Chapter 4 – Coming Home

As they crossed the threshold, James let out a long sigh, unaware he had stopped breathing. Standing in the living room was Camille, shocked by the sudden and forceful opening of the door. James looked the thin girl up and down, her delicate frame much smaller than he remembered. For the most part, she looked like the same Camille he knew all those years ago, but it was apparent that time had gotten the best of her. The luster was gone from her hair and it was much shorter now. The biggest difference though, was in her eyes. Camille was the most positive person James had ever met, and no matter how dire the circumstance, her eyes were always smiling as if she could envision the happy ending waiting just around the corner. James almost let out a sob seeing that her smiling eyes had disappeared, replaced with emptiness and despair.

"I…I like your hair," he finally stammered.

"Thanks." She was curt, but faked a smile anyway.

Just then a little boy bounded through the room. Stopping in front of James and Kendall, the boy shouted "INTRUDERS!" and began shooting upon them with his index fingers, fully loaded and set to kill.

James just stared at Camille while Kendall scooped the boy up. "So, who's this little guy. You didn't mention a kid earlier."

"That's my little boy," Camille's smile grew. "His name's Henry."

"Wait, he's yours?" Kendall's face scrunched up in confusion. James remained stoic, though beads of sweat began to grow on his brow. "You were…but…WHOA." Kendall gently placed Henry back on the ground as he staggered towards the couch.

Once Henry was on the ground, he clung to James' long leg, settling comfortably into the young man's sneaker. James finally looked down at the boy, noticing right away that Henry shared his mother's dark curls and milky complexion. As James studied Henry's face, he discovered other features, like the boy's hazel eyes and his huge smile. They weren't Camille's features, surely, but they weren't altogether unfamiliar.

Camille's eyes widened with realization. "Kendall, I think you two need to have a little chat. Henry, let's go get a snack, shall we?"

The toddler was reluctant, but relinquished James' leg to follow his mother into the kitchen. Kendall looked up at James. "Did you know she had a kid? How could you know that? You guys haven't spoken since…"

James sighed. "Did you get a good look at Henry's face?"

"Not really."

"He has my eyes. Almost my whole face, actually. He's the spitting image of me as a kid."

"Wait a minute. He…" Kendall sat flabbergasted as he tried to process everything he just heard. "So Henry…is yours?"

"Yes. Yes, he is."

"You knew Camille might have a kid and you didn't warn me?"

"It's….it's complicated, alright?"

"I have time." Kendall said, patting the seat next to him.

"Well," began James as he sat down, "it all started at our going away party."