Justice Falling (Falling #3)(48)
“Blimey! Wee ones need a lot of things.” He threw the items into his trunk.
“That’s nothing compared to what you have to carry around for a baby,” I said absently, not thinking of the can of worms I opened.
Nate’s head shot up reminding me of our little mishap last weekend. “How long until we know?” he asked softly, his mind going exactly where mine had. I studied my ankle boots.
“A couple more weeks. I’ll let you know when I know.” His gaze held mine then finally he nodded. Conversation ended. For now.
Nate opened the car door and Tanner jumped into the waiting booster. “How did you know he needed a booster?”
“I called my Mum. She gave me some ideas on what we should do today and told me to make sure I had an appropriate child restraint for the car. I based it on how many kilos I thought he was. This was the model that was suggested online.”
My eyes misted as I realized how much thought he’d put into our day out. To make sure my son was in a booster made me realize that Tanner’s safety meant as much to him as it did to me.
“Thank you.” My words were filled with emotion. He leaned in, belted Tanner into his seat, closed the door and then pulled me into a hug.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, or your son by extension. The sooner you realize I’m not going anywhere the better off we both are.”
I nodded and climbed into the passenger side, ready to go wherever he wanted to take us.
***
“Mr. Nate, Mr. Nate!” Tanner pointed at the huge Ferris wheel at New York’s iconic Coney Island. His eyes were filled with wonder and joy at the flashing lights, booths, and rides. It reminded me of Camille’s look when I took her to the theatre district to see Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Christ. Was it only a couple weeks? It felt like ages ago, like I’d always been with her, with this small family.
Hank gave me a heads up that this was the place to take a child and my mum concurred. As I watched both mum and child’s eyes light up and smiles widen, I knew I’d done well.
“Have you ever been here?” I gripped Camille’s waist holding her beside me. Tanner wanted to hold my hand which I found surprisingly comfortable aside from the constant swinging. The boy could not just walk. No, he skipped, jumped, hopped and swung my arm with purpose. All of which I found increasingly adorable and trying in equal measure.
“I always wanted to go but you know…” She looked around then answered with a shrug. “Could never afford it.”
It burned me up that Camille never had a normal childhood, one filled with a Mum and Dad to protect and love her, show her all the things the world had to offer. I’d bet a thousand quid she’d never been outside New York and New Jersey.
I would change that very soon. Come the holidays, I’d take her and Tanner home to England. She didn’t have family and mine would adore her. When I spoke to my mum a couple days ago she forced me to send a picture of my girlfriend. She was delighted to hear I’d finally committed to a woman enough to give her the prestigious title. I sent the picture I had as my personal background on my cellphone. It was Camille outside the theatre on our date looking utterly magnificent in the green dress that matched her eyes.
As expected, Mum thought she was lovely. Dad said she was a fit bird, which she most certainly was. They couldn’t wait to meet her and her son. My Mum and Dad didn’t give two heaps about the fact that Camille was so young with a child. They just accepted that I knew what I wanted and supported me. That’s the kind of family everyone should have.
I looked at Tanner and he looked up at me, all smiles. His blue eyes could easily have matched my own, but they didn’t. They actually were the same eyes as Tyler’s. That was a facet of Camille’s history we needed to discuss. Why wasn’t Tyler in the picture? Why didn’t he pay child support? Lastly, why didn’t he ever mention having a child? A beautiful, intelligent, happy boy that any man would be proud to call his own. The pieces didn’t add up.
As we walked through the crowds, we enjoyed cotton candy. We rode the Ferris wheel, which Tanner loved and Camille learned made her motion sick. After the ride, she stood sipping water and holding her stomach tentatively. I worried it was more than the ride that made her nauseous. I looked up early pregnancy symptoms and sitting at the top of the list was morning sickness which, I also found out, didn’t happen in the morning. It happened at all bloody hours of the day. It had been a week. Maybe it didn’t take too long to hit?
“Mr. Nate, can we go on the giant circle again!” Tanner held his arms out wide hugging the sky, then jumped around like only a little one filled with sugar and excitement could.
“Sure, sport. If you’re mum says so, I’ll take you.”
“Mom, Mom, can we pleeeasssseeee?” He drug out the word as if it had fifty letters.
“It’s probably a good idea if I sit this one out.” She clutched her hand over her stomach once more. I pulled both of them to a nearby bench in front of the ride.
I placed my hand her over stomach not knowing what the hell was coming over me. She stiffened, and her green eyes locked with mine. They were unreadable.
“I’ll take care of you, Camille. No matter what.” I assured her rubbing her flat stomach. She pulled my face to hers and kissed me. It was so much more than a simple kiss when our lips touched. It was filled with hope, her fear, and maybe even a little bit of love mixed in. She was falling for me. I knew it and craved it with every fiber of my being. I wanted her love and commitment even though I knew it was too soon to ask for it.