Page 80 of All Mine

“Mom, let go,” I called.

My dad stepped forward and peeled my mom off of Camden. “Come on, Brenda, let go of the boy.”

“Mark Hart,” my dad said, holding out his hand to Camden.

“Camden Carter, sir.” They shook hands.

“Camden, come over here,” I said, holding out my hand.

He crossed in a couple of strides. “Is there something I can get you?” He asked, sliding his hand in mine.

I pulled him toward me, grabbing his neck with the other hand. Camden leaned in, and I pressed my lips to his. And instantly, I knew he was all mine.

Thirty

Camden

Four Months Later

“It’s all gone,” Lauren whispered as I parked the car in the old parking lot. The place where the burned-out remnants of her bakery once stood was now completely cleared. Not a shingle or a charred piece remained. I’d arranged for the haul away of the rubble of the bakery yesterday. She hadn’t returned to the location since the day we drove over to see if anything was salvageable. It wasn’t, and I didn’t want her to have to look at it anymore.

A warm breeze blew in off Hart Lake as I rounded the car, opening Lauren’s door and helping her out. In two days, she had another scan to determine if the torn tendon in her foot had healed enough to remove the walking boot. We were the last to arrive at the lot.

“Is that why we’re here?” she asked, smiling

“You’ll see,” I replied, kissing the love of my life on the forehead.

Jonah, the project supervisor, had the other key to the gate on the fence that now encircled the property. We’d helped the other tenants all find temporary locations around town. They all had guaranteed spots in the new building if they wanted.

Adrian, Jonah, Lucy, and Sloane ran around, tossing a football to each other. Sloane’s laughter carried across the field as she waved the football in a teasing manner, and Jonah snatched her around the waist, lifting her off her feet and swinging her around. I’d finally solved the mystery of the nagging feeling about why she looked familiar. Eden sat on the tailgate of Adrian’s truck along with Mrs. Hart. Lauren’s sisters would head back to college soon, and I was thrilled we’d gotten the go-ahead to move forward with construction free and clear.

Lauren hobbled over to her mom and Eden. They made room for her on the tailgate.

Mr. Hart and Lacy exited a car, meeting us at the truck.

“Camden,” Mark Hart said in greeting, offering his hand.

“So, why’d you call us out here?” Adrian asked as everyone gathered at the back of the truck.

“I wanted to announce,” I said, “that as of yesterday, the courts settled all legal cases involving this property.”

A cheer went up from our gathering of family and friends.

“And,” I continued, “I am assured that all permits will be released by city planning within the next two weeks.”

Another cheer.

“Congratulations,” Sloane called out. She hugged Jonah. “Guess that means you get a huge building project.”

“I’m hoping,” Jonah said, his gaze landing on Lauren, “that this new building will help with healing.”

Lauren’s mom, Brenda, patted her leg.

“Are you okay?” Mr. Hart asked Lauren.

“I’m ready to put all of this behind me, and I have so much to look forward to,” she said. She’d been staying with her parents since I still lived in a hotel. With five people in the Hart household, it became cramped at times. Lauren had told me that she looked forward to having her own place again once the condos were completed.

“Darn it. I thought Camden was going to propose,” Lacy grumbled. Lucy smacked her arm in censure. “What?”

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