Page 41 of Julian Shared
A few weeks later…
“So, how are things with you and Trevor?” I ask while leading Cameron into the kitchen. I’ve been counting down the days on the calender until today.
This is it. This is the beginning of something special.
I can feel it in my bones.
“Oh, we’re good,” Cameron tells me, “what about you and Joel? How is his big promotion working out?”
“Fantastic,” I say with a smile bordering on a grin. “We went to a peewee football match and saw Sally Grace there. She addressed him as Command Sergeant Major and then she asked me to make the pumpkin pies for this year’s Thanksgiving donation to the homeless shelter.”
Everything has been working out exactly as planned. At least on my end. I can’t say the same for others. The prime reason I’m so happy to have Cameron over is that he’s my only friend now that Minh has moved away.
The fallout from Minh and Manuel’s affair wasn’t the end of his career, but it was the end of her marriage. It was for the best. When I helped Minh pack up her things into her car, she was practically beaming as she told me all about the impendingdivorce. Minh looked tired, but she’d never sounded more awake. She was so excited to be moving up to Canyon City with her newborn babies. A new job and apartment already waiting for her.
She promised to keep in touch.
And I really hope Minh does. I’ve already got a card written and a new-mom care package for her picked out.
“That’s great,” Cameron says with a warm laugh. “I’m really happy for you, Julian.”
“Thank you. Now, will you be having tea or coffee?”
I’ve already made both in preparation for Cameron’s visit. My kitchen is filled with the smell of a fresh-brewed pumpkin spice medium roast and the smell of a herbal cinnamon tea. And the delectable scent of baked goods wafting in the air: muffins and danishes.
“Uh, tea would be great.”
Cameron slips his messenger bag off his shoulder and sits it in his lap as he takes a seat in the breakfast nook. He pulls out a notebook and an art portfolio while I pour him a cup of tea.
I serve it along a plate stacked with both a muffin and danish. Why not both?
Cameron and I are alike in our preference in having it all.
“Thanks,” Cameron tells me, his eyes gone wide with interest as he lifts the cup to his mouth for a quick sip. “I’m trying to wean myself off coffee forever. It really doesn’t interact well with my ADHD medication. Sort of makes me feel like my brain is made of jelly beans.”
A frown sets across my mouth. Not because I’ve just learned about Cameron’s ADHD, but because he never told me about itbefore. Well, that explains much more about why Cameron is the why he is. “Oh. I wish you’d told me that sooner, Cam.”
I pinch my fingers around the handle of my teacup and take a sip. I would have tried to help him with that much sooner if I’d known.
“Sorry.” Cameron’s apology reaches all the way to his eyes. He stops fiddling with his portfolio. One by one, he’s been pulling out pieces of paper. Each one with a colorful design on them. “I only got my diagnosis this year and I’m still getting comfortable with the idea of telling people, you know? Besides I thought you…you’re also kinda…right?”
“I’m what?” I blink at Cameron.
I really don’t understand what he’s trying so softly trying to imply.
Cameron’s mouth falls open and shut. He smiles and vaguely gestures around the kitchen. My utterly spotless and perfectly decorated kitchen. What about it? It’s the same as the rest of my house. As a homemaker, this is my domain. My pride and joy. Yes, fine, I’ve had people accuse me of being a perfectionist and sometimes a little too obsessive with cleanliness and good impressions, but I know how to relax and let things go.
Usually.
Sometimes.
When Joel helps me. When he orders me to stop and let it all go. To just let things happen instead of trying to control everything.
“What about it?” I blink again and squirm a little in my seat.
“Um, never mind,” Cameron smiles gently. “Anyway, so, here’s my two favorite logos I whipped up. They’re just the first draft,of course. We can edit them as needed. And the colors are just placeholder.”
I don’t know about that. I look at the salmon pink and bright teal blue that Cameron picked out.
