Page 40 of Cameron's Contract
I sat back down and turned to look at him, my emotions swirling.
Henry stared at Mom. “Took their time doing it too. Ripped out my fingernails one by one.”
“Oh, dear God,” said Mom. “Cameron, say something.”
Henry raised his hand. “No, you need to hear this, Mom, and you too, Dad. It was early in the morning. I remember like it was yesterday.” He stared at his hands. “Even though they’ve grown back, I can still feel the pain.”
“Not at lunch, dear,” said Mom.
“Victoria.” Dad silenced her with a glare.
She settled down, we all did, honoring Henry’s memories with the silence it deserved.
“My captors messed with my mind,” he said. “They warn you about this at West Point, but nothing can truly prepare you. The terrorists tell you you’re being exchanged for one of their prisoners and you calm a little. Let your guard down. Then, when you’ve willingly walked into the interrogation room, they sit you down and play loud music for three days and three nights straight. If you manage to drift off, they kick you just to make sure you don’t get any sleep. I was holding up pretty well. Wouldn’t tell them anything.”
I poured a glass of water and slid it over to him.
Henry stared at it. “You lose faith in humankind. You learn never to trust again. When you come back home, there’s this sense everyone’s lying to you. You can’t shake it. The paranoia. I question everything, every conversation, every interaction, and every phone call.” He looked at Mom.
“It was terrible what they did to you, son,” she whispered.
“You’re missing the point,” he said. “I was destined to stay in that cabin in Big Bear for the rest of my life. When this one here turned up.” He pointed to Mia. “I was rude to her at first. Tried to scare her off. Keep her at arm’s length. But she wouldn’t relent. Talked her way in and spent her time listening to me ramble on about nothing. She renewed my faith in the human condition. Made me believe in unconditional love again. Do you want to know how?”
Mom’s gaze fell on Mia.
Henry looked over at Mia with affection. “Because she knew that Cameron and I needed each other. That you, Mom, needed me. And I needed all of you. That the only lies were the ones I’d been telling myself. That it was not okay living in isolation. Missing out on life. Alone. Mia Lauren turned up out of nowhere and saved my life from the futile experience it had become.”
I took Mia’s hand in mine and squeezed it.
“Well that’s quite a revelation,” said Dad. “We appreciate you sharing that with us.”
Shay scratched his head. “Lunch really was delicious.”
“Yes,” said Mom weakly. “We have a new chef.”
“We’re lucky to have you in the family, Mia,” said Willow.
Mom rose, pushing her chair back, its legs scraping the marble floor.
Our stares fell on her.
All of us recoiled over what she was going to say next.
She rounded the table and gestured to Mia. “Please stand.”
“Mom,” I said.
“It’s okay,” said Mia softly and pushed herself to her feet, turning to face my mother.
I rose and stood directly behind Mia, ready to say what was necessary to protect her.
Mom gripped Mia by her shoulders and stared at her. “I’ve got you in the wrong room, Mia. I’ll have the staff move you.”
“If you like, Mrs. Cole. But it really is a lovely room. I’m very grateful.”
“We’ll put you in the Windsor Suite,” said Mom. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must powder my nose.”
When she left, Shay swapped a wary glance with me.
