Only You (27 page)

“What do we do, Molls?” he murmured, grabbing his coffee cup when his name was called. “I can’t lose her.”

“I want to come visit,” she pleaded. “I can come this weekend, stay through chemotherapy on Monday, and then keep her company for a few days afterwards. I’d feel better seeing her with my own eyes.”

Shane smiled softly. “That would actually be an excellent idea,” he replied. He opened the door to the coffee shop and started to walk down the street. “Javier needs me to help with a big event this weekend at the bar, and I couldn’t figure out how to make it. Would you mind staying with her Saturday and Sunday night while I’m gone? I’ll be back Monday in time for her chemotherapy.”

“Sure, Shane. That sounds perfect.” Molly sounded encouraged, now that she would be able to spend time with Camden. Hopefully, she’d be able to get to the bottom of whatever had Camden in this funk. “I’ll tell Jack. And Shane?”

"Yeah, Molly?”

“Thanks for everything you are doing for her. I’ll see you Saturday.”

“See you Saturday, Molly.”

Shane disconnected the call, hopeful for the first time in days. When he’d come home the previous Thursday, Camden was still at the hospital with Eric. He had wondered at her empty tone over the phone, but assumed she was just tired from the long day. When she’d seemed down the next day, he thought maybe it was the emotional upheaval of seeing Tori give her baby to Marvin and Tim, but a week had passed and she was still down. The sparkle in her eyes was just gone.

Once he was settled in his truck, Shane dialed Javier to tell him that he was able to come to Jackson for the weekend. After he ended that call, he prayed that Molly would be able to work one of her miracles. He wanted Camden back, not the imposter currently sharing his bed.

***

Someone was pounding on the front door and Camden wanted to kill them. She had finally fallen asleep in the blissful silence of the apartment. Shane had run some errands, and Eric had gone to visit his dads and then had classes, so she had several hours that she could sleep uninterrupted. Apparently the jerk at the front door didn’t get the memo, because he was most definitely interrupting her sleep.

For a week straight, she’d been having the nightmare again. She hadn’t had it for six weeks, but it had returned the night of her meeting with Dr. Stevens. She wanted to be logical about everything, and she knew from what he told her that her chances of survival were slim. Unfortunately, that didn’t matter to her heart, which currently was shredded every time she pictured someone else loving Shane…someone else raising her daughter.

Finally, she had been enjoying a dreamless sleep, but the pounding would NOT stop! Camden slowly rolled to her side and crawled out of bed. It was getting harder to just sit straight from a reclining position, her protruding belly getting in the way. She pulled her comforter around her and shuffled down the hall.

“Hold your horses!” she called. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

The knocking ceased once the visitor heard Camden’s demand. Ready to verbally thrash whoever was on the other side of the door, Camden grasped the handle and opened it. She froze as she stared at the voluptuous red-head in front of her.

“I think you’ve got the wrong apartment,” she informed the woman. The woman’s green eyes flashed with something Camden didn’t recognize and then her gaze slowly traveled Camden from head to toe. A look of distaste crossed her face.

“I most definitely am at the right apartment,” she stated. “I’ve been waiting hours for your keeper to leave.”

Camden’s brows scrunched in confusion. “My keeper?”

The woman smirked and raised her hand above her head to indicate height. “About this tall, blonde, kind of yummy but batting for the other team?”

“Eric?” Camden clarified.

“I don’t know his name. It doesn’t matter,” the woman declared. “All that matters is that he is gone now, so that I can talk to you.”

“I don’t even know you,” Camden replied, more than a little bit confused.

The woman held out her hand as though she was royalty. “I am Daphne Cruz.”

Camden cautiously shook the woman’s outstretched hand. Daphne scoffed at the confused look on Camden’s face.

“He didn’t tell you about me,” she surmised.

“Who didn’t tell me about you?” Camden questioned.

“Shane, of course.” Daphne tutted. “I knew he wouldn’t.”

Camden’s eyes widened. “You’re Shane’s Daphne?!?”

Daphne grinned. “So he did mention me. I can only guess that he didn’t tell you that I was back in the area.”

“He hadn’t mentioned it,” Camden admitted.

“Boys…always leaving us girls out,” Daphne sympathized. “Well, we’ve got a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

“We do?” Camden wished that she hadn’t just woken. She felt like her brain still had to turn-on, and her thoughts were sluggish.

“Of course we do. You deserve to know the truth. For instance, Shane wouldn’t admit it to you, of course, but he never wanted to have children. He told me on several occasions.”

Camden’s heart clenched. “What do you want, Daphne?”

Daphne reached her hand to pat Camden’s shoulder. “I just feel it is only right that you know everything that he is keeping from you. Would you like me to come inside? This is such an awkward conversation to have in the hallway.” Daphne grimaced.

Thrown completely, Camden stepped to the side and allowed Daphne to enter the apartment. Daphne immediately walked to the sofa and made herself comfortable.

“What is it that you think I need to know, Daphne? Shane isn’t hiding anything from me.”

Daphne raised a single eyebrow in question. “Are you sure about that? He hasn’t told you that I’ve been in town, and he first saw me six weeks ago.” Camden inhaled sharply. “He also didn’t tell you that he didn’t want kids. But you know Shane.” Daphne smirked. “Always has to do the right thing, even if it isn’t what he truly wants.”

“You’re wrong. Shane is excited about Lauren,” Camden argued.

“Oh, he may have come to terms with becoming a father,” Daphne murmured, “but you can’t tell me Shane would walk away from any woman who was having his baby, EVEN or especially if she has cancer.”

Camden’s stomach turned. “Shane is not with me because I am pregnant, and he definitely isn’t with me just because I have cancer.”

“I’m curious,” Daphne derided, “did he know about the baby or the cancer first?”

“The baby, but what does that have to...”

“Do you think he would have stuck around to learn about the baby if you’d only told him about the cancer?” she asked accusingly. “Shane Hunt loved you once. That’s true. He told me so himself.”

Camden looked questioningly at the woman, who turned and gently grasped Camden’s hand.

“Sometimes people fall out of love, Camden, but in situations as tough as ours, it’s hard to know the right thing to do.” She paused and made eye contact with Camden. “You love Shane and want what’s best for him, right?”

“Of course!” Camden exclaimed.

“Camden, you are dying of cancer. Do you really think it is best for Shane to stay here and watch you die? Can you imagine what that will do to him emotionally? Mentally?”

“B-b-but Lauren,” Camden protested.

“Yes, Lauren. He will love and care for Lauren, I’m sure, but doesn’t she deserve a daddy who isn’t haunted from watching her mother battle cancer?”

Camden’s head ached, and flashes of her dream assaulted her.

“I can still beat it,” she whispered, anger simmering in her belly.

“Well, of course you can,” Daphne replied cheerfully, “and I really hope you do. But is it worth it to risk Shane and Lauren like this? Or is it just selfish?”

Camden’s anger at the woman in front of her was growing. “I can beat this!” she yelled. “I will fight with all that is in me to beat it.” Her will, which had seemed so broken the last week, resurrected, and Camden stood in determination. “I will beat it, and I will be there for Shane and for Lauren.”

Daphne stood and stared mockingly at Camden. “Of course you will. I truly hope you do, but ask yourself. If it weren’t for the baby….weren’t for the cancer….would Shane choose you?”

She turned and strode to the door, her long red hair flowing luxuriously behind her. As she opened the door to leave, she turned to face Camden one last time.

“Just one more question. Did he tell you he was going out of town this weekend?” Daphne smirked when she saw doubt flash in Camden’s eyes. “Wonder whose bed he’ll be sharing.” She winked at Camden. “I’ll let myself out,” she called, shutting the door behind her.

Any energy and strength Camden had just experienced deflated, and she suddenly felt as if she held the weight of the world on her shoulders. She shuffled back down the hall, crawling into her bed. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks until she finally fell asleep, the nightmare once again taunting her. Only this time, the woman in her dream was no longer faceless. The women taking Shane and her baby was Daphne Cruz.

***

Chapter 33

“Hey gorgeous! Smile for the camera.”

Camden smiled weakly at Eric. He was concerned at the hopelessness reflected in her eyes. Molly had been with them all weekend, and even that hadn’t helped. Camden was devastated by something, but Eric didn’t know what. Trying to get her to talk was like trying to breach Fort Knox.

The door swung open and Christopher, one of Camden’s regular nurses, rushed into the room. The man was a ball of energy. Eric didn’t think he’d ever seen him walk. He ran everywhere. Eric secretly thought that Christopher must live on energy drinks… Or speed. Eric chuckled and continued filming.

“Hey, chick!” Christopher grinned at Camden. “Ready to get this show on the road? Round five,” he declared. “Almost to the halfway point,” he encouraged.

“Can we wait for Shane to get here?” Camden’s gaze scanned the room. Everyone was present – her parents, Brody, Javier…even Melia was there – but not Shane. Her heart hammered as she recalled Daphne’s words from Thursday afternoon. Where had he spent the weekend?

Christopher shook his head. “If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to run the full course before my shift is over. Sorry, Camden,” he murmured apologetically.

She nodded uncertainly at him, and protectively held her arm to her belly.

“I’m sure he’ll be here,” Javier called from across the room. “Maybe he overslept,” he suggested.

Camden shook her head mechanically. She closed her eyes and turned her head away from her family, hoping no tears betrayed her sinking heart.

***

Shane cursed and kicked the tire on his truck. He knew he should have caravanned with Brody and Javier, but he’d had an errand he wanted to run in town before leaving, and he had to wait for the store to open. He had been cutting it close, but now he’d be lucky to make it to Milton before nightfall. He’d taken back roads to save time, which meant he had no cell signal, and his freaking serpentine belt had broken.

Shane growled in frustration and hit the truck bed. Pain shot through his knuckles and down his hand. He immediately cradled the throbbing hand to his chest. He walked to the cab of the truck and reached inside with his good hand to retrieve the giant cup of soda he had bought at the gas station on the way out of town. Propping the cup in the crook of his elbow, he held it to his body. Then, he tagged the blanket that remained tucked behind his seat and headed to the shade of a tree that was located in the empty field beside his now silent truck.

Once he had settled on the blanket, Shane stretched his hand to test the damage. He winced, not able to open his hand even halfway. His knuckles were already swelling, and he feared he had broken a few of them. He sipped his soda and stared at the road, waiting for any sign of life. After an hour or so, Shane’s eyes began to droop. He laid his head on the blanket, resting his eyes and listening for passing traffic. Within another half hour, he had fallen asleep.

“Hey, fella!”

Shane felt something poking him in the ribs.

“Wake up!” a voice grumbled. Shane opened his eyes and stared at the shadow above him.

“You can’t stay on my property,” the man stated gruffly. “You need to get in your truck now, and be on your way.” He pointed to a sign hanging on the nearby fence. “See there. No Trespassing.” He stated the words slowly, as if talking to a young child.

“I see the sign, sir,” Shane replied, trying his best to seem non-threatening and respectful. “It’s just that my truck broke down, and I don’t have a cell phone signal to call for help.”

The old man looked at him skeptically and tugged at his bushy, gray beard. “What exactly is wrong with it?”

“My serpentine belt broke. Whole thing shut down,” Shane explained. The man nodded in understanding.

“Well, then, follow me, boy.” He turned and began walking towards the nearby white farmhouse. He called over his shoulder to Shane. “Lucky for you my son is a mechanic. He owns the auto shop ten miles up the road. When we get to the house, I’ll give him a call.”

Shane breathed in relief, a weight lifted from his shoulders. “Is it possible for me to use your phone to make a call, sir?”

The old man grunted. “Where to?”

Shane gulped, hoping a long distance call wasn’t an issue.

“Milton, sir. I need to call someone in the hospital there.”

“Sure, sure, boy. We can do that.” The old man grinned like he had a secret and whispered, “Got the free long-distance.”

Shane grinned in response. “Thank you, sir.” They reached the front porch of the man’s house. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” Shane held out his hand. “I’m Shane Hunt, by the way.”

The man grunted. “Amos,” he replied. “Amos James Johnson IV.” He shook Shane’s hand vigorously.

Shane grinned and followed Amos into his farmhouse.

***

“Hold on, man,” Brody called to Javier. They were on their way to the cafeteria to pick up some drinks and snacks for everyone. Javi stopped and looked at Brody, brows raised, while Brody pulled the vibrating cell phone from his pocket.

“You better have a damn good excuse for not being here,” he growled.

“Brody, thank God!”

“Start talking, Hunt, and talk fast. She tried to hide it, but Camden was crying when you didn’t show up.”

Shane’s heart cracked at the thought of hurting Camden, even if it was unintentional.

“My serpentine belt broke, Brody. Damn truck won’t work. A mechanic is picking it up right now, and I’m hoping to be on the road soon.” Shane paced in Amos’ living room.

“That’s well and good man, but why are you just now calling? We’ve been here for hours.”