Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Hey, Mom.” Owen laughs as he leans down and tries to eye gouge Cameron.
“That’s it.” Cameron laughs as he flips him over onto the couch.
Owen squeals in delight and wrestles harder.
I frown as I try to watch the show on television. “Can you two go away?” I sigh with a shake of my head. “What happened to my nice, quiet son? Where did he go?” I ask myself.
“He was a wuss,” Cameron teases.
“You’re a wuss.” Owen screams as he launches himself at Cameron again.
They wrestle into the kitchen, and then I hear a bang as the bin knocks over.
“That’s it!” Owen screams. “I’m getting you bad now.”
“Oh, yeah, tough guy. Bring it.” Cameron laughs in delight.
They both growl as they wrestle.
“Cut it out,” I yell over the television.
I swear to God, he’s turned him into an animal.
All this testosterone is bloody noisy. “Owen, it’s nearly bed time,” I call out.
“Okay,” he calls back.
“Dad’s reading to you tonight,” I add. Ha, sucked in. It is his night, after all.
“I’m reading Diary of a Wimpy kid,” Cameron calls.
“You’re a wimpy kid!” Owen yells.
“I’ll give you wimpy kid.” Cameron growls and Owen squeals in delight.
I roll my eyes as I turn the television up louder so I can’t hear them.
They wrestle up the stairs, and moments later I hear the shower turn on and peace is finally restored.
I have a cup of tea and finally, when I think the book reading is over, I head upstairs to say goodnight. Owen’s door is closed and I stand outside, leaning against it as I listen to the two of them talk.
“I’m going to try and jump tomorrow,” Owen says.
I frown as I listen.
“Yeah, you can do it. I told you that,” Cameron replies. It sounds like Cameron is walking around tidying up as he talks.
I smirk. What the hell are they talking about?
“Hey, Dad, play our song,” Owen says.
“What… now?”
“Please?” Owen begs.
“Okay, just one last time.”
I narrow my eyes as I listen to them and then I hear a song play on Cameron’s phone. I’ve heard it before on the radio. It’s Justin Beiber singing a song in Spanish with another man.
Cameron’s voice rings out as he starts to sing to the words in Spanish, then Owen joins in and their combined voices ring out happily.
Despacito.
I lean my head up against the wall in the semi-lit hallway as I listen. How many times have they sung this song together?
I smile softly in the darkness as their husky voices ring out.
They know the words and it’s in Spanish.
This is it. Everything that I dreamed of Owen having is right here.
Cameron loves him. With all of his heart he loves him.
Even after everything I have been through, it’s insignificant and means nothing because my son is finally happy.
Really, really happy.
As I listen to them sing together with tears in my eyes, I’m grateful for the relationship that they have.
This is how it was always meant to be.
26
The phone rings. It’s a Friday night, and Cameron was supposed to be here ten minutes ago to pick Owen up for the weekend.
He called in sick today and he had surgery scheduled that had to be cancelled. So he’s either really sick or something else is going on. I wanted to call him, but I stopped myself. It’s none of my business.
I glance at the screen and the name Cameron lights it up. I frown as I answer.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Ash,” his groggy voice whispers.
“What’s wrong?” I immediately ask.
“Nothing.” He pauses. “I’m just not well.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He hesitates. “I can’t come and get Owen, though. Please apologize to him for me.”
I frown, this is weird. He’s never missed a visit.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask.
“I’m guessing a virus. I’ll be fine.”
“You sound really sick.”
“Sorry, I know you had plans for tonight,” he says.
For the first time in a long time, Jenna and I were going to dinner and a late movie tonight. Damn it. “That’s okay.” I sigh. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m good.” He pauses as if wanting to say something and I wait on the line.
Is he ok?
“I’ll… I’ll call you later,” he murmurs and then he hangs up.
I stare at the phone in my hand for a moment. That was weird.
“We can’t go tonight, Jen. Cam is sick,” I announce as I walk into the kitchen.
“Fuck it,” she whispers under her breath.
“Go and have hot sex. That’s what I’d be doing if I was you,” I mutter dryly as I open the fridge. I now have to find something to cook. Bloody hell. I really needed a nice night out with lots of wine.
“Ugh, that sucks.”
“We can go next week.” I sigh.
“Yeah, okay.” She smirks as she watches me study the contents of the fridge. “What are you going to have for dinner?”
I frown as I continue to look inside the depressing fridge. “I might take Owen out for pizza actually.” I shrug. “I’m not in the mood to cook.”