Cathy Gillen - The Bride Said, 'Surprise!'

Or even who he is, Luke thought, once again wishing that he were Jeremy’s father so he could quickly put everything to right for Meg and the boy.

“I am sure Jeremy and his mommy are talking about this very thing right now,” Luke said gently, doing his best to reassure his daughters the way he wished he could comfort Meg’s son. “And I’m also sure they will work everything out.” If only because Jeremy was not about to let the subject rest until they did so. “Now you girls go to sleep,” Luke said, tucking them in one by one.

“Okay, Daddy.” There were kisses and hugs all around. Then, minutes later, deep, even breathing.

With a sigh Luke headed back downstairs. He wished he could fix things for Jeremy and Meg, but the truth was, since he wasn’t Jeremy’s father after all, it wasn’t any of his business. Luke looked out the window, blinked at what he saw, then paused and blinked one more time.

Then again, maybe it was his business, Luke decided as he walked outside and confronted the person marching down the sidewalk, dragging his loaded red wagon behind him. A backpack that looked crammed to the gills, a stuffed animal, a sailboat and a toy dump truck were inside it. “Hello, Jeremy.”

Jeremy looked at Luke and, chin set stubbornly, kept right on going, pulling his little red wagon behind him.

Unable to help but admire his gumption, even if his mother clearly had no idea what he was up to, Luke fell into step beside Jeremy. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

Jeremy turned to face Luke contentiously, suddenly looking far older than his years. “I’m running away from home.”

Things were obviously more serious than Meg knew here, Luke thought. He glanced at Meg’s cottage. The lights were still on upstairs, but the downstairs was dark, which probably meant Meg was either in bed or getting ready for bed. Figuring the only way to keep Jeremy from running away again was to hear him out and convince him this was absolutely not the way to solve his problems with his mom, Luke suggested calmly, “How about we have a man-to-man talk before you go, then? I make a pretty mean chocolate milkshake. What do you think? Got time to stop in and have one with me?”

Clearly not wanting to be kept from his quest, Jeremy hesitated. “Will Susie, Becca and Amy be there?” he asked.

Luke shook his head matter-of-factly. “No, they’re asleep. It’ll be just the two of us. A guys only sort of thing.”

Again Jeremy had to think about it. Eventually his thirst for a chocolate milkshake won out over his need to hurry. “Okay,” he said finally. He looked at Luke seriously.

“But then I really gotta go.”

“I understand completely.” Hand on his shoulder, Luke guided the five-year-old up the sidewalk. “I think you can leave your wagon parked beside the porch. It’ll be okay.” And would also serve as a red flag to Meg if she noticed Jeremy was missing before Luke had a chance to call her.

He and Jeremy stepped inside and made their way quietly to the kitchen. Luke seated Jeremy at the kitchen counter and got out his blender. “So, how’d you get this idea?”

Jeremy propped his elbows on the counter and his chin on his hands. Oblivious to the fact his dark-auburn hair was standing on end, he watched Luke bring out ice cream, milk and chocolate syrup. “My teacher at the day care center at the hospital read us this book. It was about a little bear cub who lost his mama, and couldn’t find her anywhere. So he went off through the forest and asked all the other animals if they knew where his mama was. The chipmunk didn’t know. And the blackbird said he didn’t know, either. Anyway, the little bear just kept going until he finally found someone who knew where his mama was.”

“And where was she?” Luke asked, as he scooped ice cream into the blender.

“In the forest, down by the river, looking for her baby bear.” Jeremy’s brows knit together as he shifted closer. Still watching Luke inquisitively, he continued his recitation in all earnestness. “She was crying, too, because she couldn’t find her baby bear cub.” Briefly Jeremy’s eyes clouded up as he recounted wistfully, “They were real happy when they found each other. So I’m going to do the same thing.” Jeremy swallowed hard, then continued in a voice laced with heartfelt determination, “I’m going to ask everybody if they know who my father is until I find him. And then we’ll both be happy, too.”

“It could work,” Luke agreed slowly, irked that no one else seemed to realize how desperately Jeremy wanted and needed his father in his life. What had Meg been thinking to deprive Jeremy and his father of each other’s love? Maybe she hadn’t meant to be cruel, but she had been. And the situation was going to get worse.

Luke poured milk and chocolate syrup over the ice cream, put the lid on tight and set the glass pitcher on the base. “But first don’t you think you should get a good night’s sleep?”

“I can’t go home,” Jeremy said emphatically as color swept into his fair, freckled face. He regarded Luke defiantly. “I already left.”

And if Luke took him back now, before talking some sense into Meg, Jeremy would turn right around and leave again. Perhaps to disastrous results, Luke thought, knowing what kind of things could happen to unattended children. No one was taking this kid seriously, Luke thought furiously. Especially Meg. “I can see your dilemma.” Luke blended the shake, then poured Jeremy a glass and one for himself. He found straws for both of them and then sat down at the counter next to Jeremy. “How about putting a bedroll on my sofa just for tonight, then. You’ll go farther if you get a good night’s sleep.”

“I am kinda tired.” Jeremy finished his shake, then rubbed his eyes.

Luke got Jeremy settled on his sofa. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Luke picked up the phone and dialed. Meg answered on the first ring. Luke identified himself, then said, “I think you’d better come over here. Now.”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to,” Meg responded, piqued. “Jeremy’s asleep.”

“He sure is,” Luke agreed grimly.

There was a pause on the other end. Suspiciously Meg asked, “How do you know that?”

“Because your son is sacked out on my sofa.”

A scant minute later Meg was at Luke’s door. She was dressed in a pair of pink cotton pajamas that buttoned up the front, and her auburn hair was damp. She smelled like soap and perfumed bath salts. “How did he get over here?” she demanded in shock and dismay as Luke ushered her in.

“He ran away from home,” Luke said.

Color rushed into Meg’s cheeks, highlighting the delicate curves of her cheekbones in her oval face. As she glanced past him at the living room sofa, where her son was curled up sound asleep, she was vulnerable in a way he hadn’t seen her since the night, the only night, they had ever made love. It was all Luke could do not to take her in his arms and hold her close.

But, knowing that was not what she—or Jeremy—needed now, Luke escorted her in to check on her son. As soon as she saw for herself he was indeed all right, Luke led her out to the kitchen, where they could talk without fear of waking any of the children. Trying not to notice how lovely she looked, Luke got out a couple of glasses and a pitcher of ice water and explained Jeremy’s thinking.

Meg felt her way into a chair. “He’s been peppering me with questions for weeks now.” She shook her head, her lower lip trembling slightly, her aqua eyes full of regret. “I had no idea he was this determined.”

Luke tore his eyes away from the soft curve of her lips and took in the enticing swell of her breasts. Returning his glance to Meg’s face, he warned her bluntly, “You’re going to have to do something.”