Excitement fills my bones as I think that I have the answer to my dilemma. All I need is to find out where Camile's father lives.
One person knows where her ex-husband lives - Jesse. I stare blankly at the dark sky through the window and cannot wait for tomorrow.
Chapter twenty-four
Bonding
Camille
I never thought I'd take a trip to Quantico, but as they say, life happens in a way you never think of. I accept my fate; this is life happening to me. I don't plan to stay in Quantico for long.
I only plan to stay with my father's family for a few weeks before my next trip to California. Mother asked a few times if I was sure I wanted to start afresh there. I told her I was pretty sure about wanting the bustling city life in L.A.
"Maybe that is what I need to get over all this," I tell Mother. "I will visit often, I promise. I just need a few months for Troy to forget all about me." My heart aches, knowing I left my mother back in Wallace.
It hurts that I have to stay far from her. She needs me as she slowly recovers from her sickness, but she knows more. She understands why I must stay away from Wallace for a long time.
Amelia often calls; the last time, she told me Troy was still looking for ways to reach out.
"He will get over it soon," I tell her. "A few months, and we will both get over it."
“Yeah,” Amelia agrees. I can feel like she is not as okay as she pretends to be.
Amelia can be a closed book when she wants to be. She barely talks about what bothers her because she shoulders the hurt from other people.
“Amelia,” I pressure her more, “are you sure you are okay? Is this about Henry?”
Amelia chuckles. "No," she replies, and I can tell she is lying. "I am fine, Camile, I will be fine."
“No, Amelia, this is not the friendship I signed up for,” I insist. I pause and add, “Why do you have me as your friend if you cannot tell me what bothers you.”
"Camile, I don't want to trouble you with my problems; you have yours."
"Amelia," I say softly, "tell me what is happening."
Amelia's voice breaks as she starts to talk, "It's just, I -," she sniffs. "I think it is all a bad idea. This whole arranged marriage with Henry. This isn't what I want."
“What do you want, Amelia,” I ask. “What do you want for yourself?”
Amelia continues, "I haven't done anything for myself. I always do it for my family. I want to live, Camile. I want to be free as a bird. I want to run away from all this and start over again."
“I want that for you more than anything.”
“Thanks, Camile,” Amelia replies.
"I will be in touch," I say, "I will always be in touch with you." That is the promise I made to Amelia. Aside from her self-centered rich family, I am what she has next to a sister.
“Amelia,” I say before she hangs up the call, “do whatever makes you happy.”
“Thank you, Camile,” she replies. “I will call you some other time.”
Halie was at the door when I got off the call with Amelia. She is here to see how I am doing this morning and to give me some clean towels. "I've been at the door for a while," she says. "I don't want to barge in, so I waited a few minutes."
“It is fine, Halie,” I reply as I take the clean towels from her.
"The twins are in the dining room; they won't eat until you leave."
“I will be out in a few minutes,” I reply. “I just need a few minutes.”