We’ve always stayed in close touch with them and visit whenever we return to Devil Valley, which is often. They lovingly refer to us as ‘the children’.
Diane and Dee are delighted to see us, as always. Dee had gastric bypass surgery last year and they have recently taken in two foster kids, both teenage boys who greet us shyly with their hands stuffed in their pockets. The boys smile with childlike surprise when Camden presents them both with prettily wrapped gifts. Diane serves us plates of cheese and crackers and asks about our jobs and our new house. They see Camden’s parents regularly but want to know how my mother is doing.
My mother’s life has taken a completely different direction. She’s written a memoir, started a new business as a life coach and moved to Black Mountain. I’m pleased to tell them she’s doing great. We won’t see her for Christmas since she’s currently enjoying a Caribbean cruise but these days she’s confident and successful and has no use for Dirtbag-type people. I’m proud of her.
Camden’s parents are expecting us so we can’t stay long. When we return to the truck I lean over and plant a quick kiss on my wife’s lips.
“I feel kind of guilty that we didn’t share the news.”
She smiles and flattens her palm to her belly. “We’ll tell them. After we tell our folks.”
I start the engine and switch on the heat. “We better get to it before your belly pops.”
“Already happening. Check me out in these new elastic waist pants.” She beams as she says this.
Her hand still rests on her belly and I cover it with mine. Among the gifts packed into the shopping bags in the backseat is a picture frame containing an image from last week’s ultrasound. We plan to give it to her parents on Christmas morning.
On the short drive over to Camden’s old neighborhood we talk about our other plans for the week we’ll be in town. Kent and Trina made us promise to visit Black Mountain and have dinner at their house. Kent just signed a contract to play pro hockey and in the spring we’ll be visiting Black Mountain again to attend his wedding to Trina. They broke up after high school but in time things worked out for them and now they’re back where they belong. With each other.
“Forecast says it might snow late tonight,” I point out, noting that the sky already looks pretty threatening.
“That’s perfect.” Camden plays with a strand of hair and smiles as she watches the familiar sights of Devil Valley roll by. We pass Devil Valley High and Imogen’s Diner and Dee’s Gas and Goods. I slow down when we approach the fateful street corner where the two of us used to wait for the bus to Black Mountain.
The corner is empty right now but my mind’s eye sees the view from outside the truck, when I stood in that space day after day in the presence of a girl who was destined to become my everything.
Camden’s thoughts are the same. I can tell by the way her smile grows and she looks at me in a way that always threatens to steal my breath.
“I love you,” I tell her because I can never say it enough.
“I love you too, Ben.”
The holiday decorations on Cardinal Street are cheerful to look at and I’m reminded of my gratitude for all the seasons that Camden has given to me and all the countless ones still to come. And yet there is always an added pang this time of year. I tend to think of my father more during the holidays.
Six months ago a remote section of the Marshlands was drained. This led to the shocking discovery of two sets of human remains. Forensic analysis concluded they were victims of foul play and they were identified as the two married activists who disappeared years ago. Camden wound up being commissioned to write a couple of articles on the unsolved crime. There’s been endless speculation about the possibility of the link between the murdered couple and the now defunct Drexler Group. But nothing can be done about it. There’s no one left to pay for the crime.
Angus died in a gas explosion at a friend’s house the day I graduated from high school. The following year an embezzlement scheme rocked the foundations of the Drexler Group and Uncle Gannon took a nap in a garage filled with carbon monoxide rather than face the consequences. The Drexler Group was dissolved and Grey became the only member of the family left. The last I heard he was trying to get a realtor’s license but I don’t really keep track.
Now, as I make the final turn onto my wife’s childhood street, I remind myself to light an extra candle tomorrow night, in the hopes that the families of the murdered couple will find peace. That’s all any of us can do; search for a way to recover from the traumas that haunt us and seize the opportunity to heal when it arises.
While I set the truck in park in front of Camden’s old house I notice she’s waving at someone. Bridget Spinelli is putting up Christmas decorations in the front yard two houses away. At her side is a little boy all bundled up against the cold and he waves back. Bridget sets a string of lights on the ground and rests a gloved hand on the kid’s shoulder as she joins in with his enthusiastic waving. Bridget and Dez aren’t together anymore but do share custody of their child, who strongly resembles his father. Camden has mentioned that Bridget works at Imogen’s Diner now. She always brings gifts for Bridget’s son when she comes to visit.
We’ll have to save additional greetings for later because Camden’s parents must have been watching for the truck and are already spilling out the door. Adela remains healthy, in remission, and she folds each of us into the warmest of hugs. Adela keeps her arm around Camden and guides her into the house while Bill insists on helping me with the luggage and the giant shopping bags filled with wrapped gifts. The night before I married his daughter he pulled me aside and told me that even though he can never replace the father I lost, he thinks of me as a son and will always be just a phone call away.
This is why I feel comfortable saying the words, “Thanks, Dad,” when he grabs big armfuls of packages out of the truck and carries them to the house.
Camden and Adela are admiring the Christmas tree and Adela hands Camden the special angel ornament that Camden delights in hanging on the tree every year. Every corner of the living room has been made festive and the smell of freshly baked gingerbread drifts from the kitchen.
After I set everything down I stand behind my wife and wrap my arms around her. She settles into me and moves my hands to her belly, which is just beginning to feel slightly rounded. I’m hoping for a girl. The world would be beyond lucky to receive another version of Camden Galway Beltran.
She turns and lifts her head for a kiss and I’m reminded of that Christmas Eve when I kissed her outside her front door and was awed by my luck that she wanted to be mine.
I still feel lucky every single day.
“Merry Christmas,” I tell her and then claim yet another kiss.
Dear Reader:
THANK YOU for spending your time with Camden and Ben. I hope you enjoyed being in their world as much as I enjoyed writing their love story.
All the love,
Cora
P.S. For more tales about Black Mountain Academy, be sure to check out the rest of the books written by over a dozen talented authors. https://black-mountain-academy.com
Also By Cora Brent:
GENTRY BOYS (Books 1-4)
Gentry Boys Series
DRAW (Saylor and Cord)
RISK (Creed and Truly)
GAME (Chase and Stephanie)
FALL (Deck and Jenny)
HOLD
CROSS (A Novella)
WALK (Stone and Evie)
EDGE (Conway and Roslyn)
SNOW (A Christmas Story)
Gentry Generations
(A Gentry family spinoff series)
STRIKE (Cami and Dalton)
TURN (Cassie and Curtis)
KEEP (A Novella)
TEST (Derek and Paige)
CLASH (Kellan and Taylor)
WRECK (Thomas and Gracie)
The Ruins of Emblem
TRISTAN (Cadence and Tristan)
JEDSON (Ryan and Leah)
LANDON (Coming Soon)
Worked Up
FIRED
NAILED
Stand Alones
UNRULY
IN THIS LIFE
HICKEY
SYLER MCKNIGHT
LONG LOST