Chapter 508) The Moment

“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.”

~ S. Maraboli

Henford-on-Bagley
Cameron Countryside Manor

Connor attempted to follow the others into yet another room, each more elaborate and expensively – almost bougie – than the next. If it hadn’t been clear from the outside, then at the very latest now even the last ignoramus would have realized the residents were not hurting for money by a long shot.

Jack pulled him back, almost causing Connor to stumble.

“What am I doing here?!” Jack whisper-yelled at the blonde vampire, almost 16 years his junior, but still his unlike best friend.

“Relax man, just a house tour with a small group followed by some casual buffet style food. Tomorrow is gonna be the big crowd, so just be happy we dragged you out today, and just look at their shit, oooh and aaaah occasionally, just like the rest of us and then go eat yourself fat. It’s the polite thing to do.” Connor told him casually.

“I don’t even know these people!” Jack argued back, his voice subdued.

“Well, then get to know them. Since when are you shy? One of them is your ex-lover’s and baby momma’s best friend, the other her husband and AG’s uncle – and mine, even though he’s just 4 years older than me, so you might want to get in on that, considering you will be seeing them more whenever you come visit your daughter.”

“Whenever I visit?! Connor, this visit was supposed to be an exception not a new normal! Just for me to see – ONCE – what I am up against. I don’t belong in a palace! Or in this here Henfordshire-ian utopia giant mansion nightmare among the wealthy and royal and noble and whatever! I panic every moment, worried to say or do something totally stupid or wrong and offend the king and shit! Now this … mansion owned by people I never met before!”

“Chill, bruh! First, it’s Henfordian, not Henford-what-the-heck-ever you called it. Considering your little girl lives here, might wanna make that mental note. As for ‘these people’, I can’t help that you knocked up a member of the royal family, who hang out with other royals and nobles and such. As for this here, the man of the house is my uncle, so we’re good. Family, that’s all. The woman of the house is obviously his wife and AG’s bestie. You got a kid with AG, so you will see Bianca through the years too. The kids are … well … Jake is 15, usually pretty chill and low key, but currently in some typical teen phase, you should know that well from Jackson and from my sisters. The daughter, Maeverette, is about 10 or 11 and a bit of a firecracker. I told you all that before. Just a family visit.” Connor told him.

“What kinda name is Maeverette?” Jack grimaced.

“It’s a mash-up in honor of my great-grandma, Maeve, and great-grandpa, Everett, who made us as rich and famous as we are nowadays. So, I am Maeverette and I think it is pretty. And I am 9, same as AG’s son Prince William, thanks for knowing that Connor.” a young voice said next to them, making Connor chuckle, while Jack looked terrified looking at a little girl with long fiery red hair.

“Hahaha, sorry Maevey. You’re right, you don’t look a day older than 9 either. My bad. Jack, may I introduce my cousin Maeverette Cameron. Named after the ultimate firecracker, I am old enough to have experienced the original Maeve live and in full color and lemme tell ya, this one’s name here couldn’t have been chosen any more fitting. Just not sure which part of the other namesake she got, hoping it’s the singing, not all the other stuff, cos that’d be fun for Bianca and Gavin once she reaches puberty. The stories I heard about my grandpa Everett are legendary. Rett always was the popular type, center of attention wherever he went, then one time in high school his older brother Declan was being bullied, some other kids stole his clothing at the swimming hole, laughing at him trying to cover up, when Everett saw what happened, shielded Declan, then tore his own clothes of swinging his business in everyone’s faces asking them if they saw enough or need a closer look. THAT is all you need to know about Everett. I got a second cousin, an actor, who has two little boys and named them after Everett and Declan. We all told him he was nuts, but Chandler just said ‘of course I am, I am in the entertainment industry’. Hard to argue with. We all are standing by with bated breath to see what this little one will get into and if Chandler’s boys will live up to their names. The original Declan was ash blonde, while Everett had fiery red hair, almost like this one here, but Chandler’s boys are both blond.” Connor smirked, highly amused, winking at a very unamused Maeverette.

“Well, for one, you are WRONG, Connor, I look 11! At least! If not 12 or 13 if mom lets me use a little makeup – or at least doesn’t notice I took hers! She let me get lowlights, which is why my hair is darker. It’s called fashion and you should look into it, Con-Bear. And just so you know, and you can ask my daddy, twice now he had to ASK for a child menu at the restaurant. TWICE! They gave me the grown up menu. Yes, they did! So there!” Maeverette proudly proclaimed, making Connor laugh harder, while Jack still looked uncomfortable.

“Yeah, I see it now, you look only a few years away from ready to enroll in college, little Miss Thang. If your little legs were longer, you could be driving one of your daddy’s fancy cars.” Connor laughed, upsetting the girl only more.

“Well and you look like you’re still in high school, also, the 70s called and want their hair back, babyface. Yes, I said what I said, and because of your fangs, you always will be babyfaced. So there. But he looks old. Like 50. Aren’t you too old to be having babies?” Maeverette turned to Jack, with Connor laughing tears now.

“Uh, I am not quite 50 yet, not for a while, thanks much, kiddo. And sorry about me getting hung up on the name. Just … never heard it before. Where I am from names are pretty basic or they are indigenous. Well, I am Jack. I am …” Jack struggled to explain to a child who he really was, but Maeverette took the wind out of his sails.

“I know who you are. You are Vivienne’s bio-dad. The one with the horses, the ones that made AG’s Kismet. I rode on Kismet the other day. AG said I had a good natural posture on a horse and that she’d teach me how to properly ride herself; my mom and dad are not interested in riding AT ALL. Neither is Jake. That’s my big brother. But he’s in his room. He doesn’t like people at the moment. Except me, Jake loves me, and he is pretty okay for a big brother. Just him and his hiding from people these days is so lame. SO lame. I know we moved here mostly because of mom wanting to be close to AG, but I am sure mom and dad are hoping the country air will make Jake normal. Well, as normal as possible, we are still Camerons. And I am not even gonna start on his messy room. We literally just moved here and you already need a snow shovel to get in his room. Took him literally less than a week. Boys. Seriously!” Maeverette was borderline theatric, making it hard to remain serious for both, Connor and Jack.

“I can relate to that. The lame and not being social parts, I mean. Except I already live out in the country myself, over in Chestnut Ridge, and it hasn’t done anything to fix me being anti-social, probably just made it worse.” Jack retorted.

“Must be a boy-thing then. Boys of all ages are just weird. Even my grandpa Blaine is uber-weird sometimes. So, are you a real cowboy? You don’t look like one. I am kinda disappointed, when I heard you were coming too, I expected something … different. At least you sound like a cowboy. Can you say Yee-Hawww!? You know, like they do on TV, like loud and all.”

“Well, sorry ’bout that. Yeah, usually I do look like a cowboy, I s’ppose, but your cousin Connor here made me wear THIS. And I’ll yee-haw for ya all day long, young lady, but not in here and with them all around.” Jack told her.

“Ah, okay. You wanna see our pool, Jack? It’s my favorite place in the whole world! Not you, Connor, you have to go look at the house or we both get in trouble with your wife. Keira’s weird too sometimes, maybe because she’s an artist, so she is gonna wanna hear all the details my mom is gonna bore everyone to death with, you know the colors she chose for what and why and the fabrics and styles and art and blah blah blah. I am not supposed to tell, but she’s been practicing giving the tour for two days. So, go look at the house, Connor. Even though you were mean to me, I still like you, and you are allowed to even go in my room. I chose the colors myself! Come on, Jack!”

Maeverette’s child-like enthusiasm seemed to melt Jack’s hesitation, but he looked at Connor who said

“I wasn’t being mean, Maevey, I was teasing. You forget that I have two little sisters. But aye aye, lil Miss Cameron, I shall scurry to tour your new home then, so nobody has to feel the wrath of my evidently very mean wife. Hehehe. Poor Keke. And thanks for allowing me to see your room, am dying with anticipation. By the way, Jack LOVES pools, dontcha, bud? Pools and ponds, huh? Just go with her, I’ll catch up with you later. Oh, and try to resist the urge to throw her in, like you tend to do with AG, unless you want to see Bianca REALLY mad. I have, and trust me, you don’t want that.” Connor nudged Jack.

All Jack could do was give Connor one of those looks, which only made Connor laugh harder, Maeverette didn’t give Jack a choice, just took him by his hand and pulled him along with her outside, while Connor caught up to the group.

A while later a young man Jack didn’t know found him alone by the pool.

“You really don’t like people, do you?” he greeted him, his voice was pleasant, his look deceivingly youthful, as he moved around with purpose. As if he lived here.

“Ah, you must be Garrett. Cool house, sorry I missed the tour, but your daughter wanted to show me this pool. She was keeping me company until just a few moments ago. She got a call from one of her friends. That little kid has a cell phone!”

“All kids her age have cell phones, Jack. And it’s Gavin, not Garrett.”

Jack grimaced.

“Sorry. Not good with names. Or faces. Unless you are a horse. Prefer horses.”

“Well, you’re in luck. I am not much for horses, neither is my wife, but the kids seem interested, especially Maeverette, so we’ve been at the Cromwell Stables a lot since we arrived. Should be a paradise for you there, they have a lot of fancy horses, and the stables are huge and decked out. We haven’t had any time to talk, especially not in private. How are you doing with all that? The Vivienne thing, I mean.” Gavin asked.

“Probably exactly how you would expect. I love having a daughter, she’s precious, but the circumstances suck. Hard to describe. I feel like I missed everything up to this point, even though I was there for almost all of it, just in the wrong role, at least some of the time.”

“I think I get it. I was in your situation once. My oldest is a Cameron Curse baby too.” Gavin told him.

“A what?”

“Oh, come on! How can you be friends with Connor and stay at his house so much and not know about the Cameron Curse?!”

“How do you know I stay at Connor’s a lot? You just met me. I never seen you around Connor’s so how close can you be?”

“Oh, I was probably there a few times, I even was at your baby shower, but I am easy to miss since I didn’t inherit the Cameron charisma some of my family has. They enter a room and take center stage. I am nothing like that, I blend into the woodwork if I can. Look Jack, if you have Cameron blood in ya or are close with someone who does, you’re considered close family, well as close as you can be with THAT number of relatives. It’s literally the village it proverbially always takes. And then there is the Cameron grapevine. Works well. Everyone always knows everything worth knowing. Welcome to the tribe, Jack, since you are the part of the gene pool of my great-niece Vivienne. Her namesake, AG’s mom Vivien, is my oldest sister. Tough to keep straight sometimes. Even for those born into the mess, and my dad, Blaine, he doesn’t even try anymore. Cameron Curse is just a moniker someone made up many generations ago, there are variations, but it basically means a baby was fathered or conceived by a Cameron bloodline member under the worst circumstances possible, and clearly unplanned. Or, like in my brother Chase’s case, his wife wanted another baby after Connor flew the coop, Chase wanted zero, but gave in and they ended up with twins. One extra for the price of one. Life for ya. We rarely get exactly what we want.”

“Ah, so my daughter would be a Cameron curse baby then too? Even though her last name is Cromwell?”

“Doesn’t matter. Her mom’s a Cameron by birth. No matter whom she marries. You are born with Cameron blood, you are a Cameron, regardless of last name. When Bianca and I were … well … I can’t even call it dating. I wanted her, she wanted me, but she was too hung up on my fangs …”

“Wait, wait, wait! You are a … ANOTHER one?! How many of you are there? You’re everywhere now! I know Connor and Keira are … THAT, and their little boy is too. I know Connor and Keira’s parents … that Blaine and that other one I keep forgetting the name of, and now you too?!”

“Oh, you’d be surprised if you knew how many of us are really out there flying under the radar. Some prefer to keep it hush, I am not one of those, I am out and proud with it. Vampire by birth, daywalker by learned skill. Was one of the volunteer-unturns that ended up turning back involuntarily, but it’s all good, I don’t really mind. Being mortal was fun for me while it lasted, I guess. The wife and kids are mortal and now I know life from their side too. Anyway, so Bianca and I chased each other around, me trying to convince her to give us a chance and her giving me every BS excuse under the sun not to, until one day, ironically at one of Connor and Keira’s parents’ many parties – you do know that their parents live together and raise the kids in some communal setting, they did that with Connor and Keira and are doing it with the three teens between them now, right? A bit weird, unless you’ve seen it in action. It works. For them. Wouldn’t be for my wife and me.”

“Oh yeah, I am well familiar with Connor and Keira’s parents and siblings. As is my son, Jackson, he’s a few years older than Connor’s sisters and likes one of them a lot – and she him, so keeping a lid on that has been lots of fun for me, since I have no other problems.” Jack said, evoking a chuckled from Gavin, who nodded and continued.

“Yeah, I can see that. Chase’s girls both take after their mother and Hailey is a looker. Anyway, they throw a ton of parties and during one of them, about 16 years ago now Bianca and I ended up at a park and … well, passion got the best of us and we created Jake. Unbeknownst to me then, because after that night, Bianca ghosted me, the next thing I heard from her many months after our night was that we get a card about her having gotten married to some rich blond dude and she was having a baby with him. I was heartbroken, but eventually, rich dude and parents literally kicked Bianca out, I stumbled on that by accident, went looking for her and found her at a cheap no-tell motel in a bad part of Del Sol Valley with the baby. She fessed up to me, about everything, but I already knew the moment I held Jake for the first time. I know he was mine, didn’t need any testing. Moved her in with me at my parents’ mansion, rest is history.”

“Funny how you call Bianca’s ex a ‘rich dude’. Hate to break it to you, kid, but from where I sit, you’re all a bunch of rich dudes. But I know what you mean when you say you just knew. I had the same experience the first time I held Vivienne. I knew she was mine, long before any paternity tests. But why did your wife’s ex kick her out? Did she tell him the truth? But why?”

“Didn’t have to. They could tell the baby was different. You see, the differences are subtle, often easy to miss at first glance, but not if you are around the kid 24/7. Jake was born a vamp, like his father, me. He was unturned and was young enough, so his attempt took, while mine reverted. Not to mention his eyes are green, like mine. His mother has brown eyes and her ex’s entire family was the blond and blue-eyed types. None of that makes THIS color light green. It’s called Cameron green. You see someone with this particular color eyes, you know a Cameron laced those ears.”

“Oh, ah. Right. Yikes. So, you really DO know what this feels like. Finding out you’re the daddy after the fact.” Jack sighed.

“I do. First-hand. You have my full sympathy. I do remember well what it felt like to be in a three-way script only to find out you’re the one getting burned, as you watch the other two ride off into the sunset. Sorry for the movie-biz reference, I am from a long line of actors and musicians. I got the girl, unfortunately it looks like you won’t be so lucky, but at least do you get to be a part of your kid’s life. Not to step on your toes here or sound biased, but I hope you are not here to stir up shit. I feel ya, man, I do, but AG really belongs with Max, they are really good for each other, and Max is a very all right guy, especially everything considered. It would be a helluva lot worse for ya if the husband was trying to bench you. And that is not even taking into account the caliber Max is. I mean, you don’t want to fight a real king for his wife. I am not much for royalty, nor a history buff, but do know that never ended well for anyone.”

“Yeah, I know. No worries, I am not in the market of breaking up marriages, royal or otherwise, just over here licking my own battle scars. I can’t help wondering what happens as Viv gets older though. She’s little now, too young to know the difference, but she’s gonna be used to palace life, to the mansions of your famous rich family and all that expensive crap. I can’t give her any of that. I feel VERY out of place with any of your family. My biggest claim to fame was the year before AG stumbled into my life, when I finally managed to bring the outhouse inside. Indoor plumbing, man, that was my greatest achievement then. And now I am over here trying to be a dad to a princess. I’ll never learn not to keep setting myself up for failure.”

“Ah, Jack, trust me, we just can’t choose whom we fall in love with. And kids may seem like they care, they all are brats sometimes, we were, at least I know I was, especially since I am the youngest of a looooong line of siblings, seven total, plus a handful of fosters along the way. I am as spoiled as they come, man. But at least we’re self-aware. This is why we are the parents. Up to us to lay the groundwork to raise healthy members of society, no matter the background. Teach Viv things nobody else can. Teach her there is more than palaces and mansions. Take her to your ranch and show her why the simple life has its place, teach her western style horseback riding, barrel-racing and what not. Sorry, that’s kinda all I know about Chestnut Ridge and horses. Like I said, the wife and I aren’t the equestrian afficionado types.” Gavin smirked a boyish smile, reminding Jack of some boyband member young girls would go crazy over.

“You’re pretty smart for a kid your age, Gavin. Seems to run in the family, Connor’s like that. Annoying AF sometimes, but that dude has saved me from myself many times, so hard to argue with the smartassery.”

“Ha ha ha, being smartasses is a Cameron trait and I am probably not as young as you think. I am 32, way South of being considered a ‘kid’. Being a vamp and having good genes helps a lot. Camerons are just blessed with great genes, that’s why we all look at least a little bit alike, it’s the Cameron-look. #SorryNotSorryHaterz. My wife and I made our money to pay for all this in social media, we’re on almost all platforms and got over a million subs each. Getting started we did some name-dropping of famous family members, you know Bianca is from a wealthy, influential family as well, the Auditores. When we were getting started, we also may have accepted a little financial help here and there while we were building our followings, but we mostly did this on our own. Bianca does beauty and self-care tuts and hauls, I do tech stuff, gaming and gadget reviews. Paid for this nice shack here, and we can work from ANYwhere that has a solid internet connection. So, now we work from the Henfordian countryside, I honestly don’t really care much where we life, since I have access to the vampire express way to travel, if you know what I mean, and living near AG makes wifey happy, since they are best friends. Happy wife, happy life. And the kids learn to adjust. Jake was having trouble at the DSV Academy for privileged kids, I did too back in my days, so it was time to try something new. Both kids liked living in Brindleton Bay, so did I, but it felt silly when AG moved away. Plus, my big brother Chase lives there and just expected us to show up at every single one of his parties, ya know, I love his family, Colton and his family’s fun too, but I overdose quickly on parties. I am what they call a nerd. Chase used to be, but being in a band cured that, I guess. And two rounds of living with my parents at the Cameron Mansion is enough for my family. We needed to have our own place. You met my dad, you know what I mean.”

“Oh, I do. No offense, but Blaine Cameron isn’t a taste I will ever acquire, I think. You know what, Gavin, you are actually pretty all right. I didn’t expect that. To be honest with you, I really fought Connor on coming here at all, fully expected you to be some arrogant douche with his head way up his own rear end. Or some brash motormouth spewing gutter talk annoying everyone in their ZIP Code like your father. Again, no offense, just my observation and personal preference.”

“Hahaha, some would argue I am all that too, or at least guilty by association. Being Cameron is a two-edged sword, Jack, gotta take the good with the bad. Anyway, Jack, let’s go inside now and have a feast. My wife sure can cook, it’s her Tartosian roots. Unless you wanna come back tomorrow, that’s when the entire family shows up. And I mean, ALL of them, including my dad. This house is sizable but will seem tiny.”

“Ugh, so tempting, but Imma gonna pass.” Jack said bone-dry.

Gavin laughed, patting Jack on the back.

“Ya know, when we’re not hosting a bunch of housewarming parties, we are pretty low-key, Bianca and I, so if you ever need to get away from the stuffy palace, you’re always welcome here too. You got a friend here now, if you ever need or want one. As long as you don’t mind the fangs. I tried getting rid of them, didn’t stick, now it just is what it is.”

“Had you asked me before I met Connor I would have probably felt a lot different, but by now, I don’t even flinch at fangs anymore. You know what kid, I learned this the hard way, but a man can never have too many friends. Looks like one of my romantic detours cost me a friendship I treasured for a very long time, so I may take you up on that offer, and if you ever find yourself out in my neck of the woods, drop by. I got a son, he just turned 18, he’s taking care of the horses while I am here, but I think you’d get along fine. I’d show you how to really ride a horse, not this English style stuff they do here. I know you said you’re not into horses, but I think I may just change your mind.”

“With all due respect, Jack, the only horses I enjoy are under the hood of exotic cars. Inherited that from my late grandfather Everett. He loved his rare exotics, referred to them as his ‘babies’, at least the ones my dad didn’t crash in some teen rages, but that is a story for another day. Oh, I got Cameron stories, man. One day, over a bunch of drinks I may tell you things that make you shake your head so hard you get backlash. Come on, let’s go eat.”

Jack followed Gavin inside, a little uneasy at first, but instead of wanting to run, Jack took it in, realizing for the first time that he was now forever connected to these people, somehow. He saw them talking, laughing, socializing, saw them raid the buffet.

Some hot wave shot through Jack, when he realized looking around the room that they all were couples. People in love surrounded him, probably due to this being a small group, inhibitions were lower, helped by the champagne flowing freely and everyone started dancing to the background music, which lead to romantic gestures.

Connor and Keira

Gavin and Bianca

… and Aria-Grace and Max. He took his wife’s hand and planted a tiny kiss on the tip of her fingers, met by a come-and-get-me smile by AG as he placed her hand against his cheek, and she her forhead against his.

Tiny gestures, which said everything anyone needed to know and reminded Jack of what Gavin had said about AG and Max. They just belonged and were clearly in love with each other. It pained Jack to realize Gavin was right. Just as Connor had been all along. But as they say, seeing is believing. Now Jack couldn’t help believe it.

It became one of those quiet, life-altering moments that only happen to the one experiencing it, while everyone else is none the wiser, carrying on with their lives. It was the exact moment Aria-Grace’s stronghold on Jack’s heart released.

He realized he would never have what all these couples had if he didn’t let go and eventually let someone else in. If not, he’d be always the single one at couple’s events, scurrying past awkwardly, like the teenage son of the house, who had come out of hiding to get some of the good food.

As if Jake could hear Jack’s thoughts, he now looked up from shoveling canapes on his plate, blushed, and nodded a greeting at Jack, to which Jack habitually tipped his non-existent hat, only to feel even more awkward.

Jack averted his gaze and met Connor’s, who lifted up his glass and toasted to Jack as if he knew he had just witnessed the very moment Jack’s heart finally let go of Aria-Grace, so Jack could one day be free to love again as well.