watched them walk into the living room and disappear up the stairs. She picked up the piece of graph paper and studied it. It had to be the wall in front of her. Shawn's pencil lines were thick and thin, and he didn't quite stay on the blue and green lines of the paper, but he was close. His childish scrawl designated the length as thirteen feet, ten and seven eighths inches. She wondered if Trent had taught him to measure to such fractions, or if the boy already knew how to do it. Tears welled in her eyes and she swiped them away. He was well. With luck, he'd grow up and have a normal life.

  Her phone rang, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked at the Caller ID and smiled. "Hi, Dad. What's up?"

  She listened to him and then told him about the house. "I love it. I'm about a block from a bus stop, less than a half mile from work, and it's got a pretty little yard." "Yes, I know. Yards take work, but I'm hoping next year to have a few tomato plants." "No, I don't need to hire a lawn service or a gardener. We're going to do it ourselves." Her cheeks pulled her lips upward. "Trent loves doing yard work, well, I'm not certain that he loves it, but he's very good at it." "I'm not sure. I think Trent used up his vacation time when Shawn was in the hospital, but the thought of flying home for Thanksgiving is very enticing."

  "What? Dad! Oh, gosh! Yes, thank you!" "Oh, Dad, I love him and I love Shawn. Wait until you meet them, you're really going to like both of them." "Yes, I promise, I'm happy." She listened to her father talk about his latest case and silently thanked her lucky stars that Trent had no ambition to be a lawyer. She couldn't imagine a more boring job.

  She watched Trent enter the kitchen and clean up. He put the leftover slice of pizza in the refrigerator and wiped everything clean. He opened a cabinet and withdrew two stemmed glasses before he attempted to open a small bottle of dessert wine. Certain he knew nothing about wine, she wanted to giggle. She chomped on the insides of her cheeks and listen to her dad. Her dad had taught her that time was money, and as far as she was concerned, her dad had bought as much time with her as he wanted. But watching Trent pouring a blueberry wine after eating pizza with pepperoni was hysterical. She pointed to the phone and mouthed, it's my dad.

  Trent nodded, sat across from her, and waited.

  When she finally disconnected the call, she grinned. "What has put you in such a jovial mood, and why the bottle of wine?"

  "Time to celebrate." He passed her a handful of papers. "Seems I've been accepted. Just be honest with me, how many strings did you have to pull?"

  She looked over the papers. "None. I never once even called over to check. There was no reason for them to reject you. Your grades and standing in high school were excellent, plus you're an adult returning to the academic world." She picked up her glass of wine. "To River City's award-winning architect."

  He clinked his glass to hers. "I'll drink to that, and to the woman who showed me it's possible."

  "It's more than possible." She took a sip of the sweet wine. "My dad dropped a ton of money in my bank account. He wanted to make sure I had enough money to fix this place up."

  Trent stared at her. "I feel like a kept man."

  Cassie giggled. "Oh, I intend to keep you for the rest of my life." She pushed her shoulders back and looked at Trent. "Another thing. Will you get a long weekend for Thanksgiving? My dad wants to send us tickets so that we can fly home for a visit."

  Trent nodded. "I'll have all the normal days off.

  "That gives me an idea. Let's plan a wedding."

  "Ah, I can't afford a ring and all the other stuff."

  She could feel the heat flowing over her cheeks. "You gave me a set of diamonds. Just because the world can't see them--"

  "You'd better not go showing them off."

  "No way! And I do love wearing them. Having that part of my anatomy pierced has definitely increased my awareness of my femininity."

  "Maybe I need to make certain you never forget?"

  "Impossible. Besides, I love the way it looks when I'm naked, and I love that you must remove it."

  "I like that it's a secret." His grin spread across his face and lit up his eyes. "I'm not into kinky, but I'm certain that most people would consider it to be so. I'm also not into pain or any of that bondage stuff normally associated with such things. I just happen to think it's intriguing."

  "I'm glad you like it."

  "What would you have done if I didn't?"

  ***

  Trent picked his son up from therapy and brought him home. He'd spent almost two hours with his advisor, and had mapped out his next few years. Most of his classes, he was taking online. Tuesday and Thursday evenings, he'd have to attend classes on campus. He wasn't certain how he was going to manage to study and work full time, but Cassie assured him that he'd be fine.

  His own physiotherapy was progressing, and his doctor was pleased. He no longer had to wear the sling. The arm had good mobility, and his fingers no longer swelled or felt numb. He still favored the shoulder, but the doctor assured him that everything was normal.

  He stopped by his mom's house to cut the grass and found his mom busy with several boxes.

  She looked up and asked him if he would bring her some of the things that were stored in the attic.

  "Not a problem, unless it's extra big or heavy. I've still got to be careful with the shoulder. Is there something you want in particular?" He pulled the cord that held the collapsible staircase.

  "I'd like you to bring it all down. Some of that stuff has been up there since you were Shawn's age. I need to so
rt through it. I was thinking of having a garage sale."

  Trent raised his eyebrows. "Thinking about moving someplace?"

  "Well, there's no reason for me to stay here all alone. You've moved out and taken my grandson with you."

  He couldn't stop the chuckle. "Did you expect me to leave my son?"

  "I hope I raised you to be better than that." She crossed her arms over her chest and got that don't-push-me look.

  He went into the attic over the garage. Heat accosted him. "There's lot up here, Mom. Is there anything in particular that you'd like me to bring down first?"

  "Those old boxes in the very back."

  He pushed a stack with his foot. "Some of this stuff is heavy, and it's hotter than Hades up here. Do you mind waiting until I can find someone to help?" He climbed down the steps and wiped his forehead with the hem of his tee shirt. "I'll ask Cas to help. I can't do it alone."

  He followed his mother inside and poured a glass of iced tea. "I'll stop by tonight."

  "Never mind."

  "Mom, what is your problem with Cas?"

  "I don't have a problem with her. I have a problem with my son living with her."

  He shook his head as he pulled out a kitchen chair. "We're getting married. Which reminds me, I need my birth certificate, and baptism…and whatever other Church records you might have. If I can send the copies, it'll make things easier."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Cas wants to be married in the Church where she grew up.

  His mother's eyes widened. "Married? You're going to actually do it?"

  He nodded and waited for her retort. When he didn’t get it, he continued, "Her dad is sending airline tickets for four people this Thanksgiving. That's Cas, Shawn, you and I. Cas plans to send wedding announcements around the end of September. It's going to be a very quiet affair. Besides, I don’t have any extra time off, and Shawn will start kindergarten at Willingham Academy this fall."

  "You're putting him in private school? That's expensive."

  He shrugged. "Her dad offered to cover the bill. Cas seems to think that Shawn will do better there than in a regular kindergarten. She says he's way ahead of most children his age. She swears he'll be bored in public school."

  "So that's my fault for teaching him to read?"

  "Not at all. Apparently, it's common with children who have been ill during most of their childhood. Parents teach them to read to keep them from being bored. Willingham Academy is better able to accommodate his needs." He picked up his glass and drained it. "They have smaller classrooms. Cas is going to take him over for testing next week, so they can place him accordingly." He refilled his glass with tea.

  "You're going to go through with it?"

  He turned and stared at his mom. "With what?"

  "Marriage."

  "Yes, Mom. We're getting married."

  The woman raised her eyebrows. "You've left me no choice. I'm being forced to move in with you because I can't keep this place up by myself. I can't climb up on a ladder to clean the rain gutters and I can't afford those new fancy ones with leaf guards. Those Mourning Doves have built another nest in the one by your old bedroom."

  He leaned over and kissed his mother's cheek. "You're going to love living in the Cobblestone neighborhood. And you're going to love being that close to Shawn."

  "I miss him."

  Trent took his seat. "Did you go over those figures Amanda gave of the housing market?"

  "I'm not certain I want to rent. Being a landlord is more responsibility. And what if the renters make a huge mess?"

  Trent nodded. "I have an idea. There's a guy where I work whose wife is pregnant. I know they were looking for another place to rent. You could rent to them with an option to buy. I'd make bets they'd be thrilled."

  ***

  Cassie sat in the waiting room working on her computer while Shawn finished his therapy. She checked the time and knew traffic might make her late for her appointment with Brad Shoemaker. She ran a quick text message to him and prayed that Shawn wouldn't be late getting out of therapy. She wondered how other families managed. Maybe it was because she wasn't used to it, but she knew other mothers didn't get to flex their time the way she could. When Shawn emerged from his therapy, she was ready for him. His little, pink cheeks seemed extra bright, and his hair was damp.

  "What did you do to get so hot and sweaty?"

  Shawn laughed. "I was on the treadmill."

  "You were?"

  His therapist followed him. "He did great. The doctor would like to meet with his father next week. Tell Mr. Callahan to call to make the appointment"

  ~~36~~

  Cassie pulled open the door of the city's finance and budget department.

  "Dr. Jones?" a woman inquired. "You're here to see Mr. Shoemaker?

  Cassie nodded.

  "Go back out and up two more doors to the City Manager's office.

  Cold rippled through her veins and she swallowed. "Hugh Fitzgerald’s office?"

  "Oh, it's not his office anymore." The woman smiled. "Did you read the announcement on the intranet?"

  Cassie frowned. Garbage, total garbage. As if I need to read a motivation paragraph every morning. I don't have time for such drivel. "No I haven't. Why?"

  "Mr. Shoemaker has been appointed acting city manager until the City Council approves him."

  "Oh." She attempted to process that information and wondered how it would affect her job. "Thanks."

  She left that office and headed down the hall. Brad got lucky. That's a plum job. She knocked on the door and opened it. A young secretary greeted Cassie. "I'm here to see Brad Shoemaker."

  "Please have a seat. Is he expecting you? Your name please."

  "Thank you. Yes. Dr. Jones."

  The young gal sat a little straighter in her seat as she picked up the phone and announced, "Sir, Dr. Jones is here to see you." The woman smiled and turned to Cassie. "This way please."

  Cassie tried to hold back her giggle. People seemed to always react to the title of doctor. Yesterday Brad was a peon counting beans. Today he's become the city manager. "Hi, Brad. Moving up?"

  He closed the door behind her. "Bruno Giovanni called me into his office yesterday. It's not really a secret, but it's also not public knowledge, but Bruno tucked me under his wing years ago."

  Her giggle escaped. "You're ten years younger than seventy percent of the city managers, and I'm twenty years younger than most curators. I think Bruno's trying to stop the good-ol'-boy network that apparently ran this city for years."

  "There's no question about that. And those good-ol'-boys still try to run this place."

  She looked around the room. "I figured you'd be loaded in everything Hughie left."

  "This place was emptied. Every speck of paper he had is being scrutinized and audited. You broke open a can of worms that's bigger than sexual harassment."

  She raised her eyebrows and listened.

  "My job, now, is to get everything on the straight and narrow. You're going to be watched like a hawk over every penny, but I don't expect that is going to be a problem for you. You're records are meticulous."

  "I'll be sure to tell Mrs. Winston. I don't want to see her retire anytime soon."

  "Cassie, a word of caution. Be careful with the general budget."

  "You have no idea how happy I am to have a budget. I promise it will not be abused."

  "Good. How's Shawn?"

  "Doing great. You'd never know that he's a few weeks out of major heart surgery. He's running and playing for the first time in his entire life."

  "What about his grandmother?"

  Cassie chomped on her bottom lip. "She's not happy with us living together."

  "So get married."

  "We're going to do that this Thanksgiving, when I go home to Boston."

  "That's wonderful. Trent is a good guy. I've known him his entire life."

  Cassie smiled. "I think he's very special."

  "Make him happy, Cassie."
>
  "I'm doing my best. I'm also certain you didn't drag me here to discuss the old neighborhood."

  "No, I didn't. Let's talk about those classrooms."

  Cassie practically floated out of Brad's office, even though it would be more work for her, and another financial drain for her to cover. But when she walked through the door of her house, she knew she had another surprise waiting for her.

  ***

  Trent took one look at Cassie and knew she had something special happen at work. What's she got this time? The Mona Lisa or King Tut himself? "What's up?"

  "I could ask you the same thing. Candles, and the table is set for two. Something is going on here."

  "You first."

  "Brad Shoemaker has been made acting city manager. And I'm getting the school program. I'm sure that's paling, next to whatever caused you to do all this. And where is Shawn?"

  "Would you believe that Dallas has borrowed him until eight o'clock tonight? She promised she wouldn't return him a minute earlier. She wanted to keep him until nine, but I said that was past his bedtime." He wrapped his arms around Cassie as his mouth slanted over hers. He reached up, removed two ornate pins from her hair, and watched her blonde silk tumble over his hands. "You're beautiful, and you're mine. How did I get so lucky?"

  She giggled. "It's Colleen's fault. If she hadn't gotten pregnant, you wouldn't have had Shawn, and you would not have come to the museum to see dinosaurs. Remind me to light a candle and say a prayer the next time we're in Church. I really owe her."

  "Well, at eighteen, I only had a high school diploma." He forced a smile. "At twenty-three, I still only have a high school, but at least I have a job." He fished in his pocket until his fingers wrapped around the ring. His heart swelled as he looked at Cassie. "This isn't much, but I think the world needs to know that you are officially mine." He watched her face as he pulled the ring from his pocket. "For my future bride."

  Her mouth opened slightly, and her eyes grew wide as she took the ring from him. "Trent, you can't afford this."

  He chuckled. "Like it?"