Chapter 13-"Home!!"

The next 2 weeks were heaven on earth, at least as far as Amanda and Cameron were concerned. They spent the time getting to know each other all over again.Amanda brought him breakfast in bed one morning,and Cameron could not help but smile.Amanda's idea of breakfast? Some crackers,a jar of peanut butter, some grapes and beverages.

"This is what you bring a hungry man to eat? It's not enough to keep a bird alive!!"

"Well, this is just the first course. The main course comes later!!"

Cameron's interest is piqued …"Oh really?Tell me more!"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Cameron tipped his head to one side,and raised that one eyebrow…"Like what?"

"Like you have something planned…what's going on in that mind of yours,Cameron Sinclair??Anything I should know about?"

"Hmmmm….let's see….."Cameron said as he tried to pull Amanda closer for a kiss.

"You don't get off that fast buddy…let me see what's behind your back!!"

"What??" Cameron looks behind his back,not finding what Amanda thinks is there.

"That!!"She points to a single yellow rose he's hiding under the sheets.

"Oh this??Don't tell but it's for my beautiful wife….We just got married and I just wanted to let her know how much she means to me…!"

When Cameron talked like this, Amanda couldn't help but smile. She knew sometimes that the words were there, but are often hard to say out loud.

"This is so sweet!Thank you!" Amanda bent down to kiss Cameron who was still laying in bed.He took the rose, ran it across her cheek, and then gently touched it with his hand.No matter how many times Cameron touched her, Amanda still felt the same desire after each touch!

They decided to get dressed and take a nice long walk along the beach. Cameron grabbed her hand and pulled her in close.They didn't need to say anything.All they felt was always there-in their hearts!

They walked almost a mile or two before Amanda said she wanted to sit down and rest for a minute. Cameron led her to the end of the pier and they let their feet dangle in the water. It was calm.

"Do we really have to go home? Now?? Can't we stay for a few more weeks??"

"I wish we could.This has been so peaceful and comforting…not to mention exciting and wonderful…"

"Well thank you ma'am…" Cameron responds back to her.

"Oh you are so full of yourself Sinclair! You know what I meant.It has been nice for just the two of us to be here..no Alli,no Gary..no old memories..just the new ones we've made."

"Amanda…is there something on that beautiful mind of yours?" Cameron asked her while rubbing her back and letting his hand rest on her waist.

Amanda thought for a minute and then decided not to say anything.

"Uh….no…that's ok..let's go back .I'm rested now…I can keep up with you."

"I sure hope so..but we are not finished with this."

"Race you back Sinclair.."

Cameron just laughs out loud and shrugs his shoulders.

"YOU are no match for me Amanda. I have moves you've never even seen yet!"

"Oh do you now??"

"Sure do…. if you don't get going,you'll never see them.." Cameron gives her a little shove that throws her off balance.He gets a head start on her but keeps looking back to see how close she's getting.

He is rather surprised when Amanda gets closer with relative ease.She gets close enough to give his swimming suit a quick tug,which almost makes it fall down! Cameron has to stop and pull it back up and Amanda sees this as her chance and passes him.

Just as Amanda is about to make it to the Cory patio, Cameron wrestled her to the ground and finds himself laying directly on top of her.He gazed into Amanda's eyes and saw them sparkling like the stars.She gives him a slight pat on his behind.

"I do declare Mr. Sinclair…did I do something to make you blush?""

"You beat me Amanda!Fair and square! I surrender!!"

"Hmmm…never thought your surrendering to me would be so easy…."

Cameron jumped to his feet and pulled Amanda up too. She came this close.He could feel her heart beating against his…could see the sweat on every part of her body. She was beautiful even now. He ran his hands up and down her arms and then let them slip a little farther down her back..past her waist.

"So tell me…what's next??"

"Our plane leaves later this afternoon so I guess we should shower and get dressed.Then it's reality time.Back home…."

"Amanda..what's wrong??You seem upset about going back.Wanna talk?"

Amanda shook her head and walked over to the bed to pick up her clothes.She walked up to the door of the bathroom and turned.

"You actually don't think I am going to shower alone do you?? I can't reach this part of back and I need some nice,strong hands to help me out here.." Amanda gave Cameron that "come with me" look while doing the same with her finger. Of course,he could do nothing but oblige his wife.

After what seemed like the two most calming weeks of her life,Amanda and Cameron made it back to Bay City.They stopped at the Cory's first to pick up some of Amanda's personal items.Then they were headed home. That word sounded so good to Cameron right now.He never truly had a place that he could call home..until the one he would now share with Amanda.

"So Cameron….was Key West everything you wanted it to be this time?" Rachel inquired.

"And more..Mrs..I mean Rachel. It was heaven..just the two of us…nothing to interrupt us..not work..not fam….SORRY!!"

"That's ok Cam. Families don't belong with newlyweds on their honeymoon!! And my daughter gave us specific instructions that she did NOT want to be interrupted."

Cameron looked over to where Amanda and Alli were huddled in deep conversation.
"Oh she did,did she?" He could help it but he got this sudden smirk on his face. Spending time with Amanda was just the medicine Cameron wanted,and now they had all the time in the world!

"So..when do I get to move in??"Alli asked inquisitively.

Cameron and Amanda looked at each other with surprise.They didn't think this far ahead. They didn't know Alli wanted to move in with them….already!

"Alli…..let your mom and Cameron spend some time alone in their new apartment.Moving in will come soon enough!" Rachel answered, to both the content and surprise of her daughter and Cameron.

"Yeah kid!! We've got all that Strawberry Shortcake stuff being delivered later this week Your room will be ready to accept visitors on Saturday!"

"STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE??Really!!!! Mother!!! PULEEEZE!!!!" Alli just rolled her eyes as Cameron,Amanda and Rachel looked at each other and had a laugh at her expense.

"Mom..I'd love to stay here and chat……but Cam and I want to go home…"

Cameron smiled at his new family and the prospects of having a happy home.

"Well goodnight then.Alli and I are going to take Elizabeth and Cory for a nice,long walk,aren't we honey?"

Alli rolled her eyes again-something she was very good at;"Sure grandma!"

Cameron and Amanda said their goodbyes to the family and left.It did not take them long to make it back to their apartment-home!

Cameron dropped the suitcases that were filled to the rim,thanks to Amanda's expert packing.

"Why did you do that?I have the key.See?"

"My dear wife.This is our first home together.I am going to carry you over the threshold."

"Sounds nice,doesn't it?"

"What??" Cameron asked.

"Our home!Yours and mine!"

"Sure does,Princess!"

He picks her up,pushing the door open with his foot and carries her inside. Empty just like the last time.Then Cameron smiles to himself.All except for the bedroom. He went back outside the apartment and carries in what's left of Amanda's bags. By then,she had already disappeared into their room.

"Cam?Could you bring those in here please?"

Cameron just shook his head,knowing that this was just the beginning of his dealings with all the demanding Cory women…the first of many!

"Where do you want them miss?And do I get a tip?"

"Cameron Sinclair.The bags go right over there,by the dresser..and the only tip you get is this!"Amanda takes his chin in her hand and gives him the littlest of nibbles..one she knows will curl even his short hair.

"That's it??That's my tip??After I went out and got you this??" Cameron had a wrapped box behind his back that he then gave to her.

Amanda opened it and saw a beautifully worded plaque….it said "Home is where your heart is."In the middle of the plaque was a picture taken of her,Cameron and Alli.

"Cam…I love it..and I LOVE YOU!! Thank you." She said giving him a quick thank you kiss.

"Princess,this is just the first of many surprises I have for you.I saw this a while back and knew that once I had you,and you were part of my life,that this would be true for the first time ever….You are my heart,and home is where you are..even if we had lived at the Cory mansion.."

It was then that Amanda rolled her eyes-just like Alli did.

Cameron continued…" Home is wherever you are.I love you Amanda. I always have.I always will."

Amanda was in a playful mood…."Prove it to me Sinclair."

Which he did.

Amanda and Cameron savored their next few weeks, setting up their home and getting used to married life…..having ample time in the bathroom,what to eat for dinner…or Cam's favorite about Amanda-enough "closet space" for all her shoes! But they worked it all out together.

Before he went to work late one morning,Cameron prepared a suitable breakfast for Amanda.He made waffles ala mode,with orange juice and coffee.He knew that wife of his had a secret sweet tooth that she didn't want him to know about,but he knew.All about it!

He brought the tray in quietly,since Amanda was still sleeping.He set the tray down on the nightstand,and sat on the edge of the bed.He swept the hair from her cheek and gave Amanda the most gentle of kisses.She awoke from her sleepiness with a smile on her face.She pulled Cameron in for a passionate kiss or two,but he was already late.So as much as he wanted to stay and finish what Amanda started,he knew he had to leave soon.

"What?That didn't get to you?Then how about this??" Amanda took her index finger and ran it along Cameron's chin,then down his chest,across his chest and down to his waist,where she attempted to unbuckle his belt.But Cameron's will was a tad stronger than hers,at least today it was!

"That's enough of that Mrs.Sinclair! Now you know Gary is waiting for me…and besides that,we can finish this later.I have a very romantic evening planned for us tonight.So you better be-how shall I say it??-appropriately dressed when I get home later." Amanda knew exactly what Cameron meant!

They ate their breakfast quietly,sitting in bed and listening to the morning sounds outside their window.Once they were done,Amanda walked Cameron to the door and told him she would be working at home that day.

"Give me a call later.Maybe we can meet for lunch in the park." Amanda said.

"Sure thing.Now I HAVE to go!!"

"Wait!!Just one more thing!!' Amanda grabbed Cameron's hand and tugged on his jacket,making him almost fall into her.

"Now this is what I call a proper good-bye,Sinclair!"she said,kissing him slightly,then lovingly.

Cameron barely got out of the apartment alive.He had a wide grin on his face all the way down to his car,and an even bigger one when he looked up to the balcony and saw Amanda there,waving to him as he drove off. "I am definitely a lucky man!"

Amanda spent the day working,editing some copy for Brava and getting things ready for when Alli would move in permanently.She kept fingering her wedding ring,thinking that she was a lucky woman to have found Cameron to spend her life with.He was good for her and good for Alli too.

Amanda was getting the picnic lunch for her and Cameron ready when there was a knock at the door. She was very surprised to see who was standing on the other side.

"What are YOU of all people doing here? Get out of my home and out of our lives!!"

Amanda turned around to call Cameron on the phone,when she felt a hand come over her mouth.The hand held a rag full of the scent of chloroform.In a matter of seconds,Amanda was out cold. She was taken out of the apartment,but not before her wedding ring was removed and left on the table in the kitchen.

Cameron was already waiting at the park.He kept looking at his watch,wondering what was taking his beautiful wife so long!

CONTINUE