Love Beyond Measure (Morna's Legacy, #4)
Bethany Claire
For Papa
Chapter 1
Mitchell Family Estate—Lake Placid, New York
Present Day
“Pssst…”
Believing he’d heard something, but not sure enough to fully turn his head toward the sound, the corner of Cooper’s right brow lifted slightly.
I grinned, making sure not to stick my head out too far past the archway. I didn’t want anyone sitting in the outdoor aisles to see me. “Pssst…” I said it once more, waiting for the child to turn his head in my direction so that I could wave him toward me.
His bow tie hung crooked and his dirty blonde hair, which I’d gelled down only hours before, now stuck up in every direction, unruly curls descending over his face. He turned his head slowly, deep green eyes widening at the sight of me before the fading sun hit him square on the nose, spreading a soft light across the dash of freckles across his face. He squinted trying to make me out properly while his little legs fidgeted as he restrained from stepping away from his assigned spot.
Cooper’s mouth opened and then closed as I silently waved a finger in front of my lips, pleading with him to stay quiet. Turning the inside of my finger toward me, I extended it out so that I could gesture for him to join me.
It took only a brief moment before his feet found their freedom, and he ran toward me so quickly that I hardly had time to open my arms to him before he sailed into me. I smiled into his collar as he spoke, in what I could only assume was his full-hearted effort at a whisper, although it truly ended up sounding more like a breathy squeal.
“I thought maybe you were Dad! He bet me five dollars I couldn’t stand still until the end of the ceremony, and I been just waitin’ for him to try to make me lose.”
“That does sound just like him, doesn’t it? He’s actually waiting for us in the car. How about the three of us get out of here?” I swung him onto my hip, not the least bit worried about smushing any of the lacy mess that covered me head to toe.
“What?” He made no effort to whisper this time.
I quickly took off in the direction of the car before we were noticed. It wouldn’t do for anyone to see that the bride and groom, along with their son, were about to bail away from their own wedding. I wanted to be at least off of the estate property before word got out.
“Shh…” I said nothing else, moving toward our favorite spot by the water. Thankfully, it also happened to be far enough away from the wedding crowd that no one would hear or find us there.
“Are we going to the swing?” He managed a real whisper that time, and the sweetness of it made me lean in to kiss him hard on his cheek. Still young enough not to have total disdain for his mother’s affections, he smiled and lay his head against my shoulder.
“Yes, we are. I want to talk to you a minute. Just you and me, before we go join your dad. How’d you know I was taking you to the swing?”
“Oh Mom, don’t you member that we always go there when we need you and me time at Grandfather’s?”
“Of course, I remember. We’ve just really never discussed it, so I’m surprised you picked up on it is all.”
“Yep. I did.”
“I can see that. You’re very smart for a four year old.” And he was—exceedingly so. If it wasn’t for his small size, most would guess him to be a good two years older.
“Yep, but I’m really four and seven months. That’s almost five.”
“Oh my, and you’re quite sure of yourself, too. That trait comes from your father.”
By now, we’d reached what, in my opinion, was the most beautiful part of my parents’ grand estate on Lake Placid. Nestled under a wide, broad-leafed tree that stood out among the many pine and spruce trees scattered throughout, hung a large white swing built so that it hung perfectly from one of the tree’s largest branches. Large cushions enveloped the floating chair. I collapsed into it, still holding on to Cooper as we fell back into the softness together.
“Yep.”
I tugged playfully on one of his loose curls so that he’d look at me. “Alright. Enough with the ‘yeps.’” He giggled sheepishly at his orneriness. “I want to talk to you about something serious for a minute.”
He scooted away from my arm so that he could regard me fully and, with all the determination he could muster, pulled the expression on his face into one of sheer seriousness. “I’m ready.”
He regarded me sternly so that I would get on with whatever it was I wished to discuss with him.
“Ok. What did you think about all of this today?”
His eyebrows scrunched together as if he were thinking very hard about how he should answer. I reached out to squeeze his hand, reassuring him that he could say whatever he wished. “I…I think it’s weird.”
“How do you mean, Coop? What was weird about it?”