a-shoulder-to-lean-on

You must have traveled all night,_ she heard herself say. __ had to come back early._ She felt his lips brush her tumbled hair. __ left some things unfinished. But I had a feeling you might need me. Tell me what__ happened, sweetheart._ Amelia opened her mouth to answer, but to her mortification, the only sound she could make was a sort of miserable croak. Her self-control shattered. She shook her head and choked on more sobs, and the more she tried to stop them, the worse they became. Cam gripped her firmly, deeply, into his embrace. The appalling storm of tears didn__ seem to bother him at all. He took one of Amelia__ hands and flattened it against his heart, until she could feel the strong, steady beat. In a world that was disintegrating around her, he was solid and real. __t__ all right,_ she heard him murmur. ____ here._ Alarmed by her own lack of self-discipline, Amelia made a wobbly attempt to stand on her own, but he only hugged her more closely. __o, don__ pull away. I__e got you._ He cuddled her shaking form against his chest. Noticing Poppy__ awkward retreat, Cam sent her a reassuring smile. __on__ worry, little sister._ __melia hardly ever cries,_ Poppy said. __he__ fine._ Cam ran his hand along Amelia__ spine in soothing strokes. __he just needs_ As he paused, Poppy said, __ shoulder to lean on._ __es._ He drew Amelia to the stairs, and gestured for Poppy to sit beside them. Cradling Amelia on his lap, Cam found a handkerchief in his pocket and wiped her eyes and nose. When it became apparent that no sense could be made from her jumbled words, he hushed her gently and held her against his large, warm body while she sobbed and hid her face. Overwhelmed with relief, she let him rock her as if she were a child. As Amelia hiccupped and quieted in his arms, Cam asked a few questions of Poppy, who told him about Merripen__ condition and Leo__ disappearance, and even about the missing silverware. Finally getting control of herself, Amelia cleared her aching throat. She lifted her head from Cam__ shoulder and blinked. __etter?_ he asked, holding the handkerchief up to her nose. Amelia nodded and blew obediently. ____ sorry,_ she said in a muffled voice. __ shouldn__ have turned into a watering pot. I__ finished now._ Cam seemed to look right inside her. His voice was very soft. __ou don__ have to be sorry. You don__ have to be finished, either._ She realized that no matter what she did or said, no matter how long she wanted to cry, he would accept it. And he would comfort her.