Page 35 of Only in Our Dream (Moonflower Cove #15)

Cameron

S eeing Melanie so upset about Rob had hurt Cameron more than she had been prepared for.

She hated seeing her sweet Melanie so upset over an asshole who clearly got his girlfriend pregnant at the same time he was asking his wife for a divorce.

Cameron couldn’t imagine doing that to someone she loved.

Knowing the pain Rob caused Melanie, even though the divorce was amicable, made Cameron want to march down to the postpartum floor and tell him exactly what she thought.

Melanie had told her that was a bad idea though.

And Cameron reluctantly knew that was true.

She’d spent the evening before playing board games with Melanie and the kids before cuddling with Melanie the rest of the night.

Melanie kept talking through her array of feelings over Rob and Janet and their baby, and Cameron happily listened.

Cameron would listen to Melanie talk about anything as long as she needed.

“I just hate we wasted so much time not being happy,” Melanie had sighed as she sank further into Cameron’s embrace as they cuddled on the couch.

“I know it’s easier said than done, but looking back is only going to keep causing your pain. Let’s look to our future together, okay? We get to have this,” she motioned between them, “for the rest of our lives.”

“I love that.”

“Me too. And who knows? Maybe one day we can have a baby of our own.”

Melanie snuggled even closer to Cameron. “Mmm, I’d love that.”

The conversation came back to Cameron as she stood at the nursery window looking at Rob and Janet’s baby.

Since the nursery had been off limits to anyone but staff for years, she didn’t worry about running into any of Rob’s family.

She didn’t know why she’d decided to visit the baby.

Maybe it was her curiosity that was getting the best of her.

Or maybe it was because the idea of having a baby with Melanie had rekindled her baby fever.

Cameron had thought she was done having kids after Dylan. She’d wanted two kids and she was more than happy with the two she had been blessed with. Jonah and Dylan were the best things that had ever happened to her and she would spend forever being thankful she was their mom.

But Cameron also knew how badly Melanie wanted a baby.

Helping Cameron and Vera with their kids wasn’t the same as having her own.

Cameron knew that. What she didn’t know was how she’d be able to help Melanie in that department.

Not only was Cameron now fifty, but Melanie was only five years behind her.

Pregnancies at their ages weren’t easy or even safe in some situations.

Oh, my god, Cam. Chill out. You and Mel aren’t even living together yet. Don’t start worrying about a baby.

Shaking the thought from her head, Cameron looked at the baby in the bassinet once more.

He was sleeping peacefully along with the two other infants in nearby bassinets.

Although most people preferred to keep their babies in their rooms at all times, Cameron completely understood the need for a break from a newborn postpartum.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but I believe you’re on the wrong floor.”

“Ha ha,” Cameron sarcastically laughed at Vera as she approached her. Like Cameron, she was wearing a dress under her white coat. Since she wasn’t in scrubs, Cameron could assume she was working in the office and not the hospital for the day. “What are you doing over here looking all fancy?”

“I left my laptop in my office last night.”

“Silly woman.”

“What are you doing on my floor? Mel’s not working today.”

“I came to see the baby.” She nodded toward the baby with the tag Sullivan on the bassinet. “He’s cute.”

“All babies are cute.”

“No, they’re not,” Cameron chuckled.

“Be nice.” Playfully bumping their shoulders together, Vera laughed. “How’s Mel?”

“She’s okay. We talked some more last night and played some games with the kids so I think she’s okay. She will be okay. This just blindsided her.”

“I know. I hate it. I hate Rob for not telling her. She deserved that from him at least.”

“Mel deserved a lot more from him than that,” Cameron sighed, leaning her shoulder onto the cool glass of the nursery window. “Is it bad that I thought about swapping their baby with another?”

“ Cameron ,” Vera playfully scolded. “You shouldn’t even joke about that.”

“I know, I know.” She sighed again, feeling more like her dramatic pre-teen daughter than herself. “I didn’t swap the baby, and I didn’t confront Rob, so really I’m winning today with self-control.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you.”

The two friends talked for a few more minutes about work and kids and Melanie before they went back to their offices.

Cameron had an afternoon booked full of appointments, but at least she had a fun evening waiting for her.

Both Jonah and Dylan had after-school activities and then were going over to friends’ houses so Cameron had planned an evening alone with Melanie.

Except it wasn’t anything overly romantic.

She knew Melanie needed a break to let loose and have fun.

So that’s exactly what Cameron had planned.

Cameron had kept the details vague but told Melanie to be waiting at five-thirty for her to pick her up.

Before Cameron left work, she changed into yoga pants and an oversized tee with tennis shoes before heading out to her SUV.

As she arrived at the house, she was excited to see Melanie waiting for her on the front porch. She had on yoga pants and a tee shirt, just like Cameron, which made her laugh as she stepped out of the car. Melanie instantly laughed when she saw they were dressed the same.

“God, have we really been together so long that we’re already dressing alike?” Melanie wrapped her arms around Cameron’s neck.

“Apparently.”

“I missed you today.”

“I missed you, too.” As they kissed, Cameron savored the feel of Melanie’s body pressed against hers. “Did you have a good day?”

“I did. I got the kids off to school, then went home and took a run with Lucy. Ran some errands and got groceries for us so the fridge is stocked, at least until Jonah gets home.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know. But I wanted to.”

“You’re the best, and I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Melanie playfully squeezed Cameron’s behind. “Now, are you going to tell me what we’re doing tonight?”

“You’ll see. Come on.”

After opening the door for Melanie, Cameron hurried around to the driver’s seat as they headed off on their adventure.

Cameron knew Melanie had been where they were going before, but they’d always gone previously with kids.

She also knew Melanie would love the activity they were going to do because it allowed her to be competitive.

Melanie hadn’t become the most requested nurse on the labor and delivery floor for no reason.

“Are we going where I think we’re going?” Melanie excitedly asked as Cameron turned down a road that led to the outskirts of town.

“Perhaps.”

“ Yes !” Pumping her fists in the air, Melanie giggled with joy. “Oh, my goodness, I’m so excited. I haven’t been here in forever!”

“I thought you’d love it.”

“You know me so well.”

“Yeah, I do,” Cameron smirked at her as she pulled into the parking lot.

Jurassic Adventures was a locally owned mini golf course that also had laser tag, a go-kart track, and an arcade.

The entire place was dotted with oversized dinosaur figures to keep the loose theme of the place going.

Over the years, the colors on the dinosaurs and the red barn the arcade and laser tag were in had faded. But the fun they had there never faded.

Cameron’s kids loved it growing up. Many birthday parties for Jonah and Dylan and the Mackenzie kids were held there.

Due to the Maine weather, they only opened seasonally and were often busy during the warmer months.

She was thankful that there weren’t too many cars in the parking lot for a weeknight.

Hand in hand, they headed into the converted red barn to purchase their tickets.

Cameron bought them the unlimited pass which allowed them to do anything at Jurassic Adventures.

They started with go karts before a round of laser tag.

Melanie won at both, not that Cameron was surprised.

Her only chance at redemption would be at mini golf.

She’d been on the golf team in high school and played occasionally still.

“You do know this isn’t actual golf, right?” Melanie was leaning up against a wooden fence that separated two of the putting greens. She had a bottle of beer in her hand as Cameron’s drink sat beside her foot on the ground. “You don’t have to take six years to line up your putt.”

“I could get done a lot faster if you keep quiet.”

“So hostile.”

Cameron resisted the urge to laugh as she focused on the fluorescent orange golf ball in front of her. She loosened her hips, put the club in position, and hit the ball. Apparently too hard because it bounced off a rock and came ricocheting back at her.

“Dammit.”

“Don’t worry. You’re only losing by like ten points now instead of twelve since you got me this drink.”

“Ha ha,” Cameron stuck her tongue out at her as they laughed. “Let me get you on a real golf course and I’ll show you how it’s done.”

“Nah, I prefer my golfing experience to be surrounded by fake dinosaurs and annoyingly loud background music.”

“Yeah, what is up with that?”

“I dunno.” Taking another sip of her beer, Melanie sat the bottle down by Cameron’s as she stepped up to take a shot.

Cameron hated to admit it, but a tipsy Melanie was still better at mini golf than she was. Melanie got the ball into the cup in only two shots while it took Cameron four. The rest of the game went a similar way, with Melanie winning by the end of it.

Looping her arm around Cameron’s, Melanie leaned her head onto her shoulder as they returned their putters to the makeshift clubhouse at the end of the course.

“This was exactly what I needed.”

“I thought you’d like it.” Cameron kissed the top of her head.

“You thought correctly.”

Making their way back inside the red barn, they ordered two cups of vanilla ice cream from the small concession stand and found an old wooden picnic table outside to sit.

The late spring air was warmer than usual, much to Cameron’s enjoyment.

They ate their ice cream happily as they talked about their plans for the rest of the week.

“I guess while you’re at work tomorrow, I’ll go home and clean.”

This is my chance.

Cameron felt the small pocket of her yoga pants, ensuring the key was still inside there.

“I don’t like that.”

Melanie snorted a laugh. “I don’t either, but it has to be done.”

“No,” she shook her head, “I don’t like the idea of you going home.”

“What?”

I probably should have rehearsed what I was going to say. Too late for that now.

“I mean,” Cameron took a deep breath and held it, “I want your home to be with me. I don’t want to keep living in two different houses. I want to make a life with you under one roof. Me, you, Jonah, and Dylan. And Hank and Lucy, of course.”

Pulling the key out of her pocket, she slid it across the wooden table to Melanie. She’d had it made at the hardware store and it had the word home on it at the top.

“I know you already have a key, but I wanted you to have this one. Because I think it’s the right time for you to move in.”

“Cam.” Melanie picked up the key as she covered her mouth with her other hand. “Are you serious?”

“I am. I’ve already cleared out half of my closet for you.”

“Wow, I’m honored,” she giggled.

“You’re worth it.” Cameron smiled across the table at Melanie. She could almost see her brain processing the new information behind her eyes. “What are you thinking?”

“Honestly, I was wondering how fast I could get everything packed.”

“I’ll bring the kids over this weekend and we can get started on it.” Standing, Cameron moved to sit by Melanie. She took her hand and squeezed it as she leaned in to kiss her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Melanie giggled. “I can’t believe you just asked me to move in with you at Jurassic Adventures.”

“I wanted it to be memorable,” Cameron laughed along with her. “See, you’ll never forget this day now.”

“Are you kidding me? I would never forget the day my girlfriend asked me to move in with her no matter where you’d asked. But you know what the best part about you asking me here is?”

“What’s that?”

There was a playful gleam in Melanie’s eyes that hadn’t been there before. “That we can celebrate with another round of go karts.”

“You’re on.”

The rest of the evening was full of more fun and laughs than Cameron had had in a long time. She loved being goofy with Melanie and not caring who saw them. They were so comfortable together that it made even the smallest things they did together so much more fun.

By the time they arrived back at Cameron’s house, they were exhausted. They took turns taking showers before Melanie finally crawled into bed beside Cameron. She snuggled up with her, resting her head on her chest.

“I love when you smell like my body wash.”

“I love using your body wash.”

As they lay beside each other, Cameron couldn’t believe how lucky she was to get to love Melanie Wright.

And to be loved by Melanie was just as magical.

The fact that every night for the rest of their lives would be like the one they were currently experiencing was enough to almost make Cameron burst into happy tears.

Beside her, Melanie sighed happily. “I can’t believe this is going to be every night for us for the rest of our lives.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

“Great minds,” Melanie giggled as she propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at Cameron. “And you know what else we can do every night, don’t you?”

The way Melanie’s eyebrow sexily arched told Cameron sleep was going to be happily delayed.