Page 55 of A Matter of Time
Holding my dad’s hand, my mom explained about his heart attack. There were expressions of concern from everyone but she pushed through until she’d explained it all, including the doctor’s recommendations for some lifestyle changes.
“It won’t happen right away, but I think we’re going to have to sell the ranch and move here to the city. We’ll be closer to you all, and closer for physical therapy and doctor’s appointments too.”
As expected, that set off a round of disbelieving chatter among my siblings, but having talked it over with my mom earlier that day, I had nothing to add. It would be a big change, but life never stood still, no matter how much we might want it to sometimes.
Billie looked over at me in surprise when I kept my mouth shut. “I can’t believe you’re not more upset about this, Tonia! Especially that he kept it from us.”
That had always been my biggest pet peeve, but maybe I was mellowing a little. Maybe I could see why sometimes, people kept things quiet because they were trying to do what they thought was right, not simply because they didn’t trust the people they were keeping it from.
To her astonishment, I simply shrugged. “He had his reasons, I suppose.”
Dex gave me a curious look as well, his gaze once again moving between me and Cam, and I had a feeling he was putting things together a little too quickly considering nothing had truly been settled yet.
“Cam, can you help me with the cake?” I invited, getting to my feet. Some sugar would help to distract everyone. “It’s in the back room.”
He got up immediately, following me into the smaller room behind the main gallery which Dex intended to use for his workshop. My brother wanted customers to be able to come in and see him at work if they wanted to, as well as being able to both create and sell his work at the same time.
I really had bought a cake, but it wasn’t the only reason I’d asked Cam to come with me, and he picked up on that immediately, closing the door firmly behind us as soon as we were alone.
“That was the longest damn dinner of my entire life, Sugar,” he almost growled at me. “I love your family, but right now, I kind of hate them too.”
I knew exactly how he felt. “They’re not likely to change, so is their terrible timing and random requests to meet them at the hospital something you can deal with? Not just today, I mean, but in general?”
His eyes searched mine intensely, trying not to jump to any conclusions. “What are you saying, Tonia?”
He must know, he just didn’t want to be wrong, so I spelled it out for him as clearly as he’d done for me. “I’m saying I want you too, Cameron Bailey. Every frustrating, cocky, irresistible part of you. No one else has ever made me as crazy as you do, good or bad, because no one’s ever gotten under my skin like you do. I don’t know if they ever could. You said you want this, and I do too, Cam. I want you, and I want to give this another chance.”
The hope that dawned in his eyes, the desire and joy and disbelief all mingling together, was everything I could have hoped for. It meant he took my words just as seriously as I did, and when his arms wrapped around me a moment later, his kiss proved it too.
Although we’d kissed several times over the last week, starting with that drunken kiss at the bar in Corpus Christi and followed by the frantic desperation in his apartment and in the restroom at the bar last night, the kiss in the back room of the gallery felt completely different.
It felt like more than lust or need. Possessiveness was still present, but not just in a physical way. As Cam’s kiss seared across my lips, he laid claim to my heart, and finally, just like he said, it felt whole again.
Ifelt whole again.
“Did you guys get lost?” Billie’s teasing tone quickly changed to one of shock as she walked in the door and caught sight of us in each other’s arms. “Oh, shoot, I didn’t know… I mean, I didn’t see anything…”
She tried to back away, but I called her back. “It’s okay, Billie. I don’t think it’s a secret.”
Cam quickly shook his head. “Definitely not.”
She would want a better explanation than that eventually, but she accepted my word for the time being, holding the door open for us as Cam and I carried out the huge artist’s palette cake I’d ordered. Dex burst out laughing at the sight of it, lightening the whole mood of the room just as I’d hoped.
Cam and I didn’t say a word to each other as we sat side by side and ate our pieces of cake, but an air of satisfaction and happiness surrounded him, once that mirrored exactly how I felt inside too.
“You’re all welcome to come over to our place,” Shawna invited as we finished cleaning up all the food. “We can have some more drinks and chat more there.”
Normally, that would have sounded great, but not that night as I glanced over at Cam. “We’ll pass, thank you. Cam and I have other plans.”
My not-at-all subtle siblings let out catcalls and whistles as I rolled my eyes.
“Why do I feel like I’m back in high school again?” I wondered out loud.
“Why do we all feel that way?” Dex quipped, but his smile was genuine as he clapped Cam on the shoulder. “I’m happy for you guys. Don’t mess it up this time, alright?”
“I don’t intend to,” Cam told him.
I gave out hugs all around, promising my parents I’d help them start house-hunting if they were serious about moving to the city, and at last, Cam and I stepped outside onto the street, alone at last.
