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“I will remember this, both of you. There will be another race soon.”

“I look forward to it,” Lach says.

Vero retreats to the bar when Brawley comes out to find him. Kelly comes over to Valli and me while Noa shows his sisters something.

“You’re quieter than I expected,” she says to me.

“Most people are quieter than Noa.”

She laughs. “Fair. He gets it from his grandfather.” That makes us laugh, and she looks at Valli. “He loves you a lot.”

“I feel the same way,” Valli says.

“And Cave, all of you actually. He talks about you all in every call.”

“Cave would find that mortifying,” Valli says.

“I just bet he would from what Noa has told me about him. I have faith that he will be okay when he gets home. He has too many people waiting for him not to be.”

My father joins us again, and we all watch as Noa attempts to teach the twins a new family handshake, one that has way too many steps for anyone to remember, all while Lach films them on his phone.

“He was always like this,” Kelly says. “Even as a boy. I used to worry about him until I realized he’d finally found a place that accepts him for who he is.”

“That’s the best thing about the island—everyone fits in here,” Valli says.

My father announces he wants to take Mom back to the house, as it’s getting cold outside, so everyone heads back. The biggest mistake is us all returning at the same time. Noa finds some old board games in the closet, and our quiet night turns into an all-out competition. I’m not sure how we are going to survive the holidays if this is any indication of how it’s going to go. When my parents turn in for the night, Valli and I walk back to the shed. Noa tells us he will be back after he kicks his brother’s ass in some “guess the celebrity” game.

The stroll back to the shed is quiet, and I’m grateful, since it gives me plenty of time to process the fact that Valli loves me. For the first time since Cave was taken away, I feel like everything is going to be okay and that my heart can mend.

Chapter Twelve

GREENBANK PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY

CLINICAL PROGRESS NOTES - CONFIDENTIAL

Patient: Cavan Saint-James

Admitting Physician: Dr. Evan Malcolm

Reviewing Clinician: Dr. Seth Fairchild

Review Period: Admission to day twenty-two

Document type: Multi-session progress summary

Purpose: Clinical record

PRESENTING HISTORY AND ADMISSION NOTES:

The patient was admitted involuntarily following an incident involving self-endangerment and property destruction. Burns to the forearms and hands were assessed on admission as superficial through to partial thickness and have been managed with twice-daily dressing changes. Patient tolerated wound care without incident from day three onward, having required physical management during initial dressing changes on days one and two.

Patient is referred to throughout this document by patient’s chosen name, Cave, provided by his emergency contact, rather than his legal name.

With a history of prior admission to Greenbank Psychiatric Facility, the patient has a good understanding of the daily expectations and the layout of the building. Patient demonstrated knowledge of restraint release techniques on day one not consistent with first admission.

COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIORAL PROFILE:

Patient is selectively mute. I do not assess this as an inability to communicate, but rather a deliberate and consistent choice. The patient demonstrates clear comprehension of spoken language. He follows instructions, tracks conversations, and responds to direct questions with non-verbal cues such as nodding, shaking his head, shrugging, or redirecting his gaze when he chooses to engage.