Page 56 of Camden

Luanne’s lips twisted side to side as she processed what I said before deciding to speak. “The first time you see someone go through the same trauma you did is one of the hardest things. The bruises they try to hide. The way they avert their eyes. The way they pull away. You see it all and it breaks your heart. Because you want to help them. You want to save them.” My breath caught in my throat. She described it perfectly. Her expression softened as my brow furrowed. “I was married to Cam’s dad for years. Almost twenty-five years. At first, it was wonderful. He was wonderful. But then he started drinking. He started attacking me both verbally and physically. Luckily for me, he didn’t go after the kids. He left them alone. He just came after me.”

“I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.” I grabbed her hand between us. I knew Cam said he was in jail, but I didn’t even consider the possibility that he had been abusive.

“Thank you. It’s been four years since they put him behind bars for robbing that liquor store. I never thought I would be so happy to see someone get put in jail. I filed for divorce almost immediately. You don’t have to tell me what happened specifically, but I can tell you that you are so much stronger than the way you’re feeling right now.”

My fingers toyed with the blanket on the back of the couch. The same blanket Cam and I cuddled beneath while watching movies. My chest was open and raw. Luanne saw everything I didn’t know how to say. Everything I felt, but didn’t allow to show. “How do you know?”

“You look like I do when I look in the mirror. Like you might break. But you’re not weak for allowing the memories and feelings to surface. The fact that you go to work every day and help others makes you strong. Brave. You risk facing your past every day head on and that’s incredible. There will be days like today when it is too much, but remember you escaped and you’re not that person anymore. You survived.”

“Thank you.” My voice wobbled. Placing her cup down on the coffee table, she reached over and wrapped me in another tight hug. “You remind me of my mother,” I whispered and hugged her a little harder before letting go.

“Is your mother not around?”

I smiled sadly.“No. She and my father both passed away in a car accident a few years ago. I’m from Montana. I don’t have any family here.”

Her eyes dimmed a little. A look I hated to be on the receiving end of. “Well now, you do.” She patted my arm. “I would love to give you hugs whenever you need one.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“You mentioned you haven’t told Cam yet. Can I ask why?” She grabbed her cup and took another sip of tea.

“Honestly, I think that I’m scared.”

Her brow furrowed. “Scared of what, darling?”

“That he’ll look at me differently. That he’ll think I’m weak.” Saying it out loud made me feel even more vulnerable.

Raw.

“You and my son are much better suited for each other than I thought.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t meddle a little?” She winked. “Cam is worried that if you find out about his father that you would be concerned that he was the same awful soul because they share the same blood.”

My throat tightened, and my eyes burned with tears. That is not what I thought she was going to say. After being in a terrible relationship for so long, I knew Cam was the complete opposite of my ex. Anyone could see how much he cared about his family and friends. How protective he was. “That’s ridiculous. I would never judge him for something his father did. Camden’s an amazing person. I would never think, for a second, that he could or would hurt me in that way. I love him.” I covered my mouth with a shaky hand. My eyes widened as I looked at Luanne. Her face beamed at my confession. Sure, I knew my feelings were heading in that direction, but I hadn’t said it out loud before. Now that I had, I knew it was one hundred percent true.

I loved Cam.

Completely.

“You what?” A gruff voice said from behind us, and my heart stopped. Slowly, I turned and looked over my shoulder as I met Cam’s eyes. His expression was intense and his jaw flexed. He stood rigidly, making no effort to move. My pulse shot off, racing a mile a minute.

The couch shifted before I felt Luanne’s hand on my shoulder. “Hi, son.”

“Mom,” He said but didn’t look away from me.

I glanced at her, and she gave me a knowing smile. “Since Cam is apparently incapacitated right now and, quite frankly, he’s terrible at following directions in the kitchen, I’ll tell you. There are stuffed peppers in the oven. They’ll be done in about fifteen minutes. The timer should go off. It was so good to meet you, dear. I hope we’ll have dinner soon?” I nodded numbly as she walked over to Cam, patted his chest, and murmured something I couldn’t hear.

Cam nodded, but still never took his dark blue eyes off of me. I flinched as the door shut behind Luanne. Twirling my mother’s ring around my finger, I swallowed hard, dropping my gaze to my lap. Camden walked over and kneeled on the floor in front of me. He cupped my jaw tenderly before threading his fingers through my hair. Sighing, he rested his forehead against mine like he needed the contact as much as I did.

“Say it again.”

“I think we should talk first.”

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