"Ella! Please listen to me.."
"Stop it... Save your bullshit and get the hell out of here." She sobbed harder.
"Cara, I'm begging you. Please let me exp-"
"Explain?! Let you explain" She screamed at him. "You should've explained everyth...
I reached home at 6:30 PM in the evening. I unlocked the main door and saw my brother sitting on couch in the living room with a beer in his hand. Waoh! He didn't even look up, he must really be thinking hard about meeting Damien's family. I put the house key in the bowl and my handbag beside the table. Moving ahead, I saw Gage playing on the floor with his Lego. He had one in his mouth with drool covering it.
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"Hey." I smiled at both of them.
While Cam just looked at me with a small smile, Gage broke out in a big toothless grin. I picked my son in my arms who had started crawling towards me and sat beside my brother. I made Gage sit sideways on my lap while supporting his back with my arm and keeping his head tucked at my bosom. I turned to my brother who was looking at my son with love. He playfully pinched Gage' thigh to which my son let out a squeal and kicked Camden's hands away.
"So?" I asked my brother. He just raised his eyebrows.
"Why are you not ready? The Camden I know would probably be ready and jumping to leave the house considering the occasion."
"Not feeling like it." He shrugged and chugged his drink.
I grabbed the bottle and kept it on table away from Camden.
"Seriously? We have to go for dinner with your boyfriend's family and you are getting drunk."
"It's just one beer."
"Don't think that I don't know when my brother is nervous. I can see the signs." I pointed towards his beer bottle. "Plus, you didn't sound as jolly to as you usually are when I arrive."
He sighed and laid his head on the couch. "I'm not sure that it is a good idea... to attend the dinner."
"Why?"
"I don't think it's right for us to meet them now."
"Because you want Damien to do this alone or because you don't want them to meet us?"
He sat straight and frowned at me. "What?
I licked my lips nervously and asked again – "Are you really worried about Damien coming out or embarrassed of telling them about us?"
I felt hurt thinking he does not want to introduce Gage and me. It's not a matter of introduction, it's a matter of explaining to them who is Gage's father. It's always been like this. Whoever came to know about the same, he or she either judged my choice of keeping Gage or pitied me. Camden was neither. Primarily, he and my dad abhorred my decision of keeping Gage. Dad later on got around my decision but Camden didn't. He couldn't stand my son when he was born. It took a very long time for him to finally acknowledge and adjust to the fact that Gage was home with me and wasn't going anywhere. But it was after my parent's death that he started loving my son. It was bound to happen sometime considering Gage was the only member of our family who stayed with Camden while I was worked after his accident. And let's face it who couldn't fall in love with my adorable son. The other people kept changing such as Camden's friends, my friends, our relatives and later on Damien. It feels like he is not ready to go through the 'Who is Gage's father' conversation again. It only opens the door to his anger and my misery. Recalling old but bad times of our life in front of your brother's lover's family does not look like a good idea to me, so how could it look good to Camden. I can definitely understand why he does not want to –
"Fuck! Stop it." Camden yelled at me stopping my train of thoughts and starling Gage. Seeing his uncle's outburst, my son pushed himself further into my chest for protection and I calmed him by tightening my grip on his little body and rubbing his back.
"Shit, I'm sorry to lose it like that." Camden said while getting onto his knees in front of me. Palming my cheeks, he looked at me with utmost love and regret.
"It's not what you think, Ella. I will always love you and Gage. I treat him like my own son and it will be like that. Always. Yes, I was a fool back then but trust me that is not the issue now."
I let out the breath and visibly relaxed, slumping my shoulders. "Thank you, Camy. It means a lot. I cannot lose you. You are the only I got."
He playfully scowled. "You mean besides Gage, Kennedy, Levi and many more. You are not alone sister."
I let out a laugh. "Got it, I'm not alone." I pulled him back on the couch by holding his wrist.
"So, what's the matter?"
"You know I have met Damien's father once right?" When I nodded he continued. "He is not an easy person. Back then I met him as Damien's colleague and he was outright rude to me. Damien says that he does not know about us being gay but I have this feeling that he knows. Either way, he hated me then and I can only wonder what he will do to me now."
"Nothing, he will do nothing. You met him once, when he probably was upset and angry on something. He will be good now. He is Damien's father for god sake, the only thing he will be is funny and friendly!" I exclaimed.
He snorted. "Don't you remember how Damien talks about him and how much time he spent here in our house?"
"Damien spends his time here because he loves you and my cooking."
"Oh please, he spends his time here to spend his time away from his home. I'm telling you Ella, I don't have a good feeling about this."
I did not want to agree to the points my brother just quoted but it is important to join DeLucas for dinner. It now or never.
"Don't go to dinner to meet his father, go to support your lover."
Camden thought about what I said and finally nodded. He looked at Gage, who is playing with the button of my blouse and said - "I cannot believe your mother has become so intelligent, buddy."
Gage giggled listening to his uncle's sweet and funny voice again. I dramatically gasped. "You traitor." I playfully narrowed my eyes and pointed my finger towards Gage who just laughed harder.
"All right, I'll go upstairs and get Gage and myself ready. See you at 7:30 pm." I stood up with my son in my arms and patted my brother's knee. "Move it."
With that, we got ready, came down and left for dinner. Time to finally meet the DeLucas.
