Page 102 of Goode Tidings

Thoughts race through me, all of them dissimilar. What was I doing agreeing to this? Two hours away, is that safe? Why didn't I volunteer to chaperone?

I know the answer to that last one. I'd avoided looking at the information packet and permission slip, and missed the opportunity.

Esme pats my shoulder. "First time letting them go is the hardest. It gets easier from here."

We climb into her car. Earlier this morning Esme sent me a text suggesting that we ride together since we were going to the same place. Now I'm especially grateful for the company. I'd be sobbing into my steering wheel if it weren't for her.

"Oliver says that Callum is staying with you in the cabin," Esme says, navigating out of the school parking lot.

"Yeah. That little building by the lake suffered storm damage, and he needed a place to stay. It made sense that he would stay in a place that is technically his."

Explaining the true ownership of the cabin is messy, and I don't have the emotional fortitude to get into the story right now.

Esme gives me a look that says I know you're not telling me the whole story. "There's been some chatter in town about how often Callum is seen in Snowflake these days. He's even been caught smiling."

Now I'm the one trying not to smile. "Is that so?"

"You wouldn't know anything about this recent change in behavior, would you?"

"Beats me. Maybe he finally deciphered those blank notes Marco has been leaving him."

Esme snorts. "Blank? Marco uses invisible ink. If Callum has a black light, he could read them."

"I'll have to tell him that."

Esme pulls onto Lake Circle. "The weekend will pass quickly, it'll be Sunday before you know it and we'll be picking up the boys. Try to enjoy yourself." She pulls up to the cabin. "By the looks of it, you will."

I follow her gaze to the side of the cabin, where Callum chops firewood. He wears a T-shirt and jeans, scuffed boots, his hair dipping low over his forehead as he concentrates.

"Oh my goodness," I whisper.

"There is not a lot I can find wrong with that."

Her comment breaks through my lust, peals of our shared laughter filling the car.

"I'll see you soon," I say, reaching for the door handle.

"I better not see you until Sunday when it's time to go get those boys." She sends one more appreciative glance at Callum. "Let that man keep you busy. Happy Girl Hermit."

I laugh, shaking my head.

Esme drives to her house, and I walk around the side of the cabin to where Callum stands. Two hands grip the ax handle above his head, and he brings it down on the waiting section of wood, splitting it in two. He clears the fallen pieces, grabbing a new piece from a small pile and placing it on the stump.

I should take a moment to announce myself, but I feel more like standing here and gawking. Appreciating. His body, tall and strong. The curve of his muscles, the way they swell when he lifts the ax. He drags the pad of his thumb across his upper lip like he's wiping away sweat.

He catches sight of me, a smile breaking over his face. I remember when nothing could put a smile on his face.

"What?" he calls, leaning the ax against the stump. He strides over, long legs quickly eating up the space between us. He arrives in front of me, red-cheeked and sweat gathering at his temples. "What is it?"

"Nothing." I drag a fingernail over the swell of his chest muscle.

His brown eyes are warm. "Tell the truth, Eden."

I wiggle my eyebrows unabashedly. "I was ogling you."

"That's what I thought." The teasing look slips from his face. "Are you ok after dropping off Oliver?"

I nod, even though it's a bit of a lie. Oliver goes to school every day, but this feels different. A new path carved. I might not be totally ok yet, but I will be. Oliver is living his best life right now. I'm allowed to enjoy myself this weekend, too.