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“Well then I think it’s time to decide, and when you do, just remember how much your brothers love you and how much you will destroy them if you make them bury another of the only family they have. Just remember how much you mean to me. You’re not the only one who lost Everett. We all did. The question is, are we going to have to survive losing you too?”
“Maddie…” he began, but I stopped him as I rose to my feet.
“Just think about it,” I told him. I leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek softly. “I love you, Cam. We all love you. We might not be Everett, but we’re your family. We’re all here for you, if you’ll allow us to be.”
With that I left the room, quietly closing the door behind me. Tears filled my eyes as I made my way back to my room. I checked on Willow, relieved to see she was still out cold.
As I slipped off the robe and climbed back into my bed I prayed for the first time in a very long time that Cam would find the strength to find his way back to all of us. We’d be with him every step of the way, but that first step had to be his and only he could choose to take it.
CHAPTER 13
MADDIE
“Mommy! You gots to watch!” Willow cried from the pool where she had been playing with Kai and Hunter for the last half hour.
It was a hot day and the guys were home for the weekend, though I had noticed the both of them still fielding calls from the office here and there.
I was laid on a lounger in the shade, dozing in and out of sleep, calmed by the happy, excited cries of my daughter and soothing, deep, relaxed voices of the guys. I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so at ease.
“I’m watching, peanut,” I assured her as I sat up and smiled her way. She was dressed in a bright lilac swimsuit the guys had provided her with and I had layered her pale skin with sunscreen several times. She had a special waterproof sleeve, which the guys had ordered online, over the cast on her arm to keep it dry. Her floppy sun hat had been abandoned at the side of the pool, and I realised why as Hunter picked her up from the water and launched her into the air a few feet. She landed on her back with a delighted squeal just in front of Kai, her floaties and the float filled vest, which Hunter had insisted on, ensuring she stayed on the top of the water as she landed with a splash.
Kai dramatically wiped the water from his face as the splash hit him, only making Willow laugh harder.
“You got me good with that one, sweetie,” Kai laughed.
“Great job, honey,” I laughed joyfully. Nothing filled me with more happiness than seeing her so at ease with causing mischief. She had never dared to do it before, but she was certainly coming out of her shell thanks to Kai and Hunt.
“Now you gots to throw me at Hunter, Kai!” Willow announced as she turned and held her arms up to him.
“Hey! I thought we were a team!” Hunt pouted, making her laugh again.
“Nope. I’m a killer whale and I’m gonna splash you next!” Willow told him impishly.
I lay back, closing my eyes again, a huge, contented smile on my face as I listened to the three of them play together happily. The guys seemed to love spending time with Willow, the genuine happiness plain to hear in their voices each time they were with her. Sam too had unending patience for my daughter, spending hours baking or coloring with her. I was so lucky to have them all around me.
“Hey,” At the sound of Cam’s voice I sat up and looked around, shocked to see him emerge from the kitchen, looking a little unsure. He was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, as always, but he was wearing a cap and his aviators and in his hand was a beer.
“Everything okay, brother?” Kai asked as he looked between Cam and Hunter with concern.
“Yeah, I just…” Cam glanced over to me nervously, then back to the guys. “It’s kinda hot. Thought I might cool off, if it’s okay?” He nodded to the pool.
“What do you think, munchkin? Can Cam join in with your whale game?” Hunter asked Willow. Willow squinted up at Cam and smiled widely.
“You can be on my team!” she nodded vigorously. “I bet you can throw me up to the sky!” she added excitedly. I smiled, agreeing with her. As ripped as Cam was, he probably could throw her that high.
I watched Kai and Hunter exchange bright grins and Cam walked over to a table to put down the beer he was clutching, then remove his t-shirt. They were delighted to see him try to join in, and so was I. This was the step I had been praying he would take. He was coming back to us.
***
Later that evening we all sat out with Sam and Garth. Sam and Hunt had grilled for dinner that night after a long afternoon in the pool for Willow and the guys.
It had been a really great day, and Willow had worn herself out but had the most amazing time with the guys, ordering them around and having them throw her about and carry her on their backs as they swam back and forth as she willed.
“She’s asleep,” Cam said as he glanced up at me. Willow was in his arms, her head on his shoulder and her arms wrapped around his neck. She had really taken to him that afternoon and refused to sit with anyone else. I had a feeling she knew if she let him go, he’d slope off back to his workshop and be alone again. She didn’t want that. None of us did, and so she had pretty much made him her prisoner.
“She seems pretty comfortable for now,” Garth laughed. It was the first time I had really spent any time with him since we arrived there and I liked him. He was a few years younger than Sam, tall and slim with a dark sun tanned complexion from all of the time he spent outside tending to the gardens. His hair was blonde but highlighted with some gray at the sides. He was handsome, in a rugged kind of way, and he smiled a lot. He and Sam just fit together like two pieces of a puzzle and watching them that evening had made me pine for such a wonderful love as they had.
“I can take her upstairs. Your arms must be aching,” I offered as I struggled to get to my feet.
