Page 119 of Goode Tidings

"Grandma. Aunt Paisley. Dominic and Cecily. Paloma."

Oliver's mouth drops open again. He's been getting surprise after surprise today.

Eden smiles at his expression. "Who should I send in?"

Oliver thinks about it, then says, "Surprise me."

I leave with Eden. She says, "I think Oliver likes that everybody showed up for him."

"It's an impressive showing."

Worry crests her cheekbones. "I don't know what Justin's doing here. Oliver is always so sad when he eventually leaves. I have to prepare myself to be there for him."

"Yeah," I say, but thoughts are roiling inside me. I'm the newcomer to all this, even if I knew Justin first. It also means I have a different viewpoint than everyone else. And I'm going to use it to my advantage.

We step back into the waiting room in time to hear Paloma tell Justin, "Quit acting like a dicktim."

"I don't speak Spanish," Justin says.

"Neither does she, you twat," Cecily says in the most unbothered tone I've ever heard. "She speaks Portuguese."

"Oh, no," Eden says, walking faster. "I can't let Justin piss off Paloma. She'll go to jail for her friends."

"Hey," I say to the group. "Paloma, you're up next."

Eden shoots me a grateful look.

One by one, each person in the waiting room gets to see Oliver.

Many hours later, when my ass is sore and I'm highly caffeinated because what else is there to do except take a field trip to the cafeteria and buy coffee, Oliver is discharged.

Eden listens closely to his care instructions, as does Justin, which is almost laughable because how likely is it that Justin will provide care? For Oliver's sake, I hope he does.

Everybody parts ways in the parking lot. Eden profusely thanks her friends and family for showing up. She invites her mother to drive the rest of the way up to Snowflake and stay with them, but Rosemary declines.

"It looks like you have a lot on your plate right now," she says when she hugs Eden. "But I'll be up over winter break, like we planned."

Eden helps Oliver into the car, mindful of his surgery site. He asks her to sit in the backseat with him, and she does. Justin grabs the passenger seat, and I drive us the two hours to Snowflake.

Is it the most awkward two-hour drive of my life? Sure is.

CHAPTER 54

Callum

The Shed House Hut Office Thing did not miraculously fix itself while we were gone, which means I still don't have a place to stay.

Justin and I sit on opposite ends of the couch and do our best not to look at each other while Eden helps Oliver get comfortable in his bed. I've already gone around the cabin and gathered my things. It was very reminiscent of the day Eden and Oliver showed up out of nowhere.

She walks into the living room. Exhaustion tugs at her eyes, pushes at her shoulders. She looks from me to Justin.

I feel terrible. I don't want to be another problem she needs to deal with today.

I stand up, striding to where I toed off my shoes when we walked in. "I'm going to rent a room in town. Let me know if you need anything."

Eden opens her mouth to protest. I know that's what she's going to do, I can tell by the set of her eyebrows. "I'll be back in the morning," I tell her, before she can insist I stay.

It's not that I don't want to stay. Truthfully, I don't want to leave at all. But I've been part of a family with Justin before, and I know how unpleasant he can be when he feels unstable.