Chapter 16
The morning chill was just lifting when Cameron pulled into his parking space exactly one week after the call from Kristina. One week of smiles and seemingly unprovoked chuckles. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so alive and hopeful… so eager to begin a new day. Today was the day… and he knew exactly how he would spend it until the moment his cell phone rang. He laughed at himself as he visualized the pacing, the endless trips for coffee, the countless times he would check to make sure the cell phone was on. He jumped suddenly at the sound of someone knocking on his car window. Looking up he grinned widely at the boy who stood patiently waiting for him to finish his musings. Opening the door he stood quickly slapping the boy on the shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
"How's college life treating you, Thomas? Ready to walk the halls with me?"
Thomas Kale, standing a head shorter than Cameron, looked up into eyes he didn't recognize. These eyes were full of life; so much different than the last time he spent time with his mentor.
"You look like a guy who's found his long lost dog or something. What gives?"
Cameron laughed again and lay his arm across Thomas's shoulders and turned them toward the entrance to the hospital.
"Let's just say that I've had a few prayers answered that started a dozen years ago. I'm a happy man today, Thomas. A happy man."
Thomas couldn't contain the smile that spread across his face. If only his friend knew that his secret wasn't so much a secret after all; at least not to Thomas. Lifting his arm he dropped it over Cameron's shoulder and as men often do, began to tease him.
"Have a girl I don't know about, boss? That's the only reason I know that can put a goofy grin like that on a guys face."
Looking at Thomas, Cameron grinned wider.
"Is that the reason for that goofy grin on your face? You don't fool me one minute. Some girl has you pretty well wrapped around her finger."
Thomas laughed fully knowing that both of them were so tightly wrapped around a couple of Davis fingers that it would take an act of divine intervention to break the hold Alexis and Kristina had on both of them. Dropping his arm, Thomas reached for the door and opened it allowing Cameron to lead the way into the hospital.
"So what are we up to today, boss?"
"It's going to be a very short day for me, Thomas. I've got an incoming call that I have to be available for today, so I'll be leaving early."
"Sounds kind of important."
Cameron sobered at the thought of a little girl somewhere out there, worrying over doing something against her mother's wishes.
"More important than I could ever explain to you, son."
After his call with Kristina, Cameron used the following days to consider and work out how he needed to handle the problem of Alexis's ignorance of her daughter's activities. As much as he enjoyed the thought of getting to know Kristina and being able to talk to her, he knew that Alexis would be upset with both of them and expect him, as the grownup, to do the right thing. He just wasn't sure how he was going to approach the subject with Kristina yet. What he did know was that Kristina's sense of protection for her mother was a force to be reckoned with.
Thomas eyed Cameron curiously. He could tell that there was something bothering Cameron now. Though still prominent, his friend's smile was not quite as unhindered as before.
"What's the problem, boss? You look like you've got something on your mind. Anything I can help with?"
"Thanks, but no. I think this one is going to have to be handled personally. I don't relish the thought, but… it goes with the territory."
A small frown appeared on Thomas' face and he turned his head to keep Cameron from noticing his discomfort. He wondered if Cameron was thinking about Kristina. He began to worry about what Cameron would say or try to talk Kristina into when she called later. He understood more than anyone Kristina's need to protect her mother. He understood because he felt the same way about Kristina. And he wasn't about to let Cameron do anything that would hurt either Kristina or Alexis. As much as he knew Cameron loved Alexis and Kristina, there was just so much more that both of them were in the dark about where Kristina was concerned. And it was all due to his reckless actions in giving too much information to Kristina in the beginning.
Thomas looked back toward Cameron who was now studying a chart and wondered what he could do to help fix the problem that he finally figured out. Cameron felt guilt over keeping anything regarding Kristina a secret from Alexis; just as he would if he were in Cameron's shoes. Time and distance didn't change what a man knew of a woman. Just as TK understood Kristina's need to keep her secrets, Cameron understood Alexis' need to remain informed of any detail regarding her daughter. If a man's love and respect for a woman was what it should be then it held court over everything else in his life. With that thought, Thomas made a decision. Stepping closer to Cameron he drew his attention and pulled him away from the nurse's desk.
"Cameron, I need to talk to you about something."
"Sounds pretty serious, Thomas."
"It is. What does your schedule look like for this morning?"
"Nothing much. I was just going to check in with a couple of patients then head to Kelly's for lunch. I don't really have anything planned after that until around 7 this evening. You want to head over to the apartment and just have something delivered?"
"Yeah that sounds fine. Why don't I let you take care of your two patients alone and I'll just meet you at the apartment around noon?"
"That's fine, Thomas." Cameron turned to walk away then hesitated a moment before turning back and laying a hand on Thomas' shoulder. "Are you okay, son?"
Thomas smiled thinly at the concern he saw on Cameron's face. Never would he have guessed that anyone would come to mean as much to him as Cameron did. The only thing he remembered of his own father was the glint of metal belt buckles flying through the air. Cameron was more than a friend, more than a mentor. For Thomas, Cameron was the father he always wanted.
"I'm okay. I've just got a problem I need a little help with."
"Well, don't worry about it Thomas. We'll sit down and talk it over and see if we can work it out."
"Thanks, Cameron. See you around noon."
Thomas took off in the opposite direction from Cameron and reached for his cell phone. He called his college roommate to let him know that he would be late getting back to the campus and to go ahead with his own plans. There was no way to predict the outcome of the next few hours. Glancing at his watch he knew it was too early on the island to call Kristina so he headed to the Port Charles library to catch up on the news he missed while he was away.
Sitting at a secluded table in the library an hour later, TK sat back and stared down at the most recent news of mob related activity on the docks. 'I wonder if Cameron knows this guy Sonny Corinthos', he thought. The article he just read was further proof that he needed to do something. And he knew that whatever he did would not be looked upon kindly by a certain young girl he knew and loved. He sat there for an hour trying to decide how best to begin his conversation with Cameron. Breathing a sigh of resolve, TK finally stood up and folding the newspaper returned it to its shelf before heading out to meet with Cameron. The weight he carried across his shoulders was heavier than any other he had been called upon to carry so far in his young life. So much could go wrong… Kristina might consider what he was about to do a betrayal… Alexis might forbid him to every see Kristina again… Cameron might sever their relationship… so many things to consider… so much to lose. With every step TK took, the weight became heavier. This was what being a man was all about. It was responsibility… it was doing what was right even when it could cost you everything… it was loving someone so much that keeping them safe and happy was the most important thing in your life. In order to keep Kristina safe… he needed answers… he needed to make his position clear to those that loved her most. He needed to make sure that Cameron would not hurt Kristina or the mother that she adored.
When Cameron opened the door to welcome Thomas in, he stopped cold at the anguish on the boys face.
"Looks like you're carrying quite a load, son. Come on in and sit down. Lunch is on the table so why don't we eat first then we'll talk."
TK nodded his head and walked into the dining room taking a seat in the chair he normally sat in when he spent weekends with Cameron. Pushing the plate away from him, he waited just long enough for Cameron to join him then reached into his back pocket to pull his wallet out.
"I'm not really hungry, Cameron. I… I have something I want to show you. It's… well… it's…" TK stopped and hung his head for a moment wondering. How do you explain your love for a thirteen year-old girl. It would sound perverse unless you knew the whole story… unless you knew Kristina. TK looked up at Cameron and searched his face looking for some kind of reassurance. Not finding any he glanced around the room and his eyes fell on a photo that hadn't been visible any of the previous times he stayed with Cameron. It was a picture of Alexis with balloons surrounding her.
"You have a new picture."
"Yes, I found that picture in an old law journal a few months ago. I had it blown up and framed. It's an old friend of mine that I care very much for. That particular picture was taken at a fund raiser when she ran for public office quite a few years ago."
"A picture that old… she must really mean a lot to you."
"Yes… someday I hope to see her again… tell her just how much she does mean to me."
"So she doesn't live in Port Charles any longer."
It was a statement rather than a question. Growing up with Alexis and Kristina, one understood that false statements and lies were not acceptable behavior. And even so far away from them, the honor and principles they lived by could not be ignored. Thomas was walking a tenuous line. Knowing the two people that Cameron missed and didn't inform him of that monumental piece of information was a lie in itself; a lie of omission. Just as harmful… just as detrimental.
"So you love her?"
"Haven't ever said those words out loud to anyone until last week. But, yes I do love her. I'm just waiting for her to finish the task she set for herself and allow me back into her life."
"Does loving her mean you would do everything in your power to protect her from anything that might cause her harm?"
Cameron studied Thomas' face for a moment wondering what the boy was fishing for. Could he have a girl friend that was in trouble?
"Thomas, lay your cards on the table son. Tell me what has you so troubled. Let me try to help."
Somehow knowing that it was okay to trust Cameron… knowing that he would understand; Thomas pulled a photo from inside his wallet he placed it on the table. As he pushed it slowly toward Cameron he watched his friends face.
Cameron reached for the photo and picked it up without looking at it, his eyes never leaving Thomas' face.
"This your girl, Thomas? Is that the problem? Is your girl in trouble?"
Thomas slowly shook his head then nodded once toward the picture trying to force Cameron's attention toward the face he cherished.
"She's too young for me right now. But she does have my heart. And I will do whatever I have to in order to protect her and keep her safe. She's my life."
When Cameron finally looked down he froze. Her hair was full of curls and her complexion was darker, but the eyes told him a story that his heart had waited an eternity for. His eyes shot up to fall on the boy beside him as he whispered.
"Kristina?"
TK nodded slowly but remained quiet.
"Where did you get… your girl?… you know Kristina?", Cameron choked on the air that suddenly burst from his lungs and with a voice quiet and trembling with emotion; "Alexis… Thomas, you know Alexis?"