A Bride for Cameron by Barbara Goss (read novels website .txt) 📗

Hannah sighed.  “Of course we can, but I so enjoy our walks.”

She sat beside him on the settee.  “Have you noticed Georgie’s talking more?”

“Yes, and he hardly sucks his thumb anymore. I think he’s happy here.”

Hannah swung her head toward him. “What do you mean, here?”

Cameron, practiced lawyer that he was, had a good answer all prepared, but instead, he shook his head and rubbed his face with his hands.  No more lies.

“Hannah, I’m growing fonder of you every day, but I’m not the man you think I am. I left church today, feeling like the lowest man alive.  I don’t deserve you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your church and minister got into my rotten, sinful head, and I just can’t continue being the man I was.  I need to pray to God for forgiveness and beg yours as well.”

“Cam, what on earth are you talking about?”

Cameron spread his arms wide to indicate the room. “All this is a lie.”

Chapter Twelve

Hannah’s heart beat so hard in her chest she was afraid she’d pass out.  Her new-found happiness was about to fall around her feet.  She wondered what Cameron meant by, “All this is a lie.”

Cameron sat with his elbows on his knees, holding his head in his hands.

Hannah finally found her voice.  “You’d better tell me what this is all about, Cameron Hart.  That is your name, isn’t it?”

“I should have told you this from the start, but I was afraid you’d leave.  Now, I wish I had because parting with you now will break my heart.”  Cameron took both of her hands in his.  “Yes, I’m Cameron Hart, the biggest fool in the world.  Here’s what happened.  My partner, Joe Simmons, suggested I run for the Senate, and I loved the idea.  He said I had to have a wife and children in order to become elected.  Like a fool, I got a wife... a wife I am truly fond of... but I’ve not been honest with you.”

“Go on,” Hannah said. “I know all this already.”

“I was never married before you, and the children aren’t really mine.”  He covered his face with his hands again, as if he couldn’t bear to see her face.

Hannah stood.  “For goodness' sake! Whose children are they?”

“I got them from the orphan train just before you arrived.  I bribed them with new clothes and toys to keep my secret.”

“Oh, Cameron!” Hannah cried.  “How could you?”  She turned and ran up the stairs.

.

Cameron heard Hannah’s bedroom door close.

He sat there for about an hour, feeling relief that he’d finally gotten it off his chest but also sick to his stomach.  Was she upstairs packing her suitcases?  Would she leave him?

Before Cameron got into bed that night, he did something he’d never done before: he knelt by the bed and prayed.  He hoped he was doing it right.  He talked to God just like the minister had at the service.  The first thing he did was apologize for having ignored God for so many years. Then, he prayed for Him to forgive his sins for he was truly sorry for all of them.  He then pleaded with God to allow him to keep his lovely family.  He told God he’d even drop out of the election.  The only thing that was important now was keeping his family.

Cameron left for the office early the next day. He didn’t want to watch Hannah coming down the stairs with her suitcases.  He went directly to Joe’s office and closed the door.  Cameron stood in front of Joe’s desk and said, “I’m not going to run for the state senate.”

“What?” Joe replied.  “Why not?”

“All of my lies have caught up with me, and I can’t lie to the voters.  I won’t.”

Joe shook his head, then held up a bunch of papers.  “Since you announced your candidacy, I’ve received lists of endorsements and supporters.  The people want you.”

“I’m not going to run, Joe.”

“Think about it for a few days.  You only have one case this week, and I’ll take it so you can go home and think this through.”

Joe got up, walked over to Cameron ,and pushed him out of the office.  “C’mon—home with you.”

Cameron went to the general store.  Maybe Hannah would forgive him if he bought a gift for her and the children.  He walked all through the store and only found one item that interested him:  a gold wedding band.  He hadn’t given Hannah a ring yet.

He walked away from the showcase.   Of course, it was too late now.  He’d have to stall in town for a while as he didn’t want to go home to find Hannah gone.

Hannah hadn’t slept well, so when Annabelle and Georgie jumped on the bed, she sighed.  For the first time ever, she wasn’t thrilled to see them.  She wanted to roll over and fall back asleep.  However, when her vision cleared from sleepiness, she saw their happy faces and had to hug them both.

“I love you, Mama,” Annabelle said as she pulled from Hannah’s hug.

Hannah choked up.  No one had said that to her since her parents had died.

“I love you, too, Annabelle,” she said, kissing her cheek.

“Me, too,” Georgie said as he jumped up and down on her bed.

“I love you, too, Georgie.  Now, you two angels go and get dressed and wait for me in the dining room.”

“All right,” Annabelle said as she scampered off the bed and out of the room, pulling Georgie with her.

Hannah had tossed and turned all night, trying to decide her next course of action.  At first, she’d planned to leave, but she couldn’t leave the children behind.  Cameron had the paperwork for adopting them, so she couldn’t just take them