Reunited... With Child Part 11

"Yes, with the Mercado. We need to close down the businesses while we are doing construction," Cam said.

"I thought we'd already agreed that you would keep them open," Selena said.

Selena had been the big-gun New York City attorney that the Mercado merchants had hired to represent them.

"We did. But there are safety concerns."

"What concerns?" Justin asked.

"We can repair the sidewalks and redo the facades while the businesses are open. Some of the repairs can wait until we have a new design in place but there are concerns about the cracked sidewalks and the parking lot is a mess. It's not safe to have people in and out of the shops while we have that machinery there," Cam said. He knew that the business owners were concerned about their bottom lines but safety was important, too. They were flirting with a lawsuit if someone got injured during the construction phase.

"I'm sure they don't want anyone to get hurt," Selena said.

"Tomas is stubborn, Selena. Your grandfather argues with me about everything. Even if he knows that I'm not trying to hurt his business, he still has to make me negotiate everything."

Justin started laughing. "I will see what I can do. He is always looking for a little more."

"Yes, that's it exactly. Now that business is out of the way...we need to talk about Nate's bachelor party."

"I think that's my cue to exit," Selena said. "I'm going to my abuelita's abuelita's house, Justin. Meet me there later?" house, Justin. Meet me there later?"

"Yes. I think we'll be done in an hour or so."

"Perfect," Selena said. "Bye, Cam."

Selena left and Cam was alone with his brother. "Becca is going to be at the party tonight...I want you to be...well, nice."

"Geez, Cam, I'll try."

"Good. That's all I ask. Nate is stoked about the wedding," Cam said, changing the subject.

"I know. He keeps texting me about what Jen did or said. It's funny, I never saw him as a family guy, but then I never expected him to quit playing pro baseball, either."

"Life has a way of making you change," Cam said. Realizing that life was doing that to him right now. He had to change or lose Becca and Ty.

"Yes, it does. I think I'll walk over and talk to Tomas, then meet up with Selena. Do you need me for anything here?"

"Nah, I'm good."

Justin left, and Cam went back to work on some details for the tenth-anniversary celebration.

When she got back to Cam's house, Becca walked into her room and tossed the portfolio on the bed. There was a note from Jasmine saying that she and Ty were down at the pool. She kicked off her shoes and fell back on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, she searched for answers. Just once she'd like something in her life to go easily.

She wished her mom were here so she'd have someone to talk to. Becca knew that if her mom were alive, she'd have some good advice about what she should do. Her mom had always been a big proponent of truth and consequences. And Becca knew if she'd sent Cam a letter or told him about Ty when she'd first gotten pregnant, she wouldn't be in this predicament now.

She rolled over on her stomach and stared at the luxury room. The scent of Cam lingered on her skin, and the feel of him seemed to be imbedded in her senses.

She got off the bed and went to the bathroom, showering off Cam and what had happened between them. Tonight when they had dinner, she'd see how he treated her around his brothers. She was keen to know if they were really a couple in his eyes or if she was still just his secret lover.

She emerged from the bathroom determined to take control. Since Cam had forced her to move down here, she had to let the situation dictate what she did and how she acted, but now she had be the one in charge.

She took the portfolio that Cam had given her and opened it. Work had always been her solace, and it was now. The design specs were right up her alley, and as she read over them, her mind was filled with visions of how to bring the Stern brothers' desires for the Mercado to life.

She started sketching and drawing and making notes, and when Jasmine and Ty came back from the pool almost two hours later, she had the beginnings of a spec design for Cam.

She stopped working and held her son in her arms. After a while, she sent the nanny home and went to bathe him. She wanted them both to look their best when they met Cam's brothers. She was so nervous, she could hardly think straight.

She smiled, but her heart wasn't in it. This thing with Cam was a black cloud hanging over her. It would continue to be until she knew what it was he intended for the two of them. Would they just continue to live together and raise their son and make love? Or was there going to be something more? Already she felt her emotions building, and she knew she was very close to falling in love with him again.

She looked at herself in the mirror and saw how lost she looked.

"Ah, Becca, don't look so sad. You have a wonderful son and a good life. If Cam is half the man you believe him to be somehow this will work out," she said to herself.

She'd been alone too long, and she wanted what every mother wanted...to have the father of her child in her life and to create a family.

She didn't know if the desire was keen for her because she'd never had that nuclear family growing up, but she knew that it was important to her and she wanted it.

After getting Ty dressed, she cuddled him close to her so that she could find some solace in holding him. And waited for Cam.

Cam showed up promptly at seven to pick them up. Earlier this week, he'd bought a new SUV for them to drive Ty around in. Yet another sign that he was warming up to being a father. Cam got out of the car and took Ty.

"You both look nice. The rehearsal went well and I think you are going to find my brothers on their best behavior."

"Why?"

"I told them that we were trying to do right by Ty and I don't want them to make you feel uncomfortable," Cam said as he buckled Ty into his car seat.

"Thank you, Cam."

"It was the least I could do. I did drag you down here and install you in my home. It wouldn't be fair of me not to look out for you."

Her heart melted. This was what she'd been waiting for. For the first time since she'd made that decision to let Cam manipulate her into coming here, it felt like the right one.

She leaned over and kissed him hard on the lips. "Every time I think I have you figured out, you do some thing unexpected."

"Good," he said. He opened her door for her and she got into the car. She watched him walk around the front and climb behind the wheel.

"I never thought Nate would settle down with one woman," Cam said.

"From what I've read, he always did seem to be the ultimate playboy."

"Part of that was for the club. He has always used his celebrity to keep patrons packing our dance floors."

"It's obviously worked," she said.

"Yes, it has. When I first had the idea for the club I never imagined that Justin and Nate would find the work as fulfilling as I did. I really just wanted their help financing the business and an excuse for us all to have to stay close."

"And instead you created the hottest nightclub in Miami and your brothers are your best friends."

Cam tipped his head to the side to stare at her as he braked for a traffic light. "They are. I hadn't realized it until you said that. Who are your friends, Becca?"

She shrugged. "I have some casual acquaintances at the Mommy-and-Me program in Garden City, but I'm really not the type of person who shares much with others."

"I can vouch for that. You are a very hard woman to figure out," he said.

She really wasn't, but she was glad he thought so. She hoped it added to her mystery to have him not too sure of her.

He pulled to a stop at Luna Azul a few minutes later.

"What are we doing here?"

"The rehearsal dinner is at the rooftop club. It's where Nate and Jen met."

"Great. Can we bring Ty?"

"Definitely. Someday this is going to be his club and he should start getting used to the place now."

Cam opened her door before getting Ty out of the car seat. As they approached the club, Cam held Ty in one arm and had his other around Becca. She caught a glimpse of them in the reflection of the gla.s.s door as they approached, and they looked like a real family. The one she'd always wanted for herself.

The nightclub wasn't really suited to kids, but there was a family atmosphere to the rooftop club tonight in addition to Nate's A-list celebrity friends like Hutch Damien, the rapper turned actor, and several New York Yankees players both past and present. Jen had brought her family. And Justin's fiancee, Selena, had brought her grandparents and several cousins.

Nate waved Becca, Cam and Ty over as soon as he saw them. At the same time, Selena's cousin Jasmine came up to them and took Ty away to meet some of the other kids. "You two enjoy yourselves. I will watch little Ty."

"Are you sure?" Becca asked.

"He'll be fine," Cam a.s.sured her.

Cam grabbed two mojitos off the tray of a pa.s.sing waiter and handed one to Becca. "Just be yourself."

"I don't know how to be anyone else," she said.

d.a.m.n, if that wasn't true. It gave him an insight into why she was so special to him. But he didn't have time to a.n.a.lyze it.

"Hey, big bro," Nate said, hugging Cam. "I'm so glad you are finally here."

"I am, too. Nate, this is Becca Tuntenstall. Becca, my youngest brother, Nate."

"It's so nice to meet you," Becca said, holding out her hand. "Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I'm looking forward to meeting Jen."

Nate took her hand and shook it. "I want to know about my nephew."

"Ask me anything," she said. "I love to talk about Ty."

Cam stepped back and watched as Becca did that for about fifteen minutes. It was clear to him and to Nate as well that Becca loved her son.

"Let me go get him so you two can meet," she said.

Becca walked away before Nate or Cam could say anything, and they just watched her go.

"I like her," Nate said.

"Good. I do, too."

"Yeah, I kinda figured that out by the way you keep watching her." Nate laughed.

"So are you ready to settle down with Jen, little bro? Is the whole domestic routine treating you well so far?"

Jen stood off to the side, talking to her sister and nephew. She was animated during their conversation. She held her nephew's hands and danced to the music with him.

"More than I thought. I mean, I like a good party but I don't have to do a club crawl every night to feel like I'm alive. I get that from Jen."

Cam was relieved to hear that but also a little worried. Nate was the one who made sure that Luna Azul kept drawing the celebrity crowd and stayed in the paper.

"What about our publicity?"

"Don't worry. I've got you covered. I blog from here and already sent in some photos from earlier tonight. And when you guys leave I'll hit Luna for a few minutes before calling it a night."

"That's a bit of an odd schedule," Cam said.

"Yes, but it works for us. Jen likes spending the evening with me."

"That is a very good thing. I wonder what Dad would make of this," Cam said.

"He would probably go running for the hills. As much as he loved us, I don't think this was his kind of gig," Nate said.

Cam looked around the rooftop and wondered if Nate had a point. Perhaps domestic bliss hadn't been in the cards for their parents. But at least their father had loved being a dad. And that was important.

"Are you sure you are ready to tie the knot tomorrow?"

"Positive."

"Good. I'm happy for you," Cam said.

He glanced over to see Becca coming back with Ty. Just then, Cam thought that Ty was going to need some cousins.

He turned back to his brother. "Have you and Jen considered having kids?"

Nate nearly dropped his drink, which made Cam laugh. "I'll take that as a no."

"You just asked me about clubbing-you know a dad doesn't have time for that stuff. And Jen's a dancer, so she has to think good and hard about what she'd be giving up before we even entertain that idea."