Chapter 50 - Life

It was the kind of rain that seeped into your bones, that fine mist of almost nothing that had you wet through in minutes and made window wipers the bane of your life. The fine mist would make it virtually impossible to see through and yet, it wasn’t ever quite wet enough for the wipers to clear through without that final squeal.

Cam hated this weather. It made her think of miserable afternoons on the hockey pitch at school, getting soaked while her knees took a battering from Mandip Patel, just because she could get away with it.

“Seriously, we don’t have to take everything,” she complained as Michelle brought another bag out to be stuffed into the trunk of the car.

“It’s things we need. Anyway, most of it’s your children’s, so speak to them about it.” Michelle grinned, kissed her quickly, and then turned to get inside before she got soaked too. She’d already complained about the frizziness of her hair.

Cam leaned into the car and found a pair of dark eyes staring up at her. “You look just like your mama, gorgeous.” Noah gurgled and grinned at her like he understood every word, while Darcy managed a yawn. “Yeah, that’s more like me,” Cam whispered at her daughter.

“Okay, I think this is the last of it,” Michelle said, holding out a shopping bag filled with stuff that Cam couldn’t care less about. She pushed it in and held tight as she lowered the door and then pulled her arm out quickly, slamming the trunk shut.

“Okay, can we get going now. It’s going to be midnight at this rate.”

“You are very whiney today.” Michelle stroked her cheek. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, just ya know, don’t know if I’m coming or going right now. Will be nice to just relax for a few days.”

“Did you get someone lined up to take over from Kate and Gavin?” They both turned and waved as they saw the Owen clan walking towards them. Nicole and Lucy were chatting and smiling, Wynter in Lucy’s arms. Rain and Storm were wearing dresses and looking like they’d dressed up specially, Summer had put in just as much of an effort but had stuck to jeans and a plaid shirt.

“Got Gavin’s role covered, also I’ve managed to get new tenants for your place. Now that Kate and Gavin are moving out, it seems pointless to leave it empty.”

“Oh, who?” Michelle asked quickly before they were engulfed in hugs and messages of “come back soon.”

“Remember I told you about Caroline’s guests?”

Michelle nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, I spoke to Caroline and asked if they were serious about wanting to stay because I had a proposition if they did. Suffice to say they were very happy to get your place, and Ren Dyer is taking over from Gavin to run security, not just for OUT, but for everything.”

“Wow, you’ve been busy.”

“Michelle, you can’t leave!” Storm shouted dramatically as she ran the final steps, throwing herself against Michelle’s waist and bear-hugging her tightly.

Laughing, Michelle reached down and tilted Storm’s face up. “It won’t be for long. I’ll be back for your performance, I promise.”

The kid continued to plead her case. “But I need more lessons.”

“No, you don’t. You’ve got this, kiddo.” Michelle grinned and then greeted the rest of the family. “We’ll be back.”

“We know, doesn’t mean we won’t miss you though,” Nicole said, moving forward to hug her friends. “You drive safely, and call when you get there. I want to know you made it home in one piece.”

“Won’t make it home at all at this rate,” Cam quipped, causing everyone to laugh. “Let’s get going before my mother comes out here and makes a scene.” She laughed when the next voice she heard was her mother.

“I heard that,” Pippa shouted with a smile. “Don’t think you’re sneaking off without saying goodbye properly.”

Cam frowned. “I literally just came inside and said bye.”

“No, you said, and I quote, ‘we’re off.’”

“Well, that is what we are doing…”

Pippa pulled her into a hug. “This is what a goodbye looks like, Camryn.” When she was done with Cam, she moved to Michelle. “You take care. Plenty of rest and if it starts to overwhelm, then you call one of us.”

“I will,” Michelle whispered as the hug came to an end. “But I think I’m going to be okay; I really do.”

One by one everyone took turns to hug and say their goodbyes, before Cam finally managed to get Michelle into the car.

“Ready?” she asked, as Michelle continued to wave. “Back to normality for a few weeks, and then we will be back here.”

Michelle turned to her. “Normality? Do we even know what that is?”

The engine revved and Cam pushed it into gear. “Probably not, do you ever want to?”

Michelle thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. The madness does have its moments, but sometimes, just to sit quietly and be invisible again, that’s nice.”

“You, my darling, will never be invisible, not while I have eyes in my head.” Cam grinned, glancing at her before checking the road ahead as she indicated left.

The long road ahead would have its bumps and blocks, but one thing Camryn knew for sure was that whatever life threw at them, they would get past it, together. She’d come a long way, with a lot of luck, and a lot of love. She was grateful to all the people who were in her life. She grinned, pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes, and reached for Michelle’s hand.

“Onwards and upwards,” Michelle declared as Darcy gurgled and babbled in her seat.

“Onwards, upwards, and forwards,” Cam added. “Now, let’s get home so you can win that Oscar!”