Authors: Cora Blu
Blood rang in Jonathan's ears with every breath she took. Kenya collapsed against his chest making him shoot a worried look at the doctor.
“Shoulders out and...welcome to the world...you’re a handsome one aren’t ye?” The doctor brought her face up smiled at Kenya then him then down at the baby and her brows jacked up in question. “Do ye have a name picked out for this beautiful little boy?”
“Ethan, Ethan Jonathan Blakemore,” Jonathan said, proudly, smoothing beads of sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
“Aye, there ye go little one. Welcome to the world, Ethan. Ye gave yer mother a workout.”
Voices spilled from around the curtain and the nurse stuck her head through the veil. “A lot of family out here anxious to know. Can I tell them?”
A hand over his heart, Jonathan inhaled and said on exhale, “Ethan Jonathan Blakemore...my son.”
Pride coursed through him when the doctor held their son up to lie on Kenya’s stomach the cord still attached. Ethan screamed and squirmed arms flailing through the air and Kenya ran a hand over her son’s head, tears streaming down her face.
“Oh he’s beautiful, honey…so handsome.” Kenya said voice low as her body lay weak against Jonathan's chest. “Is he okay, doctor, why is he doing that with his head?” Kenya worried. The doctor smiled at both of them.
“Ye’ve not had much experience with a bairn, Mrs. Blakemore.” Kenya shook her head then angled a look over her shoulder to Jonathan and he shrugged. “He’s rooting; looking for yer breast to nurse.” Another nurse came over began wiping the white film from the baby, him struggling against her administrations.
The doctor said, “Dad, come cut the cord.”
Propping the pillows behind Kenya, he dipped down kissing her dry lips running his tongue lightly over the surface. When he lifted away enough to see her face, he held it. “Look at me.” Kenya tipped her head back. Blinking, he watched one teardrop onto her nose to run down her shiny face to slip between her lips. “That one's for you,” he said staring proudly at the miracle, he called his wife. His pulse beat wild in his temple from the excitement that he was a father. Kenya licked the tear and released one of her own to slide down her face. He quickly kissed the salty tear from her face, mouthing, I love you, against her skin. Backing away, he kept his eyes on her and moved closer to the doctor. Accepting the scissors, he cut the surprisingly hard cord connecting his son to his wife. Ethan made a noise then as if he sprung a leak, a stream of pee jetted into the air over Jonathan's scrubs. He had a son.
Chapter Nineteen
Security in tow, Jonathan and Jamie left his family in the anxious care of Kenya’s parents, Steve, Karla, and Fiona as Kenya slept. He jogged down the stairs, too worked up to wait for the elevator he needed to see Seamus. They had a few more hours before the blood test were due back and that was rushing the tech's as it was. Stalking the quiet floor of the therapy wing, he went to the nurse's station.
Jamie caught him up on Seamus's condition. In therapy three days a week, he needed to strengthen the leg he was shot in. When everything exploded at the trial, Gretchen wanted Seamus to have his blood pressure checked. His therapist agreed to see him while they waited for the baby to be born as his appointment was for tomorrow anyway.
His leg was improving every day. Past the high white counter, around the half-opened blue and green curtain, Jonathan could see Gretchen sitting on a bed face in hand. They’d provided her with a room to rest in while Seamus went through his two hour therapy.
The slack tilt of her head broke his heart. Tension rode him seeing the impact of his imprisonment had on Gretchen. Threading a hand through his hair down to his neck, he scrubbed at the nape of his neck. Padding across the marbled floors, he eased the overly laundered curtains behind him filling his view with one of his favorite sights, Gretchen.
Squatting low before her he lifted her face with his knuckle, greeted by her weathered skin. Her scent he loved as he kissed her cheek. He cast a quick look to see if the window was open after touching her cold skin. Satisfied it wasn't he pushed off his knees, picking her up and laying her on the single bed. Her blue eyes stared glassy up at him.
“Aye, me boy,” Gretchen gripped his hand to her bosom fighting back the tears swimming in her eyes. “That Kenya of yours...nae had the bairn, yet? Aye, it'll come when ready,” Gretchen said weakly. He stared at her excited tone waited until she stopped ranting to tell her about Ethan. The loose skin on her hands appeared paler under the sallow light over the bed.
Easing down beside Gretchen dragging the thin blanket at the foot of the bed over her body, he tucked it around her slack shoulders. The normally robust woman appeared translucent; her perpetually flushed cheeks pale. The last year had taken a toll on his gran.
“You have a great grandson healthy and strong like all Blakemore's.”
“Och, the bairn is here?” That brightened her eyes and her smile as she smacked a hand to his cheek rubbing with a renewed vigor. “Why are ye no with her instead of this old woman? Seamus can come up after his therapy.”
“I came to check on you. Kenya's resting and they're waiting on the blood test to come back for me.”
She really smacked him then. “Oy, what did they do to ye in prison that yer doubt that gal,” she said rolling over to her side to push up to a sitting position. “Why do ye need a blood test? That's yer boy.”
His eyes widened cutting off the unspoken accusation on Kenya's loyalty to him. “That is me boy,” he said proudly. “No I'm referring to Calder...from the trial?” She blinked then sighed.
“I almost forgot about the test. We came down here straight from the court. Seamus was breathing heavily after Brian's show. Kenya's sister took the veil from me son's lies,” she said closing her hand over his on the sheet.
He blinked slowly. “Gran...Kenya is more than I expected to ever have in a wife.”
“Ye are a good man and she knows this.”
“You don't know her the way...”
“Dinna think girls don't talk.” Gretchen smiled up at him. “She was upset when ye had words in the barn… started to leave you then.”
“I can't see Kenya telling anyone about what went on in there.”
“She dinna need to. The sexy heels on the floor in yer suite held straw covering the heels. She dresses for yer pleasure. And when I told her I wanted to rattle her cage,” she laughed bringing a hand to her mouth. “Aye, let me see what was it she said...Och, If you don't mind my cage has had the jaws of life gnawing at it today.”
“Did she?” He rested an elbow on the bed and cupped his chin. He'd treated her unfairly that night, astonished she made love to him after that. Hell she'd rode him like a horse that night and he'd left bite marks on her tight butt. Jonathan spread his leg allowing the erection growing more room in his jeans. He caught the knowing stare from Gretchen. “I questioned if she was a spy for Brian.”
“Aye, so ye did inherit a wee bit of the jackass trait the Blakemore men fall prey to every moon or two.”
“Appears so,” he said dropping his head; he kissed the back of her hand. “I'm gonna get someone down here with you. I need to check on Kenya.”
A nurse wheeled Seamus through the door. Jonathan moved to his grandfather getting to his feet and embraced for what had to be a solid minute.
He caught him up on what was happening and what they were waiting to find out.
“My brother was very much like Brian. He died before you were born, but he always wanted the other kids to know we came from money. I'd hoped the trait died with him, I guess it held strong.”
Gretchen touched his face. “Ye hope yer Calder's boy. I see it on yer face.”
He scratched his temple hesitant to answer her honestly, but she'd know a lie. “Brian's known all my life that I wasn't his son.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Hines came from around the curtain, seeing Gretchen on the bed he halted. “Is she ill? They said she was in here waiting.”
“We're waiting on me grandfather in therapy.” He pushed eyes darting over Hines features attempting to read his body language then gave up. “Do you have the results?” As he asked Sophie and Brian's lawyer, two security guards, Jamie and Fiona came through the door curtain filling the small room. He pushed up from the chair.
“Kenya's alone?”
“Calder's with her, says he dinna need a report to tell him, Ethan's his grandson. He and Kenya was talking when we left.”
“Well, doctor...the blood test...” Jonathan urged holding Sophie's hand at his side, Gretchen's on the other.
“According to the results and the eighty percent DNA match,” Hines peered at the faces around the room then Sophie gripping Jonathan's hand to her heart. “Brian has no hold on the estates as it goes back to Seamus. It's up to him to assign it to you Jonathan.”
Seamus asked eyes wide. “Jonathan's Calder's son, Mr. Hines?”
“Calder Blakemore is Jonathan Blakemore's natural biological father,” Hine's told the room.”
“Jonathan and I are half-brothers...?” Jamie asked his arm around Jonathan's shoulder.
Hines nodded. “Brian Blakemore has an heir, but forfeited his claim to the estate by marrying another woman before his contract was up with Sophie,” Hines added reading the little device in his hand.
Anticipation thrilled through his system. “So...what happens now? Am I free?”
Hines took a breath then blew it out on his next words, “According to the judge's ruling, if the test comes back positive, you, Jonathan Blakemore, are a free man.” Hines smiled.
“Me daughter-in-law never stopped working to clear me son’s name.”
Everyone turned at the voice in the doorway. Jonathan’s chest tightened and he slowly put one foot in front of the other as he moved past the faces in the room. Every step freeing him from the vile clutches of Brian’s hold over him. Every moment of shame he faced having such a greedy man as a father, rolled off his back. Every minute his wife sat being blackmailed by that dog passed through his body like a poison seeping from his skin the closer his feet brought him to his silent wish.
“Ye heart was always too good to be that bastards son,” Calder said, grabbing Jonathan crushing him to his chest. The men stood wrapped in each other’s embrace. Jonathan gripped Calder around the nape of his neck holding his father never wanting to let go. All his life this man has always been there for him. Without his influence, he would have been the same as Brian, coming to Ireland every year. If not for this man staying with him when Brian taught him to shoot, ride, and deal with people, Jonathan would have been as cruel as Brian. Minutes passed before either loosened the grip on the other.
Calder pushed back and both men held tears in their eyes. “Me heart new you were me boy,” and waved Jamie over pulling him into a fierce hug. All three men stood slapping the other on the back and shoulders murmuring how each knew Jonathan and Jamie were brothers.
Fiona stepped close. “I knew you were too pushy to just be me cousin.” Jonathan kissed her face holding her to his side.
Jonathan gripped Calder on either side of his face, just staring at him. “You always told me, karma expects more from a wealthy man, but she pays back in ways I could never imagine. That never left me. When I met Kenya I knew you were right.”
Calder gave him a wide bright smile. “Let’s go see me grandson. He looks like me ye know.”
The faded curtain flapped over the glass door, the only sign that Jonathan, Jamie, Fiona and Calder had even been in the room. That and the smiles on the faces of the family knowing he wasn’t Brian’s son.
Chapter Twenty
The warm glow of early spring lit the library in the castle, full of family and a few friends. A sense of contentment swamped through Kenya seeing her family scattered around the room, crumpled gift-wrapping covering the upholstered chairs, and rumpled ribbons overflowing wastebaskets along the wall. Ethan had received gifts from all around the world. Food covered every flat surface. Trays and trays of delicious food their aromas filled the room. With everyone here, she saw no reason to have another baby shower in a few weeks, people were showing up as if an invitation had already gone out.
Karla came over to Kenya with an arm under young Carl's and he looked so helpless.
“Kenya smell this boy and tell me he don't smell like that candle in the store?”
“Auntie, let Carl go.”
“Smell his chest...he's too young for me, but smell his shirt right here. He won't bite just put your nose right here.”
“Carl always smells nice, Karla. I believe you. I'm sorry, Carl.”
Carl smiled, his soft blond hair cut tight to his head. “Och, I've never been felt up at a baby shower. Aye, never been to a baby shower.”
Karla waved a hand then looped her arm through Carl’s arm and strutted toward the library doors. “Oh forget her. Come in the pub and play darts with me, Carl. I hear you're the best around.”
“Be gentle with him, Karla. He's my cousin.”
Jonathan handed her Ethan and Kenya couldn't stop laughing watching Karla hugging Carl to her as they walked off. She got Ethan beneath her nursing blanket and turned as her mother said something to her. The sound of her breast popping from Ethan's mouth brought her eyes open to peer at their son, his little face peeking out from under the soft blanket. Dark eyes with the faintest of red brows squeezed together, stared up at her in a not so loving manner while a trail of milk trickled down his fat chin.
“Aye, that's my son alright. Never separate a man from his breast,” Jonathan teased. Kenya laughed probably the first time since Jonathan was taken away. She had her man back. She cringed as Ethan found her breast scratching his nails into her flesh a soft prickle, holding her to his mouth. The pain held a pleasure she had no words for, and in the back of her mind she understood her father's reasoning. He did what he felt was best.
After a good burp from Ethan, Jonathan paced the room with their son cradled snug against his chest, not allowing anyone to touch his son. Straightening her clothes, Kenya relished in the view of her husband and son. Jonathan had missed her entire pregnancy and he was absorbing every moment with his son. Kenya could hear the Gaelic from the other side of the large room. Speaking close to his face the sight warmed Kenya down to her toes resting on the settee beside the fireplace. Today the library was full of family coming to see the first Blakemore great-grandchild. Taking in all the faces in the room, Kenya couldn't get over having Morgan in her world. With Brian in prison for the rest of his life practically, Jonathan could enjoy being a Blakemore again.