Kade & Cameron (Something About Him Book 6)

by A. D. Ellis

  “Fine. We split custody. But I want you to move back into town. I want the boys to be able to come and go easily between Steven’s house and yours. You and I don’t have to be married, but I want us to at least be civil.” Stephanie’s one-eighty on her stance caused me to draw my brow and study her closely.

  “So, you want to use the boys as a collateral? My boys are not bargaining chips. I will not allow you to use them as pawns to get what you want.” I crossed my arms across my chest.

  “Fine. Then whatever happens is on your conscience. I offered to keep things civil. I offered to work things out. I was willing to reconcile. Keep that in mind when your world comes crashing in around you.” Stephanie’s words were low and menacing.

  I didn’t rise to the bait, but I cataloged her words in my mind to write down and report to my lawyer as soon as I left. I felt the threat in what she was saying, but it wasn’t specific enough to predict what she planned to do.

  “I’ll have my lawyer call yours. Until the legal advisors have an initial hearing set, the paperwork Cam showed you is legal and binding. You have no access to the boys.” I opened the door to leave. “Please don’t come to Cam’s house again. It would look bad on your file if we had to get a protective order against you.”

  “Empty threats, Kade. That’s one thing I’ve learned. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Stephanie narrowed her eyes and smiled evilly. “And I always keep my promises.”

  I closed the door behind me and drove straight to my lawyer’s office in hopes she’d be working late.

  ~*~*~*~

  A week later, my lawyer had documented and filed all the information I was able to report.

  According to my lawyer, Stephanie’s attorney was beyond frustrated with her and suggested he[S64] was tempted to drop the case before it even went to court. My lawyer said this was a good sign because it meant Stephanie wasn’t taking advice and wasn’t interested in playing by the rules. I understood that part of Stephanie’s approach may work against her in a custody case, but it worried me if she decided to go rogue.

  Anxiety rode around in my neck, shoulders, and stomach as days went by with me waiting and wondering when the next email or visit from Stephanie would arrive. I wanted her to screw up, but the waiting was killing me. We had an initial court hearing scheduled for two weeks out. I was sure I’d have an ulcer the size of a grapefruit by that point.

  The boys’ first day of school started with a morning of pancakes, pictures, and waving as the bus drove away. My heart ached with nostalgia as I watched Myles climb aboard the bus with his new backpack and sneakers. Where had my little boy gone? I gave Cam a teary smile knowing he was likely experiencing some strong emotions watching Declan head off to school without Deacon by his side.

  “Man, this parenting and life stuff sort of sucks at times, huh?” I asked, smiling wryly.

  “Yeah, it’s crazy how our hearts can swell with so much pride and love and anticipation as we watch them grow and change and become little people, but we also have to deal with memories and heartache and fear of what the future may hold. I’m not sure I understood the word bittersweet until I became a parent.” Cam mused as we watched the bus leave pull away before we walked inside to gather up the little ones.

  With my car inconveniently in the shop for brakes that needed replacing, I was riding with Cam for the next few days, at least. He would be working at the college getting online classes set up for a few days before he was able to do more of his work from home. We loaded up Justin and Evan and took them to preschool. The little boys would be attending pre-kindergarten classes in the same building as Declan and Myles, but no bus service existed for the program. Cam and I had attempted to talk Declan and Myles into riding to school with us, but they insisted that big kids rode the bus to school.

  “Will we have time for me to do one last check with the office staff to be sure they have it noted that Stephanie is not allowed to visit the boys or pick them up?” I bounced my knee as we drove into town.

  “Babe, calm down. Yes, you can go in and check the paperwork and computer system if it makes you feel better. But, you filled out the paperwork last week and watched as Janet entered the information. She’s been at that school forever, and she knows what Stephanie did. She’s not going to let her waltz in and take the boys.” Cam reached for my hand, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “But, yes, we have time. We’ll probably still be able to grab a couple coffees before we get to work.”

  ~*~*~*~

  School had settled into a fairly easy routine by the end of the first couple weeks. Bedtime was rough because it was still light out and the boys wanted to play at the lake until the sun went down, but they were also exhausted from being back in school, so we were usually able to give them some playtime, showers, a quick video and bedtime stories, and then they were passed out cold in their beds.

  Cam was working mostly at home teaching his online classes, but he went into town to work on campus a day or two a week. My tutoring through the college was busy as students started new classes. And, the tutoring I did on my own was going really well. I even had a waitlist of students needing some extra help. I’d heard a new math teacher was at the high school scaring the senior class into thinking they’d never graduate if they were in his class.

  “I don’t want to jinx anything, but I feel like we’ve got this whole back-to-school, job, parenting thing running pretty well,” Cam said as we cuddled on the couch one night after the boys had gone to bed.

  “I swear, if we oversleep tomorrow or get a flat tire on the way into town, I’m totally blaming you. Just wait until all four of them have different projects due, and we’re up to our ears in poster board, glitter, and glue.” We laughed as we held hands and watched whatever was on the screen.

  ~*~*~*~

  Cam and I could only shake our heads and grimace as we met in the parking lot of the school and walked toward the main entrance.

  “This is your fault,” I said with no actual blame toward him.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Cam chuckled.

  We’d both gotten a call saying the principal would like to speak to us regarding Myles and Declan. As soon as we arrived, Janet ushered us into the back office to meet with Mrs. Walters.

  “Mr. Lewis, Mr. Ramsey,” Mrs. Walters greeted us. “It’s good to see you both. Please, have a seat.” She gestured at the two chairs on either side of the seats Myles and Declan already occupied.

  As I leaned down to kiss Myles’ head, I caught Cam reaching over and hugging Declan to his side. Both boys seemed to relax a little at our show of support, but a definite tension stirred between the two of them.

  “I apologize for calling you away from your jobs, but Myles and Declan have had some issues today that we’ve been having trouble working through,” Mrs. Walters spoke directly, but she didn’t come across as angry. More like she was concerned about the boys.

  “What’s going on?” Cam asked.

  “Well, from what I can gather, the boys are having issues with some other students but are also upset with each other.” Mrs. Walters frowned as she scanned the notepad in front of her. “Some other students started poking fun at Myles and Declan early this morning and it appears to have escalated from there to the point where your boys had to be separated from a scuffle with each other on the playground.”

  “You guys were fighting? With each other?” Cam voiced the question we were both thinking.

  The boys nodded.

  “What is it the other kids did?” I asked Mrs. Walters.

  She blushed and I instinctively knew where the conversation was headed.

  “My understanding is that a couple of the older boys made some lewd comments to Myles and Declan on their way from the bus to class this morning. Later, the same boys got a couple other students to join in with their inappropriate comments.” Mrs. Walters looked at Myles and Declan sitting side-by-side between Cam and me. “Seems your boys stuck together to stand up to the bullies, but they turned on eac
h other when they were on their own.”

  “What did they say to upset you?” Cam asked.

  Myles and Declan were silent.

  “Is there any chance we could discuss this with the boys in private at home?” I asked Mrs. Walters.

  “Of course. At this point, they aren’t in trouble. I wanted to get you both in here to help with the situation. I don’t like to see the best of friends fighting.” Mrs. Walters stood to see us from her office. “The other students’ parents have been contacted regarding their behavior, and consequences were administered here at school, as well. I can’t guarantee anything will be done about their behavior at home, but I can assure you that I won’t tolerate bullying of any type in my building.”

  We shook Mrs. Walters’ hand and signed the boys out at the front desk.

  Cam and I got the boys loaded in the cars and spoke briefly before we climbed in, as well.

  “I wouldn’t mind getting something at a drive-thru, but I don’t want the boys to think they are getting rewarded. I mean, they aren’t in trouble, but us having to be called into school isn’t exactly worthy of a treat, ya know?” Cam spoke as we pondered how to handle the afternoon.

  “You’re right. Let’s see if Kelly can pick up the little ones, and we’ll take the big boys out on the lake and see if we can solve the issue.” I pulled out my phone and called Kelly. Once plans were made and I’d called into the office to let them know Kelly would be picking up Justin and Evan at dismissal, Cam and I headed our cars toward home.

  ~*~*~*~

  Once home, we sent the boys to change clothes while we loaded up a plain, non-rewarding lunch into a cooler.

  “No juice boxes or soda. Just water. Remember, this outing is for solving a problem, not for rewarding their behavior.” Cam reminded me.

  “Aye-aye, Captain.” I saluted.

  “Mmm, I think I like the idea of you obeying my commands,” Cam whispered in my ear as he reached around me to grab napkins. Brushing his cock seductively against my ass, he chuckled when I moaned as he walked away.

  “I think you like the thought of me in uniform,” I teased.

  “More like I like the idea of you out of your uniform,” Cam replied.

  A tumbling sound from the other room took us running to check on the boys.

  We walked in to find Myles and Declan in an all-out brawl on their bedroom floor. Yanking each boy from the grapple, we ushered them to the backdoor.

  “There will be no fighting in this house. We don’t solve things by fighting.” Cam spoke as sternly as I’d ever heard him.

  “Fighting doesn’t solve anything, boys. It may be easier and quicker than working problems out, but fists and bruises don’t lead to anything good,” I told the boys as I hefted the cooler and we headed to the lake.

  “We’re going to go out on the lake and we’re not coming back in until you two have fixed yourselves,” Cam promised.

  Twenty minutes later, the boys were finishing their lunch as Cam found a place to anchor the boat. The rolling and rocking of the waves lapping against the side of the boat was calming for me, and I hoped it would help to soothe whatever problem the boys were having.

  “Okay, let’s start with what the older boys said to get the two of you upset this morning,” I prompted.

  Neither boy took the bait.

  “Let me try to make this easier on you both. Were they talking about Kade and me?” Cam asked.

  The boys nodded.

  “Saying some nasty stuff about grown up things?” Cam continued.

  The boys nodded again.

  “Kade and I are good friends and we love each other. We love you boys more than anything in the world, and we want you to be happy,” Cam said. “Some people don’t like two daddies living together, and they will say inappropriate things. I’m sorry you had to hear those things today.”

  “But what made the two of you upset with each other?” I asked.

  Declan broke first, tears flowing and his little boy voice breaking. “No one made fun of my dad before, but when Kade moved in they started making fun.”

  “That’s not true!” Myles retorted angrily. “My dad liked my mom until your dad made him like boys.”

  Cam and I looked at each other over the boys’ heads. Our eyes were wide with a what the hell do we do now type of look.

  “Myles, do you like living with Cam and the boys?” I looked my son directly in the eye.

  “Yes.” Myles nodded.

  “Declan, do you like having your best buddy living with you and your dad?” I turned to the other boy.

  “Yes.” Declan nodded.

  Good. I was slightly worried where the conversation would have gone if either of them had said no.

  “Okay, then let’s all agree that the six of us living together and being a family is a good thing. Can we do that?” I glanced between the two of them.

  Both boys nodded yes.

  “Declan, people did make fun of your Daddy Deacon and me. A lot of people think that two men shouldn’t love each other and have children and be married. You didn’t ever hear the jokes and mean words, but they were there. Kade isn’t the reason for those kids’ comments today or the comments you’ll hear again.”

  “Myles, I did love your mom, and I’m very happy I was married to her because it brought me you and Evan. But, what she did, the way she treated you, your brother, and me…those things made me very sad and made me not love her anymore.” I turned to look at Cam, unsure if what I said was the right thing. “I love Cam very much. Just like I love you and Evan very much. Having the six of us living together makes me as happy as it makes you boys. Cam didn’t take me away from your mom. Cam didn’t make your mom go away.”

  Part of me felt a lot more could have been said on the subject, but I didn’t want to give the boys information overload. So, I left it at that for the moment.

  “Boys, mean people are in the world. Whether they are making fun of someone’s skin color or their hair or the car they drive or their house or who they love, there will always be mean people,” Cam said.

  “Mean people suck,” Declan interrupted.

  “They sure do, bud,” I agreed.

  “You can choose to let the mean people get you down and make you fight, or you can be the better person and stand up for what’s right and treat others with kindness, love, and respect. You’re going to meet and see a lot of people in this world who are different than you. Different isn’t bad,” Cam said. It seemed he wasn’t sure exactly how detailed to make the conversation either.

  “How are you two feeling right now?” I cocked my head.

  The boys shrugged.

  “Still mad at each other?” My brow raised.

  The boys shook their heads.

  “Okay, that’s good,” I said. “How about you guys use your friendship to stand together and be nice to people. Don’t let the mean people mess with your friendship, okay?”

  The boys nodded.

  “Also, let adults at school know if someone is mean or saying things they shouldn’t. Talk to us if there are problems. But, no more fighting. If you guys are mad at each other, we work it out or you work it out together. No fights,” Cam said.

  By the time we docked the boat and picked Evan and Justin up from Kelly’s, I was grateful it was a Friday night and not a school night because no way would the boys make their early bedtime.

  Chapter 21

  Cameron

  I walked into the school a couple weeks later to pick up the boys. Some days we let Myles and Declan ride the bus home even though we had to pick up Justin and Evan, but many days we had them ride with one of us.

  “Hello, how may I help you?” An unfamiliar woman sat at the front desk and spoke pleasantly, but fear and panic instinctively ran through my body.

  “Hi. Where’s Janet?” I asked, trying not to be too blunt.

  “Oh, her daughter is having a baby today. She’s off for a few days.” The lady, Dolly, smiled sweetly at the explanation.
“What can I do for you?”

  Pushing away the fearful gut reaction, I replied, “I need to pick up Declan and Justin Lewis and Myles and Evan Ramsey.”

  “Declan and Justin I can do, but you’re too late for the Ramsey boys. Their mother signed them out about an hour ago.” Dolly chirped her words before calling the classrooms for my sons.

  “What do you mean their mother signed them out?” I didn’t care that I sounded angry and accusatory.

  “Mrs. Ramsey came in and signed them out. Said they had doctor appointments.”

  “Why in the hell would you let her take them? Did you even check the computer system?” I attempted to keep from shouting.

  “Mr. Lewis, she had identification and the boys seemed happy to see her. Why would I not let her take her sons?” Dolly defended.

  Mrs. Walters came out from her office when she heard the ruckus.

  “Cameron, what’s wrong?” she asked with genuine concern.

  “Stephanie came and signed out Myles and Evan,” I explained quickly as I dialed Kade’s phone. Mrs. Walters’ face blanched. “Call the police while I call Kade. Let them know Stephanie signed the boys out of school without the court’s permission. She’s basically abducted them at this point.” I wanted to scream and shout at Dolly for not checking the computer system. But that would get me no closer to the boys, so I focused on Kade.

  “Hello?” Kade answered.

  I could hear the noise of the tutoring center in the background. “Kade, I’m here at the school to get the boys. There’s a sub secretary and Stephanie signed the boys out.” I tried to remain calm as I spoke in hopes of not panicking Kade.

  “Okay, I’ll let my lawyer know. Is she still there? Let me talk to her.” Kade answered, clearly not understanding what I was saying.

  “No, Kade. She’s not here. She actually signed them out and took them. I don’t know where she is. The school is calling the police as we speak.” My words sounded hollow to my ears. Kade’s words were a jumbled muffle of panic and then the phone went dead.