Read Online Hara's Legacy by Bianca D'Arc - Free Book Online Page A

me?”
    Caleb sighed with regret. “It didn’t come clear until after you’d left. The visions have been increasing steadily instead of easing off. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more before you took off.” Justin grabbed his saddlebags and headed toward the house with Caleb. “I understand, I guess, but it doesn’t sit well with me, Caleb. Giving life to a child who might never know me. Doesn’t sit well at all.” They walked in silence for a time before Caleb answered.
    “I can’t guarantee anything, Jus, but we might have a chance to get the child back. We might be able to raise him.”
    Justin stopped dead in his tracks, hope lighting his dark eyes.
    “A son?” Caleb nodded and Justin felt the sting of tears he refused to let fall. He was going to have a son—one he might never know. Fate
    -52-
    couldn’t be so cruel. Not if he had anything to say about it. “How can we help him?”

     
    Caleb looked off into the distance, shaking his head. “I’m not sure yet, but I know there’s a chance. I feel it in my bones. And I feel like it’s something we have to do. We have to make it our goal, Justin, to raise that child as our own.”
    Caleb started as Justin clapped him on the back, bringing him back to the present.
    “Then that will be our goal,” he said shortly. “That and keeping all of us alive through what’s to come.” Justin began walking again, stopping at the back door to turn back to his eldest brother.
    “Thanks, Caleb.” His eyes shifted down. “Thanks for giving me hope.” Silently, he went into the house and sought his own room. He needed to think, but he right now he needed sleep more. Thought would come later.
    * * *
     
    Two days later, Caleb sat quietly while Jane and Justin cleared away the dishes from lunch. It had been a strained and silent meal, the tension running high between the two brothers. Mick was still off in his laboratory, running tests, and the uncertainty was killing all of them slowly.
    “When I was just a child, before Mick was born,” Caleb reflected, garnering all their attention, “I caught the mumps. There were vaccines for that, of course, but some of my friends?the immigrant workers’
    kids?were outside the system and hadn’t had their shots. Even some of us who’d had the shots got sick.
    My face blew up like a balloon and it hurt real bad.” He turned to Jane, taking her hand and holding tight.
    “It’s probably the reason we’ve never been able to conceive, Jane, and I’m so sorry.”
    -53-
    She went to him, cuddling close. “It’s okay, Caleb. There’s nothing for you to be sorry for. Mick will come through for us. You know he will.”
    Caleb allowed her to comfort him for a few short moments, but then guided her gently away, back to her seat. She went, her expression sad.
    “Yes, I’m sure Mick will be able to help us?eventually.”
    “That’ll have to be good enough,” Justin said, breaking into the conversation. He didn’t like the direction this was taking and he wanted it stopped before it tore them asunder.
    But Caleb sighed, not rising to the anger Justin expected. “No, it won’t be good enough. Not for me and Jane, not for you and especially not for Mick.”
    “Don’t go there, brother.” Justin growled.
    The back door opened and Mick sailed into the kitchen, oblivious to the tension. “I’ve got all our results.
    Jeez, I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just come right out.” The silence thickened. “I’m sorry, Caleb, your suspicions were correct. Your sperm count is low, but it is still possible you can father a child, given the proper preparation and timing. I’ll get started on that right away, if you like.” Caleb waved his brother to a chair, no emotion showing on his stoic features. “Don’t bother just yet, Mick. How are you and Justin?”
    Jane gasped, but didn’t say a word.
    Mick eyed him steadily. “You know we never caught the mumps like you did. We’re both normal.” Caleb sighed.