Part 42 (1/2)

'I trust you.' Cam said. 'I don't understand what happened, but I know it's real. You were amazing.' He pulled her close and Gwen wrapped her arms around him, holding tightly, hardly believing the words she was hearing. 'This supernatural stuff is real. And you're like a superhero.'

Gwen pulled back slightly to smile at him. 'Is that a bid to make me wear a Wonder Woman costume? I always knew you were kinky.'

'I'm being serious. I was wrong. I've been holding you away, trying not to get too close. I'm a f.u.c.king idiot.'

The intensity of his voice made Gwen's throat close up. 'Well, it was a lot to take in. That's why I never told you about it before, when we were younger. I was frightened it would be too much, that you'd think I was crazy.

'And I did.' Cam gave her a rueful smile. 'Sorry. But that wasn't just it. I think I was using that as a bit of an excuse.' He took a deep breath. 'I didn't trust that you were going to stay this time.'

'Oh.' Gwen blinked.

They looked at each other in silence for a moment. Then Cam smiled, breaking the tension. 'So, what else is going to rock my world view? You don't have to hide anything from me any more. Are werewolves real? Unicorns?'

Gwen shuddered, thinking about Lily's house. 'Don't mention unicorns. They're evil.'

Cam hugged her again, speaking into her hair. 'Made-up evil, or really real evil?'

'You're taking this belief thing very seriously, aren't you?'

'Like I said...' Cam kissed her '...I've got a lot of making up to do.'

Chapter 28.

Giving people what they need is not popular, but at least it's honest. And I've been fair. I've done the best with what I was given, too. There's nothing worse than a squandered talent.

Gwen spent the rest of the week running her stall at the Bath market and making new shadow boxes. Every spare moment was spent reading through Iris's journals. It felt important, like she was bearing witness to Iris's life. A life that seemed to grow increasingly small and frightened as the journal dates got closer to the present: She keeps bringing me gifts. Like I don't know what she's up to. Never lets a truth out untwisted that one. I'm Iris Harper. She can't fool me. I'm Iris Harper and I mustn't forget it.

At eight o'clock every night, Cam would arrive, bearing dinner. On the Friday, it was Thai curry with hot and sour soup to start. Gwen washed the glue off her hands, while Cam plated up the food.

Afterwards, Gwen sat back, groaning. 'So. Full.'

Cam smiled at her with such fondness that Gwen thought she was going to start crying. Again. It was like a b.l.o.o.d.y dam had burst.

'I've been thinking,' Cam said, playing with the stem of his wine gla.s.s. 'Would you like to come to my mother's Christmas Eve party?'

The shock made Gwen blink. 'At your mother's house?'

He nodded. 'It tends to be pretty stuffy. It's mainly clients and whoever my mother is trying to set me up with.'

'Are you sure she'll let me across the threshold?' The words were out before Gwen could stop them. 'Sorry.'

'I know she's difficult,' Cam began. 'She's had a lot to cope with, though.'

'I know. I am sorry. She's just lost your granddad.'

'She really misses Dad, too. I think this has brought it all back. She's been talking about him quite a bit.' Cam looked up. 'So, what do you think? You on for the social event of the season?'

'I'm not sure,' Gwen said. 'It doesn't sound like my cup of tea.'

Cam's face fell and Gwen rushed to explain herself. 'I'm really happy to be invited. Thank you. I just think that maybe that's all I wanted.' She hesitated. 'For you to invite me. Does that make any sense?'

'Sort of.' Cam frowned. 'I still think you should come, though. My mum is expecting you, now. I kind of told her you were my date.'

'Oh, well then.' Gwen forced a smile. Her mother's voice sounded clear in her mind. Unhelpful as always. Careful what you wish for.

Gwen stretched. 'We can't go on eating takeaway every night. I'll be the size of a house in a month,' she said.

Cam held up the Styrofoam cups, an injured expression on his face. 'Soup's good for you. It's nouris.h.i.+ng.'

Gwen laughed. 'I'm not sure the deep-fried dumplings are quite as healthy.'

'I'd love you if you were size of three houses,' Cam said. 'But if you're that concerned, I'm happy to help you work off some energy.'

'You're a true gent,' Gwen said, mind fizzing at his casual use of the 'l' word.

'Or we could work up an appet.i.te.' Cam walked Gwen back towards the counter and boosted her up onto it. She wrapped her legs around his waist and gave in to the kiss.

Cam pulled at the tie at the waist of her wrap dress and it unravelled. He slid his hand inside the material, his fingers sending electricity across her skin. Gwen leaned forwards, kissing him harder.

'I like this dress,' Cam said against her mouth. 'Easy access.'

'Are you calling me easy?' Gwen said. Then she gasped as he ran his thumb across her nipple.

'I'll call you anything you like,' Cam said. He bent to kiss her neck and cupped the back of her head with his hand. 'Have I mentioned that I like the haircut?'

'I don't remember,' Gwen said, her mind clouded with wanting. She pulled his s.h.i.+rt out of his trousers and ran her hands up inside it. Cam sucked in his breath. Gwen felt a rush of power that was intoxicating. She was a mess, true, but uptight Cameron Laing looked punch-drunk, his eyes dark and focused on her.

'Well,' Cam said. 'I. Really. Like. It.' He punctuated each word with a kiss. Gwen kissed him back with everything she had. The past melted away and there was nothing but the moment. Her and Cam moving together, their breath mingling, and his voice in her ear whispering that he loved her. All of her.

By the following weekend, Katie had made a full recovery. She was out of hospital and, according to Ruby, showing no ill effects at all. 'She hasn't shut up,' Ruby said, and Gwen could hear the smile in her voice.

She went round to the house to visit; to hug Katie and, possibly, to throttle her for being so monumentally stupid.

Katie was on the sofa, covered in a duvet, a side table pulled up close and covered in magazines.

'Hot drink?' Ruby asked.

'I'm boiling,' Katie said. 'If I drink any more hot chocolate, I'm going to be sick.'

'It's a hard life,' Gwen said, smiling.

'Tea?' Ruby asked.

'Yes please.'

'It's not much of a thank you,' Ruby said. 'I looked, but Hallmark don't make a ”thank-you-for-saving-my-baby” card, so tea will have to do.'