Page 1 of Healing Love

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Hiding behind the dumpster in the back alley, the dark night shrouding him in shadows, Cam Perez could feel his heart pound. A slow smile crossed his youthful face as he watched his friends slither out of the back of the small neighborhood store, a bag in their hands. Knowing the sack was filled with cash, he remembered his job and glanced up and down the alleyway to see that no one was around.

At thirteen, he was bigger than most of the guys he hung with…and knew that was probably why they wanted him. Watching carefully, he saw activity at the end of the street and his eyes stayed on the movement, ready to alert his friends if necessary.

This was not the first night spent hunkering down in an alley. In fact, Cam was becoming known as the gang’s best lookout. He was not a full-fledged member but was on his way. He knew if he kept proving himself, he would be taken in within the year.If I can keep my parents out of my business.

My parents.Thinking of them caused his mind to wander away from his task. Sighing quietly, he imagined them asleep in their beds.At least, I hope they’re asleep.Rubbing his hand over his face, he knew that was a false hope. The reality was they knew he was out of the house and were anxiously awaiting his safe arrival home.Mom’s undoubtedly on her knees praying right now.

The thought of his mother praying for his wayward soul reminded him of the story of his parents’ romance. He had heard it so many times, the tale resonated in him as his own. And in some ways, it was his story as well.

Cam, the oldest of four children, had been born in a small row house in El Paso, Texas. His father, Henrico, unusually tall and strong, had grown up crossing the border from Mexico illegally for years to work for higher wages. Building houses had given his father the money to send back to Cam’s grandparents.

Henrico had the honor of working on a church on the outskirts of El Paso. It was a new, modern building and he took great pride in the part he played in the large construction. A trailer was on the property, serving as the church office when Henrico noticed a beautiful, young woman each morning delivering coffees and small, white pastry bags to the office. She wore a uniform, but he was never close enough to discern where she came from.

One morning, walking around the corner of the building where the office was, he ran into her, spilling the coffee all down the front of her. She gasped, jumping back to keep from beingburned. Her pink dress and its white apron, embroidered with Nellie’s Bakery on the front, was now covered in the tan stain of coffee.

Mortified, Henrico immediately jerked the towel from around his neck and began to pat her dry, apologizing, as she batted his hands away.

“Stop!” she cried in mortification.

Not knowing what to do, he watched her hustle away, coffee still dripping down her legs.

Turning back to his job, he endured the jeers of his co-workers for the first impression he must have made on the beautiful woman. Determined to make amends, he spent the rest of the day wondering how to do so.

The next morning, he waited outside the trailer once she had disappeared inside with her delivery. A few minutes later as she made her way down the stairs he approached her, holding out one perfect rose. Her steps faltered as she saw him, her gaze bouncing between the flower and the handsome man holding it.

Offering her his sincerest apology, Henrico held his breath as he awaited her response. She did not make him wait long. Her lips curved into a smile that lit up his world. And from that moment on, he knew he had foundthe one. Pursuing her became his life’s mission, as much as working to send money home. But Henrico was up to the task and six months later, they were married.

Marrying Bonita and then becoming a U.S. citizen was the highlight of his life up to that point. Becoming a father to his son, Cam, a year later surpassedall his dreams.

Cam had listened to his father talk of hard work, dedication, and falling forthe onefor the past thirteen years. Shaking his head in disgust, he knew his father had no idea how easy money could be made…if willing to get with one of the many gangs.

Just then a police siren pierced the silent night, and he jerked as the flashing lights at the end of the street came into view. Shouting to each other, the three friends rushed to the other end of the alley and split up, according to their plan. Cam was smart, having already located a place to hide. His friends…not so smart. They continued running down the street, still clutching the bag. Within a minute, the cops arrested them, hauling them away in handcuffs. Cam stayed hidden…and silent. As the scene unfolded, he waited patiently, his heart pounding.

Dios!Fuck!As soon as the cops drove the duo away, he slipped from his hiding place and headed home. Hoping to stay hidden once there, he was out of luck. As he crawled through his bedroom window the bright overhead light illuminated the dark room as his parents stood at the door. Holding their gazes, he would have preferred their anger. Instead, his mother’s face was ravaged with tears and his father’s expression held disappointment.

One week later the family moved to Virginia. His parents hoped and prayed that moving in with some of Bonita’s relatives in a county outside of Richmondwould keep their oldest son from making the same mistakes he was making in Texas.

But he quickly shunned working on the weekends with his father as a carpenter. Instead, he found a new set of friends to hang out with.

Five years later

Cam celebrated his eighteenth birthday getting drunk, stoned, and screwing willing girls. By now, he was huge. Tall, broad shouldered, and muscular. He loved working out and seeing the results. A natural handsomeness did not hurt either and becoming a pussy-magnet was icing on the cake.

He had joined a local gang, not nationally known but then, that had never appealed to him. He preferred hanging with his friends, making money on the side with drugs and had discovered a knack for gambling. He had friends, money, status, time to work out, time to make bets on pool, and more than enough time and opportunity to bang whatever pussy hung around their clubhouse.

Kissing his mother goodbye one day, he found her clinging to him a little longer than normal.

“Gotta go, ma,” he said, trying to pull away. He loved and respected his parents and watched out for his younger siblings, but he was determined to go his own way.

“Christmas is coming,” his mother said, softly.

Smiling, he knew with his money from drugs andgambling he could afford many presents for the family. “I know. I got you covered,” he said boastfully.

Hurt passed through her eyes, but she stood firm. “I only want one thing for Christmas, son. I want you to go see Father Martinez today.”

“Ma,” Cam started, but halted at the tortured look on his mother’s face. Sighing deeply, he nodded. “Okay, ma. I’ll go.” He leaned back to peer into her eyes. “But it’s not going to keep me from my friends.”

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