“Ugh, no problem.” Callan awkwardly pats her back before I pull Gwen away from him, sensing his discomfort.
“Come sit and tell me what happened.” I wrap my arms around her, walking over to two empty seats beside my parents.
Mom flashes me a look, compassion splaying across her face as she looks at where Gwen is clinging to me and crying. Scott gets up and comes over, sitting on her other side, gently hauling her into his lap. Gwen practically chokes him as she buries her face in his neck and loudly cries.
“It was good of you to drop Astrid off, Callan,” Dad says, standing and pumping his hand.
“It was no bother. Astrid was worried, and she wanted to be here for Gwen.” He rubs the back of his neck when Dad lets go of his hand. “I’m going to head home and relieve Mum at your place. Don’t rush back. I’ll look after the girls if they wake or you’re not back before morning.”
“That’s very kind of you, Callan.” Mom hugs him, and he hugs her back. “Help yourself to anything in the house if you’re hungry or thirsty.”
After we just stuffed our faces, I’m doubting he’ll want anything. Then again, boys seem to have endless pits for stomachs.
“I will. Thanks.”
“The fire should still be lit, and there are plenty of logs, but if you get cold, grab a duvet or blanket from the linen cupboard.”
“I’ll be fine, Elsa. Don’t sweat it.”
“Thanks, Callan. We owe you,” Dad adds.
I get up and walk over to him. “Drive safely,” I tell him, taking his hands in mine. “And message me when you get there.”
He nods, and I stretch on my tiptoes and peck his lips. “Later.”
“Bye, beautiful.”
It’s hard to tear my eyes from his receding form as he walks off, but I’m here for Gwen, so I reclaim my seat beside her and give her my full attention. She’s draped all over Scott, her tearstained face resting on his chest as she stares at me with a weird look. “So, you’re back together?”
I wish she’d lower her voice because my parents are listening to every word, but I say nothing because Gwen has a lot on her plate. I just nod in confirmation. She stares at me for a few awkward moments before twining her fingers in mine and smiling. “Good. At least one of us is having a great night.”
Mara dies at five a.m. with her weeping granddaughter by her side. Mom insists Gwen come back to our house, and I try to hold her together in the back seat while Mom drives us home. Dad is visibly upset. It’s one of the few times I’ve ever seen my father crying, and I can’t keep the tears from rolling down my face either. Never in a million years did I think Gwen would lose hermormorso soon after I lost mine, and my heart is breaking all over again.
It's after six when we finally make it home. I get Gwen settled in my bed before I pad downstairs to say goodbye to Callan. He looks as exhausted as I feel, rubbing his eyes and trying to smother a yawn. “Thanks for doing this.”
He opens his arms and I fall into them. “I’m glad to help. I’m sorry about Gwen’s gran. That’s rough.”
“Yeah. This is going to be really hard on her.”
We hug one another silently, and I wish I could fall asleep in his comforting arms. My eyes close of their own volition and I yawn. “You should go to bed,” Callan whispers, dotting kisses into my hair. “You must be knackered.”
“See you tomorrow?”
“I don’t have any concrete plans, so message me when you’re up.”
I walk him to the door, sharing a lingering kiss before we part ways.
My parents are in the kitchen, nursing herbal teas and talking in hushed voices, when I enter the room. “What will happen to Gwen now?” I ask, cutting across their conversation.
“We were just discussing that.” Mom brushes hair out of my eyes before pulling me into a hug. “She is welcome to stay here for however long she needs to. I’ll clear out the spare room tomorrow and fix it into a nice bedroom for her.”
I’m not sure Gwen will appreciate living within the confines of Dad’s strict rules. She’s used to staying over at Scott’s and him sleeping over at her place at will. But I’m sure she’ll appreciate the offer, and I hope she’ll at least take it up in the short term. “I’ll help.”
“I’ll talk to Peter Stevens in the morning,” Dad says, referring to his lawyer. Bruising shadows cling to the skin under his eyes as he rubs his jaw. “She’s almost eighteen, so there must be a way for her to stay in the house. I don’t know if Mara had a will, but Gwen is her only living relative and heir, and everything will go to her anyway.”
“I’m so sorry, Daddy.” I leave Mom’s comforting embrace to hug my dad. “I know how much Mara meant to you.”
“It’s such a shock. I know she had health issues, but I never imagined she’d go so soon or like this. What the hell was she thinking going upstairs when Gwen was out?”
