Looking down, she swallowed hard and tried to remind herself that she wasn’t as old and weary as she felt. If fate allowed and no more tragedies intervened, there was still a chance she could make this life a good one. She saw the camera in her hands and felt herself smile as she remembered his message. No matter how glum she was feeling—or what terrible burden was on her mind—Shane always made her smile somehow. “I found this.” She held up the camera to show him the picture he’d taken for her.
“Took you long enough,” he said with a half-grin.
She nodded, turning the camera to look at the screen again. “Shane…” she started, but she wasn’t sure exactly what to say. “I don’t think you realized how much you’ve helped. Whether you were reassuring me or covering for me while I was getting wasted. Even when you just listened, it was more help than I ever could’ve asked for. It’s like…you wouldn’t give up on me, and I don’t think you know how good that feels.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll never give up on you, Cameron. Never.”
“But now you’re hurt,” she said, looking at his arm again. “Now you’re hurt because of me.”
“But you’re safe,” he said.
“It was a really stupid thing to do,” she said as anger quickly replaced her concern. “You could’ve gotten killed. When I heard that gun fire…”
“Hey, it’s okay,” he said softly. With quite a bit of effort, he pulled himself up to bring their faces closer. Though his pretty blue eyes were cloudy from the medication, she could see his sincerity in them. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I let him hurt you again.”
“But what if you didn’t live?” she asked. The night finally taking its toll, her tears spilled over. “What if…what if I never got to tell you how much you mean to me? Because I was too tough to admit it? Too scared to…”
He simply stared at her a moment, like he was seeing her in a new light. Pulling his hand from hers, he wrapped his arm around her, eased them back against the bed, and held her. Soft tears stained his hospital gown as she buried her face in his shoulder and allowed herself to embrace the feelings he raised, the comfort.
Chapter Eighteen
When Julian answered the door to his house, she stepped right past him. “Where is Brady?” she asked.
“Upstairs,” he said, stepping aside to let Chad in, too.
There was so much she needed to say to him, but right now, all of that could wait. “Show me.”
He nodded, and then turned to Chad, motioning to a room on the right. “Sam’s in there.”
They parted, Chad going into the living room and Julian leading Cameron up the stairs. They turned down a hallway and passed a few doors before he finally stopped and opened one. She stepped inside the room, taking an astonished look around.
Moons and stars pasted on the ceiling glowed in the dark and cast a green, fluorescent looking light across the scene. Stickers of spaceships and astronauts decorated the walls and a large fish-tank added a calming, bubbling sound and extra light to the room. She must’ve passed by this door a thousand times and not once had she known that this was what was on the other side of it.
She crossed the dark blue carpet until she came to the edge of the toddler bed. Brady slept soundly, nestled in the blankets, his breathing soft and steady. His head rested comfortably against a dark blue pillowcase and his heart-shaped face looked relaxed, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. At two years old, he shouldn’t. He looked so peaceful and cute that, for a second, Cameron wanted to take him with her.
But she gave away the right to want that when she’d given him up at birth. That decision had been like a stain on her soul ever since. It was the reason she longed to slip into an intoxicated state, the reason she needed to forget who she was and what she’d done. It ate at her until she became someone she didn’t even recognize.
But no more. She’d change; she made a vow as she stared at his sleeping form. She would quit drinking, quit lying, quit running. With willpower and focus, she’d turn herself into a healthy, happy eighteen-year-old girl and build a promising future for herself. Maybe then, she could claim custody of Brady, if she deserved it. But as much as it killed her to admit it, she just wasn’t capable right now.
She closed the door behind her as she stepped back into the hallway with Julian. Though she was normally used to his cool and cocky attitude, now the sharp, smooth angles of his face fell into a concerned expression when his silver colored eyes landed on hers. He opened his mouth, trying to speak, but she slapped him across the face.
“You made me think I killed him,” she said, fighting to keep her voice low so she wouldn’t wake Brady. “You manipulated me into running away with you, into marrying you. And you knew he was still alive this whole time.”
He nodded slowly, taking the blame.
“You’re pure evil,” she said in disgust.
“My plan was evil,” he corrected. “But my goal…that was just pure.”
She scoffed, shaking her head.
“It’s the truth, Cameron,” he said, catching her attention because he rarely called her by her name. “I never wanted to sue you. So I fake-blackmailed you instead. I thought if I applied enough pressure, eventually you’d give in and sign custody over to me. I never thought you’d try to turn yourself in.”
“Why did you tell Sam? I mean, I know Shane told them the worst of it, but did you really have to go and fill in all the details?” she asked, changing the subject. Her head was aching now, and she really didn’t want to examine the black-and-whites of Julian’s actions. “Do you really hate me that much?”
“No,” he exclaimed, his eyes bulging. “The truth tends to come out when you’re locked in the back of a squad car getting beaten up. By the way,” he added slowly, in a comical tone. “I think Chad has anger issues.”
She turned her head, glancing away. Thinking of Chad and Sam downstairs, she knew she’d have to talk to them soon.
“They needed to know,” he said. “And I knew you were too ashamed to tell them.”
“What do I say to them now?” she asked as she started moving toward the stairs again. She wasn’t really talking to him so much as she was wondering out loud, but soon he fell in step with an answer.
“Anything you need to say. That’s the beauty in being honest, Cammi.” He stopped at the top of the stairs. “You guys can stay here tonight, if you want. Get some rest. Brady was asking about you, so you should stay close.”
“What about your parents?”
He shrugged, trying to sound indifferent as he said, “They moved to the Hamptons, so you don’t have to worry about them. Just get some rest. It’s been a crazy night.”
She watched him as he walked away. “Julian wait,” she said, and when he glanced over his shoulder, she softly added, “Thank you.”
He nodded, his slips slanting in a half smile, then continued down the hallway.
Gathering her courage, she finally went to the living room. Sam and Chad were sitting on the couch, leaned in, talking closely with each other. As anticipated, the chatter stopped the second she walked into the room. Then they both looked at her, with that look in their eyes. The pity, the guilt. All of the unspoken words between them, the secret resentment and hidden jealousy seemed to hover around them as thick and stifling as a dense fog. This, right here, was what she’d been trying to avoid all along.
Panic struck her and she looked toward the front door, wanting to bolt straight for it and disappear into the night. But she was so very tired of running.
“I’m so sorry,” Sam said finally, standing. He started talking a mile a minute, as if he had to get the whole speech out before she walked away. “I never should’ve let you move in with Anne in the first place. It was the biggest mistake of my life. And I should’ve visited you more. If I’d been around, maybe you could’ve told me…”
“Sam, stop.” She held up her hand to cut him off. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“But I should’ve been there,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’m your brother. I was supposed to be there for you and I wasn’t.” He shook his head, the shame evident on his face. “You were all alone.”
She couldn’t stand to watch him beat himself up. Crossing the room, she took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “If there’s one thing you’ve proved tonight,” she said, looking into his tortured eyes. “It’s that I’m not alone anymore.”
A tear finally fell from his eye. He wrapped his arm around her and then used the other to pull Chad into the hug, too. Circling his long, large arms around both of them, he held them in group hug. Closing her eyes, Cameron let herself enjoy the safety of their presence. It was okay to want them to protect her, she finally realized. It was okay to need them; it didn’t mean she was weak, or that she couldn’t handle life on her own. It meant she knew the value of family.
***
Chad stood in the hallway outside Sadie’s apartment. With his hands jammed in his pockets, he tried to decide if he wanted to knock on the door. The last time he’d talked to Sadie, she’d been crying and asking for his help. Then everything exploded with Cameron and he hadn’t had the time or clarity of mind to call her back.
He was fresh off the road from Baltimore and hadn’t even stopped by his place yet. Though he was tired and would love to get a nap, he wanted to see Sadie first. He hadn’t slept the night before. Every time he’d tried, he was bombarded by his guilt and his regrets. Remembering this, he realized he was tired of living with those regrets. He regretted everything from not chasing after Amy to not realizing what he had with Sadie and being so oblivious to his sister’s pain. Everything that’d happened over the last few days made him decide he’d no longer live his life by what if’s, and instead by what could be.
Pulling his fist out of his pocket, he knocked on the door three short times. After a few seconds, she pulled the door open. She looked good, he realized in relief. She wasn’t wearing her post-breakup pajamas and her hair was curled, all good signs she’d gotten over Julian pretty fast. She looked great, he thought. The second he saw her, he felt like he’d come home. Like everything was taken care of now and this was where he could finally crumble.
Sadie took one look at him and he could tell she knew something was wrong. Immediately, any arguments or disagreements were forgotten. “Whoa, you look…” she trailed off, looking him over again. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.” His voice came out hoarse and he realized he hadn’t used it in the last few hours, at least.
Without another word, she reached into the hallway and took his hand, leading him inside the apartment. “What happened?” she asked once they were shut inside.
He turned to her, his hand still lingering in hers. “A lot,” he said, once again sounding raspy. “And I realized…I’ve been completely, one-hundred percent blind. Cameron’s life was…” choking on the words and the visuals they stirred up, he grabbed on to Sadie’s shoulders to make him focus on what he’d come here to say, and not what he should’ve done. “Her life was horrible and I was completely oblivious. For years. And she isn’t the only one I’ve ignored.”
She looked confused, but she was trying to keep up.
“You’ve always been there for me,” he said, feeling all kinds of warm emotions flood him when he thought of how supportive she’d been and how much he’d come to rely on her. “No matter what I’m going through, you’ve been there. But I haven’t been paying enough attention to you.”
“Chad, it’s okay,” she protested, but he brought a finger to her lips to silence her.
“I haven’t, Sadie,” he said. “I didn’t see how much you cared. I’m your best friend, I should’ve seen that.”
Her eyes squinted, just slightly, as if she was wondering where he was going with all of this. He could see the hope trying to bloom, but she was scared. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he realized he’d hurt her much more than he’d assumed.
“When you told me how you felt…you were so brave. But I was the coward. It scared me to see you being so…honest.” He brought his hand to her face, looking into her eyes. The joy he felt, suddenly after a horrific weekend, was enough to reinforce what deep down, he already knew. “What I wanted to tell you that night, was that you’re one of the most important people in my life and I don’t know what I’d do without you. And I’m really sorry that I don’t say that enough.”
She just smiled a little and brought her hand to his, starting to pull it away. He knew he’d chickened out again, and he was on the brink of falling back into their old rut. Sadie deserved the same honesty she’d shown, so he gathered up what courage he had left.
“I’m not really good with words,” he said, stammering. Looking at her, he decided to give up on the words. Cupping her face in both hands, he brought his face to hers and gave her a kiss. Just a short one, soft and sweet, but even to him, it packed quite a punch. Keeping his lips close, he opened his eyes to look at her. And this time, that swoony, doe-eyed look he’d always envied, was aimed at him. He didn’t understand why or how, but suddenly, he felt a huge weight lift off his chest and he knew he was finally moving on. For the first time in years, he felt himself smile. The real kind of smile—one that brightens your eyes and makes your spirit feel young again. That’s how he felt, kissing her.
She smiled as she looked at him, her expression full of love and hope.
“I won’t always know how this works,” he said, “and I’m not going to pretend I don’t come with baggage because I do, but I want to give this a chance, Sadie. I want to give us a chance.”
“I’ll take it.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she giggled as she kissed him again.
***
“Wait a second,” Sam said, sitting up straighter in his chair. “You’re telling me that even after everything Julian’s done to Cameron, there’s still a good chance the courts will favor him? What about the private detective who posed as a cop? Or the fake murder charge? Or tricking her into marrying him?”
“We can’t prove any of that,” Caroline said. Apparently this woman was the best lawyer in Victory Hollow and a close friend of Bela’s, but so far she hadn’t been much help. “There’s nothing tying him to the P.I. The assault on Mr. Nichols will only end up reflecting badly on Cameron, and we can’t prove that she was tricked.”
Cameron stood and began to pace around the kitchen. “He’s going to win,” she said, her voice a panicked whisper. “I can feel it.”
“Not necessarily.” Caroline turned in her chair to face Cameron as she paced. “We could play up the teenage mother angle.”
“What do you mean?”
“We explain that you were coerced into giving up your baby,” she said. “That after months and months of persuasion, you finally did what your aunt wanted you to do. And if you let us bring up the abuse—”
“No way,” she said, cringing as she pictured this scenario playing out in a courtroom. “We have to leave that out of it.”
“Cameron,” Sam said gently. “It’s crucial to understanding why you would do something like this.”
“If anything, it’s just going to make me look worse because I left Brady there with him,” she exclaimed.
“You didn’t know he was still living there,” Sam said. “We can explain that.”
“If Cameron is uncomfortable discussing her childhood, then we claim she wasn’t prepared for motherhood and try to convince the judge that you are now,” Caroline said. “Which way do you want to do it?”
Chapter Nineteen
Two Months Later
“Mr. Stone, you told us you didn’t know the child was yours until after he’d been born, correct?” Mr. Bennett, Julian’s attorney asked.
The courtroom was eerily quiet, with only the sound of a transcriber clicking away at computer keys every time somebody started talking. Right now, Julian was being questioned. And so far, it wasn’t looking good.
Cameron sat to the right hand side with Ca
roline. Though Cameron had made every attempt to dress up for the hearing, she’d forgotten to do her nails. Probably a good thing, since she hadn’t been able to stop chewing them since they entered the court room an hour ago. In the benches just behind her, Sam and Chad sat just as they had during the entire trial. Always there for backup, but unable to really do much.
“That’s right,” Julian answered. He’d cleaned up for the hearing. One look at him—all polished and clean-shaven, with that devilishly handsome smile and Cameron knew she stood little chance. Anybody in that courtroom would believe whatever he told them.
“When did you begin to suspect Brady was yours?”
“He was just a little over a year old,” he said. “He had my eyes, my hair. I just knew.”
“So you had a paternity test done?”
“Yes.”
“What were the results?”
“They confirmed that I was Brady’s biological father.”
“What did you do then, Mr. Stone?”
He shifted in his seat. In his eyes, he seemed emotional but Cameron suspected that was an act. With Julian, everything was deliberate. Especially tears. “Cameron and I had a talk. I told her that I wanted to raise our son together. She said she wasn’t ready, that she wanted to finish high school first. I thought that was reasonable.”
“But she didn’t do that, did she?”
Cameron shifted in her seat and switched to chew on her other thumbnail.
“No,” he said, glancing at her.
“And once she dropped out of school, did she make any effort to raise the child herself?”
“No, she did not.”
“Did she take the child with her when she moved to Georgia a few months ago?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Would you say these were the actions of a loving mother?” he asked.
“Objection, your honor,” Caroline said. “The court doesn’t care about what Mr. Stone considers.”
Another Life: Another Life Series #1 Page 24
