Soldier Boy

03

Carissa's POV

Mom and Gavin took Logan on ride after ride at Walley's World, the biggest theme park in New Orleans.

I tugged my jacket closer to me as the snow fell. Cameron laughed beside me, the snow marking his head of brunette curls.

"What?" I grumbled as the snow crunched under our feet.

"You're cold," he stated, wiggling his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes.

"Who decides it's a good idea to go to a theme park in January?" I huffed.

"It's your mom's birthday, and she let Logan pick. Honestly, this isn't a bad birthday present. I'm having fun." He kicked some snow in my direction.

I grumbled again.

"You're not freezing. Of course, because Cameron Samuel Langford is immune to cold weather. Anything new?"

He scoffed. "I was in Iraq at war for seven years. It was hot all the time, water was scarce, I was underweight because of the lack of food, and I had to kill our enemies every day. And you can't use my middle name like that."

I looked at him, glaring my eyes. We were close to the Ferris wheel and the indoor roller coaster.

"It's a good middle name," I said.

He sighed. "You used it as Logan's middle name, didn't you?"

I grinned. "Maybe... I needed some way to honor you."

He sighed and pointed to the Ferris wheel.

"You want to go? I'm sure we could see the whole park from the very top," he said.

"Sure," I said. We walked and stood in line. I surveyed the people in front and behind us.

Older couples, young girls with their boyfriends, groups of chatty kids, and two young girls with round bellies were all around us.

"That's a sad thing to see," Cameron whispered and pointed at the two teenage girls at the food stand.

I grimaced. I was in the same situation when he left, only a few years older at seventeen.

"Yeah. Girls raising babies alone with no father around. But it happens. It happened to me."

Cameron looked at me. He had a sad expression on his face.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't there, but I'm here now. I'm trying my best here."

I shook my head. "I should have let you know when I saw those two dang lines."

He chuckled as we made our way closer to the gate.

"You regret Logan. What a surprise!" He exclaimed sarcastically.

I laughed. "No, I'd never regret him. He was just a surprise. But then I got pregnant, and knew I'd keep him, well, after I considered the alternative."

Cameron walked closer, and I shuffled my feet behind him before getting beside him again.

"You were considering getting rid of him?" He asked.

I nodded my head. "Yeah. I was young and it only crossed my mind for a split second."

Cameron breathed out. Sucked in a breath. He blinked.

"So Logan Samuel Pompeya got you through me being gone. Huh."

"Langford," I corrected.

He laughed. "What?"

"Logan's name on his birth certificate is written down as Logan Samuel Langford. I figured that last name, since it's tied to a Marine, is way more honorable than having a last name that's tied to a bar," I smiled.

Cameron smiled.

"Hey, it's our turn," he said.

After the Ferris wheel, we rode some other small rides before meeting up with my mom, brother, and Logan.

"I got cookies!" Logan yelled as he held up a big plate of fried cookie dough.

I glanced at mom. "There ain't nothing wrong with spoiling my grandson," she said and ran her hands through Logan's brown curls.

"Mommy, can Dad go to the arcade with me? Please?" Logan begged.

I sighed before nodding my head. "Don't spoil him too much," I whispered to Cameron.

He smiled before taking Logan by the hand and walking off in the direction of the indoor arcade.

"I'm going to go back to the car, to take a nap. You two can hang out if you want," Mom said to Nathan and me.

We nodded before watching her walk off.

I took a bite of Logan's treat. Gavin took some too.

We walked around and surveyed the rides and people all around us.

Snow was falling heavier and kids were making snowmen.

"So, how are things with Cameron? I think one day you're fine, and then the next, you're at each other's throats. Trouble in paradise?" Gavin asked.

I put the empty plate in the trash before catching up to my brother.

"Everything is mixed. Like you said, one day we're good and then the next day we're arguing. I don't know, it feels strange having him home."

Gavin nodded.

"That morning, when he left, you walked inside the house after spending all night in the barn with him. I remember sitting on the tops of the stairs, listening to you cry. You were so afraid he'd never make it home alive, you gave me and mom the silent treatment for weeks, until I found you in the bathroom one afternoon. Your head was laid on the counter and tears were flowing as you just stared at that test. And you looked at me. You looked at me and said, 'I've really screwed up. He's not coming home, and I'm gonna be raising a baby with no support. Maybe I should just get rid of it.'"

I watched Gavin talk. He was so animated when it came to telling a story.

"But when Mom and I came with you to the first scan, you sobbed looking at that screen. And at the time, Logan wasn't any more than a blob with the strongest heartbeat. You kept repeating how you'd keep the baby, how you'd try to be the best mom possible. And then, you showed us how brave you really are. You were a scared seventeen year old who had plans of going to college when Cam left and then a kid happened. I say this all to say: give him a chance with Logan. He hasn't been there from the beginning like our parents and me."

I hugged him, letting tears go.

I could let someone else into our lives, no matter the outcome. Because, like Gavin said, I'm strong.