Page 17 of The Beachside Cafe 2
“You got it.”
He pushed open the driver’s side door and stepped out into the street at almost exactly the same time Jaymee got out on her side. She waited for him as he rounded the car and came up next to her. He touched her elbow when he was close enough and the intimate gesture sent a tingle up Jaymee’s arm.
As they walked to the door, Jaymee sighed and said softly, “I think I better tell Cheyenne tonight about her father and that I’m divorcing him. I’m going to the lawyer and filing the papers and I want to tell her before I do that. It makes no sense to wait until the last minute so I… I think it’s best if I do it now.”
Cameron nodded. “It’s your decision, Jaymee. She’s your daughter. I think you should but that’s just my opinion. I don’t want you to think I would ever pressure you to do anything with your daughter. I am not an authority on her. But I’ll be glad to be here for moral support.”
“I know what we should do,” Jaymee said, spinning to face him, an idea popping into her head. “Since tomorrow is Sunday and no one has to get up for work, let’s get Alex over. Then he can help soften the blow, too. He could pick up a pizza on his way. Pepperoni and extra cheese.”
Cameron chuckled softly. “Matchmaking again.”
Jaymee blushed. “Not really. I just think she’ll want to be surrounded by people who care for her, friends and me, it just seems like the right thing to do.”
“I’ll call him and give him the 4-1-1,” Cameron said. He pulled out his cellphone and the two of them stood in the middle of the pathway while he waited for Alex to answer.
“Come on, come on,” he whispered, looking at Jaymee. “Hope he answ… hey, Alex. It’s Cam.” He waited a second while he listened to Alex on the other end. “Yeah, we’re good. Glad to hear it. Hey, you up for dinner? No, not with me… well, sort of with me… no, it’s not a date, you moron… yes, I know you don’t swing that way, look will you shut up and listen?” The whole time he was speaking, Cameron was rolling his eyes, a huge smile on his face. It made Jaymee’s heart feel lighter. She was dreading the task ahead.
Cheyenne’s car was in the driveway, so there was a good chance she was at home. Jaymee didn’t know if she had any dinner plans with anyone else and was just praying she didn’t so the whole conversation could take place and be done with.
“I’m at Jaymee’s. She thought it would be nice if you were here when she tells Cheyenne about her dad since the two of you have become friends. Jaymee wants her to be surrounded by people who care about her, you know… You will? That’s great, man, I appreciate that. Hey, pick up a pizza on your way here…” He abruptly laughed, startling Jaymee, who jumped and then giggled. “You want me to pay for it, do ya? I’ll pay you back when you get here. Get pepperoni and extra cheese, man… yeah, I know you were just teasing… you want to go in one with me? I want some sausage with my pepperoni. Yeah. Okay.”
Jaymee listened to the rest of the conversation as the two of them walked up the porch steps and across the deck to the front door.
He hung up with Alex. “He’ll be here in an hour.”
“Wonderful. Let’s go in and see what Cheyenne is doing.”
“Hopefully making lasagna,” Cameron said, pushing open the front door around Jaymee and holding it open for her.
Jaymee laughed at his joke as they stepped into the foyer.
“Cheyenne?”
“In here, Mom,” she heard from the den.
The two went to the door of the den and Jaymee peeked in to see her daughter watching TV, curled up on the couch with a big, warm blanket enveloping her entire body. She smiled at them.
“How’s everything?”
“It’s good. Real good in fact. Alex is bringing over a pizza and I thought we could talk and watch a move and stuff. The four of us.”
Cheyenne’s smile widened. “That’s great! I’d love that!”
By the time Alex got there forty-five minutes later, all three had settled in and made themselves comfortable. When Alex knocked on the door and rang the doorbell, they all looked at each other.
“Ugh, all right, I’ll go. It is my house, after all,” Jaymee threw off the blanket and went out to the front door.
The smell of pizza was intoxicating. She smiled wide and invited him in.
He went to the den with the pizzas and Jaymee went to the kitchen for plates and bottles of soda from the fridge.
Jaymee let Cheyenne enjoy her pizza and some small talk before she brought up the reason for the evening.
“Cheyenne, I want to tell you something important.”
Cheyenne, who had been smiling at Alex after a short conversation, turned her eyes to her mother. She took a bite of the pizza crust she was holding. “Is it about Dad?” she asked through her chewing.
Jaymee nodded. “Yes, it is. And it’s going to be… difficult to take.”
