“No one is going to take me away. I’m going to be here for you, I promise.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you know what nightmares are? They’re the things we’re afraid of, and they come to us at night. I know you’re scared I’m going to leave or send you somewhere. But I’m not. Do you remember the man who came with Donald two days ago? He was from the county, and he set me up in classes so I can keep you.”
“Classes?” Cameron asked.
“Yes. To teach me how to be a good parent and foster parent. I’m going to take them, and once I’m done, then Donald will put you here permanently and no one is going to take you, ever.”
“So you’ll be my daddy?” Cameron asked, and Marty felt his throat close up. He couldn’t talk, so he nodded. Cameron hugged him tightly. and Marty held him, rocking slowly.
“Go back to sleep, okay? We’re going to Hershey tomorrow, and you need your rest, so dream of chocolate.” He settled Cameron in bed and turned out the light, leaving him to go back to sleep.
Marty returned to his room and sat on the edge of the bed. He hadn’t wanted to push, but the thought of Cameron calling him Daddy warmed his heart like nothing he had ever feltbefore. Granted, it hadn’t happened yet, and he wasn’t going to press it in any way, but the idea made him feel special. He rolled over and closed his eyes, finally falling asleep, only waking when Grant came in, slipped behind him, and slid an arm around his waist.
“CAN Igo on that?” Cameron asked as soon as they entered the park, pointing to the huge roller coaster.
“I don’t think you’re tall enough, but maybe there is one in the park that you can ride.” Marty said gently and took Cameron’s hand. “What’s the rule?”
“I have to hold your hand or Grant’s hand,” Cameron said as he skipped along next to him.
“Good. Now, there are other rules. You can’t ask for everything you see. We are going to have lunch, and you can get some chocolate and a toy that you want. So look around and see everything. Okay? Let’s go find the carousel so we can all ride.”
Cameron loved riding the horsey, and then they found the kiddie coaster and Cameron rode it three times. He loved it and kept wanting to go again.
“Can I go on that?” Cameron asked, pointing to the drop tower.
“I’m afraid not, but we can go on the Kissing Tower.” Grant took Cameron’s hand and they all headed over there. They got on the ride pretty quickly. “It’s going to go really high,” Grant said, and Cameron was so excited as they left the ground, going higher and higher, before turning at the top to see the entire park below.
“There’s a zoo,” he said, pointing.
“Maybe if we have time. But see over there? There’s a big pool and a play area with water buckets.” Cameron turned tohim like it was too good to be true. “I brought your swimming suit, so we can change clothes and play in the water.”
“Really?” Cameron said.
“Yes, really. I just need to get the bag that I brought in with us, and we can all go and play in the water. But we should have lunch first, don’t you think? Are you both hungry?”
“I am. Want chicken nuggets.” Cameron grinned, and Marty held his hand as they lowered into the station and got out of the sweltering heat that was the inside of the Kissing Tower. And the darndest thing was, he hadn’t gotten a real kiss in the damned thing.
CAMERON FELLasleep about two minutes after they got him in the SUV for the ride home. Marty swore that Cameron ate his way around the park. After lunch there was cotton candy and ice cream, followed by a giant lollipop, but he hadn’t been allowed to open that. Thankfully Marty had convinced him to save that until he got home. “That was fun.”
“Yes, it was,” Grant said as he leaned over the console once they had pulled to a stop at a light. “We should do it again… like maybe next year.” That smile was so warm, and Marty lost himself in it for a few seconds. He liked the idea of making plans, even if they were fleeting and easily changed.
“Cameron would love that.”
Grant pulled forward but left one hand resting on Marty’s thigh. “You know that Cameron has a ton of chocolate back there.”
Marty chuckled. “What did he talk you into buying?”
“Kit Kats.”
“Take 5 Bars,” Marty admitted and they both chuckled. “That kid and his chocolate.”
“There are worse things, and you can put them in the cupboard and let him have them slowly.”
Marty sighed and leaned back, just enjoying the drive and the quiet after a day of screams, laughter, the clang of rides, and water splashing everywhere. It was so much fun. “I can’t believe he got us on Tidal Force.”
Grant laughed outright. “He loves the water and getting wet. That is for sure.” They’d spent hours in the water park area, and Marty swore they were never going to get Cameron to leave. Now darkness was falling, and tomorrow loomed.
“What time do you need to be to work?”
“The crews will start at nine. I don’t necessarily need to be there, but I want to be in case some member of the family shows up. If that happens, then I want to be able to question them right away. I’m hoping we can get in and out quickly without too much fuss. It’s in the back of the cemetery on Newville Road, so it isn’t likely to attract too much attention, but you never know.”
