This man was insane, the dude damn near burning with enthusiasm.
“Improvements?”
“Hell, yeah. A pull-down ramp instead of those doors where your horses could just walk in and out, and then you just pop it up. An improved hitch. Better wheel base. There are things that we could do to your existing trailer that would make it way more safe, way more functional, and I need to try.”
“Okay, I mean, it’s not like if you mess up my trailer, I can’t just make you fix it. Right? You’re a damn mechanical engineering genius.” At least that was what Mitch had told him.
“Exactly.” Mark beamed at him, clapping as if he’d done something amazing. “Exactly. I am a damn mechanicalengineering genius, and this is a mechanical engineering piece of garbage. So I’m going to fix it.”
Cam chuckled. It wasn’t like Mark wouldn’t buy him a new one if he fucked his trailer up. Why not? “Fine. Have at it.”
Mark grinned at him. “Yeah? If that’s cool with you, I’m in.”
Hell, it would give the man something to do. Maybe he could engineer a reading nook for Sarah… “I’m not going anywhere for a while. You got some time. I’m gonna stay here and be with my kids.”
Mark tilted his head and grinned at him. “Your kids, huh?”
Cam leaned back against the pillows and nodded. “You know, I never thought for a second that I’d say that. I love my nieces and my nephews; I love them to death. But I never felt the desire to spend hours with them. I guess I’m all kinds of a fool, ain’t I?”
“No, you’re just in love. It’s okay. It’s all I ever wanted for him.” Mark leaned back against the doorframe and sighed. “Eat your food, buddy. You know, it damn near killed him when he lost Allison.”
He winced, but picked up the bread. “Yeah, I know it was hard for him.”
“It was hell. She was nine months pregnant, and she just had an aneurysm. She was here, and then she was gone in no time. I mean, they cut the baby out of her right then and there. Then Mitch had to go home and tell Rebekka and Sarah what’d happened and bring this brand new baby home. I don’t think he even got to cry about it for six months, maybe longer, because about the time little bit was spending sleeping through the night, Allison’s parents tried to get custody. You want to talk about a war? All of Allison’s life insurance went to that war, and they knew it. They knew Mitch couldn’t fight them forever, but he did.”
Cam didn’t even know what to say. He was fairly sure he hadn’t said that many words in a row in his entire goddamn life. “Why are you telling me all this?”
Mark shrugged. “Well, partially because it’s true; partially because I guess I want you to know how happy you make him. He’s a better dad now because you let him be. I think that’s so cool.”
Mark was giving Cam a headache. “I don’t follow, man. What do you mean?”
“You let him relax. He doesn’t look hunted anymore. I mean, tired? Yeah. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, and Christmas is coming, but he still looks happier than the last time I saw him. He’s doing things and living instead of just fighting to get through the next little bit of time. Hell, he started his own business. It means a ton that you did this for him.”
“Well…thanks? I don’t— I’ll be honest man; I just love him. I love the girls.” All the rest was bonus.
“They love you too.”
Cam gave Mark a wry grin. “Well, sometimes I don’t know about Bekka….”
Mark chuckled, the sound warm. “She’s such a little mom. She puts a lot of pressure on herself.”
“She does.” And Cam got that. And he knew he was the new guy. The interloper. So she was trying to adjust. It was tough on everyone.
Mark shrugged. “It’s just how she is. Mitch got her into therapy for a few times after Allison died, but he just couldn’t manage to keep it up. You figure she was in kindergarten so that puts Sarah in the terrible threes. And let me tell you. Sarah’s terrible threes weredark.”
“I bet they were.” Cam couldn’t imagine, and doing it all alone. Damn. “Did he put them in daycare?”
Mark shook his head. “He stayed with them for almost a year. And then, once Sarah was in pre-K and Bekka was in first grade, he could put little bit in—well, he didn’t put her in daycare, but you know somebody watched her in one of those home things. I helped out with that part, and then he could work.”
It made sense. “Mitch is nothing if not utterly fucking responsible.”
Mark cackled. “You know it, man. So at any rate, I’m glad you’re here, and I think they all are too, even Bekka. Just think, one day she’ll come to you and will have started her period.”
“Don’t say that.” He wasn’t ready for anything of that nature.
“It’s the truth.”
“It won’t be soon, I don’t think. She’s too skinny still. Was her momma real skinny?” Cam couldn’t really remember. He’d known her of course, but only in that incredibly vague sort of way.
