Chapter 22 #2
An ashy smell still permeated the air as he walked into the spa. Cicely stood at the counter, examining her short nails with their bright pink polish. She gave him an obvious fake smile. “She’ll be done with her client in about twenty minutes. I can do you.”
“I’ll wait.”
The woman’s smile dropped, and she huffed, “Suit yourself.”
Cam sat down in one of the chairs and did his best not to replay the short phone conversation he’d just had with Tammie.
It was the same one, repeated every so often when his past came back to haunt him.
He thought he’d slain those demons, but every once in a while, he’d have to pull out his sword and do it again.
After getting off the phone with her, he needed some fresh air and a long ride, but not with his arm still in a cast. When spring came around, he planned to load up his gear and take Sabrina on a long camping trip.
He pictured the two of them riding the Allegheny National Forest Loop or exploring Amish country around Lancaster.
As he sat in the waiting area, he hoped his plans worked out.
At the present, his emotions had his shoulders in knots and his legs so tight they hurt.
He thought about the relief her hands could bring him.
His need for this was so tangible, he had to force himself to sit still.
A blonde woman bounced down the hallway, all grins and giggles. “I feel soooo good now! Two weeks?”
“I got it.” Sabrina appeared right behind her, and Cam felt his back easing a bit just from seeing her. She waved at him and winked. That one gesture made everything right in his world. At least for now.
Sabrina presented the terminal for the woman to tap her card and confirmed the regular appointment.
Cam admired the professional way she handled herself.
Their relationship was still budding, and he wanted to see a full bloom soon.
In order for that to happen, all cards had to be on the table. Would this be the best time?
He hoped so.
“You got the energy for one more today?”
She arched a brow and gave him direct eye contact. “I’ll always have energy for you, sugar. Come on back. We’ll have to make accommodations for the cast. How ’bout we try the chair instead of the table?
“You’re the expert.”
It didn’t take long for her to set up the different apparatus and leave the room so he could strip. Hopefully, his boxer briefs were okay. He situated himself on the padded seat. Her soft knock came just as he put his face in the donut cradle.
“What are we working on today?” She straightened the top sheet, smoothing her hands over his back.
Just that one touch had him relaxing. “All over, I guess.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“My shoulders are killing me, and my neck is really stiff.”
“Okay, sugar. Let me know if it’s too much.”
The dig of her thumbs into his deltoids hurt like hell but felt good at the same time. The clean scent of the room and the ethereal background music helped him drowse into a better mood.
“So, what’s got you worked up, sugar?”
He really didn’t want to give her that answer, not when he was under her hands and she was releasing all the tension in his muscles. But he needed to warn her before she was put in a really bad spot.
“I got a call today.” He took a breath and let it out slowly. “From my sister, Tammie.”
Her hands stopped on the small of his back. “I’m guessing this didn’t make you happy?”
“No, it did not. I’m telling you this in case she shows up at the house. If she does and I’m not there, under no circumstances do you let her in. Got it? Whatever sob story she tells you, keep her out and call me or the police.”
Sabrina pressed into a tight tendon near his lower spine near the tattooed words “Start over.” “Oh. Okay.”
“Are you going to ask me why?”
She moved to another spot on the same tendon. “No, sugar, I’m not gonna ask. If you want to share, though, I’ll listen. I think you already know how fucked up my family situation is. Not much is gonna shock and bother me.”
“You might be surprised. Not everyone knows my story. Wolf heard part of it when we were hanging out one night. I don’t drink very often, but we were celebrating Quillon and Tracie’s wedding, and I had one too many and shared too much.”
Sabrina stroked her oiled hands over his obliques, and he breathed as she released more of his tension with the firm movement. “You can tell me or not, Cam. I swear I’m not going to judge you.”
Where do I start? “Well, you know I grew up in a foster home. My real mom was a serial drug addict and a part-time hooker. She had no clue who my father was. I guess I’m grateful that she tried to stop using while she was pregnant with me, but she fell off the wagon several times before I was born.
I spent the first weeks of my life in a NICU as a preemie and going through withdrawal.
By all accounts, I should have had more problems, but somehow I avoided a lot of the crack-baby issues. ”
“I’m glad you overcame that.” She continued to work, sliding her fingers under his armpit and pressing into the front tendon at his right pectoral. The burn helped keep his focus. “Where is she now?”
“No idea. She might be in prison or dead. I don’t remember much of her, just the smell of cigarettes and being hungry.
If she’s still alive and I saw her on the street, I wouldn’t recognize her.
I spent some time getting shuffled around from place to place, in and out of the children’s home, not knowing where I might sleep next. ”
“That’s really rough, sugar. I’m glad you found Vera and Cecil when you did.”
Cam fell silent for a minute or two and concentrated on Sabrina’s touch.
She smoothed over his back and shoulders before seating herself on a rolling stool.
After gently positioning his right forearm, she began to tackle the knots at his elbow.
“Their house was the haven I needed. They took me in and treated me like a son. Kyle and Morgan were older and already there. We were more like friends than brothers, but it was okay. We had a family and parents who taught us how it’s supposed to be.
” He took a breath. “Then Tammie came into our lives.”
The tendon released, and Sabrina shifted to work on his hand. “I get the feeling this wasn’t a good thing?”
“At first we all thought it was. Tammie’s a year younger than me and was one grade below me when we were in school.
I was a sophomore when she came to live with us.
Kyle was a senior and Morgan still lived there while he went to community college, so we still had a full house. Tammie… Tammie was… damaged.”
“I see. Is this something you want… need to share? I’ll listen if that’s what you want.”
He nodded. “Tammie was also born to an addict and had a lot of problems as a kid. More than I did. She spent more time than me getting bounced around between living with her mom and living in foster homes. When she moved in with us, it was good for a while, but then it wasn’t. It got bad. Real bad.”
“I’m sorry.” The stool squeaked as she rolled to his left side and repeated the massage, minus the arm. “Did your foster parents send her back to the children’s home?”
“Not at first. They felt they were the last hope Tammie had. Fuck, they tried so damn hard, but Tammie was a master at manipulation. She broke every rule they had, then turned around and begged for forgiveness. Cuss at Vera, then turn on the waterworks and say she was sorry. She started staying out way past curfew, sometimes drinking, then would cry and hug them until they let her back in. They tried to overlook her problems and work with her, but she wasn’t having it.
It took a couple years before we reached the last straw and gave up. ”
A sharp rap came at the door before Cicely poked in her head. “I’m finished for the day. I’ll lock the front. Do some cleaning before you leave.”
“Sure. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Cicely closed the door in silence. No “thank you” or “you too” passed her lips.
“What’s wrong with her?” Cam asked.
Sabrina sighed heavily. “I don’t know. She’s constantly on my case about something.
I’m assuming it’s because we’re down a person and the overtime is getting to her.
” She finished his hand and shifted to stand behind him.
“It sounds like Tammie needed help, but not the kind your parents could give her.”
“I thought the same thing for a long time, but you know, at some point, people have to take responsibility and not put the blame for their problems on others. Maybe I’m not being fair, but when she….”
He fell silent. This was harder than he thought. Tears formed in his eyes, hidden from view by the head cradle.
Sabrina placed her hands on his shoulders and stroked the back of his neck with her thumbs. “Must be something pretty radical if it still affects you like this. You don’t have to tell me if it’s too much.”
“I’m afraid you’ll look at me with different eyes.”
She stilled at his words. “I think you can tell I’m a pretty tough person. My life hasn’t exactly been all rosy perfect either.” She paused. “You asked me once about taking a chance on you. How ’bout you take a chance on me?”
He took a breath as she resumed the massage on the back of his neck.
It felt more like a caress now. “I’d graduated from high school, but my parents let me stay in the house while I went to community college for machining and design.
My girlfriend, Caitlin, was there working on her accounting degree.
Tammie hated her. Of course, she hated everyone and everything. ”
“How old was she?”