by M. Robinson
“You alright?”
I spun, looking at him. “I don’t know anymore.”
“Camila, you gotta do what’s right for you. Fuck Sean.”
“And Bailey? What about her?”
“I think it’s time you find out the truth, don’t you?”
He was right.
The time had come.
There was no way around it anymore, not with the way I was reacting to him. If she was alive, there was only one thing left for me to do. It would be the right move, even if it killed me not to see those kids anymore.
I had to quit.
Chapter 20
<>Camila<>
Now
__________
I walked into the Pierces’ home bright and early the next morning, a false sense of security following me. As soon as I stepped into their house, there was this eerie presence all around me.
I took a deep, sturdy breath, grounding myself. The sensation of being watched was very much alive and present, much more than it had been before.
For the life of me, I couldn’t shake it.
Maybe because I was now convinced there were cameras, or maybe I just had a sixth sense for these sorts of things. Or it could have been as simple as I was starting to lose my goddamn mind. I hadn’t slept all night, thinking solely about the Pierces. The image of their father breaking down in front of my eyes was a vision I couldn’t forget.
The more I looked around his house, the more I saw her, the more I felt her, the more she presented herself to me.
His wife.
Bailey. Beauty. Mrs. Pierce.
I didn’t know a damn thing about her, but she was everywhere. From the floor to the ceilings, in every crevice of every room, in every inch of the open space, in every way, shape, or form. This was her home.
Her sanctuary.
Her place of peace.
Her safe haven.
Where I suddenly felt unwelcomed. An intruder, a woman who wasn’t supposed to be raising her kids. The more I looked around her home, the worse I felt. It was a continuous, unforgiving impression in the pit of my stomach, as if I had done something wrong and it was about to catch up with me. The confusion and unanswered questions pegged me as I moved through the house, picking up after the boys like I did every morning.
Except, this time…
When I walked into Journey’s room to make sure she was still sleeping, Jackson was holding her in his arms in the rocking chair. This was the first time I’d ever seen him hold her, let alone look down at her with so much love and adoration.
I smiled. “You’re a natural, Jackson. You’re going to make a great daddy one day.”
His eyes flew to mine, declaring, “I don’t want kids.”
“You say that now but you’re so young. You have a full life ahead of you.”
“I wouldn’t talk about things you don’t know, Camila,” he snapped in a harsh tone.
My hands surrendered in the air. I learned early on I needed to pick and choose my battles with Jackson, and this was one I’d let slide for another time. I didn’t want to ruin this moment between us. Journey looked so happy in his arms, pulling at her brother’s shirt, holding onto him tight. She didn’t want to let go.
It was a beautiful sight, one that had momentarily replaced the uncertainty in my mind.
Now that I had his attention, I addressed the elephant in the room, “Thank you for covering for me yesterday. I really appreciate it. You didn’t have to do that for me.”
“I didn’t do it for you, Mary Poppins, I did it for Journey.”
I nodded. “Well, maybe you also did it because you’re starting to accept me?” Rocking on my heels, I added, “You know, maybe even like me?” I waited on pins and needles for his response. “A little, not a lot. Definitely more than you like Harley,” I teased, hoping it would tear down some of his walls. Even if it was only for a second.
“You’re right, I hate Harley.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Do you, though?” I was treading on thin ice, at this point I didn’t have anything to lose but everything to gain when it came to him and our dynamic.
“What are you trying to say, Camila?”
“Nothing, just an observation.”
“Ah, so the same girly bs she tells me all the time.”
“Which is?”
“I’m mean to her because I like her.”
I shrugged, smirking. “Do you?”
“Fuc—”
I glared at him.
“F-u-c-k no.”
I laughed, I couldn’t help it. This little shit was such a smartass.
“You girls watch way too many Disney movies.”
“Says the guy who has a few in his room.”
It was his turn to glare at me.
I once again put my hands up in the air in a surrendering gesture. “What? I didn’t put them there.”
“Neither did I.”
I didn’t have to ask to know what he was implying. “I can move them if you want.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, searching for something in my gaze before snipping, “Yeah, whatever. Did you find my dad?” he questioned, changing the subject to another discussion I didn’t want to have.
“Kind of.”
“Was he working?”
“You could say that.”
“His precious hospital is all that matters to him anymore.”
“I don’t think that’s true at all.”
“How do you know? Did you talk to him?” There was no denying the hopefulness in his voice, breaking my heart a little more.
“I could just tell.”
“How?”
“I could see it in his eyes. He misses you as much as you miss him.”
“I don’t miss him.”
“Jackson…”
“I don’t. I don’t need him. To hell with him.” There was so much pain in his words, making my heart bleed for him.
“You don’t mean that. You’re just angry. Trust me, I know what that feels like.”
“You think you know everything, don’t you, Mary Poppins?”
“I know I’ve become your punching bag, and I don’t care what you tell yourself, I know you don’t hate me. But if it makes you feel better to take stabs at me, then so be it. Hit me again, Jackson, because maybe there’ll come a day when you can see me as your friend and not your enemy. I’m actually a pretty cool person. If you gave me half a chance, you’d see I’m not a threat to you. To anyone for that matter. I’m not here to replace anybody, I just want to help you.”
“And then what? When you’re done helping, you what? Just leave us behind?”
“Is that what you want?”
“No.”
I smiled, thinking I got through to him. He abruptly stood, quickly handing his baby sister over to me.
“Journey wouldn’t like that. Because let’s face it, Camila, we both know she’s the only one who wants you here.”
I grimaced, and for the first time I saw regret pull at his eyes.
“Did that make you feel better? Because the expression on your face says otherwise.”
With a spiteful tone, he bit, “Everyone leaves, that’s just life.”
My eyes watered, knowing in the core of my stomach he was referring to his mother.
“I’m sorry, Jackson, I hate that you feel that way. I wish there was something I could—”
“What did he say? I want to know what my father said to you.”
Before I knew what I was responding, I blurted, “That he loves you very much,” I unintentionally lied through my teeth, peering down at Journey, who was staring at me as intently as her brother, listening to every word I spoke like she needed to hear it too.
I couldn’t look at either of them, my eyes shifted every which way and all across the room until they finally landed on Journey’s favorite book On the Night You Were Born. Giving me the courage to speak up for him, “Your dad is hurting, and he just doesn’t want you to see how bad.”
>
“He is?” He genuinely sounded shocked.
“Yes. He broke down.”
“In front of you?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“After he said he was hurting?”
“Sort of.”
“So, my father who’d just met you for the first time, willingly told you all this?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Why do I feel like you’re lying?”
Our eyes connected.
“Why would I lie?”
“You tell me.”
“I am telling you. Why is it so hard for you to believe your father loves you?”
“I don’t know, Mary Poppins, maybe because I haven’t seen him since my mom—”
“There you are,” Skyler interrupted. “Jackson, you’re going to be late for school. You gotta go.”
I was going to scream.
Why was it every time someone was going to say something about their mother, they were interrupted? What. The. Hell?
Jackson grabbed his backpack off Journey’s floor and walked out of the room, taking the truth of their mother’s whereabouts with him. I shook off the thought, leaving it in the back of my mind for later.
“Camila, do you mind staying over tonight? I know it’s Friday, but Jackson and Jagger are both staying with friends, so it will only be Journey and you.”
“Bah!” Little Miss enthusiastically exclaimed, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“Girls night, huh?”
She kicked her legs in excitement.
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Great. Noah wanted to take me out, it’s our anniversary.”
“Awe, happy anniversary. How many years?”
“I don’t know, forever.”
I chuckled. I never did Google Skyler’s name, it was her story to tell me. It didn’t seem right reading it on online and not hearing her experience from her own mouth. I knew one day she’d tell me.
“He claims I’ve been his since we were almost twelve.”
“And you haven’t?”
“No, I have. I just like to mess with him. My husband needs to be kept on his toes, it’s the Jameson in him.”
“Is he anything like Harley?”
“Harley is her father, who is ten times worse than my husband, even though they’re brothers. She’s also a lot like her mom, Mia, too. I swear, Camila, the day Harley starts dating, oh man… I’m already sorry for that boy because Creed and Noah are going to kill him. I’m not joking, they’re going to put him to ground.”
I instantly saw Jackson’s face, something was going to happen between them. It was only a matter of time, I was certain.
“They can’t be that bad,” I expressed, not feeling sorry for him. The little shit deserved it. Karma. He shouldn’t be so mean to her in the first place.
Skyler gave me a stern expression as if she was thinking the same thing I was. “You have no idea. Harley may not be Noah’s kid, but she was the first baby girl in the Jameson family, and for that fact alone, she has two fathers. And don’t get me started on her grandfather Lucas and Uncle Mason, on top of the good ol’ boys who are all assholes with hearts of gold. You’ll meet everyone eventually.”
“I can’t wait.”
“You know what? You should come to one of our MC barbeques.”
“MC?”
“Yeah, motorcycle club. My husband is VP and his brother Creed is the Prez. Everyone would love to meet you, they’ve already heard so much about you from me. The whole family is as grateful for you coming into the Pierces’ lives as I am. You’ll fit right in like Aiden. He may own a Harley, but he refuses to join the MC, much to Noah’s complaints, but it doesn’t take away how much we all love him.”
Aiden has a Harley?
“My husband never had a good example of a father, and Aiden stepped in when he was fifteen and took on that role. For that alone the family is thankful. They owe a lot to Aiden for saving Noah in a sense.”
Hearing her speak his name, had my already overly active mind spinning out of control. Leading me back to wanting to know every last detail about him.
I casually probed, “Is Dr. Pierce grateful I’m here too?”
“Of course. I’m sure wherever Bailey is, she is as well. You’ve been a godsend, Camila.”
“Skyler, where is Mrs. Pier—”
Her cellphone rang, cutting me off.
“It’s Noah, I have to run. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” She kissed Journey on the forehead. “Have fun with your favorite person.”
“Bah!” she replied, agreeing with her.
Skyler left, leaving me disappointed.
“Journey, do you know where your momma is?”
“Bah, gah, bah, bah, bah, dah.”
“Is that right?”
“Fah, gab, bah.”
“Does that mean you want a cookie?”
Her head bobbled.
“You’re so smart. You know what, Little Miss, I think your brother wants me here too, but he’s just too stubborn to admit it. What do you think?”
She bobbled again, more adamantly this time. She didn’t have a clue what I was saying, however it still helped me.
It was funny how a baby could do that.
How holding her in my arms just made everything right in my world. The attachment I had to Journey grew with each passing moment.
We spent the rest of the day playing, dancing, and singing while music played through the speakers. I ignored the sensation of being watched and just enjoyed my time with her. She was standing by the edge of the coffee table holding on, bouncing to the beat.
“Go, Journey, shake your booty! Go, Journey, shake your booty,” I cheered, and she did just that. Sticking her diapered butt out into the air, she wiggled it back and forth, a proud look on her face. My girl wasn’t just copying me, she had rhythm. Music was part of her soul like it was in mine. “That’s it, Little Miss, now shimmy like this.” I showed her, moving my shoulders.
She giggled, trying to move hers without falling. I giggled right along with her.
“Now make your booty bounce, now make your booty bounce!”
“Boo! Boo! Boo!” she twerked it, vibrating her entire body, making both of us fall into a fit of giggles until she fell over from laughing so hard. I fell with her.
“I love you, baby girl.”
Her eyes lit bright and wide, and I knew she understood what I said. She opened mouth kissed my cheek, grabbing onto my face hard. Displaying just how much she loved me too.
It was a little past nine o’clock at night when I got her to fall asleep for me, laying her down in her crib.
I whispered, “I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, my angel,” kissing her goodnight. Turning on the white noise, I grabbed the monitor and shut the door behind me.
For the next hour, I cleaned up our mess from the day, deciding at the last minute to pick up Jackson’s room before I relaxed on the couch for the rest of the night. It didn’t take me long to tidy up his things. For once his room didn’t look like a bomb went off in it. And for some reason, part of me knew he did that for me.
The entire time I cleaned, the Disney movies on his shelf were calling my name, especially the one titled, Beauty and the Beast. Unable to remember the last time I watched it.
“Why not?” I asked myself, grabbing the video cassette.
I walked into the kitchen, tossed a bag of popcorn in the microwave, overlooking the fact it was my favorite.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Pulling my favorite water from the fridge, I threw the caramel popcorn into a bowl and made my way into the living room. Laughing at the thought they were the last family on earth to still own a VCR.
After popping in the movie, I grabbed the remote off the coffee table and plopped my ass on the couch. Tugging the throw blanket on top of me, I settled in. Getting nice and cozy, excited to watch one of my favorite childhood movies. But the excitement quickly came to a halt.
My heart dropped.
My eyes zeroed in on the screen in front of me.
There they were.
A young Bailey with Aiden down on one knee, stating,
“I’m just keeping another promise to you, Beauty.”
Chapter 21
<>Aiden<>
Then: Eighteen-years-old
__________
Bailey glanced up from her book when she heard the loud exhaust from my finished muscle car pull into the driveaway. I revved the engine just to get her going, she loved when it vibrated against her body in the seats.
With a huge smile on her beautiful face, she set her novel aside on the porch swing she was sitting on. Appreciating the powerful sound the pipes made.
Only staring at me, she remarked, “Well shit, happy birthday to me, handsome.” Wiggling her eyebrows, she gazed at my elegant suit, similar to what Beast wore in the Disney movie.
I grinned, walking up the rickety steps slow and steady so she could get a good look at me. Nothing was better than turning Bailey on.
“What’s with the getup?”
Placing her gift beside the swing, I sat down next to her, and pulled her into my lap.
“I’m going to get you all wrinkly.”
“Like I give a fuck,” I rasped, needing the warmth of my girl in my arms.
She straddled my waist, not leaving any room between us. Grabbing her chin, I brought her pouty lips over to meet mine, kissing her like she was the only thing that ever mattered.
She was.
A soft moan escaped her lips into my mouth, making my dick twitch in my tight slacks.
“What’s gotten into you?” she breathed out against my lips. “You’re never one for PDA.”
“It’s my girl’s birthday.”
“That’s a mighty big package you have … does that mean I get everything I’ve ever wanted?”
I grinned, side-nodding to the present next to us. Knowing that wasn’t what she was referring to. “Go put it on for me, and you’ll find out for yourself.”
She smirked, puckering her lips. “Is it lingerie?”
