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Chapter Fourteen
Camilla
I wasn't really sure where to go. I was so mad I had left without permission or any real goal in mind. I was so upset that I couldn’t really see where I was or where I was going. I never really noticed how similar most of the buildings looked before. One neighborhood bleeding into another. I found a bench and sat down, at least long enough for my eyes to clear from the tears so I could see where the heck I was going.
I was hurt and honestly felt a bit betrayed by their behavior, especially Aden, who was usually so in control. I wasn't happy with Cooper but had come to expect such silliness from him. What bothered me most with what happened was I had really expected better of Aden. If he was going to be a father, he would have to settle down.
It was that point, of course, I remembered that he had no idea he was going to be a dad. It was clear that I would have to sit down with both of them, probably separately, and hash it all out. I would have to talk to Aden first. If he wasn't in this relationship for the long haul, it wouldn't be worth putting up with Cooper's objections. If we really were going to be a proper family, Cooper could stuff it as far as I was concerned.
If I was honest with myself, I was also ashamed of my overreaction. I wasn't happy to see them fighting, especially with the damage they were causing. Though according to Chris, who had no reason to lie that I could see, Cooper had started it, and Aden was mostly just trying not to get hit. Which seemed a lot like him. He had ended up swinging on Cooper and apparently really messing up, but what would Cooper have done to Aden had he allowed it? There was clearly a lot more going on than I had known and could well have reacted inappropriately.
There was only one thing to do.
Getting my bearings as well as I could, I found my way back towards the office and came across a cafe that I had seen but had yet to try. Coffee had always been one of my favorite smells. Not brewed coffee or even brewing coffee. Fresh, ground coffee out of the canister or bag. It could almost make me hum with pleasure. If they ever made a car air freshener in that scent, I would be the first in line at the hardware store.
I breathed a deep sigh of relief as I walked through the carved wooden door, an electric version of “Ode to Joy” ringing out at me to find that this was still the case. I hadn't gone off the smell of unbrewed coffee like I had freshly baked cinnamon rolls. There were those as well at the cafe but encased safely behind a thick pane of glass in the display counter.
“What can I get you?” asked the perky college girl in the garish violet polo shirt, as though filling my order would genuinely be the highlight of her day.
“Large Earl Grey with cream and sugar,” I said, chapter and verse.
“Righto, oh, what's your name?”
“Camilla,” I whispered, still whipping away tears.
“Cammy?” she asked, not quite hearing.
“Sure,” I said, not having the heart to contradict her.
She rang me up and gave me my change, mostly in quarters, and I went to one of the adorable varnished wood bistro tables to wait. No sooner did my butt hit the artisan chair than I had my phone out and was texting Aden. I apologized slightly for my reaction and said I needed to talk to him, suggesting a time when I knew he would be off work. That message sent, I then texted Cooper. Using my words carefully, I made the same basic statement but suggested a time a couple of hours later, to minimize the risk of another fistfight. I really couldn't stand any more stress. I already felt sick enough.
No sooner did I hit send than another voice rose up from the bustling crowd, struggling to be heard over the cacophony of laptop keyboards. All the would-be J.K. Rowlings sweating blood while enjoying a coffee.
“Cammy!” the voice came again, like an olde tyme town cryer.
“Oh, right,” I said, realizing that it was me. “Thank you,” I said instinctively while hustling over to the pick-up counter, not wanting to take up any more of their time.
Sitting down at the table, the chair already claimed by my coat, even the desert getting cold at that time of year. Not too bad, of course. Nothing that could cause limbs to fall off, or even see your breath, but you could get very uncomfortable in a mighty hurry if you let the sunshine fool you and didn't wear the right clothes. Even Aden would wear a classic black biker jacket with black hardware with his usual sneakers, jeans, and T-shirt ensemble.
It was sitting in that hipster cafe, at that cute fair trade table sipping an Anglo-phillic beverage that inspiration hit. Which tended to be how things went in my somewhat limited experience. I would have to feel my way through with Aden. That was still somewhat unknown territory. He wouldn't admit it, but the army had changed him. Though mostly for the better.
When it came to Cooper, there was one person who knew him even better than me. And I happened to have her phone number on my contacts.
“Hello?”
“Hi, mom!”
“Camilla?”
“Got it in one,” I said, Aden's words coming out of my mouth.
“What was that, dear?”
“Nothing, listen, I need some help.”
“Late on your rent again?”
“No, the job I've got is pretty good.”
