Joshua and I walk through the house and into the kitchen to see Cam.
He is on the phone and his anxiety level is through the roof. Joshua frowns as he listens. Cameron hangs up the phone and drops his head into his hands.
I frown at Joshua in question and he shrugs in return.
“What’s up?” Joshua asks quietly.
Cameron’s haunted eyes meet his. “The blood tests came back,” he whispers.
“And?” Joshua replies.
“I’m not a Stanton,” Cameron whispers.
What!
Dear god, my world spins as my eyes fly to Joshua.
Joshua frowns. “What are you talking about? I thought you needed the blood tests for university assignments.”
Cameron shakes his head as he leans back onto the bench and runs both hands through his hair in frustration. “No,” he whispers.
I start to hear my pulse in my ears as my cortisol escalates at a dangerously high pace.
“You’ve lost me,” Joshua snaps. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I did the testing for paternity because I knew that I didn’t have the same blood type as you and I thought it was unusual,” he replies.
Joshua frowns. “And?” he questions. I stand still, riveted to the spot. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my fucking god.
“You and Wilson have the same blood but I don’t.”
What! Huh? I screw up my face in question. What does that mean? My head is spinning. How can Joshua have the same blood type as Wilson? There must be some mistake. My heartbeat is thumping through my chest.
Joshua frowns again. “Speak fucking English,” he snaps.
“It means there is no way genetically that you and I have the same father,” Cameron replies.
I gently grab Joshua’s hand in sympathy and he rips it from my grip angrily. I swallow the lump in my throat as fear fills me.
“Fuck off-that’s bullshit,” he snaps.
Cameron flies into a fury. “You think I am making this up? What are you fucking worried about? It’s me that isn’t a Stanton. Not you!”
I put my head into my hands. I’m confused. What the hell is going on? How is Wilson’s blood type the same as Joshua’s?
“Hang on. Wait a minute,” I say gently, trying to defuse the situation. “Cameron, what blood type does your father have?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” he replies.
I frown again. “So how do you know you are not a Stanton?” I ask.
He shakes his head sadly. “I don’t, but I know that Josh and I have different fathers. There is no way that we can be full brothers, and seeing that Josh and Wilson have the same blood type I am assuming it is me.”
“What about Scott?” Joshua asks.
“He didn’t get tested, remember,” Cameron replies.
This is a nightmare. I hold my hand over my mouth. I think I’m going to be sick.
Joshua puts both of his hands over his face and I slump into the chair. What in the hell is going on? The lie I thought I knew is another lie… to cover god knows what lie. That fucking bitch Margaret. What has she done now?
“It’s not true. That’s bullshit,” Joshua snaps.
Abbie comes around the corner. “You guys coming to eat or what?” She smiles excitedly as she pulls me into an embrace. “I can’t believe you are getting married.” She grabs Joshua into a headlock and he forces out a smile. “You did good Stanton.” She giggles.
“We will be out in a minute babe.” I fake a smile, and she picks up the serviettes and disappears back out the door. Cameron’s haunted eyes meet Joshua’s and I die a little inside. Now is the time, I have to tell them now, but do I tell Joshua alone or with Cameron? And what do I know? I don’t know the truth that’s for sure.
“Let’s just have breakfast and not tell anyone until we know the facts,” I murmur. “It may be some crazy mix-up.”
Joshua nods and puts his arm around Cameron to comfort him. Cameron is distraught and tears fill his eyes and Joshua drops his head to Cameron’s shoulder. They stand still in an embrace and the hurt in the room is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. How could she do this to her two sons? You don’t fuck around with people’s paternity, bitch.
“Let’s just go and have breakfast and we will sort out this mess when we get back to LA,” I whisper. “Until we know the facts we can’t jump to conclusions.”
They both nod as they pull away from each other.
I head out to the table and everyone cheers loudly. Oh god, not now fuckers. I rub my forehead in frustration.
Adrian raises his glass of orange juice as Joshua takes his seat next to me. “To the happy couple.” He toasts, and everyone repeats “To the happy couple”. Joshua forces a smile and kisses me gently on the cheek. Perspiration starts to burn my armpits as my uncomfortable state becomes apparent. Cameron still hasn’t returned to the table. Oh god, this is a nightmare. My eyes flick around the table and I see Bridget looking sad up the other end of the table. I frown in question and she subtly shakes her head and forces a smile. Does she know? Has she overheard what we said? Something is definitely wrong with her-I can tell from her facial expression. Cameron eventually comes out and takes a seat on the other side of me and I grab his hand. Here I sit between two men who I love, both holding my hand for comfort, all three of us having no idea what the hell is going on.
“When are you getting married?” Abbie asks, oblivious to my inner turmoil.
I squirm uncomfortably. “Not sure,” I reply.
Joshua keeps looking down at his breakfast. “Maybe in twelve months or something,” I mutter.
Joshua looks up from his breakfast and frowns. “More like a month,” he snaps. “I will not be waiting twelve months to get married. I’ve done it now, it’s happening.”
Everybody snickers over their breakfast.
I smile nervously and pick up his hand and kiss the back of it. I am so uncomfortable.
“Ok baby, whenever you want,” I reply quietly, trying to diffuse his tension. The table breaks into chatter but my mind and stomach is in turmoil. What’s going on here? What has Margaret done and how is Joshua going to react when I tell him what I know? Damn this bitch… ruining my heavenly engagement… and Joshua’s freaking life.
I stare into space throughout breakfast, trying my hardest to get the words together in my head.
“I am so being the stylist to this wedding.” Adrian smiles excitedly.
“Oh get lost, I am,” Bridget chimes in. “You can plan Cameron’s wedding.”
“Well you’ll be waiting a while. I’m not getting married until I’m forty,” Cameron sighs, defeated.
“Oh get off it. When you meet her she will wear your balls for earrings, like Natasha wears Joshua’s.” Adrian smiles.