Free A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel by E. Ayers Page A

big.”
    “Clapper, not clacker,” she corrected.
    “What’s the yellow stone?”
    “It’s not exactly a stone. It’s the fossilized
remains of tree sap. Do you know what a fossil is?”
    Shawn nodded, dropped the pendant back onto her
chest, and then fingered an earring. “They match. So where’s the
penis?”
    “It’s not really a penis. It’s an abstract, an
artistic interpretation. The amber would be considered the
penis.”
    “So why would you wear such a thing?” Shawn
asked.
    “For good luck. It represents being fruitful and
since we wanted to catch lots of fish - which would be fruitful, I
figured today would be a good day to wear it.”
    Shawn scooted away from Cassie, then cupped his hands
around his father’s ear and whispered, “I need to tinkle.”
    “Over there. I’ll watch you.” He pointed to a bank of
portable potties.
    As soon as Shawn was out of earshot, Trent whispered,
“You handled that well.”
    “Thanks, and you haven’t stopped staring at my
necklace.”
    Now it was Trent’s turn to blush, as an impish smile
crossed his face. “It was a remarkable night.”
    “So put Shawn to bed and come to my place. I’d love
to do it again.”
    “That’s an offer that I won’t refuse.” An
uncomfortable bulge had formed in his pants. “I’m glued to this
seat until I can take my mind off of you.”
    “Guess that means I clean up. Is Shawn done
eating?”
    “Yes. If he wants more, I have fruit.”
    “I’ve got cookies.”
    She cleared the trash and put the other things away.
She was slender and sinewy. Her white-blonde ponytail swished over
her shoulder and across her back several times. But when she leaned
across the table to grab the bag of chips, he thought he’d lose all
control, as he was staring down her shirt.
    “Do you realize you’re flashing me?”
    She looked down at her shirt and then at him, as she
stood upright. “It wasn’t intentional. I just hope you appreciated
what little I have.”
    “Definitely. I think they are perfect on you." He
watched her blush, then asked. "How many more pieces of erotic
jewelry do you own?”
    “Two. A male figure copied from a cave drawing, and
crystal that floats through a ring. The male figure I've never
worn, and probably never will. I love wearing the crystal. The only
thing people see is the crystal, not the interpretation.”
    “You are a vamp.”
    “Not really. This one is fun to wear, because most
people don’t catch the meaning. It’s funny to watch someone’s face
when they do catch it. Mostly it’s the folks educated in ancient
history or art.”
    Shawn had wandered down to the edge of the lake and
played along its pebbled shore. Cassie sat next to Trent and
watched Shawn exploring. She reached into her purse, pulled out her
camera, and snapped several pictures. She leaned her head against
Trent's arm and showed him all the pictures she had taken that day.
A serene peace filled him as he inhaled her scent.
    “There is something very different about you. I’ve
been around plenty of men and none have evoked such a passion in
me, yet sitting here with you feels so comfortable.”
    “I know.” He dropped a quick clandestine kiss on her
lips. “I’m also not ready to tell Shawn.”
    “He’ll realize it eventually.” She smiled at Trent
and then called Shawn.

 
    ~~9~~
     
    “Shawn, where’s our tattoos?” Cassie asked.
    Shawn scurried to his dad’s car, found the two clear
plastic containers, and brought them to the picnic table. “I can’t
get it open.”
    She watched as he attempted to twist the clear
plastic halves apart. “They don’t unscrew. You need to stomp on it,
but not too hard. You don’t want it to go into a million pieces. Or
give it to your dad, and let him break it with his fist”
    “Let him stomp on it. Isn’t that half the fun?”
    Shawn’s first try sent it rolling across the ground
for several feet. The second time it broke into quite a few pieces.
Cassie helped him pick up