Bender (The Core Four #1)(86)
She gaped at me. Camden took hold of my hand and laced his fingers with mine. It was his silent way to let me know he was here.
“And what did I do that was so terrible that you felt the need to run away.”
I rolled my eyes and growled in frustration. “Are you even listening to me? Mom, I left because you were relying on me to be the parent. I was the one who made dinner every night, I was the one who made sure she did her homework, and I was the one who tucked her in at night. Where were you? Oh that’s right, you were having another late evening at work. It was too much for me. My schoolwork was suffering, and you knew how important this degree was to me. Sarah has a mother… it isn’t me. Be the parent.” Wow that felt good to say.
Sitting back she crossed her arms. “How come you are just now telling me this?”
“I’m not. I’ve told you plenty of times, you just never listened. But after this latest incident with Sarah running away, I’m done with it. Something needs to give here or I’m going to have to do something drastic.” I didn’t know what, but I figured I’d throw it out there.
“I don’t know what you want from me.”
“It’s simple.” I leaned forward and started ticking off my fingers one by one. “Be home when Sarah’s home. Make sure that she is ready for school the next day. Feed and clothe her. And let her know that you love her. Children aren’t complicated creatures Mom, if she knows that you love her and that you want to spend time with her, she will forgive you for everything that’s already happened. It’s just the kind of kid she is.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she closed her mouth. I hoped that I was getting through to her. She had to have known that this wasn’t acceptable behavior for a responsible parent. After some time she finally responded with, “Okay.”
Blowing out a breath I didn’t think that was what I expected to hear, but either way, I was good. “Also, I’m not telling you that you can’t go out, or that you don’t deserve to go out. But please, let me know. I’ll rearrange things in my schedule, and she can come over.”
“Okay.”
Feeling as though things needed to end here before something else came up and caused us to backpedal, I stood up and walked over to her. Bending down I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and hugged her as best I could. “I love you, Mom. I know that having kids changed your life, but we’re here.” I felt her nod against my hair, and I pulled back. She gave me a small smile, and I took that as my cue to leave. Looking at Camden he stood from the couch. When Mom followed us to the front door, my dark and broody man couldn’t help himself. He turned around and addressed my mother.
“Rowan, I know that you love your girls because well, who wouldn’t. But I’m going to tell you this once, and I hope you take it to heart. Keegan has given you simple guidelines to help keep her sister safe. If at any time you can’t stick to them, you should know that we will be coming to get Sarah, and she will be living with us from now on.”
Mom’s mouth dropped open. I think mine did too. He nodded his head at her before he put his hand on my lower back and led me out to the car. Oh Camden, you are full of surprises. But I couldn’t have been more in love with him for standing up for me, and the most important person in my life. Getting in the car I grinned at him.
“You are a ballsy son of a bitch, you know that right?”
“Yep.”
“Did you mean it?”
“Every word.” He gave me the weight of his russet eyes and winked at me before we pulled out of the driveway.
God he made me happy.
One year later…
“Alexis Peabody.” Clapping
“Miranda Pearl.” Clapping
“Keegan Phillips.” Clapping
I GOT UP FROM MY CHAIR and made my way across the short stage that was set up outside. Shaking the Dean’s hand, he passed me my diploma. When I turned to face the audience I saw my whole family waving their signs and snapping photographs. Everyone that I loved was here, Camden’s whole family, my mom, my sister, and Macie. I’d finally done it. After four years of intense work, over one hundred hours of clinicals, and a lot of lost sleep, I had finally received my Bachelor’s in Nursing. This had to be one of the most proud moments of my life. I sought Camden out in the crowd. He was standing with his hands in his pockets, and he looked downright delectable in a pair of cargo shorts and white button-down shirt. But the look on his face was priceless; it oozed pride, admiration, and love. He didn’t need to clap or cheer for me. No, that look said it all. He knew what I’d gone through to accomplish this, he’d been with me through the worst parts. I caught him winking before I went to take my seat and wait out the rest of the ceremony.
Last year I decided to enroll in an accelerated program that had nearly doubled my workload but would help me graduate in half the time. It was something new that the college was doing, and we were sort of the guinea pig class. I’d gone back and forth with doing it, because I knew I would have to quit my job, and going out would no longer be an option. My whole life would revolve around school. Camden was the deciding factor for me. He had sat me down after I’d been accepted into the program, and he said that I needed to do something for myself, to prove to myself that I was capable of bigger things. Naturally I fought him on it because…well, it was what I did. And of course, he won as per usual. I wasn’t happy about no longer paying for my portion of the rent, but Camden assured me that he didn’t mind and that I could pay him back in other ways. I didn’t quite know what he meant until later that night he showed me exactly what he was talking about. Talk about unforgettable.