“No, it is not, Gorgeous. Not after what I saw last night. I don’t think the senator passed away peacefully at all, and I’ll be damned if it was from natural causes.” He glanced at the screen then back to her. “Don’t be surprised if they call it a heart attack.”
“What’s going to happen with Roger and Lawrence? And Cici?”
“I’ll know more after the debriefing this afternoon. Maybe. Depends on what Gina can tell us. But, my guess is that Lawrence will be quietly removed from Bennett’s campaign. Probably take a trip out of the country. Roger might even be at the debriefing, and he’ll have some choices to make after that. Or, our side will treat him like a mushroom.”
“A mushroom?”
“Yeah, babe. Keep him in the dark and feed him shit.” Camden shrugged. “It’s why I hate politics. Love my country, hate the game-playing.” He smiled down at her. “But, you and Tina are safe, and that is the most important thing right now.” He grinned and his cheeks flushed red. “Well, that and this.” He dropped to one knee.
What the heck?Elna giggled. “Um, did you hit your head tonight? We did this already.”
Camden pursed his lips and tilted his head. “Yes and no. I did ask you to marry me already because I want to be in your life and Tina’s life. But I did it wrong because I was so damn happy. Time to fix that.” He reached into his pocket as Elena’s heart skipped a half-dozen beats.
“What? When did you…” Her voice trailed off when he opened the little box and revealed the most beautiful engagement ring she’d ever seen. On either side of the diamond was a deep blue sapphire. Camden pointed to the one on the left.
“That stone represents our little Mermaid.” Then he touched the other one and looked up at her, his eyes shining. “And, I’m hoping that this stone will one day mean we’ve got another little one running around.”
Elena covered her mouth as Camden’s face blurred. She couldn’t speak. Of course she wanted more children, the more the better. And Camden would make the perfect father. He already was, for Tina.
“So, Elena, will you accept this ring and marry me?”
“Yes, on one condition. You’d better be ready to add more gems to that ring.”
His face glowed with happiness. He stood and took her in his arms. “All the gems you want. I am so honored that you want me to be the father of your next child. You have me, heart and soul.”
“You have me, too, Camden. I never thought, neverdreamed, that I’d find someone so good and loving again. Someone who also loves my daughter, who only has her best interests at heart. From the very first moment I saw you carrying her, there was love in your eyes. Love and worry that she was hurt. But she wasn’t hurt, she was fine because you saved her. You saved her life, Camden, and you saved me. You still make both of us feel loved and protected. Cherished.” She stroked his cheek, running her thumb over his stubble. “I love you.”
She watched Camden swallow the lump in his throat before he pulled her in close and tight. “Then I’m damn lucky, too. I love you, Elena. I will spend every day making sure you feel that love all the way down to your soul.” He pressed his lips against her ear. “And I’ll spend my nights making sure you feel it everywhere else.”
Behind her, she heard the bedroom door open and tiny feet pad down the hall. “Mom? Mama?”
“Here, Pepita, here in the TV room. Guess who’s back?”
But Tina didn’t have to guess, because Toby was up and headed her way at the very first sound.
“Toby! Is Daddy here, too? Is he, boy?”
If Elena thought she was happy a moment ago, she was wrong—thiswas happiness, her daughter calling the man Elena loved, Daddy. A good, loving man who deserved the name.
The sun took that moment to shine through the window over Elena and Camden’s shoulders and into Tina’s face as she approached them. She shielded her eyes with her hand and smiled. Camden scooped her up and the three of them hugged.
“Good morning, Friend and Helper,” Tina said, then kissed his cheek.
“Friend and helper?” Camden looked at Tina, puzzled.
“The Wind in The Willows,” Elena said. “We’ll read it together tonight. At home.”
* * *
One week later
They got to Santa Monica Beach a little before sunset. Camden had a new magic trick for Tina, one he’d promised her weeks before.
“It won’t be exact-exact, Mermaid, but pretty close this time of year.” He took the book bag holding his thin laptop from Elena and opened it. After a few clicks, a window popped up and a man’s face appeared on the screen. Camden knelt in the sand so Tina could see.
“Say hi to my buddy, Hatch.”
“Hi, Hatch.”
