Page 8 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Eight

Demetrius

“ I ’m sorry you’re having a rough go.” I pressed my hand to Keegan’s shoulder.

When he was younger, this soothed him.

I waited for him to shrug me off. To claim he didn’t need to be babied anymore. He never did, though. He continued to need support from me. And, of course, he’d always have it.

Cody nodded his approval. “Maybe you want to tell your dad what happened?”

Keegan drew in a deep breath and finally met my gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I was baffled.

“You shouldn’t have had to come.” He glanced at Cody. Well, more like glared.

Cody held his gaze. “Your dad specifically asked that we call him if you had a panic attack. He respects your desire to handle them on your own, but he also needs the assurance that seeing you in person will bring to him. He loves you so much, Keegan.”

“Yeah.” I again squeezed his shoulder.

This time, he did shrug me off.

I didn’t feel hurt.

Or so I told myself.

“You were the one who said I had to learn how to deal with them.” He met my gaze.

“Not on your own.” I tried to smile. “Keegan, you’re thirteen. I know you want to be all grown-up—but you’re not. And you’ve been through so much—”

“Don’t bring Mom into this.”

Ouch. Sometimes he still blamed her for getting sick and leaving him alone . I never pointed out he had Alaina and me.

“I wasn’t going to.” I gazed into those crystalline-blue eyes. So like his mom’s. “I meant the stuff you’ve gone through at school. No kid should have to endure what you have. I think…while you’re talking to Cody…that you should maybe consider going to a new school.”

“That’s just running away from my problems.” Something else he was obsessed with—not being perceived as weak.

“No, it’s not. Hell, it’s not even a strategic retreat. It’s called a fresh start . You’re allowed to have one of those. To start anew and try again.”

“The kids will all be the same.”

“Hopefully that’s not true.” Cody straightened in his chair. “There are so many kids who are accepting. Who understand. Not so much in your dad’s day—”

I snickered.

We shared a smile.

I pivoted my attention back to Cody. “You can try a different high school in East Van or we can look elsewhere. Maybe somewhere entirely new?”

“What about Alaina? ”

“She’s made it clear she wants what’s best for you. Way more mature than any eleven-year-old should be. She’s got a couple of close friends, but you remember Glynnis moved away in June. Alaina figures if she has to do the same, that’s okay.”

“Glynnis moved to Abbotsford.” Keegan picked at his jean shorts.

“That’s right. I forgot.” Where is he going with this?

“Abbotsford is near Mission City.”

“Yes, right across the bridge. I’ll bet Glynnis’s house isn’t more than twenty minutes away.” I held that thought in my mind for a very long moment. “So if we moved to Abbotsford or Mission City, then Glynnis and Alaina would be close again.”

Keegan gazed at me and blinked several times.

I wanted to point out he’d only been here three days. That he’d been ensconced in a camp set up for kids like himself.

Except I’d met Aaron, Arnav, and Foster.

All of whom had suggested Mission City was becoming a more-welcoming place.

Aaron and Foster were both Black, like myself.

Arnav was Indian. All implied they were mostly accepted for who they were.

“This is a big decision. One we’d need to make as a family.

I promise I’ll talk to Alaina—if you still feel this way when she emerges from the wilderness. ”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” I wasn’t going to promise we’d move to Mission City—because that was a monumental decision—but I could promise to consider his request. I could honor the fact he was growing into a bright and brave young man.

One who would always feel like an orphan—his word.

I could love him forever, and he’d still feel loss.

I accepted that.

“Okay. Those are, I think, really productive discussions to have as a family.” Cody smiled. “Now, why don’t we talk about what happened? ”

So we did. Turned out, Keegan had not been paying attention during a hike and had been startled by a racoon and screamed, then jumped and fell over.

He was horrifically embarrassed that a little gray, furry creature had set him off.

But his mom always warned him about the critters—especially that they were vicious.

And, living in East Van, having a respectful fear of the little shits wasn’t a bad thing.

Since racoons were mostly nocturnal, Keegan had never seen one in person.

None of the other kids had laughed at him. In fact, Paisley had tried to reassure him. But he’d been humiliated, and that had led to the panic attack which had spiraled out of control.

Cody had intervened and guided Keegan away from the group.

Keegan asked for me in the middle of his attack.

I’d dropped everything to get here as quickly as possible, repeating over and over in my mind how glad I was to have chosen to stay in Mission City.

Except Keegan wasn’t pleased I’d come running, even though he’d asked for me. Once he was out of the crisis, he was embarrassed.

Now, he said he might want to move here.

I didn’t know how to react to that.

So I held my thoughts to myself.

Cody gently asked Keegan about what had happened during the school year. And, to me, why I’d reached out to employee assistance.

Never had I been more glad for my employers and their generosity in providing free, anonymous counseling for their employees.

After about twenty minutes, Keegan checked his watch. “It’s about lunchtime.”

“You’re hungry?” Sometimes, when he was upset, he didn’t want to eat.

“They’re serving pierogies. ”

“Ah.” Well, he loves them and you can just take this as a good sign. “That’s awesome. I might have some one night this week when I go to Fifties.” I met Cody’s gaze.

He grinned. “Best burgers in Mission City, but their pierogies are amazing as well.”

“And blueberry milkshakes.” I grinned right back.

“Ew.” Keegan scrunched his nose.

Cody and I laughed.

Then the psychologist waved toward the dining hall. “You go ahead, Keegan. Is it okay if I talk to your dad for a few minutes?”

Keegan looked uncertainly between the two of us, but finally nodded. “Yeah, that would be okay. I’m going to go find Paisley.”

Another good sign.

Cody saw him out, then closed the door and returned to his seat.

I cocked my head.

“Nothing so serious. I just wanted to say I think you’re doing a fantastic job. I mean, I don’t know the ins and outs of your daily routine, but Keegan speaks highly of you. In one breath, he emphasizes he’s an orphan. In the next, he talks about his amazing dad.” He put the words in air quotes.

“I try, Cody. So damn hard. I love the kids and only want what’s best for them. I’m hoping this place is what’s best for him.”

“He’s safe here. Racoons aside, of course.”

I chuckled. “At least it wasn’t a skunk.

“Also nocturnal creatures. Frankly, I was surprised we saw a racoon at all. Although, my aunt lives about three miles from here and she’s got a family on her property. They’re abundant around here.”

“I assume they forage for actual food instead of trash? ”

“Oh, both. Hence needing secure containers for compost and garbage. Although, frankly, the bears are much tougher. They’re smart too. Can get into anything.”

I swallowed. “And they’re around here?”

“We haven’t spotted any. That said, there’ve been sightings around the area recently. Big, black bears. We spent some time with the kids, letting them know what to do. We have rules about going out by oneself or even just in pairs.”

All of which I knew—but hearing it repeated helped ease my mind. “Thanks, Cody.”

“I can’t even imagine being a single dad—let alone a widower and a single dad.”

“Uh…” I frowned. “I miss Erlene a lot, but I’m truly focused on the kids. They’re my everything.”

“Which is so very clear. They’re lucky to have you.”

His comment felt overwhelming—he didn’t know what our lives were at home. I did my best to be a good dad, but I wasn’t perfect. Still, if he said he knew I was putting in every effort to make life easier for the kid? That had to mean something.

“I’ll get going.” I rose.

Cody did as well. “We’re taking care of him. I appreciate you came so quickly.”

“Never will hesitate. Hell, racoons are nasty creatures.” I shuddered. I’d encountered several in a back alley once. They’d pried open a garbage can and had made a gratuitous mess. Just…vile.

And yet I understood they had a place in the food chain.

And were occasionally roadkill.

Gross.

When we exited the counselor’s office, he pointed toward the great hall. “I need to get going. ”

“I can see myself out.”

“Great.” He waved and hustled away.

I eyed the administration office. Just to see if he’s there. To say how lovely last night had been. To ask him if we might do coffee.

Or something.

Was that still a thing? I’d lost the thread so many years ago. I used to date. Somewhere between Imani finishing grad school and Erlene getting sick.

Men, women, in-between. I wasn’t picky. If they were friendly, I was more than happy to spend time with them.

Especially puppies and other Daddies.

I approached the administration office.

Spotting no one, I knocked on the door.

When no one answered…I nudged the handle.

Unlocked .

Okay, so that was a sign.

Right?

I pushed my way into the office and let the door close behind me with a snick.

No one was in the outer office space, so I moved to Jai’s office and knocked. And waited. And knocked again.

The door wasn’t even closed properly.

Which worried me, because I spotted a laptop on the desk. Oh, it was attached to a cable. Not impossible to steal, but definitely harder.

I removed the present from my pocket and placed it on the desk.

With a grin, I slipped out.

I closed the office door, strode to the outer door, let myself out, and then headed to my car.

Darn pleased with myself.