Oceans Apart (Ocean Dreams Book 1) (15 page)

“Of course I like it. It’s just…. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I love you doing this for me. I truly feel spoiled. It’s not every day I have a home cooked breakfast made just for me. Thank you, Annie.”

Annie’s heart swelled with both pride and love. He truly appreciated what she had done for him and wasn’t afraid to tell her. His genuine appreciation did so much for building her self-esteem. Maybe she was more than her family had always made her out to be? This really was a perfect start to their day. She watched as he loaded his plate with the pancakes and drizzled maple syrup over them before digging in eagerly to his breakfast. After filling her own plate up, Annie decided to question Cam about what he had planned for the day.

“So the agenda for the day.” Annie nodded at him.

“My nephew’s birthday party. He turned 2 yesterday and today, we party.”

“Is that what your brother told you not to miss?”

“Yeah. He knows I wouldn’t miss Bodhi’s birthday for the world though.”

“So, I’m meeting your family then?”

A cheeky smile spread from one corner of Cam’s mouth to the other. He nodded his head while finishing his mouthful of pancake.

“And they don’t know about me?”

“Nope, apart from Chris that is. He would’ve kept his mouth shut just so he could see Mum’s reaction to me bringing you along.”

Annie shot Cam a shocked look before taking a deep breath. “Well, you better tell me who I’m meeting then. I don’t want to screw up who’s who.”

“Ha! You’ll be fine, Nashville. There won’t be many people there.”

“Really? Okay. Your parents?”

“John and Carol.”

“John and Carol,” Annie repeated while making mental notes. “Chris and Bodhi. What’s the name of Chris’s wife?”

Cam quickly shoved another mouthful of his pancakes into his mouth and dropped the fork on his plate. The clank from the fork hitting the china plate seemed to cut the tension in the air that had filled the room all of a sudden.

Looking out the glass doors to the ocean pounding the sea, Cam chewed his food like he was fighting with it. Annie watched him closely as he swallowed, wiped his mouth with the napkin next to his plate, and then threw it down onto the tabletop. He rose from his seat and walked outside onto the deck placing both hands on the railing. His head hung low and Annie was thoroughly confused at what was going on. Did she get up, go, and ask? ‘
Yes! That is exactly what she should do,
’ she said to herself. Pushing her seat back slowly she stood and gathered her courage to go find out what was going through Cam’s mind.

He didn’t hear her approach and was startled by her light touch as she placed her arm on his back.

“Cam. What is it?”

He didn’t reply and just stared out at the waves. Annie wasn’t giving up that easily though.

“Don’t shut me out. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

The wooden railing vibrated harshly as hands slammed against it. Cam was shaking his head as he turned and faced Annie.

“It’s just not fair,” he started saying before biting his lip to control the emotions that were affecting him so deeply.

Annie stood silently and waited, knowing he would speak and reveal what was troubling him. Rubbing her hand lightly against his back, Cam turned into her and she embraced the strong body of the man hurting so much.

His chest rose sharply against her body and he blew out the breath. “Chris’s wife….Meg. Meg she…she passed away. Two weeks after Bodhi’s first birthday last year.”

Annie’s grip tightened on Cam’s back muscles as she held him. She was stunned by what he just told her. Cam pulled away from her and took her hands in his. His tear -filled eyes looked directly into hers.

“Meg and Chris were together in high school and married a year after graduation. They were so happy when she got pregnant just a year into their marriage but it all turned to shit when she lost the baby about halfway through the pregnancy.”

“Oh, my. That is so sad.”

“Yeah. They were devastated. Everyone told them they could try again. They were young and had plenty of time. Well, it didn’t happen and not for lack of trying.” Cam turned and walked toward the day bed and sat on the end of it. He leaned his elbows on his knees and pressed his hands together like he was praying.

“Anyway, they continued living life. They started building up their business. Chris has a surf school and he designs and shapes boards as well. Meg designed jewellery and sold it while doing the bookwork for the surf school. Then about 3 years ago, out of the blue they announced Meg was pregnant.”

“I can imagine how happy they would have been,” Annie said with a small smile.

“They were ecstatic. Things were travelling along nicely. The business was doing well and the pregnancy had been a dream for Meg. She gave birth to the little guy and all seemed well, but she wasn’t. We thought she was just tired and run down from being a new mother. My mum made her go to the doctor just to make sure everything was okay. Tests were done just before Christmas but in the New Year, they told her she had brain cancer.”

Annie felt a tear slide down her cheek. Life could be so beautiful one minute and rip your heart to shreds the next. A loving, new family torn apart. Annie would never understand the weird workings of the world. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“That is so…just so…”

“Yeah.” Cam inhaled and blew out the breath like he was cleansing his soul. “So the cancer was inoperable. Her prognosis wasn’t good. Meg decided she didn’t want any treatment and just wanted to enjoy what time she had left with Chris and Bodhi. It was tough for everyone but she was a trooper and just got on with life. Two weeks after Bodhi’s first birthday she collapsed at Mum’s house. They flew her to Sydney but there really wasn’t anything the doctors could do other than make her comfortable, so she came home.”

Annie sat down next to him, placed an arm around Cam, and took his hand in her free one. She rubbed his back lightly and leaned her head on his shoulder hoping her closeness made him feel a little comforted.

“I came home for Christmas after the final tour event in Hawaii, just before Christmas. I was so thankful I was able to get home to see her. She was the big sister I never had. Anyway, we all just wanted her to make it to Christmas. We knew Chris needed the memories of her being there with Bodhi and watching the two bond for their last holiday together.”

Annie couldn’t stop the tears from dripping down her face now. Cam turned and looked into her eyes and wiped the tears away from her cheek with his thumb, his own emotion making his eyes burn and leak.

“Three days later, after having a beautiful family dinner the night before, she passed away in her sleep. No matter how much any of us had been prepared for the death, it was still unbelievable.”

As if his life depended on it, Cam took Annie into a hard embrace as he tried to control his emotions. His deep breaths tickled Annie’s ear and she turned her head and kissed his cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Cam. I wish I could have met her today, but I truly believe her presence will be there even if it’s just in Bodhi’s spirit.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Anyway, we better get a move on or the guest of honor is going to bust my chops for being late.” Cam stood up, pulled Annie close to him, and leaned down so their foreheads were touching. He stared into her beautiful eyes and got lost for a moment.

“Thanks for listening, Annie. It means a lot you’re here with me this weekend.”

A broad grin stretched across Annie’s face. “I honestly couldn’t think of anywhere else I would rather be than here with you.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Cam picked her up in his arms and took them both to the shower.

The cherry red kitten heels Annie wore clicked along the concrete path toward the side entrance of Cam’s parents’ house. Annie could feel her heart thumping with nervous excitement. This was actually a first for her. She had never met a boyfriend’s parents before and was so thrilled to be meeting Cam’s. It truly showed her how much he thought of their relationship.

Annie stopped just before they went through the wood slatted gate. She gulped, let out a breath, and smoothed the skirt to her white sleeveless sundress. Cam turned around to see what the matter was.

“You okay?”

“Yes. Fine. Just a little nervous but that’s to be expected, right?”

Cam walked back and stood in front of her. Taking her hands, he placed a quick kiss on the top each of them and looked into her bright eyes.

“You’ll be fine. I brought you here a little early so you could meet the family without others around. But please trust me when I say they’re going to love you.” That gorgeous, broad smile appeared across his face and Annie knew he would take care of her if she needed it.

With a nod of her head, she said, “Okay. Let’s do this.”

Cam took her hand in his and she followed him through the gate. What she saw was a rainbow of color throughout an immaculate landscaped garden. Balloons were gathered in bunches and scattered across the yard. Solid colors of bright bunting were strung up and paper lanterns were hanging from the large trees like enormous butterfly cocoons. A large table sitting under a gazebo had plates, cups, and cutlery ready and waiting for the guests to use.

“Wow!” Annie was in awe of the scene before her.

“Pretty cool, huh?”

“Yeah, I know my parents would never have gone to these lengths for my birthday.”

“Well now, that’s just sad. Are you telling me you never had a birthday party?” The look on Cam’s face was one of complete shock.

“Not like this. I was lucky and was allowed a friend or two to come over but they were usually daughters of my parents’ close friends. Not really my friends.” Annie’s face looked like someone had just told her that her dog had died. It was evident that younger Annie would have loved something similar to what little Bodhi was about to experience.

“Come on. Let’s get the introductions over.” Cam leaned in and kissed her tenderly. Annie immediately felt more at ease. A feeling of comfort and security washed over her in that moment and it was something she didn’t want to lose. Ever.

“Oh, Cam you’re….” a woman’s voice interrupted them and stopped.

“Hi, Mum,” Cam said as he walked up from the path and onto the wooden decking, which enveloped the back of the house, and over to the grey haired woman, who had now been identified as his mother.

“Hi, sweetheart. So who do we have here?” she said with the sweetest smile. Not as broad as Cam’s but it definitely had wattage behind it.

“Mum, I’d like you to meet Annie Scott. Annie, this is my mum, Carol Hart.”

Annie moved in to shake his mother’s hand. She was still stuck to the spot where she abruptly halted. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Hart. I’m Annie, Cam’s girlfriend,” she said with a smile as she held her hand out.

Carol’s mouth dropped open and nearly hit the floor. “Cameron John Hart, is there something you have been neglecting to tell me?”

Annie didn’t know what to do. Her hand drifted back to her side as she turned and looked at Cam with a slight look of worry on her face.

“Yes, Mum.” He walked up next to Annie and put his arm around her shoulders. “This is my girlfriend.”

“John. John! Get out here, quick!” his mother called out at the top of her voice. It wasn’t a yell; but it was certainly a voice raised in excitement at the situation, which had just presented itself to her.

Cam was silently laughing and shaking his head at her. “Mum, chill out. You’re gonna freak Annie out.”

“Oh, sweetheart. Why didn’t you tell us? What a wonderful surprise!” She pulled Annie in against her and gave a tight squeeze. She pulled back and the smile was still sparkling on her face.

“Welcome to our home, dear. Forgive me, Annie. I’m Carol so you can forget about calling me Mrs. Hart. I don’t need my mother-in-law haunting this house.” She laughed. Carol was flustered but so giddy with excitement.

“What was so important, dear, that you needed me out here A.S.A.P?” Out of the house walked a tall man, almost the spitting image of Cam but his hair was salt and peppered in color. He took off his eyeglasses as he walked to them.

“Cameron. How are you, Son? Your mother’s been wondering why you hadn’t visited sooner,” he said as he shook Cam’s outstretched hand.

“How’s things, Dad?” Cam asked.

“Can’t complain, mate. Looks like things with you are pretty good, too,” he chuckled.

“Oh, John, don’t embarrass the girl.”

“Dad, this is my girlfriend, Annie Scott. Annie, this is my father, John Hart,” Cam introduced.

“Pleasure to meet you, Annie,” John said with a smile as they shook hands.

“You too, sir.”

“Sir! Humph! I look for my father-in-law when you say that so just call me John,” he told her. There was a soft, gentle sweetness to this giant man who stood before her.

“Okay.”

“Your accent, dear. Southern United States? Did I guess right?” Carol enquired.

“Correct, ma’am.” Annie was given a look that included raised eyebrows as a reminder for her to use his mum’s name. “Sorry, Carol. I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee.”