". . . . eight . . . nine . . . ten. Alright, that's sixty, you can stop now."
Logan sat up and shook his head. "But I don't want to stop."
"Your doctors say not to overdo it."
"But I feel good, better than ever, thanks to you, of course. I can keep going, believe me."
Camille smiled. "Yes, but not today."
"All right." Sighing, Logan stretched out on the grass and stared at the sky, Camille lay down next to him.
Months had passed and since Logan confessed his past to Camille and finally made a full commitment to their relationship, there was this deep connection between them that no one could really explain, but it was there. Logan was no longer reserved and shy around Camille, and thanks to the active support of his amazing girlfriend, his exercises were now easier for him, and he was in better shape than he had ever been before.
"How are your parents?" Camille interrupted the comfortable silence between them.
"Good. The therapy seems to be working. It's helping my parents, me, all of us. It's not perfect yet, but it's getting better, much better."
"I'm so happy to hear that," Camille said, smiling, then leaned in and kissed him. Logan kissed her back with joy, and for a while they were in their own world, away from everything and anything.
An amused throat clearing ended their little fun. They looked up to see Logan's dad looking down at them with a mild smile.
"Dad," Logan groaned. "We talked about this."
His father raised his eyebrows. "Yes, and I'm telling you now that your mother and I made dinner."
"Dinner?" Logan asked confused. "But we never eat before six-thirty."
Jeffrey Mitchell looked at his watch. "Exactly, it is six-thirty."
"What?" Logan exchanged a look with Camille, who smiled and shrugged.
"Alright, I'm coming," Logan said, hoping to get his father to leave, he really didn't want to say goodbye to Camille while his parents were watching. Unfortunately, this has been happening more and more lately. Logan constantly had the unpleasant feeling that his parents were watching him and Camille closely, and he couldn't explain why. And whenever he tried to talk to his parents about it, they acted like they didn't know what he was talking about. But Logan wasn't blind, something was going on, but he didn't know if it was a good or a bad thing.
Luckily, his father turned around and left.
"Well, thanks for joining me this afternoon."
"My pleasure," Camille replied and kissed him goodbye. Logan wished she would never stop. He walked her to her car, waved as she drove away, then went into the house.
While his parents talked, Logan preferred to concentrate on his own thoughts. Something was different between him and Camille. Their relationship was better, deeper, but there was something else too. Something he couldn't describe, couldn't explain. And yet it was there. He could feel it, especially when she was with him, but also after they had said goodbye. What did that mean? And how could he find out? Maybe he should-
". . . isn't that right, Logan?"
His father's voice startled him.
"Sorry Dad, what did you say?"
"I asked if you're looking forward to the congress."
Logan groaned internally. His father has been invited to speak at a medical conference next weekend. It was a pretty big deal, but if Logan was honest, he didn't want to come along. A few months ago, he would have been thankful for this opportunity, even if it was just a boring conference, but the situation was different now.
"Yeah, about that . . ." Logan began slowly. "Can't I just stay at home?"
"Alone?" came his mother's prompt reply. Logan nodded. "I'm seventeen and every teenager stays home alone every now and then, so why not me?"
"Logan, you know we've had this conversation before. You're not like others, you're special and-"
"But is it right to treat me differently just because I'm sick? Shouldn't I have the same rights as any other seventeen-year-old teenager?"
"Of course it's not fair to treat you differently," his father interjected patiently. "Still-"
"But I've never been home alone. I'm strong enough for this, trust me."
"I believe you, honey, but that doesn't change the fact that you would be completely on your own if an emergency would be arise. What if you relapse while we are away?"
Logan understood his mother's worries. No one could know if or when the next relapse would occur, and if he were actually alone at that moment, it would be anything but a good situation. But that was the point. He had absolutely no intention of spending the weekend alone.
"Okay, I hear you, but what if someone else would be with me? Like Camille."
His parents turned to each other, and there was that look again, which Logan had been seeing so often lately, it was driving him crazy. His mother now turned back to him. "You want to spend the weekend with Camille . . . alone?"
Logan no longer understood the world. In the last few weeks everything has been going wonderful between Camille and his parents.
"Yeah, so? We spent many weekends together."
"Yes, but your father and I were never out of town when that happened."
"What difference does that make? What's going on with you lately? What is that with all this constant whispering and staring? Are you hiding something from me?"
"Logan . . ." his mother began gently, but his father cleared his throat and said, "We'll think about it."
"You didn't answer my question. What is going on?"
"There's nothing going on, Logan."
Logan turned back to his plate. 'Yeah, sure . . .'
While Logan quickly disappeared to his room after dinner, Joanna and Jeffrey took care of the dishes. Neither of them was particularly happy about the current situation.
"He's right, you know," Jeffrey said thoughtfully. "We can't keep treating him differently, it's not fair."
"I'm well aware of that," Joanna replied. "Still . . . this thing with Camille . . ."
Jeffrey sighed. "Should we tell him?"
Joanna shook her head, close to tears. "We can't do that, it would break his heart, she is so important to him."
"But shouldn't he find out from us instead of finding out by accident?"
"He'll never forgive us for that . . ."
"We only wanted the best for him. Nobody can blame us. It was the right decision."
"Maybe we're worrying for nothing. They could spend the weekend together and . . . and nothing will happen, that could be possible, right?"
"You have seen their looks, the way they hug and kiss each other . . . if you ask me, I don't think it will be long before-"
"Oh, don't say it, please."
Silence spread between them.
"Maybe they're already thinking about a future together," Joanna said slowly. Jeffrey nodded. "Possible."
"But maybe not."
"Yeah, maybe not."
"Just imagining that look he'll give us when he finds out . . ."
"So . . . what should we do?"
But Joanna didn't give him an answer.