Page 55 of Only in Our Dream
The back door opened and Jonah held the large bag of food. “Dinner is served.”
“My fries better not be cold because you were talking toEvain the car.”
“Stop saying people’s names like that,” Cameron scolded yet again.
“Mom,” she whined, “stop taking all my fun away. If I can’t tease you and Jonah about yourgirlfriendsthen where is my fun going to come from?”
Cameron immediately held up a finger as she put her other hand on her hip.
“First off, I do not currently have a girlfriend.”
“Keyword on currently,” Jonah snickered, making Dylan laugh as well.
“And secondly,” Cameron narrowed her eyes at them, “it’s not nice to tease people.”
“Unless they’re family,” Jonah and Dylan said in unison before erupting into laughter.
Cameron tossed up her hands, knowing the conversation had divulged into mayhem. Not that she could blame the kids; Cameron was usually the one cracking the jokes. They got it honestly. There was no way to deny that.
Settling around the kitchen island, Cameron savored the way they all had their own places. Dylan had her chair while Jonah had his and they never swapped. Cameron had a chair beside Jonah she could use, but she preferred to eat standing up across from them to see them. She felt it fostered a more open environment to talk, which she credited to her kids being so open with her.
“Mom was cleaning the baseboard earlier.”
“What?” Jonah dramatically gasped, and Cameron saw so much of herself in him it would have freaked her out if she didn’t love seeing it. “Not the baseboards. Is this becauseMelanieis coming over tomorrow?”
Cameron dramatically groaned. “Not you too.”
“I don’t know what the big deal is.” Jonah chewed and swallowed a bite of his burger. “It’s just Aunt Mel. She’s been over here like a million times before.”
“But never at Christmas.” Dylan’s singsong voice made Cameron want to roll her eyes. “And never as Mom’sgirlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” Cameron repeated, adding more emphasis to her words as the kids exchanged sneaky looks.
“Notyet,” Jonah replied with a smirk.
Picking up a fry, Cameron threw it at him as they laughed.
“Now, Mother,” Dylan sat up straighter, “is throwing fries going to help keep this house clean forMelanie?”
She threw another fry at Dylan. “If you don’t stop saying her name that way, I’m going to have you outside cleaning the shutters.”
“It’s like twelve degrees and snowing.”
“Then you better be nice to your mommy.”
Cameron winked at her, letting her know she was teasing. She adored her kids. Maybe it was because she had raised them all by herself, but Cameron felt a special bond with them she wasn’t sure all parents felt with their kids. The Mackenzies probably did, that was all Cameron could think of off the top of her head.
They were her kids, yes, but they were also friends. Jonah and Dylan could tell her anything and vice versa. No judgement ever.
Or, well, only slight judgement when baseboards were involved.
Chapter 18
Melanie
Despite hours of shopping with Palmer for the perfect outfit to wear on Christmas, Melanie was still debating it with less than an hour to spare before she needed to be at Cameron’s house. Palmer had assured her multiple times in the store she looked hot, and Vera agreed when Melanie had showed her the purchase. But now, standing in front of her full-length mirror, Melanie was doubting herself.
Was it too simple?
