Silver Linings (Collier’s Creek Christmas)

15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Cam

Greg stirs and stretches. His eyes light up when he sees me looking at him and he smiles. “Morning, sunshine,” he says, his voice deep and rumbly and croaky with sleep.

“Morning, yourself,” I reply, carding my fingers through his riot of messy curls.

“What’s on the agenda today?” he mumbles.

“Mmm, nothing too exciting. Just another day at the grind.”

“Oh, right, another day of flirting with all the pretty boys of Collier’s Creek,” he teases.

“Hey, I’m a one-man man and you know it!”

He laughs as he props himself up on one elbow. “Wanna prove it?”

“Anytime.”

Damn, it good to see him wake in a playful mood after the serious talk we had last night. He was so down and despondent. Hopefully he’s taken my words on board. I grin and lean over to bring our lips together in a slow, sensual kiss.

When we part he frowns and reaches for me. “Don’t go.”

“Oh, I have no intention of leaving this bed until you’re a panting, disheveled mess. Then I’ll leave you here to recover while I head off and get to that flirting.”

He laughs, and I pounce, this time taking his mouth in a deep kiss. I explore his body, tracing his sleep-warmed skin with my fingertips until he’s squirming beneath me, pushing his hips into mine and seeking friction. I give him what he wants, and true to my word, thirty minutes later, he’s looking up at me, with hooded eyes and a soft smile.

“Hey,” I say, just as I’m about to climb from the bed, “how about I take the afternoon off and we go for a hike? Not a long one, just long enough for a bit of exercise and some fresh air.”

His smile widens. “I like the sound of that. It’ll be good to get out of the house for a while, and the weather has been good. How about we head up the mountain?”

“It’s a plan.” I lean across for one last kiss before hauling myself from the sheets and hitting the shower—the quicker I get to work and arrange for someone to cover the afternoon shift, the quicker I can be home.

Just after lunch, we’re rugged up, thick wool scarves snugly around our necks as we set off along the trail. The sun peeks through the bare canopy above us and the crisp air nips at my nose.

“It’s so peaceful out here,” I say, inhaling deeply. The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves fills my nostrils. “No customers to serve, no orders to fill. Just you, me, and the birds.”

Greg chuckles. “And the occasional bear. Don’t forget them, babe.”

I playfully elbow him in the side. “Hey, don’t jinx us! With our luck, a grizzly will come barreling out of the bushes any second now.”

“Given it’s winter, I think we’re safe.” He laughs, the sound loud in the quiet woods.

It feels good to get away from the bustle of the coffee shop and town, even just for an hour or two. To simply exist in nature, our boots crunching rhythmically against the snow-crusted dirt path.

“Wow, look at that eagle.” I point to the majestic bird circling the sky. “They really are spectacular.”

“Mmmhmm. Stunning,” Greg agrees.

When I glance at him, his gaze is lingering on me, not on the eagle, and a soft smile plays at his lips. My heart flutters in my chest. Even after being together for years, he still has this effect on me. I reach for his hand, intertwining our gloved fingers as we continue further up the mountain side.

The burble of a creek reaches my ears and soon the trail curves to reveal Sweetwater Falls. The water tumbles over boulders and ledges in frothy white ribbons before swirling into icy pools below. We pause to take in the tranquil scene, but it’s also good for Greg to rest. His recovery from his accident was nothing short of amazing, and he never complains, but I know his hip still gives him trouble sometimes.

“This reminds me of our hike in the Blue Mountains,” I muse, the memory surfacing at the sight of the falls. “Remember when we visited Katoomba Falls?”

Greg’s eyes light up at the memory. “How could I forget? That was the day you decided to play mountain goat and nearly gave me a heart attack.”

I chuckle, recalling the way I had scrambled up the rocks to get a better photo of the cascading water. “Hey, I made it to the top, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but not before slipping and almost tumbling back down.” Greg shakes his head, but there’s affection in his voice. “I swear, Cam, you’re going to be the death of me one of these days.”

“Nah, you love my adventurous spirit.” I bump my shoulder against his playfully. “Besides, that trip was full of unforgettable moments. Like when we watched the sunrise at Echo Point and saw the mist rolling over the valleys…”

“Or when we got lost on that trail near Wentworth Falls and ended up hiking an extra three miles.” Greg rolls his eyes, but a grin tugs at the corners of his mouth.

“Hey, we found that hidden waterfall, though! It was totally worth the detour,” I say, pushing aside how bad I felt for Greg having to walk that extra distance.

He chuckles. “Speak for yourself. My blisters had blisters by the end of that day.” He leans his head against my shoulder. “Those were good times. Sometimes I wish we could go back, you know? Before all the stress and uncertainty.”

I press a kiss to his temple, my arm tightening around his waist. “I know, babe. But we’ll make new memories too. Ones that are just as special, even if they’re different from what we planned.”

“Yeah, I know. And at least your mom is doing so much better now.”

Mom’s MS is in remission, but just thinking about her journey with health issues puts our own problems into perspective. She’s resilient and is an awesome role model.

As we continue along the trail, I steal a glance at Greg. There’s a peace about him, a lightness that I haven’t seen in weeks. The furrow between his brows has smoothed out, and his shoulders aren’t hunched with tension. It’s as if the weight of our struggles have lifted, if only for a little while.

“You look happy,” I say.

He meets my gaze, his blue eyes crinkling as he smiles. “I am. I’m grateful that I can still hike. It could have been so much different after the accident. Plus, being out here with you, it’s like everything else just… fades away. No appointments, no disappointments. Just us.”

I nod, understanding all too well. “It’s a nice break from reality, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is.” Greg’s smile falters slightly. “But we can’t hide from it forever, Cam. Sooner or later, we’ll have to face what comes next.”

I stop walking, turning to face him fully. “I know. And we will. But, Greg, I want you to know that no matter what happens, my dream of having a family with you hasn’t changed.”

Greg’s eyes search mine. “Even if it’s not the way we originally imagined?”

I cup his face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over the cold skin of his cheekbones. “Babe, family is about love, not blood. Whether it’s a baby of our own or a child who needs a home, I know we have so much love to give. And as long as I’m with you, that’s all that matters to me.”

Greg leans into my touch, his eyes glistening. “It makes me so happy to hear you say that.”

My heart swells with affection. “I mean every word that I said last night. In fact, I think we should move forward with the fostering application.”

Greg takes a deep breath. “It’s a big step. There’s so much uncertainty, so many challenges we’d have to face.”

I nod. “I know it’s not an easy path. But nothing worthwhile ever is.”

“What if we get attached to a child and then they’re taken away? Or what if we’re not enough? What if we can’t give them everything they need?”

I slide my hand into his again. “Those are valid worries, babe. But we can’t let fear hold us back from something that could be so incredibly rewarding.”

He meets my eyes, and I can see the flicker of hope. “You’d really be happy to foster?”

“I’d be happy if fostering was the only path we took. I mean it, I don’t need a child that’s our own flesh and blood. Would I love one? Sure. But it’s not everything. I think we have a lot to offer a foster child, Greg. Love, stability, a safe and happy home.” I squeeze his hand, pouring all my conviction into my words.

A small smile tugs at his lips, although uncertainty still lingers in his expression. “And we’d have each other, every step of the way.”

“Exactly. So whatever challenges come our way, we’ll face them together. We’ll learn, we’ll grow, and we’ll do everything in our power to make a difference in a child’s life.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

I chuckle softly. “Oh, I know it won’t be simple.” I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “But I have faith in us.”

Greg returns the kiss, his free hand coming up to rest on my chest. We stand there for a moment, foreheads touching. It’s calm and peaceful, and my heart feels lighter as Greg’s hand finds mine and we turn to make our way home.