Chapter 41: Cam

Contains spoilers

Overview

Shaken by learning Dusty secretly bought Anne’s house years ago, Cam drives to Wes and Ada’s home for support. Wes listens, challenges Cam’s fears, and reframes Dusty’s actions as love rather than manipulation. Ada rushes home and, along with Wes, urges Cam not to sabotage her reconciliation. Cam admits she wants to be with Dusty and decides to go to him.

Summary

Cam left in distress after discovering that Dusty had purchased the house she is renting years ago without telling her. Doubting whether their renewed relationship was real or just a relapse into old patterns, Cam drove to Rebel Blue and ended up at Wes and Ada’s house seeking counsel.

Wes let Cam in and asked what was wrong. Cam explained that she and Dusty had seemed solid until she learned about the house, which made her feel lied to and destabilized. She emphasized that the secrecy made her feel like she still did not have anything of her own and that the house now carried unwanted baggage.

Wes questioned whether the issue was as catastrophic as it felt, acknowledging Dusty’s mistake but suggesting it might be a “hiccup” rather than a relationship-ender. He pointed out that if Dusty had told her earlier, Cam might not have moved in due to her fear of getting close. Wes framed Dusty’s purchase as an imperfect expression of love and rootedness, cautioning Cam against letting fear masquerade as anger.

Wes gently confronted Cam about being scared of a future with Dusty and of being left, noting it can feel safer to leave first. He urged her to talk to Dusty, set boundaries about secrets, and not use this as a reason to end things.

Ada arrived urgently, echoing Wes’s message not to give up on Dusty. Buoyed by their support, Cam acknowledged her true desire: she wants to be with Dusty. With Ada’s encouragement to “go get him,” Cam resolved to reconcile and address the house issue directly with Dusty.

Who Appears

  • Cam (Cameron)
    narrator; reeling from Dusty’s secret house purchase, seeks advice, confronts her fear, decides she wants to be with Dusty.
  • Wes
    friend; hears Cam out, reframes the conflict, urges communication and commitment.
  • Ada
    friend; rushes home, firmly tells Cam not to give up on Dusty, reinforces Cam’s decision.
  • Dusty
    Cam’s partner and co-parent; does not appear on-page but is central to the conflict over the house and Cam’s decision to reconcile.
  • Waylon
    Wes’s dog; present at Wes and Ada’s house.
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