Page 49 of Just Like This
I reached down for the running shorts I’d had on yesterday and slipped them on before heading out into the kitchen to start breakfast. Garrett’s rental car was in the driveway, but next to it was an unfamiliar car. I wondered if it was Dominic’s, which meant I needed to go across to the main house and check on Valerie. She didn’t need that kind of shit this early in the morning.
Abandoning breakfast, I headed over to make sure Valerie was okay. The moment I stepped through the front door, I knew Dominic wasn’t the mystery visitor. Valerie’s voice was easy to pick out, but the other voice was familiar and female. My feet just seemed to move toward the family room in the back of the house.That voice…who was it? And then I realized who it was and stopped dead in my tracks as my eyes landed on a woman I hadn’t seen in seven years.
“Get the fuck out of this house.” The words just tumbled from my mouth without a second thought. “Right now.”
“Calm down, Cami,” Valerie said in a soothing tone. As soon as she saw me, she shot up from the couch and quickly approached. She lightly grasped my arm, but I pulled it away quickly.
“What’s she doing here?”
Valerie motioned for me to walk farther into the kitchen and kept sneaking glances toward the family room as if she was concerned with how our mother would react to my harshness.
“Tim Grayson contacted her. He told her that dad was sick.”
“So what? She came to help? Or does she want something?”
“I don’t know why she’s here,” Valerie said with a shrug of her shoulders.
“Well then, let’s find out.” I marched back toward the living room where my mother, who could almost be my twin with her lithe frame and wild curls, sat patiently. “Why are you here?” She seemed surprised by my demand and looked at Valerie for some kind of encouragement.
“Camille, your father is sick. I would never expect you to take on such a burden alone.”
“Bullshit. You would have never known if Tim Grayson hadn’t contacted you. So why are you here?”
“I just told you, Camille. As soon as I found out your father was sick, I dropped everything to come here.”
“We don’t need your help,” I argued although it seemed pointless because I felt like I was only fighting with myself. “Please leave.”
The front door opened and then closed, temporarily distracting me. Seconds later, Garrett appeared in the doorway. “Cami, I’ve been looking for you,” he said absently until his eyes landed on my wild, angry face and Valerie’s bewildered expression. “What’s going on?”
“My mother’s back! Isn’t it wonderful?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
Garrett dragged a hand across his face before he muttered, “Well, fuck.” But he didn’t look surprised or even shocked. Instead, he looked like he knew.
“Did you know about this?” My voice was incredibly shrill, and my anger only increased because it felt like everyone I loved was in on some cruel joke.
Garrett sighed loudly. “Your father told me yesterday. I didn’t think she was going to show up so soon.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he asked me to keep it a secret. He wasn’t sure when Tim contacted your mother, but he wanted to prepare me for when she showed up.”
“You’re keeping secrets from me? What else don’t I know?” I knew I was acting like nothing more than a spoiled brat, but all that mattered was my own indignation.
“Cami, he’s dying. I would do pretty much anything he asked of me.”
“I can’t believe this is even happening right now.” I stormed from the family room to the patio doors and thrust them open. A cold, windy blast of air smacked me right in the face as I stepped outside and headed toward the dock.
Within moments, Garrett was there beside me. “Please don’t be mad at me, Cami.”
“I’m not,” I admitted softly. “I’m mad ather. And Valerie. She’s acting like nothing’s happened.”
“I think Valerie is just overwhelmed taking care of your father.”
“But I’m here too!” I pressed a finger into the middle of my chest. “I’ve been here the entire time! I gave up everything to be here and help her.”
Garrett placed an arm around my shoulders and tugged me closer. “I know you did. And so does Val. You both need help.”
“We will have help. We’ve got hospice care set up for him. We’re taking care of everything.”
“But wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else carry your burden for a while?”
My head sagged forward. “She doesn’t deserve that honor.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Let’s just go.” I slipped out of his embrace and stood. Absently, I brushed the back of my shorts before walking down the length of the dock. Garrett caught up with me easily, and our hands locked together. We walked around the house toward the guest house. I had no idea where I wanted to go, but I knew that I couldn’t stay a minute longer with my mom a stone’s throw away.
