“Thank you,” I say. “And if you need help on the farm or whatever, I can muck in.”
He gives a smile, nodding. “Cheers, I’ll keep that in mind.”
EDEN
“Why do you look so pleased with yourself?” I ask, setting the roast dinner down in front of Martha before taking my own seat.
She hums, reaching straight for the potatoes. “Do I?”
“Yes,” I say flatly.
She shrugs. “I spoke to Rabbit.”
“How is he?”
She chews deliberately slow. “There’s a church meeting later via zoom.”
I wait for her to explain some more, and when it doesn’t come, I frown. “Okay . . . and?”
“And nothing,” she says. “That’s all I know.”
I relax slightly, then irritation creeps in. “Then why are you acting like you’ve cracked some big secret?”
She smiles faintly. “Because Kade doesn’t call meetings for no reason.”
“That doesn’t mean it has anything to do with me,” I say. “Or us.” She doesn’t argue. I poke at my food. “Also,” I add, quieter but firmer, “you tipping his coffee away this morning? That wasn’t okay.”
Her head snaps up. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” I say, meeting her eyes. “You don’t get to decide things like that for me. I didn’t ask you to punish him.”
“I’m protecting you.”
“No,” I reply. “You’re angry, and I get that, but don’t put that on me.” She opens her mouth, then closes it again. She’s not used to me calling her out. “It’s okay to admit he hurt you too. He hurt us both. He was the one that saved us in the beginning, gave us a family, showed us love, and then he let us down. But don’t use me as an excuse to stay mad with him.”
Silence stretches between us. Then the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it,” Martha mutters, pushing back her chair.
I barely have time to breathe before I hear Pete’s voice in the hall.
“Hey,” he says. “Sorry to drop in unannounced.” He steps into the kitchen, glancing between us. “I just came from the farm. I wanted to tell you myself rather than the rumour mills getting there first.”
Something in his expression—too serious, too alert—sets me on edge. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” he says quickly. “I just thought you should know . . . Kade’s sticking around.”
“What?” I whisper.
“He asked about renting a room at the farm,” Pete continues. “Said he needed something close to you.”
My throat tightens. “And of course you told him no, right?”
Pete hesitates. “The room’s free. The extra rent would help.”
Martha’s wide eyes flick to mine.
“And,” Pete adds carefully, “he said he’d help out on the farm. We always need extra hands.”
