Chapter Fifteen
Aralyn sat cuddled with Cam on his sofa, staring blankly at the tv screen.
“Okay, you have no interest whatsoever in the Incredible Hulk, but you could at least try to hide it,” he teased.
“Hmm?” she looked up at him, her blues eyes troubled.
“What’s wrong, Goddess?” he asked, frowning.
Aralyn shook her head. “I’m sorry, Cam, I’m just distracted.”
“I noticed. You want to tell me about it?”
Aralyn bit her lip. She did. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone, not even Dean.”
His brows knitted together. “Of course.”
“Tiffany and I had a huge fight. Well, huge for us.”
Cam raised one eyebrow. “Since when do you two fight?”
“Since she’s seeing a married man!” she blurted out.
Cam’s bright blue eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Aralyn nodded. “I knew she was crushing on someone, but she wouldn’t say, and then I realized the only reason she wouldn’t is if there was a reason she couldn’t. Which led me to he’s married, and she hasn’t denied it.”
“Wow,” Cam sat back against the sofa. “What possessed her to get involved with a married man?”
“I don’t know,” she fretted. “We’ve always held a low opinion of home wreckers, but for her to become one…”
Cam hugged her tightly.
“She snapped at me today too, at half time, and then again after the game when I pushed too hard,” Aralyn sighed. “She wouldn’t join us tonight because she’s mad at me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “Tiff is such a smart girl, I’m trying to wrap my brain around this and why she would do it.”
“I hope she doesn’t sleep with him,” Aralyn whispered. “You’re my only real boyfriend but Tiffany’s never had one. Other than Dean kissing her in the fourth grade during Spin the Bottle, I don’t think she’s ever kissed a boy. She’s had fewer dates than I have.”
“She’s vulnerable,” Cam mused. “Sounds like this either this guy is some young loser, or an older perv dallying with a high school girl.”
Aralyn shuddered. “She is eighteen but I can’t believe the first man she’d get involved with would be married.”
“Well, in all fairness, we don’t know the situation. How they met, what sort of circumstance there may be—”
“Cam, he’s married! I don’t care what the circumstances may be!”
“Shh,” he soothed her. “I’m not siding with her, I’m just pointing out, she likely got sucked into some web of lies. Tiffany is a smart girl, but I know she’s lonely. You try to balance your time with her and with me, but it’s got to leave her feeling alone sometimes. She’s a sensitive girl and it might be easier than you think for someone to come along and take advantage of her.”
“I want to know who it is,” Aralyn said, angry. “So I can track him down and kick his ass!”
Cam half smiled. “That won’t help anything. But I’m pretty good with investigations, I’ll see if I can’t turn something up.”
“Thank you,” Aralyn smiled at him. Surely Cam could find out who Tiffany was seeing.
***
“Are you sure about this?” Cam asked doubtfully.
“Yes,” Aralyn laughed. “You may not be good enough to play hockey with us but it’s not scary, I promise. I’ll hold your hand.”
Cam maneuvered his Jeep through the rough hewn path that led to the lake at Frayne Academy. Jim Frayne had widened a path for cars to be able to come closer, for convenience without destroying the natural beauty.
Now it was covered in snow, but had been plowed and recently driven on. Cam didn’t dare take his eyes off the road to admire the snow-laden preserve and trees.
Finally he rolled up as far as the path would let him, and parked. They were bundled heavily but Aralyn had insisted she teach him to ice skate in his shoes. Cam was eager however, to see her on the ice. For her claims of clumsiness, on the hockey field she was fast and graceful, and he had no doubt that translated to the ice. The Clan had their annual ice hockey game coming up, and Aralyn wanted Cam to try skating.
He grabbed her bag with her skates and they left the Jeep. Taking her hand, he followed her down the narrow path, where he could glimpse the frosty white lake through the trees.
“You sure the ice is safe?” he asked doubtfully.
“Of course. Jim had it tested last week and again yesterday. He gets it tested every week through winter to make sure it’s safe for the boys and any of us who come over,” she explained.
Cam wasn’t looking forward to sliding around on the ice and falling. But he wouldn’t say no to her, especially when he could see this was something important for her.
Someone had been here recently; he could see the footsteps and broken trail through the snow. He followed her out on to the dock, which had been cleared recently as well. She set a mat down on the edge, sat on it, and started untying her boots. When it started snowing she had traded in her cowboy boots for hiking boots, but now she slid them off and pulled out her skates.
They were blue and silver he noted, their school’s colors. She had explained these were her figure skates, as opposed to her hockey skates. These had something she called toepicks.
It took her only a couple minutes to lace her skates, and she flexed her feet a minute, before swinging her legs over the dock, and gracefully landed on her feet. Smiling at him, she began to move backwards, then turned and skated a few feet away.
“C’mon,” she called.
He looked at her doubtfully, studying the ice and made his way to the edge of the docks. It looked easy when she did it. She took off suddenly, racing out on the lake. He watched as she sped around, turned, skated backwards, and then flung herself into the air and spun around, landing shakily on one foot, and skated back to him.
“I’m out of practice,” she called.
“That was beautiful,” he answered, smiling at her. She laughed and came closer, holding out her hand.
v“You’re biased. Tiffany is way better at the jumps and spins. C’mon, I’ll show. Did you ever roller skate as a kid?”
“Nope,” he answered. He didn’t want to tell her he could barely manage riding a bike until he was eleven.
“You might fall,” she admitted. “But just watch my legs and do the same.”
Cam had no problem watching her legs. He loved to watch her long legs.
He stepped onto the ice gingerly, tensing as soon as he felt he had no traction or control. Aralyn held out her hand and moved next to him.
“Look at my feet,” she instructed. “Since I have skates on, the angles are a bit different, but follow my lead. Push off with your leg, forward, like so.” She demonstrated it gently and then smiled at her boyfriend. “And relax. If you’re so tense, you’re going to fall faster.”
“Great,” he muttered. He imitated her move but overcompensated and plunged forward. Aralyn moved to catch him but he hit the ice faster.
“All right?” she asked, kneeling next to him.
“Yeah,” he grunted, getting up. She helped him stand and then leaned into kiss him.
“I’ve been skating since I was six. It’s going to take some time.”
Cam nodded, brushing the ice dust off of him.
The second time he caught himself before he fell, the third time he moved forward.
“See? You’re getting it!” she grinned at him. He wished he could see her eyes but they both wore dark glasses to prevent snowblindness.
Twenty minutes later, Cam was sore and bordering on cranky, but he was staying upright. Aralyn was skating backwards, holding him by the hands. She had tried to teach him to go backwards but he was too distracted by the motion of her hips to pick up the instruction. Her skates lifted her up a couple of inches and it was even easier to kiss her when she had them on.
“How long did it take you learn jumps and things?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I think I was about eight when we started doing them. I don’t really remember. Mom and Honey taught us though; they once did an ice skating presentation at a charity fundraiser. Mart and Dan are pretty good at skating too.”
“Your dad?” Cam asked. Aralyn threw back her golden head and laughed.
“Not much better than you. He prefers his feet on solid ground.”
Cam felt a little better.
“Think you want to do it by yourself?” she asked. Had he seen her eyes, he never would have agreed. But all he saw her was pretty smile, and not the mischief in it.
She let go as they came into one of the curves, and Cam’s brain froze. He couldn’t remember which leg to move and before he knew it, he was hurtling into a snow bank.
“Cam!” Aralyn raced to his side. “Cam, are you all right?”
“I think so,” he grunted, sitting up. He blinked a couple times and forced a smile.
“I’m sorry! I thought you had it!”
“It’s okay,” he sighed. Now he was soaking wet from the snow, on top of being cold and sore.
“Maybe that’s enough for today,” she bit her lip. “Let’s go up to the lake house, we can dry off there.”
She helped him to his feet. “It’s on the other side of the lake though.”
Cam didn’t relish the thought of tramping through more snow to circle the lake but the ice didn’t thrill him either. He opted for the ice and they slowly made their way to the docks, where Cam grabbed her bag.
They reached the edge and she realized she hadn’t put her boots back on. With a mischievous smile, he scooped her up in his arms.
“Cam! Put me down!” she shrieked.
Cam laughed as he carried her up to the lake house.
She knew the security code to unlock the door and they were inside quickly. Jim had updated the lake house over the years, with a gas fire, security system and kept it stocked with food. Cam shut the door with his foot and looked for somewhere to set her down.
Aralyn wrapped her arms around Cam’s neck and kissed him gently. He tightened his hold on her for a moment before setting her on the chair, and removing her sunglasses. Her eyes were wide, looking up at him, as he removed his own glasses. Cam’s breath caught in his throat, as he realized they were alone in a private space that wasn’t his Jeep.
“Fire?” he managed to ask. She pointed to the switch near the fireplace. He flipped it on and the flames leapt into action. Heat immediately came and he stood in front of it as she undid her skates and set them aside. Another feature Jim had had installed in recent years.
Quickly, she unlaced her skates and had them off so she that she stood on the carpeted floor in her socks. She came near him, frowning. “Cam, you’re soaked through.”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “It’ll dry though.”
“Denim takes forever. I should have told you not to wear jeans.”
“It’s okay,” he assured her.
Aralyn bit her lip, and then looked up at him. “If you take them off, they’ll dry faster.”
Cam’s dark eyebrows shot up as he realized she was blushing. He knew she was right but …
“I’ll, um, not look. There are blankets, I’ll get you one.” She practically bolted from the room and Cam exhaled slowly.
She had a point. He unzipped his jeans and removed them, laying them in front of the fire.
She returned a moment later with several blankets, her eyes averted. There were bean bags and chairs scattered around, and a sofa, which Cam opted for, but she stopped him.
“Jim hasn’t gotten to replacing that old thing. It’s really uncomfortable. The bean bags are way better.”
He nodded and chose one of the large ones, settling on it and covering himself with the blanket. He watched as she removed her ski jacket, and insulated vest under it, revealing the blue turtleneck before pulling another bean bag over next to him.
“Thank you for the lesson, Goddess,” he said. “Sorry I’m not such a good student.”
She smiled as she sat close to him. “Don’t worry. You’ll get it. It took Dean months to even stay upright when we were kids.”
Cam laughed, trying not to notice the way the firelight danced off her disheveled golden hair, or how lovely her lips looked right then.
They sat in silence before she scooted a bit closer to share his beanbag and he wrapped his arms around her.
“This is nice,” he said quietly. She murmured an affirmative, resting her head against his broad chest after taking her ponytail down. His fingers played with her hair as he tried not to think about the situation.
It was taken out of his hands when she sat up suddenly and kissed him, sending a shock through his body at the difference from her usual kiss. He tightened his hold on her, pulling her to him, as her hand ran through his thick hair. Lips parted, the air was charged, and Cam knew they were on dangerous ground.
They pulled apart for only a moment and stared into each other’s eyes, both drowning. Aralyn’s fingertips touched his jaw lightly, and she pressed her lips against his.
Without thinking, Cam slid his hands around her back, under her shirt, to feel her warm, soft skin. Her intake of breathe made him stop but she intensified the kiss and he pulled it off over her head as they broke the kiss only for seconds.
Aralyn bit her lip at his hesitation, misreading his expression. When he drew her closer, she melted against him. Gently, he laid her on her back, his hand touching her lace bra lightly. His eyes met hers and he kissed her tenderly, until she pulled him into a deeper kiss.
Cam kissed her slowly, reveling in the sweetness of her skin, and dazed by what was happening. Cam longed to fully explore her body.
“I don’t want to rush this,” he murmured.
“You’re not. I’m ready,” she replied nervously. His eyes met hers for a long moment and he smiled, before kissing her again, his muscled body lying against hers. His hand caressed her shoulder, and then moved under her back to remove her bra, when he swore uncharacteristically and pulled away.
“Cam, what’s wrong? I can unhook it,” she said quickly.
He shook his head. “We can’t do this.”
Aralyn gaped at him. “You’re turning me down? Now?”
He put his finger on her lips. “I don’t have a condom. And unless you take birth control and neglected to tell me, we have a problem.”
“Oh.” Her spirits dropped. “No, I don’t.”
He touched her face. “I want this more than anything, Aralyn, but we can’t risk it.”
She nodded. “I know.” She pressed her lips together than smiled, still unaware how that made him crazy with desire. “We can still…explore a bit?”
“Yeah,” he breathed, kissing her again as he eased her onto her back.
A blast of cold air hit him and then a deep male voice said, “Well, they’re not poachers Jim, but they are legal age, so I guess we can’t stop them.”
Cam and Aralyn sat up as she gasped. Cam paled when he saw the two redheaded men in the doorway, dressed in heavy clothes.
“I don’t know Regan, I think this might qualify as indecent exposure.”
Cam realized Aralyn was wearing only her bra on top and snatched the blanket to cover her, trying to shield her with his body.
Jim Frayne closed the door behind them. “Are we interrupting anything?” he asked pleasantly.
Cam swallowed, hoping they hadn’t realized he wasn’t wearing his pants. Aralyn bit her lip.
“One of the boys saw some people down here and came to get us,” Regan said. He rested the barrel of his shotgun against his shoulder casually.
“It’s not what you think,” Cam said quickly.
Regan chuckled. “Fella, when a boy your age says, ‘it’s not what you think’, it usually is what I think.”
Aralyn shook her head.
“We were just skating,” Aralyn blurted out. “Cam fell because he’s a beginner, and his clothes wet, so we came up here to dry out.” She pointed to the fireplace, where his pants were.
Cam groaned inwardly. Not only were his pants there, but her jacket and vest were draped over a chair, and her turtleneck was tossed on the floor nearby.
“So it seems,” Regan said mildly, his green eyes twinkling.
“I thought it would be better to warm up here than try to drive home cold and wet,” Aralyn said defensively. “And we were just being comfortable.”
“Shh,” Cam muttered. The older men were amused, and she was digging them in deeper.
“And we’re eighteen anyway!” she said crossly.
Regan was trying not to laugh, Jim was better at appearing stern, but Cam couldn’t gauge the older man’s thoughts. He was just thankful it wasn’t Bo Duke who had found them. He might survive this.
“The lake house isn’t a make out cabin,” Jim replied sternly. “You should have called ahead to tell me you’d be out on the lake.”
“Relax, Jim,” Regan said. “They’re certainly not the first kids I’ve caught up here and they won’t be the last.”
They exchanged a glance and Cam wondered how many times Regan had caught Jim up here with a girl.
“Are you going to tell my Dad?” Aralyn asked anxiously.
Jim pretended to think about it but Regan snorted.
“Are you kidding? You think I want to be the one to tell Bo Duke the apple of his eye is off having sex at the lake?”
“I’m not!” she protested.
“We’re not!” Cam was just as quick.
“Well, then we interrupted what apparently is the first time,” Regan’s eyes were twinkling, the older man clearly enjoying his young cousin’s mortification.
“There are a washer and dryer in the utility room we put in this summer,” Jim said. “Too many towels to keep up with.”
Aralyn blushed. It hadn’t occurred to her to check.
“Why don’t you make good use of it?” Jim suggested. “And then you two better get home.”
Aralyn and Cam nodded. The men left, with the promise to be back in fifteen minutes to check on them.
“Oh God,” Aralyn sank into Cam’s arms. “That was scary.”
“Scary?” Cam demanded. “I’m just glad it wasn’t your dad! He’d kill me!”
Aralyn giggled. Her blue eyes turned to him. “I’m glad we decided to you know, wait a bit,” she admitted.
He nodded. “Me too. Soon, I promise. Just…not where someone can interrupt us.”
With a smile, she leaned over and kissed him gently. “We better get your pants dry.”
***
What are you getting Cam for Christmas? The note read. Aralyn glanced at her cousin and shrugged. Things had been strained between the two of them but both were unhappy with the distance and trying to bridge it.
Tapping her pen again her thumb, Aralyn’s eyes wandered outside to the snow covered walkway. Christmas was two weeks away and she had no idea what to get him. Tiffany had been teasing her about lingerie and wrapping herself up and Aralyn was starting to consider it. After the lake house, they were interrupted by one his sisters calling about a problem with the wireless network. So far, they hadn’t progressed.
Aralyn sighed. Her body wanted Cam. She wanted to feel all the romance novel descriptions, and she knew there was now any number of girls in school who would gladly sleep with him.
“If he was my boyfriend, I’d be ripping his shirt off,” Tiffany said at lunch that afternoon. Her thoughts were on Tony, and what they had done a couple of nights before.
Aralyn snorted at the unTiffany-like comment, almost choking on her soda. Tiffany whacked her on the back.
“I have trouble seeing you as a sex fiend,” Aralyn commented without thinking. This was the most Tiffany had said at one time to her for several days.
Tiffany tried not to take offense at that. Aralyn didn’t know about Tony, she reminded herself. She had to play the vestal virgin. “Are you kidding? I’m even starting to think about—”
“Did I hear someone say sex fiend?” Dean joined them, setting his tray on the table and dropping his backpack to the floor.
Aralyn burst into laughter. Tiffany just shook her head and Dean sat next to her.
*
**
As they headed for the car after school, Aralyn ran down a list of possible gifts for Cam. Aralyn had hesitantly asked her cousin to go shopping with her, and Tiffany happily accepted. They rarely fought, though they often disagreed, and neither liked the huge gulf that had developed between them since their argument the week before.
“That’s what you get for waiting till the last minute,” Tiffany griped. “Hey, who’s that?”
The cousins paused, staring at the young man next to their SUV. He wore fatigues, a duffel bag at his feet.
“Oh my God,” Tiffany whispered.
“Tim!” They yelled, breaking into a run.
Their cousin strode towards them confidently and the girls almost tackled him to the ground as they threw themselves at him. Tim laughed as he hugged his cousins tightly, together, then each, then together again.
“What are you doing here?”
“How’d you get here?”
“Does Daisy know?”
Tim held up his hands. “Hang on there, girls. I’m back a little early. I took a cab over here from the airport.”
“We would have come and gotten you!” Tiffany protested.
Tim grinned. “I know, but the look on your faces was priceless.”
“How’d you get onto the grounds?” Aralyn demanded.
“Uniforms grant you all sorts of access,” Tim kept grinning. “Old Kirby remembered me. He also remembered I sabotaged his cart so he couldn’t chase me and Dean when he busted us toilet papering the auditorium. He was feeling generous today since I’m in uniform.”
“You look great,” Tiffany beamed. “Better than your pictures!”
“No wonder you’re getting laid all the time,” Aralyn commented.
Tim laughed and Tiffany rolled her eyes. She hadn’t believed her cousin’s allusions, but now she had a feeling he wasn’t lying. Though admittedly, it wasn’t hard to believe the oldest child of Dan Mangan and Daisy Duke would be a skirt chaser. With his intense green eyes from Daisy, dark hair and solid, muscular build, and chiseled features, she knew Callie West would have loved to sink her claws into him.
“We should take you to Daisy’s,” Tiffany said. “She’s going to flip. She’s not expecting you until the weekend!”
“Yeah, you know, I kinda wanted to hang out with you two a bit first,” Tim said quickly. “Like old times.”
The girls realized Tim wasn’t ready to face Dan yet.
“As long as you don’t mind being hauled to the mall and forced to carry our purchases,” Aralyn said with a wicked grin. Tim winced.
“Small price to pay to be seen in the company of such beautiful women,” he sighed. The he gave them a fond smile. “You two are gorgeous. The pictures you’ve sent didn’t do you justice. Who’d’ve thought it, eh?”
Aralyn smacked his arm. “You were the goofy looking kid. Tiffany was the scrawny one, I was the chubby one. But you were just goofy looking.”*
“Good thing we grew up then, hmm?” Tim teased. “C’mon, let’s hit that mall. Get my torture over with.”
***
“If you’re seriously thinking about dating Dean, why don’t you get him some lingerie?” Aralyn teased. They were winding their way into the crowded mall. Aralyn was trying not to bring up the married man in front of Tim, and Tiffany was obviously doing the same. Aralyn wanted their old ease back.
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “I said nothing about dating him.”
Aralyn turned to her cousin, eyes wide. “You would just sleep with him?”
Tiffany sighed. “No dopey, I just seem to be drooling over every man that crosses my path, and I think I’m so desperate Dean is starting to look good.”
“What?” Tim walked between them. “You want to date Dean? Or sleep with him? What?”
“No!’ Tiffany said quickly. “He’s been pursuing me for years and I’m not as lucky as the blonde,” she stuck her tongue out at Aralyn. What was one more lie? She thought. These days she was lying to everyone about her whereabouts and activities.
“Dean is a cutie, give him a chance,” Aralyn grinned as they drifted through the noisy mall. Christmas music blared from every store, the old classics jazzed up, reggaed out, R&B crooned and even flavored with heavy metal. “He’s young, nice looking, available,” she added casually, earning a dark glance from her cousin.
“He talks too much,” Tiffany replied.
“Gag him. I bet he’d be into bondage,” Aralyn grinned, ducking as her cousin swatted her arm. Tim started to comment and thought better of it.
“Hang on, ladies, I gotta hit the head.”
It took them a minute to realize he meant the bathroom, so they waited near the elevator.
“I bet I’ll be the oldest living virgin,” Tiffany sighed. She really wanted to talk about sex with Aralyn, but if her cousin found out, there’d be Hell to pay.
“Aw, cheer up. You know you could have any guy in school. You know, single ones.”
“Don’t go there,” Tiffany said sharply.
“I’m just saying,” Aralyn replied. Neither girl looked at the other.
“I don’t want any guy in school, though,” Tiffany sighed. “I want someone like…I don’t know. Kinda like Dad and Bo and Dan put together. Adventurous, and handsome, and clever.”
“I think we’re related to everyone who meets that description,” Aralyn giggled, stepping around some small children that stopped to stare at the Disney store display. “Isn’t Mr. Married adventurous?”
“Shh!” Tiffany hissed. There was an awkward pause. “I just think I like older men. I was noticing, you promise not to tell?”
“Of course,” Aralyn was annoyed her cousins had to ask.
“I was noticing how attractive Regan still is.” That was not a lie.
“Regan?” Aralyn squeaked, clamping one hand over her mouth.
“Yeah, you know he’s tall, broad shouldered, in good shape, and he’s usually so good natured. I saw him get mad at one of the boys from the school though, and I thought he looked really sexy,” she admitted in a whisper, “when he got all red and feisty and put his hands on his hips!”
Aralyn giggled. “He’s almost the same age as your dad!”
“I know. And Dad and Grandpa would both have a fit, but you know, Regan never married, he’s always doted on all of us and Jim’s students…” Tiffany sidestepped a woman who had stopped walking and was bawling out her son.
“Yeah and he’s family! Our Great-Uncle!”
“Not by blood.”
“Haven’t you noticed Regan doesn’t date? Plus, he probably knows Luke and Matt would kill him!”
“Well, I think he still sees me as one of the kids, so it’s kind of pointless,” Tiffany sighed. “But I want a guy like that.”
Aralyn grinned, “Well, let’s see. Technically Jim is only your uncle by adoption, and Daisy your second cousin so there’s no blood tie directly to Regan but still...”
Tim rejoined them. “What about Regan? And Jim?”
Tiffany smacked her cousin in the shoulder as they walked from the elevator, decked out in Christmas lights. “He’s still married to our cousin. Jim, I mean.”
“They really never seemed happy, did you notice that?” Aralyn stopped to study a window display.
“Yeah. I don’t think Jim ever got over your mom,” Tim replied as they wandered into the store. “Besides, Hallie can be pretty repulsive when she’s nipping the bottle and starts spewing profanities at everyone.”
The cousins agreed. Hallie Frayne was barely tolerable sober, and when drunk, which was most family occasions, she was completely intolerable.
Aralyn turned to look at a rack of silk blouses. She picked up a red one and turned to the other two, both of whom shook their head. Wrong red, she decided. She reached for a pretty gold but Tim made a gagging noise. Rolling her eyes, she looked at Tiffany, to see what her cousin had found. Her cousin was inspecting a rack of slinky cocktails dresses. Tim raised one eyebrow.
“I think Hallie knows it too, about Jim, I mean. She always seems to be glaring at Bo and Trixie,” Tiffany commented.
“Hallie’s a gorgeous bitch who married the wrong guy for the wrong reason,” Tim answered, selecting a black dress with shimmery red inlaid panels and holding it up to Aralyn.
“Too lowcut,” she told him.
“Show ‘em off, cousin,” Tim grinned. Aralyn rolled her eyes. “Your boy will thank you for it.”
After purchasing several items, both for cousins and themselves, they headed for the packed Starbucks across the way.
While munching on decadent pumpkin cheesecake and lattes, the girls discussed their present hunt with Tim.
“I mean, I can probably figure out what cds or dvds he would like. He has such a nice chest, I could buy him a sweater to show it off,” Aralyn suggest.
Tim looked at her as if she had two heads. “You give him a sweater, it’s like, the kiss of death of the relationship.”
Aralyn laughed. “How do you know?”
“I’m a guy,” Tim replied, taking a sip of his black coffee. “Same age as Cam.”
“Happy belated birthday,” the girls chimed.
“Thanks,” he smiled. “I got your cards. Loved the toilet-smelly one the twins sent.”
Aralyn grimaced. “They think they’re hysterical.”
“At fourteen, I probably would have too,” Tim agreed. “Now, back to your present hunt for Mr. Perfect.”
Aralyn blushed. “He’s not perfect.”
“Close enough,” Tiffany commented, sipping her latte.
Tim grinned. “He’s got to be a decent fellow if Dean is friends with him.”
“You uh, going to contact Dean while you’re here?” Tiffany asked.
The smile faded and Tim shrugged, looking past them. “I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe it’s best to let old wounds be. I sure do owe him an apology though.”
“It doesn’t have to be right now,” Aralyn said quickly. “He obviously doesn’t hold a grudge against us.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just…I made a lot of mistakes. And I owe a lot of apologies. Dean’s is pretty high up there. All he did was try to help me.”
“Dean’s always been a good friend to us,” Aralyn said. “I think he understands.”
“I’ll think about calling him,” Tim said, his tone suggesting the topic was closed. They returned to the discussion of the perfect present for Cam, but Tim’s mind wandered. He owed a pretty big apology to Bo Duke as well.
His gang involvement had brief, thanks to Dan’s interference. Had Dan not taken action, Tim knew he would be a lot worse off today. He had known better to get involved with them, but he had done it anyway, determined to be the rebel of the Clan. The sweet, adventuresome boy that had joined Tiffany and Aralyn on some of their childhood exploits became a moody and sullen teenager, talking back to his parents, and insulting his once favorite cousins. Hanging out with a rough crowd was bad enough, but when it advanced to gang status, Dan hit the roof. A former gang member himself, he hadn’t hid it from his kids, but tried to use it as tool to make them see what horrible choice it was.
Dan had been angry enough to find joints in Tim’s jacket, but then Dan caught Tim and his friends with LSD laced weed, and that was the final straw. One of the kids hadn’t wanted to smoke it, and didn’t like the effect it was having on Tim. He had called Dean for help, who called Dan to break up the ‘party’. Higher than a kite, Tim had attacked his cousin Bo viciously, and Dan had tasered his own son into submission. After that, they were all arrested, and Dan had shipped him off to military school. Tim hadn’t been home since, and hadn’t seen his father since the day Dan delivered him to the Naval Academy. He sent occasional emails to his cousins, mother and siblings, but he wasn’t good at correspondence. None had seen him except Daisy, Dana and Jesse, when they occasionally visited his school. Up until now, he had preferred it that way, isolating himself from his family.
Dan had never forgiven himself for failing his son, despite the family’s rallying to convince him other wise. Tim was rarely mentioned in the family, but Dana admitted she often caught her father looking wistfully at family photographs.
Tim knew this would be an emotional trip home, and he had a lot to work out in his own mind.
“So how’s school?” Tiffany asked, tactfully changing the subject.
“I’ve got top honors in class,” he said proudly. “I won’t make Valedictorian but I’m in the top three percent or something like that.”
“Oh, Tim, that’s wonderful!” Aralyn said, eyes shining. “I’ll be lucky to graduate at all!”
“Not if that boyfriend of your keeps tutoring you,” he smiled at his cousin. “Providing its real tutoring, though my sister seems to think otherwise.”
Aralyn blushed as her cousins laughed. It was so good to have Tim back. “Yes, I assure you, my grades have improved,” she said dryly.
“How long are you here, Tim?” Tiffany asked.
“I don’t go back to school until the fifth of January. Providing Dad doesn’t throw me out.”
“He won’t,” the girls answered together. There was a momentary silence, but Tim knew if he could count on anyone, it was these two.
“I know I screwed up. I hated him for a while,” Tim confessed, sipping his coffee. “I was so mad he sent me away. I know now it was the best thing he could have done for me, but for awhile there … I was mad at Mom for letting him send me away.”
“It hurt both your parents,” Tiffany said gently, playing with her cheesecake. “It hurt us all. But Dan didn’t know what else to do.”
“I know,” Tim sighed, running his hand over his shorn hair, “and I’m really hoping Dad can see I’ve changed. I haven’t messed with any of that stuff since I got out there. Let me tell you, basic training is a real eye opener.”
“I think Dan will be thrilled,” Aralyn said firmly. She had overheard Bo worrying to Trixie that he wasn’t sure Dan was ready. There were so many raw emotions it was likely to explode on them all, but they had to try.
“Well, I’ve got about three weeks, we’ll see.”
“Do you want to stay with us until you can see your parents?” Aralyn asked.
Tim laughed. “With those terrors you have for brothers? Hell, no.”
“We have an extra room,” Tiffany offered.
Tim shook his head. “It’s tempting but no thanks. I was thinking of arriving tonight. If Dad has a fit, I’ll just go to a hotel.”
“No. If Dan has a fit, you come to our place. We’re right around the corner, you know.” Aralyn insisted. “But I don’t think he will.”
“I’ve forgiven him,” Tim sighed, “and myself. I just hope he’ll forgive me.”
“He needs to forgive himself, Timmy,” Tiffany said quietly. “I hear your mom talking to mine. Dan thinks he failed you because he didn’t keep you out of that gang, and he thinks he failed his father twice over, once for him, once for you.”
“God, you are Honey’s daughter,” Aralyn giggled. “She means that Dan’s just blaming himself for everything.”
Tim smiled sadly. “I know. And I know Jesse’s worked double hard to make up for my screw ups. That can’t be easy.”
“Jesse’s a good boy,” Aralyn said firmly, “and yes, Dan is very proud of him. But he’ll be proud of you too, he just needs a chance.”
***
Cam and Dean were hurrying through the mall when Dean grabbed Cam’s arm.
“Look,” he pointed across the way.
Outside the restaurant were Aralyn and Tiffany, talking with a tall, good looking young man in fatigues. The young man’s arm was draped over Aralyn’s shoulder and he was glowing happily. Even Tiffany looked excited.
Cam felt a lump in his throat. Was this why Aralyn had pulled away every time he tried to advance their physical relationship until just recently? Was she seeing someone else, this guy? Some military dude?
“I’m sure it’s not what you think,” Dean said quickly. “In fact, he looks really familiar—”
“Let’s find out,” Cam said coolly, changing direction.
“Just come home with me,” Aralyn said as they approached. “Mom and Dad would love to see you!”
Cam felt his heart plummet into her toes. Her parents knew about this guy?
“Cam, wait, I know who—” Dean started to speak but Cam cut him off.
“Aralyn,” her name came out harsher than he meant but it had the right effect.
Aralyn turned, startled, and then broke into a grin. “Cam!” Throwing herself into his arms, she kissed him soundly. “Come meet my cousin!”
Cousin? Cam felt his cheeks grow red and Dean snickered. Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Tim?” Dean asked in amazement.
Aralyn and Tiffany watched their cousin anxiously.
“Long time no see, old buddy,” Tim smiled warmly and held out his hand to a stunned Dean. They did the one armed guy hug, Dean still in shock. Cam didn’t like feeling so out of the loop. Of course Dean would know Tim; he’d known the girls since they were kids. Something told him there was more going on than he knew though. Dean had never said much about Tim.
“You look good, Dean,” Tim smiled. “Finally not so scrawny.”
“Look at you, Mr. Military!” Dean laughed.
“Tim, this is Cam, my boyfriend,” Aralyn dragged him forward.
Tim’s green eyes twinkled in amusement as he realized what Cam had been thinking.
“Don’t worry about it, we’re not into incest. I’m just home for a couple weeks. I may be back in the summer after graduation.”
Tim appraised both boys with their handshake. Good guys, he thought, noting the way Dean’s eyes lingered on Tiffany, but there was no response of interest. Dean had grown into a decent young man, he knew that from Tiffany’s letters, and Tim regretted the falling out he and Dean had had years ago. Dean had tried to keep him out of the gang, and Tim had rejected his best friend in favor of the drugs. Tim was the reason Dean’s nose was just a tad crooked from where he broke it during their last fight, the last time they had seen each other, when Tim had been pumped up on something one of his ‘friends’ gave him.
Aralyn however, Tim thought, was completely smitten with her boyfriend, arms wrapped around him, golden head resting against his shoulder. The feelings were returned; Cam had both arms around her and was holding her tight. Tim had heard about Cam from his sister Dana, and was glad his cousin had found someone to be so taken with. He sounded like a pretty upstanding guy. And Tim trusted Dean’s judgment. His former best friend was a good guy, who had done everything he could to keep Tim out of trouble.
After a few more minutes of chitchat, and an embrace between Cam and Aralyn, the Duke cousins headed out.
The trio paused at the children’s store.
“Mom wanted me to get a new picture book for Sean,” Aralyn said. “Something he’s become fascinated with—Monkeynerd.”
“What the Hell is Monkeynerd?” Tim asked.
“That,” Tiffany pointed to the display in the window. The cousins stared at the shriveled up monkey wearing Harry Potter-style glasses.
“It’s so ugly, it’s cute,” Aralyn murmured.
Tim snorted.
“Sean is into that?” Tiffany asked.
“Apparently,” Aralyn shrugged. “Mom said Monkeynerd looks like the lovechild of a monkey and George Burns, whoever that is.”
Tiffany giggled. “The Adventures of Monkeynerd? Interesting.”
“To a ten year old, sure,” Aralyn chuckled as they walked inside to make the purchase.
***
Aralyn’s phone rang as they reached their car. “Hi Mom . . . sure . . . got it.” Turning to her cousins, she smirked. “Looks like your parents are having dinner with us,” she told Tim. “Dana’s at a friends and Jesse has a study session.”
Tim sighed. “Well, might as well get it out of the way.”
The Mangans were already there by the time the cousins arrived. Tiffany called for permission to eat at Aralyn’s, and Aralyn had informed her mother they were bringing a guest. There was always extra food made, for the precise reason of so much family living so close by, it was common to stop in at someone’s house for dinner. It also appeared Leif and Logan had inherited their Uncle Mart’s legendary appetite.
“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” Tim said softly, as they walked up.
“Come on,” Aralyn took him by the hand. “Tiff, make sure everyone is in the family room.”
The twins were playing against Dan on their Xbox, laughing gleefully as Leif was winning. Daisy was in the kitchen with Trixie, and Bo was trying to coach Dan on the game.
“Hi!” Tiffany said brightly, poking her head in.
“Hi, Tiff,” Bo smiled at his young cousin. “C’mon in and watch me and Dan beat these brats of mine at this stupid game.”
“Actually, would you bring Daisy and Trixie in here?” Tiffany asked. “Aralyn and I found a special present we want to give her and Dan and we don’t want to wait until Christmas.”
Puzzled, Bo called Trixie and Daisy out to the living room. The game was paused.
“We found this,” Aralyn stepped around the corner, “thought Dan and Daisy might want it.”
Turning to look behind her she glared, then reached back and grabbed Tim by his leather jacket and dragged him into the room.
“Tim!” Daisy shrieked, darting forward to hug her son.
Dan stood speechless, staring at his son. Bo glanced at his old friend, knowing how deep Dan’s hurt ran over the situation. Dan had been bracing himself for his son’s homecoming for weeks.
Trixie was hugging Tim as well, as the women exclaimed over how he had gotten so tall and handsome, and filled out. Daisy had been so busy with the company she hadn’t been to see him in several months.
“Hi Mom,” he hugged her tightly, “Trixie.”
“Good to see you, Tim,” Bo stepped forward to hug his cousin, and Tim had hope. If Bo wouldn’t hold a grudge, maybe his father wouldn’t. Bo hugged him tightly, and then Tim was left facing his stunned father, who he was almost as tall as now.
“Hi Dad,” Tim said quietly.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- a huge yeee-haaa! To Donna, my fabulous editor!
- Yes, eventually we will get to Jim and Hallie, this is just a tease!
-Aralyn teasing Tim (played by Jensen Ackles) about being the ‘goofy looking kid’ is a nod to the Supernatural episode “Home” when Dean Winchester (also played by Jensen Ackles) meets an old family friend who laughs at how ‘goofy looking’ he was as a kid.
-The Adventures of Monkeynerd will be surfacing soon!
- Ronda, you happy now? Tim will be here soon!
- Word Count, 7,296
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