Page 19 of The Twelve Days of Love

Boy swallowed hard. “You really mean it, don’t you?”

“I really mean it. I never say anything I do not mean. We want you, Boy.”

Luke saw indecision and then hope skitter across the boy’s features. Then he saw a decision had been made.

“I will come with you, my lord. I just hope you won’t think this is a mistake.”

He rose and pulled Boy to his feet, wrapping his arms about this new son.

“I will never regret this day, Boy. None of us will.” He paused. “Do you have a name other than Boy? Jack Blumer, the runner, said you were going by Boyd.”

“It’s my name, my lord. My true name.”

“Call me Papa, Boyd St. Clair. I am—and will always be—your papa.”

Luke embraced his oldest son.

And couldn’t wait to bring him home to Caroline.

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