Hide and Spy- Gallagher Girls FanFic

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Once everyone had gone to bed Zach and I had put all the presents that we had bought in a neat pile on the coffee table before going to bed ourselves.

Late in the night I pushed the covers back and slipped out of bed, it was christmas eve and, as always, I couldn’t sleep.

“What are you doing up?” I asked mom as I found her drinking a glass of juice in the kitchenette.

“Getting some painkillers,” She explained, “What about you?”

“It’s christmas eve,” I shrugged, “I can’t sleep,”

“Waiting to hear Santa come?” She teased, “I’m sorry but it looks like you missed him,” 

I laughed at her joke and helped myself to some juice.

“I assume Zach’s in your room?” She asked.

“We share a bed these days,” I admitted, “It’s cheaper than a double room,”

Mom laughed and shook her head, “He’s a good guy,” She nodded, “And I probably owe him a lot,”

“Yeah,” I smiled and thought back to how many times Zach had saved me.

“Cam,” Mom sighed and looked in to her glass, “Your last year at school,” She frowned, “I wasn’t a very good mother,”

I automatically began to protest, insisting she was a brilliant mother,

“Please, love, listen,” She insisted, “I wasn’t a good mother that year, I acted too much like a headmistress to you and not enough like a mother,”

“Mom,” I sighed, “You were trying to manage the mission, I know that comes before a family tie,”

“You were lying, possibly,” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words, “You’d been shot and I was too wrapped up in it all to admit that we’d been following you!” She wiped the tears from her eyes, “I hate myself for that Cammie,”

“Mom,” I put my glass down and hugged her, I didn’t know what to say, it was pointless arguing with her, so we just hugged each other tightly.

“I promise,” mom kissed my hair, “After we’ve finished all this, I will be more of a mother to you,”

“I love you, mom,” I sniffed and pulled away, walking over to the coffee table, “No matter what you act like,” I held out her gift from Zach and I.

She took the box and carefully pulled back the paper, revealing the small red box. she lifted out the small charm and held it up to read the three simple words on the heart, “Vivre. Amour. Rire.” 

“Live, love, laugh.” I automatically translated, “It seemed right,” I told her, “It’s where you and dad got engaged and I just want you to enjoy yourself,”

“It’s lovely,” Mom smiled to me, “Thank you,”

“It’s nothing,” I insisted, “Come on,” I got up, “Let’s go to bed,”

Edward

“Are you asleep?” Abby whispered to me as we lay in bed on christmas eve.

“No,” I chucked, “Your cold toes were keeping me awake.”

“Sorry,” Abby giggled and rolled over to face me, “Can you warm up my cold hands too?”