Page 26 of Sweet Surprise

Once they were seated, Carson took a steadying breath. He’d rehearsed this moment in his head a dozen times since discovering the truth, but now that the moment had arrived, the words refused to come easily. “Mom,” he began, his voice a little tighter than usual, “there’s something you should know about Mason.”

Alice’s eyes leveled with his as she slowly stirred the sugar and milk in her mug of tea.

“Mason is my son,” the words rushed out before he could over think them again. For a moment, the kitchen was so quiet he could hear the wall clock ticking. His mother’s face remained perfectly still, her eyes fixed on his. Then a slow smile began to spread across her face. “I know.”

Stunned, he blinked. “You… what?”

“Of course I know.” His mom’s smile was now full and bright. “I suspected it the moment I saw him. Those dimples when he smiles—they’re exactly like yours were at his age. And the way he concentrates when he’s drawing? That’s you all over again.”

He couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled forth. “I should have known you’d figure it out.” Like the old cliché his mother had both eyes at the back of her head, and a sixth sense that could fool a fortune teller.

“A mother knows her children.” Reaching across the table, she took hold of Carson’s hand. “And their children.” She quickly leaned back, her expression more serious. “What I don’t understand is why I’m only meeting my grandson now.”

“There was a mistake. Jess only found out the truth recently. She would never have kept this from us, or married another man had she known.”

Alice nodded slowly. “This other man raised Mason?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Carson tried to keep the edge from his voice. “According to Jess, Todd wasn’t much of a father. When he got sick and she had Mason tested, that’s when she discovered the truth.”

“And she came straight here.” Alice nodded, approval warming her voice. “That was the right thing to do.”

Carson cleared his throat. “I’m sorry things weren’t different. I just wish we hadn’t lost all those years.”

Alice’s brow furrowed. “You know what I always say.”

“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” Carson recited easily.

“That’s right.” His mother nodded. “There’s no point living in the land of coulda shoulda woulda. What matters is that you both know now, and you’re doing the right thing.” She lifted her chin, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I have to thank Jess for bringing my grandson to us.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t…” Words clogged in his mouth, smarter, more persistent, more inquisitive, a better man. What could he say?

“We can’t change the past,” Alice reached for her son’s hand with her free one, “but we can make the most of the future.” A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. “And I have to say, you two being together makes perfect sense.”

Oh, hell she’d misunderstood. “Mom, we’re not—”

“I know, I know,” Alice said, waving away his protest. “You’re just old friends reconnecting. But a mother can hope, can’t she?”

The back door swung open before Carson could respond, and Mason bounded in, his face flushed with excitement, his mother at his heels.

“Carson! Miss Alice! I helped groom Pepper and checked all her hooves! Clint says I’m a natural!”

Alice beamed at the boy. “Did he now? Well, Clint knows what he’s talking about.”

The way the kid grinned from ear to ear, as proud as an Olympic gold medalist, the family scene could have been a Norman Rockwell painting. He couldn’t help but wonder how different their lives would have been if he’d not let her go so easily all those years ago.

Chapter Eleven

Leaning against one of the porch posts, Carson’s gaze followed Mason as he ran around with Brady in the yard. The German Shepherd was remarkably patient, trotting beside the boy and occasionally pausing to let Mason catch up. In the distance, Samson watched from his pen, not yet comfortable enough to join the play but clearly interested.

“He’s really settled in quickly.” Carson commented softly, his gaze remaining on his son. His son. How long before he didn’t startle himself thinking or hearing those words. “Acts like he’s lived here his whole life.”

“I know.” Jess settled into one of the rocking chairs. “It’s remarkable, honestly. The change in him since we’ve been here…”

Carson nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. The boy who’d been quiet and focused on his drawing pad back in the café had blossomed into an exuberant, curious kid who seemed determined to absorb every aspect of ranch life. Of course, the argument could be made that ranch life ran in his blood. Two hundred years of Sweets and now Mason would be the first of the next generation.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said before.” Like he’d been doing, Jess’s gaze remained fixed on her son.

“About?” Carson kept his voice even, matter-of-fact, hoping she was thinking about marrying him and in a favorable way.

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