Cassidy
“Whoa! What’s going on? Slow down.”
The deep frown engraved on his forehead sits angry, one that wasn’t there earlier. Taking him by the shoulders, I make him look at me.
“Cameron, what’s going on darling?”
Elliott appears at the top of the stairs and slowly starts to walk down. Holding up a finger to him, he stops.
Leading him away into the living room, I sit down so we’re at the same level.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“You could’ve fooled me.”
Looking at him until he gives in and looks at Elliott and back at me, he shrugs.
“Cameron, that’s not an answer, now you need to tell me - otherwise I can’t fix it.”
Still refusing to answer me or even look at me I decide on another plan of action.
“Okay fine, don’t tell me; I’ll ask Elliott instead.”
Before leaving the room, I look back at him, but he still hasn’t moved. Huffing, I leave and make my way to Elliott.
“What happened?”
“You tell me! He beat me at his football game and switched it off. I asked him about school and he asked if I was his Dad, then went off asking why I left you and him.” He shrugs. Wow, so alike. I can’t help but grin.
“Cameron doesn’t like talking about his feelings, Elliott. I should’ve known when he was so chirpy earlier.”
“If it means anything, he beat me twenty to nothing! He whooped my arse.”
I can’t help smiling when he tells me the score as he rubs my arm.
“Look if you want me to, I’ll go. It might be easier on him.”
I feel my eyebrows raise.
“Look buster, you wanted this.” My finger pokes into his hard chest.
Raising his hands in front of him in defence, he says, “hey, I said if you want me too. I’m not running - I swear to you Cass.”
Looking away from him for a moment’s reprieve from his intense gaze helps a little.
“He’s hot-headed like you, you should get on great. Come on.” I sigh as we walk down the stairs.
“Maybe I’ll introduce him to my guitar,” Elliott mumbles behind me but I think there might be something in that. Looking back at him over my shoulder, I smirk. “What?” The worried look on his face is amusing but instead of letting him in on my plan, I wink at him.
“I think that maybe the best idea you’ve ever had…” I tell him as we reach the bottom of the stairs.
“What idea? You’ve lost me.”
His head shakes with a confused expression.
“Your guitar. Maybe you could teach him or something - give him a hobby other than that stupid PlayStation, he spends hours on it if I let him.”
“Not a bad idea...”
“Do you have your guitar with you right now?
“No, it’s at home, but I can fetch it…”
“Alright you go fetch that and I’ll talk to Cam.”
He pulls his keys from his pocket and walks out.
Cameron sits on the couch with his legs drawn up while he flicks through the telly. Taking the remote control from him I switch it off. Before he can whinge I give him the look - that look that says, ‘don’t even dare’, he frowns and huffs but says nothing.
“Right then, Elliott’s told me what happened, and I know you think this is hard on you but it’s hard on me too. There’s a lot of things you don’t understand and you’re too young to understand now, but I promise one day you’ll know everything.”
Lifting his chin to look at me, “you’re not talking to me?” He nods with a small smile.
“Good. Sit up. I’m going to leave you and Elliott to talk when he gets back, okay?” He nods again, I smile at him and kiss his forehead.
“Good boy.”
“Has he gone?”
“He’s just had to pop home for something, he has something to show you. Watch your cartoons until he gets back if you want.”
I sit on the chair watching him, he really is Elliott’s mini-me.
The door knocks once and opens, Elliott stands in the doorway with his guitar case with a tight grin. “Hey.”
“Come on in. I’ll leave you to it. Cam, remember what I said I’ll just be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
His eyes open wide, a scared look in them. Cupping his shoulder, I carry on past him and go to the kitchen.
Taking the washing from the washing machine, I separate the washing, put all the underwear in the tumble dryer and put the rest on the airer to dry. The rain outside is making the day gloomy and dark.
Switching on the dryer I grab the clean bedding from the basket and head out towards the stairs. Through the thin wall I hear the deep voice of Elliott, the voice I’ve heard over and over in my head for the last ten years until he came back, it still makes my heart skip a beat as much as I fought it.
Standing against the wall I listen to them for a second.
“So, Cameron. Shall we start again? I’m Elliott.
I don’t hear him reply though,
“Pleased to meet you.”
Elliott tries again. He always was persistent.
“Do I have to call you Dad?
“You can call me whatever you’re comfortable with, but you know if you want to swear at me, let’s do it when your Mum isn’t around... yeah?”
A smile works its way onto my face.
“Do you really play guitar?”
“Yeah. Do you want to see it?”
I don’t hear a reply so I’m guessing he nods his reply. The door opens to Elliott.
“I’m just taking this upstairs. Everything okay?”
“You were snooping weren’t ya?!”
“No! Okay, maybe…” I add my eyes rolling into the top of my head.
“Totally busted.”
“Fine, I’ll be upstairs. Shout me if you need me, you know if he bullies you too much.”
Walking off and stepping on the first step I glance back at him smirking…
“Pfft, I got this.” Elliott grins puffing his chest out.
Dropping on the bed with a sigh and lying back, I hear the first few chords of his guitar play. My eyes closing until I hear out of tune chords and realise he’s letting our son try. My heart bursts, everything I’ve locked away comes rushing back to me. Springing from the bed I go back downstairs, there’s no way I’m missing this. Softly pushing open the door, Cam is stood between Elliot’s legs with his back to him and the guitar around his neck. Elliott’s hands are covering his as he shows him how to strum the strings.
A lump forms in my throat while tears prick at my eyes, I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, teeth biting on it to stop myself from crying. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for this reunion. Wiping my cheeks, I look back at them…
“I did it.”
“You did! Well done!”
“Wow! Can I do it again?”
Elliott nods but doesn’t take his eyes from Cameron and I know he probably thinks the same as me. I can see the love he has for his son already, the wide smile that proudly sits on his face as he stares at him., the amazement in his eyes is evident.
It’s an instant love.
Cameron looks up and sees me, so I quickly rub the wetness from my face and walk further into the room.
“Mum, did you see? Elliott let me play his guitar!”
“I know baby, I saw.”
Elliott glances up at me, I can’t hide my feelings. He never ceases to amaze me but to see Elliott and Cam together like this with a guitar just astounds me. He’s like a smaller and younger version of his Dad, I always knew he would be.
My heart is happy right now and nothing could change that.
“Hey.” Elliott’s deep voice breathes down my ear startling me. My hands are leaning on the sink with my back to the door, so I didn’t hear him come in.
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
My hand goes to my nose to hide the fact that I’m being a wuss, I look up and see Elliot holding a tissue out.
“Thanks.” I sniffle.
“You alright?”
He arches an eyebrow at me in question. Shaking my head, I try to make him believe I’m fine…
“Don’t give me that shit.” He stops me from answering before I even open my mouth to speak.
Raising an eyebrow back at him, I attempt to smirk at him as he gives me a crooked smile.
“It’s nothing. Just seeing you and him together; he was happy that he played the guitar, it was bittersweet that’s all. It was how I imagined it all those years ago. Don’t mind me I’m fine.”
Waving a hand in Elliott’s face I wipe my eyes with the tissue he gave me, blow my nose then throw it in the bin. The mood suddenly changes again, his head is hanging forward and his hands are stuffed in his pockets. He looks so sad.
“Elliott? You alright?”
His head snaps up, his eyes trapping me, I can’t move I’m beholden by them - there’s so much emotion running through them, they’re stormy pools and have turned a shade darker just like the sky would.
“I think I should go…”
“But you’re getting on so well.”
“Yeah, I know, and I’ll see him in the week I promise, but being here with you like this isn’t helping Cass. I’m trying to be what you want but I can’t with you like this. You’re upset, and I realise now just how much I hurt you by not attempting to fix things. I’m selfish and I always will be probably.” He shrugs.
“I don’t want you to go yet. Stay and have a bit more time with Cam, please? Unless you really want to go, and I can’t stop you if you do…”
He smirks but studies me with his sexy wanting eyes, I know I’m playing with fire and probably setting myself up for a broken heart yet again but I’m sick of being sensible. Why can’t I have something for me for once.? I haven’t thought about myself in ten years.
My gaze fixes on his mouth as his lips open to speak….my heart pounding against my chest.
“Coffee would be great.”
He leans into me. His breath is hot as it blows in my face His lips just a fraction from mine, wetting my lips to take away the dryness, his nose rubs against mine gently.
“I better get back to Cam, seeing us like this isn’t gonna help is it?” He says quietly as a frown wrinkles his forehead.
“Okay,” I whisper but really, I want him to grab me in his arms and throw me on the table like he did a few weeks back only this time I won’t fight him. My fists ball his t-shirt pulling him closer to me so our bodies touch. Gasps leaving my lips as my heart beats harder. His lips skim my cheek until he leaves a small kiss there.
“We’ll talk about this later…”
Biting on my lip to stop myself he steps away. He pulls my lip from my teeth and rubs his thumb across it as he smirks. He kisses his fingers and places them against my lips, my eyes close from his touch on their own accord.
When they open again he’s gone.
Shaky breaths leave me as I turn back to the kettle. I make our coffee in a daze and head for the front room.