CHAPTER 12

The first thing Cameron did when he got out was going to Josie's house to see his son. Amanda was with him, and they were laughing all the way. Josie had left the baby with her baby-sitter, a young girl named Emily, and when Billy saw his father, he started wiggling his Emily's arms, crying to go see his dad. Cameron was holding him tight, he missed him so much. Josie arrived a couple of minutes later, and Cameron took her in his arms. Josie told him he could take Billy back with him, but she looked like she was about to cry. Cameron knew how much this must be hurting her, but he wanted Billy back with him. The Sinclairs stayed there a little, then Cameron took his family to the Cory's. Alli was anxiously waiting for them. Just before she opened the door, Amanda took Billy in her arms, to let Cameron hold Alli. When the teenager saw her step-father, she jumped in his arms. Amanda was happy to see how much her daughter loved Cameron, and the feeling was mutual. The two of them bonded right away, and they never even had a difference of opinion. Billy was pulling Alli's hair, and she was telling him to stop. The two adults were laughing, saying they already behaved like brother and sister.

"-Normal, he is my brother! Said Alli"

They were in the living room, Alli was talking about what she did while Cameron was away, when Rachel walked in. Cameron got up and held his mother-in-law. She was the one who paid his bail, and he thanked her for calling his agent a couple of weeks ago. Rachel told him the important thing was he was back with his family, where he belonged. Cameron couldn't believe his luck. What did he do to deserve such family? They were so great, and he understood what it meant growing up in a loving home. He knew Billy would know, no matter what.

A couple of days later, Gary called Cameron, saying he needed him right away. Gary was in a bar and about to take a drink. Cameron left Billy with Amanda and rushed over there. Gary didn't touch is drink, but he looked like hell. Cameron sat beside him and ask the bartender for a Coke. He gave it to Gary and asked him to take that instead.

"-What did I do? Gary kept saying.

-Why don't you tell me what's wrong?

-I don't know where to start.

-Why don't you try the beginning?"

Gary sighed and looked at Cameron. His eyes were full of tears, and Cameron could see the hell he was going through inside.

"-Remember the picture your agent has? The one who is getting you trial re-opened? Well he wanted me to see if I could identify the woman coming out of our house. I identify her all right. I went to see her, saying we had proof that she was the one who killed our dad, and that if she didn't go to the police herself, I would. I loved her, but I wasn't going to let you go to jail again because she didn't want to go to the police. She asked me for a week, I gave it to her. When I went back to her place, see if she was going and if she needed support, there was no answer. I took my key and got in. She killed herself Cameron, because of me.

-Oh My God, who was she?

-My ex-wife. Josie is dead because of me."

Cameron could not believe his ears. This didn't make any sense, why would she kill their dad. She didn't even knew them 10 years ago. There had to be a mistake.

"-I know what you are thinking Cam, that it wasn't her. I thought the same thing, but she admitted it. When was a hooker, and one night she took on a client and went to his house. He was brutal and started raping her, so she took the gun he kept under his bed -she knew he was there because he showed it to her- and she shot him. She got out of there, thinking no one would ever know. She had forgot about it until I showed the picture to her. I found this letter by her"

Cameron took the letter out of his brother's hand. It was Josie's handwriting, he would recognize it anywhere. His hands were trembling when he started reading it;

"Dear Cameron and Billy,

When you'll read this, I'll be gone. I tried to live an honest life, but someone once told me you can't run from your past and they were right. My past caught up with me, and I couldn't face it. With this letter, you'll find my confession. I know this has no weight in a trial, but I know someone can identify me that night. I'm sorry Cameron, I let you go to jail instead of me. I can't go in there, so I decided to punish myself. I hope you can forgive me. I'm sorry to be such a coward, and please take good care of my Billy

Billy, the rest is for you. I'm sure you'll grow up to be a wonderful man, I have confidence in your father. Please remember I love you, and I'll always be with you.

Amanda, you have my blessing if you want to make William your legal son. Adopt him, and I'm sure he will be happy with a mother who loves him, but please tell him the truth, that the mother who gave birth to him loved him very much.

I'm sorry again and I love you guys very much,

Josie XXX"

Cameron couldn't believe his eyes. Josie was dead? How was this possible? Gary told him he took care of everything and that the memorial service would be the next day. Cameron's head was spinning. He told his brother to come and stay at their house a little, he was sure Rachel wouldn't mind, but Gary told him is girlfriend was waiting for him at home. Cameron didn't even know his brother was living with a woman. He realized how much he was out of it. He decided to wait after tomorrow to meet this gal.

Amanda was stunned when Cameron showed her the letter. She was feeling guilty because the first thing that came to her mind was that she would become Billy's mother. But after all, it was Josie's dying wish.

The whole police force was at the memorial, and a lot of tears were cried. Billy got a chance to meet his grandmother Sharlene, and his step-grandfather John. He even got to meet his uncle Gregory, who was Alli's age. Sharlene promised Cameron that they would stay in contact, she wanted to get to know her grandson, and she also gave Amanda her blessing for the adoption.

"-Hey dad, Cameron heard, are you throwing the ball or what?"

Cameron laughed and threw the ball to Gary. The two brothers were closer than ever. They were neighbors, and the two cousins were best friends. Gary's son was 6, and he was supposed to come by later, with his mother. Cameron told his son and brother he was sitting down a little.

He was playing with the grass, looking at them throwing the ball back and forth, when he heard in a little girl's voice;

"-Daddy!"

He turned around and saw Amanda coming at him with Ariel, their 2 year old daughter. Mackenzie, their 5 year old son, was following close by. Alexandra was with her. She was waiting for her boyfriend, Gregory. Ariel jumped into her dad's arms, while Mac ran to play with his brother and uncle. Amanda sat down and kissed Cameron. She loved him more today than the day she married him. Alexandra was now 18, and she was going out with Gregory since Josie's memorial. When Billy saw Amanda, he ran over to kiss her.

Amanda told him all about Josie a little while ago. He knew that his father and birth mother had an affair, and the way the had it. Billy didn't remember his birth mother, and he loved Amanda more than anything in the world. They were very close. She was his best friend, along with his sister Alex. He didn't think of his sisters and brother as his half family, they were his family. His grandmother Sharlene talked a lot about Josie, but Billy was not really interested in the dead. Maybe when he was older, he'd like to know more about his real mom, but for now, that made him feel different and he didn't like that.

Gary's wife and kids arrived a little later. The two families had agreed to meet in the park for a little picnic. The oldest Sinclair had three children, all adopted, because neither he or Cindy could have children. They had Casey, Billy's best friend, who was 6, Jordan turned 4 a little while ago and Tatiana, who was only one. Mac was mad because Jordan was a girl and his brother had Casey to play with, who was a boy.

Amanda and Cindy had become friends when Gary decided to marry her and, since then, the two Sinclair brothers were inseparable. Billy went back to play catch with Casey and Mac, while Amanda asked Cindy if she could watch Ariel for a second, because she had to talk to Cameron, alone.

"-What is it sweetheart? Cameron asked

-Well, you'll be mad at me. Remember when you said our family was complete with the four children we had now?

-Yes?

-Well, I disobeyed you. You are going to be a father again."

Cameron was shocked. He thought he didn't want to have anymore children but now, the idea of having another kid was nice. Amanda was looking at him, wondering what he was thinking, and Cameron took her in his arms and kissed her passionately, while he heard in the background the three boys screaming with disgust.

THE END

By Toukie