9. Camden #2
My dad died when I was ten. The second month of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
My mom didn’t talk about what happened that much, but from what I could gather, he was a scout and was ambushed.
We were already living in Florida when it happened.
I remember waiting for her after gymnastics practice.
She was late, and the coach was waiting with me.
Eventually, she arrived. Her friend, Isabel, had driven her there.
I pointed out that it wasn’t our car, as if she somehow didn’t know, and then she sat down next to me on the curb and told me.
The memory of it still seems like it happened to someone else.
A year later, we moved to the other coast. My mom is still there, in Dunedin. She owns a flower shop.
She took a deep breath and let it out. “So, I’m all checked in here. Where are we going for lunch?”
“I thought we’d walk along the river and see what we could find,” I said.
“That sounds lovely. I’m starving. I don’t even know what time it is, but I know I’m hungry. Are you sure you should be here and not training or exercising?”
“Mom, we’ve been training for months. Coach wants us to relax. He’s trying something new at this Olympics. I guess he thinks the team has had too much pressure in the past. He knows what we’re capable of and that we are ready, and just wants us to have fun and not try to think about it so much.”
She nodded.
“If that makes sense,” I added.
“I can see that. Tension isn’t good for balance. I’m glad he’s changing it up. Maybe we can get some medals this year!”
“No pressure, Mom! Ixnay on the edalsmay alktay!”
“Sorry,” she said, holding her hands up in front of her in the universal 'no offense' gesture.
We walked for a bit and found a small Italian bistro overlooking Story Bridge.
I stuck with the water they served us, but mom had other ideas.
“Chardonnay, please?”
After the server had left, she thought I gave her a look.
“What?” she asked. “It’s like five o’clock, my time yesterday. I think.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Not with words, Cam. I’m your mother. I don’t need your permission to have a glass of wine.”
“No, you certainly don’t.” I laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Have all the wine you want. I hear Australia has some nice wineries.”
It was good to catch up with her. Olympic training had been really hectic, and when I wasn’t at the gym, the training center, or the pool, I was usually sleeping or eating.
She knew what gymnastics meant to me, and even more so, now that I had made the Olympic team.
We had an open practice once a week, so she always made time for that.
And of course, if she could afford it, she would come to all my competitions.
I was happy to go to college and still live with her.
It helped me focus on gymnastics and school instead of getting distracted by the rest of the experience.
It was hard to go so long without seeing her. Training was so intense in the lead up to Australia. I think that’s why Coach had changed his plan and wanted us to stay relaxed. He knew we were ready, and didn’t want us to psych ourselves out.
“How’s Erika?” my mom asked.
“She’s good. Lots of expectations.”
“Oh, I know. It’s all anyone can talk about.”
She seemed to have realized what she said and tried to backtrack.
“I mean, they talk about all the Olympians, you guys, the swimmers…”
“It’s okay, Mom. I know women’s gymnastics is more popular than men’s. I’m not offended.”
“There’s definitely not a handsomer team at the Olympics, though,” she said, reaching for my hand.
I gave it a squeeze. “Thank you. I agree, I add a lot.”
“You little rascal. All of you are handsome. How’s Luke doing?”
“Uh...he’s fine.”
“Well, aren’t you guys friends? You go to the same college. The youngest ones on the team. Both in Australia for the first time.”
“Yeah, we are friends, Mom. Luke’s…” Incredible. Sexy. Everything I could want in a boyfriend. “...great. I’m glad he’s here. We’ve gotten closer.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Do he and Erika get along?”
“Yeah.” God, this conversation was weird.
“Good. Friends are a good thing to have, Camden.”
And let’s take this somewhere else.
I smiled. “It’s nice to have you here, Mom. How’s the flower shop?”
“Oh, you know. Busy busy busy.”
And as she updated me on her life, I couldn’t help but wonder, had she figured it out too?
I walked her back to her hotel.
“I think I’m going to take a nap before tonight,” she said.
“You know, they say the best way to get adjusted to the time change is to stay up as late as you can, and go to bed at the normal time.”
“Cam, if I don’t get a few hours, I’m going to sleep through the opening ceremony.”
“Okay, okay. Wouldn't want that to happen. You have all your tickets for the events, then?”
“Yes, I got my packet a few days before I left. Everything was in there. The schedule, the venues, a map. All of it. Thank you, sweetie.”
“Alright, they should’ve put all the gymnastics families together, so you should know most of the surrounding people. Aussies are really friendly anyway, and Erika’s parents and brother are coming.”
“Oh, that’s great. I haven’t seen Rebecca and David in a few months. It will be nice to catch up with them. And little Austin. Well, not so little anymore. He’s what? Sixteen?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I hadn’t seen him in a few years.
“Well, I know you’re going to do great tomorrow. I’m so proud of you. I love you very much, Cam.”
“I love you too, Mom. Glad you’re here to support me.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Text me later. And enjoy the ceremony!” She kissed me goodbye and headed into the hotel.
“You too!”
I headed to the taxi stand and got in line.
I thought back to what my mom said, especially the part about Luke.
Could she have figured it out? I really didn’t think so.
How could she possibly have come to that conclusion?
I didn’t have any idea, but I also wasn’t going to let it bother me, either.
I knew I would come out to her eventually, and she’d probably be fine with it.
You just didn’t have a good reason until now.
I had to keep reminding myself that things weren’t serious with Luke, even though I wanted them to be.
Even though I could see him as my boyfriend, introducing him to my mother and everything.
But Luke didn’t want it to continue after the games, so I would enjoy it while it lasted and try to move on when I got home. This was a problem for future Cam.