This Courage of Mine

by Amanda Bennett

  I slid down on my knees in front of her, taking her sweatpants with me and discarding them on the floor with the rest of her clothes. Cami’s head fell back against the couch as her moans became louder with each stroke of my tongue, her hands gripping my hair tightly and tugging it just the way I like. Before I could think twice, I stood and picked up my wife in my arms and carried her into our bedroom. I gently placed her on the bed and hovered above her, waiting for her to give me the okay to keep going. A few seconds later, she nodded her head and I eased my way into her.

  That night I made love to my wife for hours, for the first time in almost four months. I finally felt connected to her again, and she got back to feeling comfortable around me. It was a significant moment that changed the entire dynamic of our relationship. We were one, and there wasn’t a single thing that we didn’t share with each other. I finally had my wife back. I finally got my Cami back.

  Chapter 38

  Cami

  Two weeks later, we were all moved into our new house and having a huge party for everyone. It was a celebration of life, or that’s at least what I was calling it. Not only were we celebrating our new home, but we were also celebrating my being tumor free, the band’s return to their tour, and just life in general.

  I was feeling amazing lately. I finally had my sex drive back, mainly in part due to my husband’s persistence, but I also felt more alive than I ever have. I finally went and got fitted for a few wigs and I loved that I could change my hairdo and color whenever the mood struck me. I was bringing out a tray of goodies and some extra plates when I felt Glenn’s hand come down across my backside, causing me to jump.

  “You better watch what you’re smackin’ buddy. You might get yourself into trouble.”

  “Promise?” He asked as he walked backwards into the house, never letting his eyes leave mine.

  “Absolutely.” I made my way over to the table outside that was setup with all sorts of delicious things that this sweet girl at the bakery in town made. I met her a week ago when I was looking for flowers for the new house. Her name was Tanya, and she was about as sweet as they came. Lucky for me her flower shop was also a bakery. When I told her about our house warming party, she offered to cater it right away. She offered me a price I just couldn’t refuse.

  She showed up early this morning to drop the trays off and I extended her an invite to stay, but she said she had other plans. She seemed nice enough though and I almost thought that maybe she would be a nice addition to our little group. I finished setting up all the tables just in time, because everyone started to show up all at once.

  “Oh my god, Cami. This place is amazing, and this porch is unbelievable.” Kayla was the first one through the door.

  “It is, isn’t it? Glenn designed the entire thing.” Our back porch was a huge geometric puzzle I guess you could say, made up of wood and bricks. It extended a good twenty feet off of the back of the house and had three different levels. One of them even contained a built in fire pit with handmade benches built in around it.

  “And oh my, I am loving this hair you’re sportin’ today.” She ran her finger through the bottom, lifting up pieces of the bright red, big wave curled hair. “I’m so jealous. If you want a new hair do or color, you just change it. I wish I could do that.”

  “Trust me, I would much rather have your hair. I’m gonna run inside real quick and grab something. You okay, need anything?” I was already walking inside, when she said no. “Hey, by the way, where’s my favorite niece?”

  “Inside with her daddy.” She shouted back.

  When I walked into the kitchen, I immediately ran over to Mia. I grabbed her out of her father’s arms and twirled her around the kitchen, while everyone watched. “Oh Miss Mia, you look absolutely beautiful today. I love your dress.” Mia smiled a wide tooth grin and my face lit up. “You want to help your auntie Cam Cam? Yeah you do. You hold these napkins and I’ll grab the cups, how about that?” Mia laughed and I took that as a yes.

  Before I could make it back outside, Glenn was at my side. “Do you know how sexy you look with a baby on your hip?” His lips were so close to my ear that it sent goose bumps down my arm.

  “Maybe one day we will have one of our own.” I winked as I kissed his cheek and continued outside.

  “I see you found my little girl.” Kayla reached for Mia just as I was getting a little bit winded from carrying her.

  “I sure did.” I gasped.

  “Cami, are you okay?” Kayla was instantly at my side and handing me a glass of lemonade that was on the table.

  “I’m okay. I’m just a little winded is all. I still don’t have all of my strength back. Sorry if I scared you.”

  “Don’t you dare be sorry. You can’t help it.”

  “No, but it is super annoying when I can’t even carry my niece for more than a minute at a time. How am I supposed to ever have a baby?”

  “Oh Cam, you’re strength will be back before then. Don’t y’all have to wait at least five years before you even start trying?”

  “Um… yeah unfortunately.” I quickly shook the negativity from my mind. Today was a happy day with happy things to celebrate.

  “So, how in love are you with your house? Because I want to rip mine right down and rebuild, now that I’ve seen yours. Seriously though, Glenn is way talented. Why doesn’t he go to school?”

  “You know, it’s funny you ask. Him and I are actually going to start together when they get back from being on tour. I’m super excited about it. You know, if you would’ve asked me a couple months ago what I thought I would be doing with my life, my answer would have been completely different than it is now. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance and I don’t want to ruin it this time.”

  Kayla reached across the table and held my hand in hers. “I’m just glad that you’re still here with us, Cam. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  I placed my other hand on top of Kayla’s. “Now you won’t ever have to find out.” We both smiled, and then Kayla’s facial expression went blank as she stared at something behind me. “What are you-“ I turned around and nearly jumped to my feet. “Oh my god, Mom, Mike? What are you guys doing here?” I ran over and gave both of them a huge hug.

  “We wouldn’t miss this for anything.” My mom pulled me in for one last hug, and then she went in search of Glenn.

  “Mike, how are you?” I started dragging him over to where I was sitting with Kayla. “Come, sit.” Kayla was still staring at my brother in a way that I had never seen her stare at anyone before. I lightly kicked her shin under the table to get her attention. She made a squeaky sound as she clutched the table, all the while giving me a dirty look.

  “I’ve been good, really good actually. I actually just got offered a head nursing position at a new emergency room.”

  “That’s awesome. Which hospital?”

  “Southfork Memorial.” My brows pulled together in confusion.

  “Wait, what? But that hospital is in the next town over from here.” I glanced between my brother and Kayla, trying to understand what was going on. “You’re moving here?” I shouted louder than I had anticipated.

  “Yeah. I accepted the job just last week. I move here next month.”

  I flung my arms around my brother’s neck. “Oh my god, that’s amazing. Oh, I’m so excited for you. I can’t believe my big brother is gonna be living right near me.”

  “That’s awesome, Mike. Congrats.” Kayla’s demeanor had gone from friendly to standoffish in less than sixty seconds, and I was baffled.

  “Thanks, Kayla.” Mike gave her a weird look and I just couldn’t deal anymore. I shook my head and excused myself to the kitchen. Too weird.

  Chapter 39

  Glenn

  Cami came runnin’ into the kitchen like she was being chased, not stoppin’ until she ran right into me. “Babe, what is goin’ on with you?”

  “Well apparently, my brother is moving to Southfork next month to wor
k at Southfork Memorial Hospital.”

  “And this is bad news how?”

  “Well it’s not. Its actually really good news. I’m super stoked about it.”

  “Yeah, you sound it.” I laughed.

  “Shut up. The problem I have is the weird tension that’s goin’ on between him and Kayla. It was all so weird. He was lookin’ at her all weird, and she was lookin’ at him all weird. It was all just…”

  “Weird?”

  “You’re not funny, Glenn Green. Hey, speaking of not funny, where the hell is your brother? He told me he would be here. He actually promised he would be here, and where are your parents? Why can’t people just show up when they’re supposed to?”

  I grabbed Cami’s shoulders to hold her still for just a second. “You my love, are all over the place. Why don’t you get a drink and go relax. Everyone will be here, when they get here. We can wait a little bit longer for announcements, right?”

  “Yeah, I suppose so. I’m just so excited. All right, I’m off to get a drink and relax. Come out when you’re done doing whatever it is you’re doing.” She placed a chaste kiss to my cheek, and then disappeared out back.

  I pulled my phone from my front pocket and dialed my idiotic little brother. His phone rang three times, then went to voicemail. “Jo, it’s your brother. You were supposed to be here by now. Where the hell are you? Call me back.” I hung up and just as I was about to head outside, the front doorbell rang. I ran across the house to open the door, and there stood my mom and dad.

  “Hi guys, glad you could finally make it.”

  “Oh, it was your father’s fault. Anyway, here we are.” I gave them both a quick hug and shut the door behind them. “Oh Glenn, the house is amazing. You did a fantastic job.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, and led them out back to join everybody else. “Look who finally decided to join the party.”

  I walked over to Cami who was talkin’ to Kayla’s gran. “Hi Gran, you need anything?”

  “No, honey. I’m just fine. I was just tellin’ your wife here how happy we are to have the two of you so close. It’s so nice havin’ all you kids near us old timers.”

  “Well we love bein’ close to y’all as well. Will you excuse me for just a second.”

  “Of course. Go, go do what you need to.”

  I ran to the front door and swung it open wide, makin’ room for Brandon, Bryce and their new flavors of the week. “What’s goin’ on guys?”

  “Hey, man. Holy shit, you weren’t kiddin’ about the size of this place. It’s fuckin’ sweet.”

  “Language, Bryce. There are a lot of parents and grandparents here.”

  “Sorry. So this is Tricia and Patrice.”

  We both knew that there was no point in me learnin’ their names, because it’s not like they’d be around after today. “Nice to meet y’all. Everyone’s out back.” I followed all of them out back and made my way over to where Madison was sittin’, talkin’ with my dad. “Hey, I haven’t heard from Joey and I have no idea where he’s at. Should we just make the announcement without him?”

  “Yeah, go ahead. You and Cami go first.”

  I walked over and grabbed my wife and a glass of champagne. “Can I have everyone’s attention please? Hi. First, Cami and I wanna thank everyone for comin’ over and seein’ our house. It has been a long time comin’ and now that we are all moved in, we wanted to share it with all the people we love. Thanks to Olivia and Mike for comin’ all the way from Arizona to celebrate with us. We really appreciate it. Now, as you all know we have been through our fair share of ups and downs these last couple of months, but we are happy to announce that Cami is officially tumor free. We also just learned this mornin’ that our adoption application, that we secretly put in months ago, has gone through and a mom that lives in Austin, has picked us to be the parents of her unborn baby. We’re gonna be parents.” I raised my glass as everyone started clappin’ and hootin’ and hollerin’. “Madison, you wanna come up here and join me for a minute?”

  Cami went and sat down next to Kayla as Madison made his way up next to me. “Hey guys, I’ll make this short and sweet. Restless Youth is goin’ back on tour, and we just got the call last night that we will also be touring over seas. YEAH BUDDY!!! We’ve made it!” We both raised our glasses, and just then the side gate flung open, and there stood Joey, with Tanya?

  “We’re married, bitches!” Joey shouted as loud as he possibly could while holdin’ up his and Tanya’s hands.

  “Tanya?” Cami and I both said her name at the exact same time, and then we stopped and stared at each other. Both of us confused.

  “Seriously, is everyone gonna get fucking married before me?” Kayla shouted out as she ran past Madison and inside the house.

  “Kayla, wait.” Madison went runnin’ after her, but she was already in the master bedroom with the door locked.

  I walked over to Cami to clear up this little situation. “How do you know Tanya?” I asked.

  “How do you know Tanya would be the better question.” She growled.

  Just when I thought everything was right on track, then something like this happens. I swear if I had a quarter for every time our life never went as planned, I’d be a millionaire. I glanced over at Joey and Tanya in their newly wedded bliss. None of this made sense. Something wasn’t right and if I wanted to keep my wife and my happy life, I needed to get to the bottom of this and fast. As I scanned everyone’s face out in the yard, I had a really bad feeling in my gut. The grandparents were laughing. My parents were arguing. Cami was burnin’ a hole right through me. Joey looked smug, but that wasn’t anything new, and Tanya, well let’s just say she was giving me a look that she should be givin’ her new husband, and not me. This was all bad, very very bad.

  To be continued…

  Look for the next installment in the Raine Series, This Obsession of Mine…Coming November 2014