Picture Perfect Lie

by Marquita Valentine

“He’s not coming.”

  Disappointment invades me, reducing me to the needy child I desperately want to forget existed. “Oh. Okay.” I attempt to smile, but I end up squeezing my hands together in front of me. “The house looks great.”

  “I didn’t ask you to my sitting room to engage in small talk.”

  That sets my jaw on edge. “Then what did you want to talk about?”

  “Your current situation.”

  She won’t say it, so I’ll do it for her. “Being homeless or a single mother... or both?”

  Her face screws up with barely restrained fury and contempt. “I won’t have it, Campbell. You will be gone by morning. My kindness can only extend but so far.”

  I should have known that coming here would end up like this, but I’m not going to go quietly. “You’re going to kick out your own grandchild, without even holding her first?”

  “Hazel may stay, as long as you’re willing to let us raise her,” Mother says with a sniff. “If you’re agreeable, then you may stay here as long as it takes for everything to be approved.”

  My mouth drops open, even as all the air is sucked from the room. “You want to take my baby from me?” Everything inside of me is screaming in rage and fear. I want to bolt from my mother’s presence, grab Hazel from the bassinet in my old room, and run away, but I have to know how serious she is... and how far she’s willing to go to get what she wants.

  “Not without the proper legal channels.”

  “I won’t let you take her from me.”

  She blows out a breath of frustration. “Be reasonable, Campbell. You’re not capable—financially or emotionally—to raise a baby. You were living in a women’s shelter, for God’s sake.”

  Financially, she might have a point, but emotionally? Screw her. And if she knew where I was living, then why in the hell didn’t she try to help me? “What do you know about emotions?” I snap back. “I refuse to let you raise my daughter. And not to worry, we will be out of your hair by morning. I don’t have to stay here. I have options.”

  Knight would be so proud of me right now.

  “If you think you’ll go to Baylor, expecting him to welcome you back with open arms, especially after what you—”

  “What I did to him?” I all but sputter. I take a step toward my mother. “He backhanded me so hard my lip split in two and I had to have it sewn up. I had to lie and say I fell—that I bit through it when I hit the ground. After that, he made sure not to hit me so hard.”

  For a moment, I think she might believe me—finally—but her eyes get even colder. “Your imagination has always been vivid.”

  “I’m not going back to Baylor.”

  “He wouldn’t want you anyway, not with another man’s child.”

  “I don’t know, Mother, it might give him the perfect excuse to backhand me again.”

  She sighs. “Stop lying, Campbell. We know what happened.”

  “Then you know he’s an adulterer who likes to hit women when they call him out on his bullshit.”

  “Language,” she bites out, then puts on a serene face. “The fact of the matter is you were a spoiled little girl who refused to grow up. You couldn’t take an adult relationship with Baylor, so you lied. You ran away from your responsibilities and whored yourself out to Hollywood, just so you could get bit parts in shows.”

  “That is not true.”

  She arches a brow. “You didn’t run away?”

  “Yes, but I had to.”

  “You didn’t take up with a producer?”

  By take up she means whore myself out to, but I guess she can only say it once or she’ll burst into flames... “Donovan and I were in a committed relationship.”

  “Not that committed if you’re back here.”

  I shake my head, fisting my hands on my hips, bolder than I’ve ever been. “Are you gloating? Do you like it when your children are in pain?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Campbell.”

  “I’ll be whatever I want.” I take a step toward her. “In fact, I’ll be happy to disappear from your life altogether.”

  “Dramatic,” she says, dismissive as always. “Go to your room and calm down. When you’re more reasonable and willing to act like a twenty-six-year-old woman who is now a mother, we’ll talk about what needs to happen next to move forward with the adoption.”

  “May I at least eat before I’m banished?”

  Her eye twitches. “Naturally, I’ll have something sent up.”

  “You are too kind.” I smirk at her. “Be sure to tell Daddy I said hello.”

  “You can tell him yourself... tomorrow morning over breakfast.”

  There is no way in hell I’m staying that long. “Perfect.”

  Chapter 8

  Knight

  As luck would have it, our plane has to land in Germany—something about mechanical repairs. We’re not allowed to leave the plane, and neither are any of the civilians. The steward promises we’ll be done in less than half an hour before completing our trip to Kuwait, where we’ll be bussed to a muster point to be sorted into groups going to Bagram or Kandahar.

  After that, if we’re fortunate, we’ll get a flight out within the day, but if things go as usual, it could take up to a week.

  Three years ago, many of us thought the lines wouldn’t be needed, that the War on Global Terror would lessen, but that’s not the case, War is hell, but being redeployed over and over is fucking purgatory.

  For the better part of a quarter hour, I’ve been visiting the city of Frankfurt through a small window two seats over. I glance at Boston, Diego, and Swatrzkoff. They’re all catching up on sleep, thanks to some heavy doses of Nyquil. Sleep is something I should be doing, too, since it will be in short supply once we’re in Kandahar, but all I can think about is Campbell.

  I pull out my phone, pressing on the screen to find the pictures my buddies took of us. A half a dozen more are in my pictures app. Campbell looks so small in my arms. So dainty, like my very own Tinker Bell.

  I swipe to another picture. In this one, I’m holding Hazel and Campbell’s leaning against me, her eyes closed. The look on her face is so trusting, so peaceful in that moment. She knew I wouldn’t let anything happen to them.

  A smile kicks up the corners of my mouth.

  My heart taps out a weird rhythm. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s not exactly welcome either. I don’t have time for attachments, but somehow, some way, this woman and her child have managed to sneak inside of me, put their marks on my soul.

  I commit Campbell’s face to memory. The way her cheeks curve, how her smile is slightly crooked, and how damn warm her eyes are. How they see me as a man, not as just a soldier going off to war.

  As if she knows what I’m thinking, a text from Campbell appears on my screen.

  Campbell: Did you mean what you said to me?

  Me: I meant everything.

  Campbell: I’m serious. I can’t stay with my parents.

  A sliver of concern runs through me. Shit. Why does it feel like I’m always in the wrong place when someone needs me?

  Campbell: They want me to leave Hazel with them. I’m scared, Knight.

  Son of a bitch. What the hell’s wrong with her parents? I try to call her, but the call won’t go through.

  Me: Go to Castle Beach. My family will take care of you.

  Campbell: What if they don’t believe you sent me there? Or what if you’re wrong and they won’t help a stranger?

  My thumbs hover over my screen, before typing again.

  Me: You’re not a stranger to me. How about this? I’ll text Quinn to let her know you’re coming?

  Campbell: You don’t know how much that means to me. If I can ever repay you, I will.

  Me: You don’t owe me anything... except an occasional email to let me know how you and Hazel are doing while I’m gone.

  Campbell: You got it. Send it to me, and I swear I’ll keep you updated.

  Me: Thanks.

  The pilot starts
to speak, and the fasten seat belt sign lights up.

  Me: Gotta go. We’re finally moving again.

  Campbell: Be safe. Come home so I can thank you in person.

  Images of Campbell kissing me, of my hands caressing her body, bombard me, making my dick stiffen. Shit. I shift in my seat, trying to keep my erection from announcing its presence to the dude beside me.

  There’s no way she meant anything other than thanking me with maybe a hug and note... not what my horny ass has in mind. Besides, it’s like she said, she’s concentrating on Hazel right now.

  I swipe to the last one, and my heart stutters. Campbell and I are smiling. Hazel is laying on a blanket between us. If it hadn’t been taken in the USO Lounge, it could be mistaken for a family photo.

  My stomach drops.

  I have half a mind to delete it, but at the last second, I decide to keep it and all the other pictures I have of them.

  Where I’m going, I’ll need the reminder of what I’m supposedly fighting for.

  Then, at the last second, I text Quinn.

  I’m sending two very special people to y’all. Make Campbell and Hazel feel welcome. No time to explain. Will call as soon as I can.

  Chapter 9

  Campbell

  I can’t sleep.

  I’m too worried about my mother’s offer to help me out. To make matters worse, I can’t locate an Uber, much less a taxi in this tiny town.

  Agitation flowing through my veins, I pace the room, glancing at Hazel every so often, as if I expect her to suddenly disappear.

  My nails are ragged, almost bitten to the quick.

  “Damn it,” I mutter, wishing I had a nail file. I’ll have to be extra careful around my baby girl, so I don’t accidentally scratch her in the meantime.

  I scrub my nails against my jean-covered thigh, hoping that will help, as I form a plan to help us escape.

  Grabbing my phone from my back pocket, I check the temperature. It’s not too cold, so if I bundle Hazel up in the car seat, I can push her stroller over to Lincoln, where the bus stop is located. If I pack up some food from the kitchen, I should have enough money to buy a one-way ticket to Castle Beach. It’s only three hours south of here, so I can’t imagine it will be that expensive.

  Only to me, a hundred dollars is the same as a million.

  “Doesn’t matter.” I grab my bag, shoving in the few things I unpacked and—

  There’s a knock on my door and I start, almost screaming.

  “Cammie, it’s me.” My brother opens the door, peeking inside. “I’m here to break you out of jail.” His gaze bounces around the room.

  “Are you drunk?” I ask as he swaggers in.

  He grins. “Unfortunately, no. Something told me it was not a good idea to partake tonight, at least not until I checked on you first.”

  “She wants to take my baby.” I gulp.

  Caine’s eyes widen in disbelief, then narrow in anger. “Fuck her.” His gaze settles on my bag. “Good. Let’s go.”

  “I don’t have a car. A way out of here... but I do have a plan.”

  “Awesome.” He grabs my bag and the stroller. “Get Hazel and let’s go. You can tell me about it on the way to Chapel Hill.”

  “Not Chapel Hill. Castle Beach.”

  His brows push together. “What’s in Castle Beach?”

  I don’t know what to say. The longer I stand there doing nothing, the closer it gets to morning. Finally, I move to Hazel and put her in the carrier.

  “It’s... I have friends there. A safe place.”

  “Castle Beach it is,” he says grimly.

  I FULLY EXPECT TO GET caught as we creep along the back staircase. Every squeaky step, every grunt Hazel makes, and every growl of my stomach pushes me closer and closer to the brink of losing it.

  “Stop,” he whispers loudly.

  The light in the kitchen blazes, and I hold my breath.

  I can hear my pulse pounding in my head. It’s beating in my chest, like it’s a bird trapped in an attic it can’t escape.

  “It’s just Ms. Rose.”

  That doesn’t assure me at all. Ms. Rose and my mother are tight, as in Ms. Rose practically raised her. It never made sense to me, that a kind and loving woman like Ms. Rose could raise someone so freaking unemotional as my mother.

  But as they say, blood always tells.

  And my mother’s parents made mine look like cuddly kittens.

  Still, we all have the choice to be different or continue down the same path.

  “Y’all can come out now,” Ms. Rose says, and I shove my fist against my mouth.

  My eyes widen so much it almost hurts to blink. I shake my head, refusing to take another step, but Caine grabs me by the arm, pulling me in the kitchen.

  Ms. Rose is at the island in the center of the kitchen, closing the lip on a picnic basket. She smiles at us, the wrinkles on her face making her look even kinder than I’ve always known her to be. But her loyalty to our mother...

  “I expect this to be returned once y’all get back.”

  My brother saunters over to her, carefully slinging his arm around her frail shoulders. “Only if you promise not to tell on us. It’s not every day I get to take my sister—”

  “Don’t bother to lie for them,” Momma says as she sweeps inside. My heart slams so hard against my chest that I gasp. “Campbell is leaving. After Caine drops her off, he’ll be back with your basket.”

  “You’re not going to stop me?” I ask.

  “Regardless of what you think of me, I’m not a monster who would separate a mother from her child, especially when the mother is unwilling.”

  “Are you going to pay someone to do it for you?” I tip up my chin, refusing to back down.

  “Hardly.” She ties her robe tighter around her waist. “It was only an offer. If you can’t see the benefit of the offer or even bother to be adult enough to have the conversation with your father and me, then you should go.”

  “That’s what I’m doing.”

  “But if you go, don’t come back.” Her gaze strays to the carrier, to where Hazel is sleeping for once instead of awake. “You will not be welcome. Neither of you.”

  “Do you expect me to cave to your ultimatum?”

  “I expect you to make adult decisions. These are the potential consequences. It’s up to you to choose what’s best.”

  “And if Caine helps me to leave. Drives me to... where I want to go, will he be allowed to come back?”

  Her mouth flattens. “Your father and I have always encouraged the two of you to be close.”

  “Will he or won’t he be punished for helping me?” I grit out.

  “No,” she whispers. She clutches at the material of her robe, right at the throat, as if trying to protect herself from having it ripped out. “Go, Campbell. Don’t make this harder.”

  “I never wanted to make this hard. I only wanted...” I swallow. It doesn’t matter what I want. It never has to her. “Good-bye.”

  Then Caine and I walk outside, pack up his SUV, and leave.

  Chapter 10

  Campbell

  Even though Castle Beach is only three hours south of Eden Grove, it takes us five to get there. Murphy’s Law was in full effect the entire drive.

  Hazel screamed throughout the trip. The only way she’d get quiet was if I nursed her... only Caine couldn’t drive with me holding her, so we had to do driving sprints.

  And just let me say, if poop-filled diapers, breast milk stains, and a cranky baby doesn’t keep my brother from ever engaging in unprotected sex, nothing will.

  Heck, if I’d known it would be this hard, I would have insisted Donovan put two condoms on...

  “Where’s her dad?” Caine asks we navigate the deserted streets of Castle Beach. The car is blessedly quiet, Hazel finally sleeping—of course she is, because we’re ten minutes away from Knight’s mother’s house.

  “Back in LA. He doesn’t want her.”

  “Has he been around he
r?”

  I shake my head. “He left long before she was born.” Exhaustion permeates my bones, my soul... my everything. I don’t know what I’ll do if the King family kicks us out, or even if they decide to help us.

  At this point, however, I have no other choice. This is what I chose, and I have to face the consequences.

  “I don’t have a lot of money, but I’ll give you every last dime in my account.”

  Leaning forward, I grab my brother’s shoulder and squeeze. It’s surprisingly hard and muscular. He’s grown a lot since I left four years ago to marry Baylor. “Keep your money. I have a little to tide me over until I get a job.”

  “What about daycare for Hazel?”

  I slump in my seat. I simultaneously love and hate that my little brother thinks about expenses like that. What twenty-year-old would?

  “I did some research earlier today. The daycares near campus are really expensive, but I have enough to pay for a few months. So... if this doesn’t work out, I’ll come get you two. My apartment’s—well, we’ll make it work, and I’ll get a job to help.”

  “The best thing you can do for me is to finish school. Take advantage of not having student loans or a job during the semester while you can. Fishing season is coming fast enough.” Despite the fact my brother and I are privileged, our parents made us work every summer. For me, it was as a camp counselor, lifeguard at the pool, or hostess at the club... for Caine, it was on fishing boats that either took out tourists or commercial fishing.

  Our parents insisted it was good to earn our own money. If there’s one thing I can be thankful for, it’s that. If I hadn’t been made to work, I don’t think I would have lasted as long as I did on my own.

  “Fishing season?” He makes a face at me in the rearview mirror. “That’s not a thing.”

  “You know what I mean.” I stick out my tongue at him, and I get a glimpse of the mischievous little brother who was my best friend growing up when he grins. “Seriously. You’ve done enough, and I have a feeling coming here is exactly what I should have done all along.”

  “If you say so,” he replies.