Page 12 of A Simple Regret

He seems to think it over for a moment, and I’m ready for him to suggest Camden helps him, but thankfully, that’s not what happens. “Okay.” Theo’s attention returns to the TV as he bops his head along with the song.

“Is there anything else you need help with?”

I look up to reply to Camden, but his attention is directed at my dad, letting me know he wasn’t asking me.

“No, I think that’s the big stuff. Maren and I should be able to get the rest of it. The rental trailer is due back tomorrow, so I’ll work on getting it cleared out the rest of the way this afternoon and take it to my house when I’m done.”

“I can help you clear it out,” he quickly suggests, and I’m not sure who’s more caught off guard—him or me.

“I don’t want to take you away from whatever you have planned,” my dad responds.

“I’ll help you, Dad,” I interject, trying to give Camden another out. I’m more than capable of unloading the trailer and bringing stuff inside.

“You have to stay near Theo.”

He’s right, I do, but I’m just not sure I want Camden in my space any longer than necessary and doing what I’m capable of doing. “He’s going to take a nap soon,” I state, knowing the time to put him down is right around the corner. The only reason he didn’t go down after lunch was because I knew Dad had help coming to move stuff inside.

I glance over just as my son rubs his eyes. He suddenly jumps up and walks to Camden, taking his hand. “Potty.”

I take a step forward, ready to intervene. He turned three on Christmas, and we’ve been doing very well with potty training. He rarely has accidents, but I’ve noticed when he says he needs to go, he has to go right away. He tends to hold it until it’s necessary to get there immediately.

Dad reaches down and takes Theo’s other hand. “Come on, buddy. I’ll take you.”

“Okay!” he replies, releasing Camden and walking with my dad to the bathroom.

I’m left standing between the kitchen and living room alone with Camden. The silence once the bathroom door closes is almost suffocating, and I start to fidget with my hands. I should walk away, to go help my son and Dad, to do anything that would get me away from Camden, but my legs feel wooden and don’t seem to want to cooperate with my mind.

“Where’s his dad?”

This is the question I knew would be coming when I returned to Cooper Town, but I admit, I wasn’t expecting it to first come from Camden.

I clear my throat, the room suddenly feeling colder. “Your guess is as good as mine.” I glance to my right and meet his gaze.

His face is stone and unreadable.

Exhaling, I add, “He didn’t want to be involved.”

His jaw tics. That’s the only way I know he’s agitated, because his face gives nothing away. “What an asshole.”

I snort a humorless laugh. “That he was.” I take a deep breath and level him with a gaze. “Now’s the time for you to slip out. Theo will come out any minute, and he’ll do anything he can to prolong his naptime, and that means latch on to you. Dad and I can get the rest of the stuff outside. Thank you for your help. I’m sure there were many other things you’d rather be doing than assisting me, but I appreciate it nonetheless.”

He continues to just stare at me, his blue eyes boring into my own. I have no idea what he’s thinking, and I hate that. Back when we dated in high school, I could always pick up on his tells. He was so easygoing and smiled often, and now he’s just…hard.

What’s worse is the fact he’s like this because of me.

Without a word, he turns and heads for the back door. I don’t follow him. I can’t. My legs don’t seem to work. All I can do is stand here and watch him walk away, most likely exactly how he watched me go all those years ago when I walked out of his life—walked out of the one we were building together.

Just as he pulls open the door and prepares to step across the threshold, he pauses but doesn’t turn to face me. “If you ever need anything, I’m right next door.”

My throat is thick and tears burn my eyes. Hot tears I blink away. “Thank you.” It’s all I can say. He’s only trying to be nice, and my guess would be he’s doing it because of my son, but I’ll still take it. He could have easily walked out the door and pretend I don’t exist moving forward, but he extended an olive branch. I don’t want to overthink it, but it feels good to know he won’t just slam the door in my face if I were to ever need help.

Then, he’s gone, pushing out of the door and closing it tightly behind him.

I force myself to stand still and not move to the window to watch him. Instead, I turn my focus to my son, who is exiting the bathroom and talking to my dad. It only takes a few seconds before he’s at my side. “Where’s Cam?”

My heart skips a beat at the way he says his name. “Uhh, Camden had to get back home.”

“I go visit?” he asks, his eyes so full of hope and anticipation.