ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝𝟜
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Dannah immediately turned her movie off and took herself upstairs.
I called after her. "Where are you going, Dannah?"
She turned around winking.
"Don't mind me, I'm just going to rest. I'll give y'all some privacy, bye-bye Dixie, see you Cameron."
Cameron gave her a little wave before Dannah finally skipped upstairs, shutting the door gently. I stood where I was, not daring to move.
I rubbed my temples gently.
"Are those news reporters still following you?" Cameron said softly.
I slowly turned towards him. He was staring right at me.
Gosh, I swear, he was going to give me a headache.
I slumped my shoulders, sighing. "No, not really."
I wanted to talk to him, but what was I supposed to say? It was so awkward as of the moment, I could just disappear into a hole.
Cameron nodded slowly, smiling at me.
"That's nice, Dixie. I'm happy to hear."
Cameron knew I hated small talk, yet he decided to torture me with it.
I suddenly snapped. "So why'd you stop by?"
"I thought I told you, I wanted to see how you are doing."
Okay, I guess that was kind of sweet. Dannah's neighborhood was about 25 minutes from Cameron's and mine.
Although it was a bit silly to drive those distances just to see how I was doing.
"Okay," I exhaled. "Well, you see me now. I'm fine, and I'm not completely heartbroken without you."
"It would be nice to treat your guests, Dixie."
I tilted my head. "Too bad you're not a guest."
Cameron snickered, covering his mouth.
"What's so funny?" I crossed my arms. I certainly wasn't in the mood. "Its a shame if you think I can't survive without you, because I definitely-"
Cameron shook his hand, clearing his throat.
"No, no..it's not about that, sorry. I know that you can live without me, perfectly fine. You're Dixie West."
I nodded slowly. At least he knew that part.
"Right? But the thing is, I've missed you terribly, not one day goes by where I don't think of my wife."
"When are you coming back?"
I really didn't know. I wasn't sure if I could handle seeing Cameron after I had been so selfish to him.
I shook my head. "Is that all you came to tell me? Because I told you, I needed some time-"
"I understand that, but I've missed you."
I sighed. "Cam."
"No, listen."
He stepped a little closer, but stopped before he got too close.
"I know you asked for space. You left because you were hurt, and I know I can't just show up here and expect you to forget everything that happened."
"It's a good thing you know something." I smirked at him.
"I'm serious, Dix."
"I know. I've been trying to give you exactly what you asked for. I can't keep wondering if you were okay."
I looked away.
I didn't want to feel anything.
I crossed my arms again. "Well, now you know I'm okay."
"Are you?"
"Yes, I am." I glanced at him.
"Really?"
"Yes, Cameron!" I narrowed my eyes. "Are you trying to argue with me?"
"No," He smiled faintly. "I learned my lesson a long time ago."
I couldn't help but smile at that. Cameron did know a lot about me.
"So," I said, "if you came all the way here just to make sure I'm alive, congratulations. I'm alive."
Cameron chuckled. "That's part of it, but there's something else."
"What?" My stomach tightened.
"We found Molly."
"You what?"
"Molly's safe."
My mouth fell open. I stared at him, dumbfounded "You found her?"
"She's with my parents." He nodded.
I couldn't process it. After weeks of looking, Molly was finally found.
I felt a little bad. I didn't help with anything.
"Oh my gosh." I covered my mouth. "Molly?"
"Yeah."
I stared at him in disbelief, then began to start rambling.
"How? Where was she? What happened? Was she hurt? Did somebody take her? Did she-"
"Dixie," He smiled. "She's okay."
My shoulders dropped. I shook my head slowly. I can't believe it. Where was she?"
"She went to my uncle Michael's house."
"The one your dad doesn't talk to?" I asked.
"That's the one."
I stared at him.
"How did she even know where he lived?"
"I don't know. Apparently her and my parents got into a disagreement. She went there because she thought someone would actually notice her."
My heart sank. "That poor girl."
"Yeah. My uncle saw a video from the community meeting. That's when my uncle realized what was happening."
"So I'm guessing he contacted your parents afterwards?"
"Yeah. Then the police got involved."
I shook my head. "I can't believe she's safe."
Cameron gave me a wide smile. He looked much better than he did these weeks.
"You look better," I said quietly.
He raised an eyebrow. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." I smiled faintly.
He laughed softly, and I found myself smiling too.
I cleared my throat. "I'm really happy for you, Cameron. You actually found her."
"We found her." He looked back at me.
I wanted to hug him. The thought came so quickly I almost did. Instead, I stayed where I was.
Cameron's eyes dropped toward my hands, then he slowly reached forward, simply offering his hand.
I stared at it. He wanted to hold my hand?
What harm would holding a hand do?
I looked at Cameron, slowly placing my hand in his. His fingers curled around mine.
Cameron looked down at our hands, then glanced back towards me
"Dix, when are you coming home?"
I looked away. "I don't know."
"Can you give me something? An idea, at least." His thumb moved gently across the back of my hand.
"I don't have one."
"Will you come back tomorrow?"
"Probably not."
"Okay...what about a week?"
"I don't know."
"Two weeks, maybe?"
"Cameron, I really can't promise you."
He laughed softly, looking down at our hands.
"I'm trying, Dixie."
"Yeah, thanks."
He sighed. "I don't know how much longer I can come home to an empty house."
He continued.
"I walk through the bedroom and your side is empty. I go into the kitchen and I still expect you to be standing there complaining about whatever I'm cooking."
"I don't complain about everything."
"You're right, you don't." He said sarcastically.
I smiled. "I miss you too."
Cameron went completely still. I immediately felt my face heat.
I wasn't even ready to say that? Just what made me speak? "I mean..."
"Can't take it back now."
He smiled. "Come home."
"Cam...its-" I swallowed.
"Please."
I looked up at him.
"Dixie, I know you're not ready."
"You're right, I'm not."
"When do you think you'll be ready?" He tightened his grip on my hand.
"I still need time, Cameron. Why are you asking me all this?"
"Because I'm allowed to ask."
He squeezed my hand gently. "I can wait."
"I don't want you waiting around for me." I looked away, chuckling awkwardly.
"I've waited through worse."
"That's not fair to the both of us."
"Neither is losing my wife." He sighed.
I looked away. Cam wasn't going to lose me.
"I know I messed up. I know you messed up. I know neither of us handled any of this well, but I don't want us to stay like this." He said.
I stayed quiet, then suddenly thought of something- as a joke, of course.
"Maybe I'd think about it if you got on your knees."
"I could get on my knees."
I quickly looked back at him. No way he would. I think anyone could tell I was being sarcastic.
It was obviously a joke. "What?"
"I could."
"Cameron, I was joking."
He smiled. "Ha, I'm not. I'll beg if that's what will make you come back."
"You're already begging." I wave a hand.
"I can make it worse."
"Please don't!"
He took one step backward. My eyes widened.
Cameron lowered himself onto one knee. I stared at him in complete shock.
"Get up, Cameron- I'm being serious. This is embarrassing."
He looked up at me. "Come home."
"Get up." I covered my face with both hands.
"Not until you answer me."
"You're going to make a fool of yourself."
"I don't care." He gently lifted my hand, then pressed a soft kiss against my knuckles.
I tried to pull my hand away. "Cameron! Actually."
"Please." He laughed quietly.
"Get up already!"
"Tell me you'll come home."
"I said I don't know." I groan quietly.
"Then I'll take that as a maybe."
"That is not what I said. You're insane."
He kissed my hand again. I stared down at him, completely mortified. He rubbed his thumb against my hand.
"I've tried to respect it. I really have...but I don't want space forever."
I swallowed. He looked directly into my eyes.
"I just want my wife back."
~
I had only stepped in here two times after my dramatic leave two weeks ago.
Now I was back in this big mansion, with only one other person. Cameron.
The front door closed quietly behind us. I stood there for a moment, staring around the foyer.
Everything looked exactly the same. Nothing had changed, except for us.
Cameron stood a few feet away from me. He didn't reach for my hand, or touch me, and I appreciated that.
"I know this probably feels weird," he said quietly.
I nodded.
He nodded as well. "Yeah, I figured."
I looked toward the staircase.
Cameron slipped his hands into his pockets. "You don't have to do anything tonight."
"What do you mean?" I glanced at him.
"You don't have to sleep in our room."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's alright."
"You don't have to talk to me either." He gave me a small smile.
I looked at him suspiciously.
"You're acting like you would survive a couple hours without talking to me."
He laughed softly.
"I'm trying to be respectful here."
"Yeah, okay." I smiled slightly.
He looked around the foyer. "I just wanted to see you back here. I missed seeing you here, Dixie."
I looked away. "I still feel kind of...I don't know- choked up around you."
It sounded cruel when I heard it out loud, especially when Cameron was standing there looking at me like he was afraid one wrong move would send me running again.
His smile disappeared. "Okay. I won't push."
"You're not upset?" I looked at him. I know I certainly would be with myself.
"No, I want you to be comfortable."
"Thank you."
"Of course."
I sighed. I still had to catch up with Ted about where I was standing in his eyes.