Page 10 of I Heard It All Before

“I don’t know what you thought, but I wanted you just as much as I wanted your mother. You think Nora was the first affair that I’ve ever had? I could have had a baby with anyone, including my wife, but I chose her. I wanted someone who I knew I could depend on to raise my child right when I was in and out of town on business. I wanted someone with morals and values, and I didn’t give a damn about the color of her skin. I loved your mother then and I still love her now,” Camden noted, shocking his son with his revelation.

“Man, honestly, I don’t hate you. I wanted to and even tried to, but it just ain’t in me. That’s not how I was raised. I appreciate you for taking care of me, but I can’t respect you for never trying to get to know me or be in my life. Everything you know about me came from my mother. You claim you wanted me so bad, but you didn’t even think enough of me to give me your last name,” Cam said, mentioning something that he’d always wondered.

“I did try to give you my last name. Your mother didn’t think it was a good idea because you were already in school by then. She didn’t want to confuse you.”

“Why did it have to take you that long though? I understand that you were a busy man, but you were selfish too. I was never a priority to you and that’s the part that pisses me off the most. Like I just said, I don’t hate you, but it’s too late for us to have a relationship. I’m a grown man now and that time has passed,” Cam said.

“I usually wouldn’t agree with you on that, but it probably is too late for me,” Camden noted.

“What do you mean by that?” Cam questioned.

“I found out the hard way that those Habana’s weren’t as good as I thought they were,” he replied, referring to the expensive Cuban cigars that he was known to smoke.

“What?” Cam asked, confusion written all over his face.

“I have lung cancer son,” Camden confessed.

“Oh okay, now I see why you wanted to talk so badly. You needed to clear your conscience before anything happened to you,” Cam assumed. Now, he knew why his mother was pushing him so hard to see him. Nora had never been that adamant about them talking before. She obviously knew that his father was sick.

“I was diagnosed five years ago, Cam. I was fortunate enough to have a few good doctors on my payroll, but there’s only so much that they can do. I was given six months to live over two years ago, but I’m still here. I guess the man upstairs ain’t ready for me just yet. Me wanting to make things right has nothing to do with my diagnosis. I’ve been trying to have this conversation with you since you were sixteen, but you always refused.”

“Ok, so now what? You’ve said what you had to say and so did I. The air should be clear enough for you now,” Cam added.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Camden shrugged, feeling like he wanted to say so much more.

He couldn’t blame Cam for how he felt because he had failed him as a father. He chased his dreams and lived his life, not knowing the negative affect that he was having on his son. He’d been trying to talk to him for months, but Cam always turned him down. Nora thought it was a good idea for them to meet up, so he was happy when she called and told him where Cam was. He and his wife were on their way to have breakfast somewhere else, when Camden made a detour and headed to IHOP. He spotted Cam’s truck in the parking lot and he was happy that he was still there. Camden never knew how his son felt, but he was happy that he’d made his feelings known.

Admittedly, his wife wasn’t too fond of his son, but he loved Cam with all his heart. Showing love through finances was how he was raised and that was all that he knew. That was what his father had done with him and he didn’t know any other way. His parents also did a lot for Cam when he was younger but, when he started getting into trouble, they distanced themselves. He was their only grandchild, but they had an image to uphold.

“Well, I gotta get to work, so I guess I’ll see you around,” Cam said as he stood to his feet.

He threw some money on the table and listened as his father called for a car to pick him up. A man with money who could make anything happen with just one phone call. Cam had never experienced that before, but it had to be nice.

“Are you working next weekend Cam?” his father asked as he too stood and walked out with him.

“I don’t work on the weekends,” Cam replied.

“A good friend of mine is hosting an antique car show next Saturday. A few sellers and dealers will be there too. You think you might be interested in spending the day with me? Just the two of us. No tv’s, cameras, or spouses. Are you free?” Camden asked.

Cam stopped his stride and turned to face him. If never before, his father now had his undivided attention. Cam had been to several car shows, but the antique ones were the hardest to get into. He was sure it was a top of the line event, if his father was even entertaining it. Cam was interested, but he tried to play it cool.

“I don’t know. Where is it?” Cam asked.

“It’s in Destrehan on a private lot. Invitation only,” Camden said peaking his son’s interest once again. He didn’t know it, but he’d already sealed the deal.

“Yeah, I think I can free up some time for that,” Cam replied.

“Great!” His father smiled. “It starts at noon, so I’ll pick you up around ten, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, you can get me from my mom’s house,” Cam replied.

“Ok, I’ll see you next Saturday,” Camden said with a bright smile right, as an all-black town car pulled up and stopped in front of them.

He wanted to ask Cam for his number, but he was too afraid of his son’s rejection. It was one thing to hear it from Nora, but he didn’t want to hear it directly from Cam’s mouth. Cam watched as his father drove away in the back of the car, before he headed to his own ride. His heart skipped a beat when he opened the door and saw Courtney sitting in his back seat.

“Still the same old Cam, I see. How many times do I have to tell you about locking your car up when you get out of it?” Courtney lectured.

“Girl, you scared the shit out of me. The fuck you always doing that stupid shit for?” Cam asked as he hopped in the driver’s seat and put his key in the ignition.

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