Page 18 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Eighteen

Demetrius

“ Y ou texted your sister about moving?” I sat across from Keegan and Cody in the latter’s office. The bright-blue paint reminded me of the lake, and the painted forest scene could’ve felt juvenile—except it didn’t. The entire room reflected the nature just outside the windows.

“You didn’t say I couldn’t.” Keegan held my stare.

For about ten seconds.

Then he looked away.

“Sure…but…” I gazed beseechingly at Cody.

Who offered a sympathetic smile. “I think what your dad is trying to say, Keegan, is that he would’ve preferred to speak to your sister first.”

I nodded. “She was supposed to be out of touch for another two days.” I thought I had two days to figure out what to say. How to broach this subject.

Well, I actually thought I had six days because I’d wanted to do this in person. More fool me for thinking Keegan wouldn’t jump the gun .

He raised his chin. “I just wanted to find out what she thought. I didn’t say we were moving here.”

“Maybe not.”

Memories of Alaina’s call returned to me with full force. Her oh God, this is the best news ever still ringing in my ear.

“I still believe it should’ve come from me. I am, supposedly, the adult in this relationship.”

Both Cody and Keegan smiled.

Undoubtedly for different reasons.

“Dad…” Keegan sighed. “I just wanted to ask her what she thought.”

“You attempted to influence her.”

He shook his head vigorously. “I didn’t. I swear. I just said she’d be near Glynnis and wouldn’t that be awesome?”

“She’s eleven, Keegan. Of course being near her best friend would be awesome. But there are serious issues that I, as the adult, need to work out. It’s not as simple as packing a bag and moving fifty miles.”

“Dad…” Keegan gave me what I thought of as his puppy-dog eyes. Something I was entirely powerless to ignore—try as I might.

“Yes?”

“I know there is grown-up stuff. Like where will we live and which school will we go to and…” He flailed his arms.

“Selling the old condo, arranging school records, finding extra-curricular programs Alaina will like, figuring out if moving to the Bible Belt of Cedar Valley is really the best thing for you.” I eyed Cody.

He smiled. “Life isn’t perfect anywhere. And just because Cedar Valley—and Mission City—has plenty of religious folk”—his smile didn’t waver—“of all faiths, I might add, doesn’t mean LGBTQ people aren’t as safe as in Vancouver. There are bigots everywhere.”

“And bullies.” Keegan raised his chin—daring me to argue .

“Vancouver has more resources.”

“Cody says I can keep seeing him. That there’s a group of kids at the high school who are queer or queer-friendly. There are a lot of good things here.” He blinked. “I like the friends I’ve made. You can work from anywhere—”

“Keegan.”

“Well, it’s true.” He plowed past my warning tone. “You were great—staying home when we needed you.”

I’d left a good-paying government job with stability, benefits, and a pension, for a more flexible job in the private sector. In this case, I’d taken a pay cut. “I did what I had to do. Zero regrets. I hope you know that.”

He nodded. “So maybe, if things settle with me, you could do something else—if you wanted to. Alaina and I don’t need babysitting anymore.”

“You’ll be in high school while she’s finishing middle school.

And there’s the matter of your French studies…

” Erlene had registered both kids in French Immersion.

And, according to their teachers, both excelled.

If they could stay in their programs until they completed high school, they would be considered officially bilingual.

That would open worlds for them—including government jobs.

I, on the other hand, had barely spoken two words of the language before I’d become friends with Erlene.

The day I’d met the kids—and seen their homework—I’d bought an app and started studying fifteen minutes a day.

In all these years, no matter how chaotic life had been, I’d never missed a day.

Last thing before I went to bed. Even the day Erlene died and her funeral.

I just had to repeat to myself, over and over, that I was doing it for the kids.

And after all this time? My spoken wasn’t great, but I could at least understand some of their homework …

“The Mission City high school has a French Immersion program, and I know several of the French Immersion teachers at Cedar Street Elementary. I even went to school with one of them—Felix Stevenson. Great guy. Loves kids. Newly married. To Jacob.” Cody met, and held, my gaze.

More gay folks. More people I could connect with. More members of the community who would, quite probably, support my son. “I’ll…take all this under consideration.”

Keegan pumped his fist.

“I haven’t made a decision.” I attempted to keep my voice stern.

Cody covered his mouth—and likely his smile—with a hand.

Keegan jumped to his feet and came over to me.

I rose quickly and caught him in a big hug. My little boy’s growing up. If he can face change, maybe I need to as well.

Alaina had texted me with a flurry of exclamation points and emojis—letting me know how damn excited she was. I had sent back a gently worded text. First asking if she was okay—given she wasn’t supposed to have cell service—and secondly cautioning her nothing had been determined.

My message had gone unread, and I hadn’t heard back.

Her friend Shanice’s mom was driving them back from the island on Monday and dropping her off.

Cody rose as well. “Give me a couple of minutes with your dad?”

Keegan nodded. “Yeah, that would be okay.” His gaze shot between the two of us. “But you’re going to talk him into it, right?”

The psychologist smiled. “We’re going to have an adult conversation.”

My boy pursed his lips.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and guided him to the door. “I promise to keep an open mind. ”

To my surprise, he gave me another hug. “I love you.” He whispered the words fiercely under his breath.

Then he was gone.

I pivoted back to Cody. “So tell me what you really think.”

And the psychologist did.

Thirty minutes later, I wandered outside, still in a bit of a daze.

Am I really considering this? What does it mean for the kids?

For me? I spied a picnic table and headed that way.

No campers were in sight. In fact, I was completely alone.

I plopped down, yanked out my phone, and checked to see if I had any messages from Alaina.

Nothing.

“May I sit with you?” A woman’s soft voice pulled me from my contemplations.

I glanced up to see Alessandra MacLean. The patron saint of the camp. Her idea and her family’s money had made Pride Camp a reality. “Uh, sure.”

She sat across from me. “I’m taking a break from everything—social worker, mother, wife…even camp…whatever I am. I’m just being Allie for a few minutes.”

“Oh.” Am I supposed to know what to say? I wish I wasn’t such a dork when it came to some interactions. Anything to do with the kids? I was intelligent and articulate. Life in general? Not so much.

“You son is a lovely young man.”

“Yeah, Keegan’s great. Thank Hamish again for me, please, for recommending this place.”

“Hamish is a great employee and able to build bridges. I’m lucky to have him working for me at the EAP company. He’s dedicated to community service. Pretty much all of my employees are. ”

“That’s awesome.” I’d had access to employee assistance programs before, but had never availed myself of their services. Until my life started spinning out of control with Keegan being bullied.

“How are you doing? Missing Keegan in your daily life? I remember you saying your daughter was away from home for the first time as well.”

“Great memory.”

She shrugged one shoulder as if to deflect the compliment.

“Yes, Alaina’s hiking on Vancouver Island. Keegan hasn’t been apart from me before either. I’m a bit of a protective papa bear.”

“I can see how much you love them. Much as my mother loved me. I lost my father when I was young—to an industrial accident.”

“So you know about losing a parent.”

Allie nodded. “Just me and my mom. I was gutted when she died a few years ago. She never got to meet her grandchild or see the mansion I live in.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s a little much—but Smith’s right in that we need a level of security.”

I didn’t know how to answer. The threats in our family’s lives were the psychological ones made by Keegan’s bullies. “Yeah. Right.”

She turned her gaze to me. “I understand you helped us the other night.”

I cocked my head.

“You drove Jai to the hospital and then ensured he had his vehicle. That was helpful. Smith offered to come down, but Jai said he had things under control.”

“He did.”

“I know.” She offered an enigmatic smile.

Or what I saw as such.

“Jai spoke to me. About you.”

“Oh?” Shit, shit, shit .

“I won’t speak out of school, but he clearly likes you. A lot.”

“Well, I like him too.”

“Having a parent date an administrator isn’t really aboveboard.”

“I know, ma’am. Jai has scruples.” Except when his cock was in my mouth.

Probably the wrong thought.

“We can’t control, sometimes, how we feel about people. My husband and I had a very rocky start to our relationship. Took us a long time to find our footing. And it’s Allie. Not ma’am. That’s…not me.”

I offered a grin. “Okay, I can sort of see that about you.”

“I’m all for forthrightness. Smith and I had a long conversation with Jai. Once camp is over, he’s free to see whomever he wants. We’re just asking for you to hold off another five days.”

“That’s fair.” Except I’m going back to Vancouver. Maybe forever.

“Look…I’m friends with Paisley’s parents.

She and her brother are coming to stay with us for a couple of days after camp’s over.

Their parents got a chance for a Caribbean cruise at the last minute.

Personally, I’m not going anywhere that hot in the middle of July, but I’m all about helping out.

Since Keegan and Paisley are close, I was wondering if he might want to stay with us for a night as well?

Perhaps we can meet your daughter as well?

She’s welcome to stay as well. Kyle, Paisley’s brother, is her age and he’s wicked with pickle ball. ”

“Alaina loves pickle ball.”

“So Keegan was saying. Smith had a court installed last year.” Allie smiled. “Look, I know inviting your kid to stay at our place is a little unorthodox.”

“Yeah.” In truth, my first instinct was to say no. To hold them closer to me as we navigated these new, and treacherous, waters.

But I also needed to spend some alone time with Jai .

Alaina came first, so the choice would be hers. “Maybe we can play it by ear?”

“Of course. Smith and I don’t have a ton of experience with older children. Now, this would be contingent on your two liking toddlers—”

“They love toddlers. Truly. My neighbor has a little girl, and Keegan babysits. He’s young, I know, but totally responsible. I’m always next door.” Because I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t a responsible parent.

She waved me off. “I was babysitting at twelve so I could save money for university. I completely understand.”

“Alaina likes to hold the baby and talk about being a mother. That terrifies me. In the next breath, though, she’ll say that’s after she visits the moon while piloting a space vehicle.

Oh, and I can’t forget how she’s going to cure cancer.

” I held Allie’s gaze. “She’s so damn smart.

Keegan is as well, don’t get me wrong. But Alaina… ?”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“You would just let four kids stay overnight in your house?”

“I can provide a list of references for us—”

“I’m not saying that. I mean I’m glad you’re not, as far as I can tell, monsters.”

“We’re not.”

“But then why?”

“Practice.”

“I want to call BS.”

She raised an eyebrow as the corners of her lips curled.

“I’m cockblocking you right now. For the protection of the campers and the reputation of the camp.

Propriety and all that bullshit.” Her grin widened.

“But after? I think you and Jai need some time to talk. He can go to Vancouver, of course. Or you can leave the kids in Vancouver and come here. ”

“I don’t want to do that.”

“Hence bringing them to our place. We have plenty of guest rooms. Eventually one will be Wesley’s bedroom as we’re hoping, if we’re blessed, to have another child. And given how challenging this one has been, I might need my head examined for wanting more.”

“Only-children survive. But my sisters were my reason for living when I lost first Mom and then Nan.”

“You were lucky to have them.”

“They’re the bane of my existence and one of my greatest joys.”

“You’re a good man, Demetrius.”

I blinked. “You barely know me.”

“Perhaps.” She gestured around the camp. “You’re here. You care—”

“I’m considering moving to Mission City.”

She cocked her head.

“Keegan really likes it here. He thinks…I dunno…that life will be different here. I keep saying this, but he wants a fresh start. Now he’s got Alaina on board, and suddenly I’m the one who’s holding everyone back.”

“You’re the rational adult.” Said with no small amount of amusement.

“Right?” I scratched my chin. “Everyone seems to forget that.”

She regarded me. “I’m not going to go into details about my life—it’s a little boring…but also very personal. I needed a fresh start. I had a rough go of it for a while, and I had to find a way to move forward. Smith gave me the push. He was also there to catch me—in case I tripped and fell.”

“But you didn’t. ”

“Nope. I built a life for myself that I could be proud of. I did some pretty crappy things during my dark period. Unlike you. You’ve held your family together and put your children first.”

Did I tell Hamish all this? Did Jai tell her? Or is she intuiting this? Because she’s not wrong… “Uh, yeah. Of course I put the kids first.”

“Right. So maybe it’s time for you to put yourself first. If you’re not interested in Jai as more than a friend, that’s okay.

Even friends, though, deserve some time without kids around.

” After clear hesitation, she placed her hand over mine.

“Just think about it.” She squeezed my hand, then stood, released me, and headed off toward Jai’s cabin.

I had a lot to think about.