Page 87 of Words We Didn't Say

How did those three women do their jobs day in and day out?

Eden had promoted me to Chief Executive of Towels, Hanging Robes, and Restocking. When I’d served the champagne and coffee quickly enough, I’d earned her slap of appreciation on thebackside. The overheated make-out session in the colour mixing room had been my bonus payment.

Andie had thrust open the door and glared daggers at us.

“This is a goddamn workplace,” she’d barked.

Eden had fallen against me, giggling, not bothered at all. “Mighty words from the woman who’s been sneaking into the laundry room with Yvette.”

Cheeks red, attempts at a retort spluttering to nothing, Andie had slammed the door and stormed off.

But otherwise, a perfect day.

I rounded the car to pop the boot. Eden had insisted that meeting my parents for the first time had certain gift requirements. No amount of reassurance had convinced her otherwise. I leant over and stuffed my arms with the oversized fruit basket, two beautifully wrapped presents complete with frilly bows, and a bouquet of tulips. Eden had noticed they were Mum’s favourite after scoping out her social media page…right after she’d hit the ‘request friend’ button. Mum had sent me three messages gushing about it.

I lumbered up the driveway.

Eden hadn’t even unbuckled her seatbelt.

She was still sitting in the passenger seat, staring out the windscreen, her eyes locked on the orange bricks of my parents’ house. Carefully, I set down the gifts, risking Eden’s wrath by tucking the tulips into the fruit basket, and headed to the passenger door. Opened it. Held out my hand. Flashed an encouraging smile.

She didn’t budge.

“Coming in?” I asked.

“Um.” She fumbled to unclip the seatbelt. “Y-Yeah.”

She tripped as she got out of the car, but I stuck my arm out, catching her before she toppled to her knees on the driveway. I frowned. I’d never seen her this unsteady on her feet. Shecharged around in six-inch heels more comfortably than I walked around in my old Chucks—the pair of shoes I would’ve worn to my parents’ place if she hadn’t recoiled in horror.

“You okay?” It wasn’t the first time I’d asked her that.

“Yeah,” she lied, not for the first time, either. Except now, she was sucking down breaths like she’d run across town. She bent over, scrambling to get a hand on the car bonnet to steady herself.

I touched her shoulder. “Denny Dee?”

Eden’s head shook from side to side. “I can’t go in there.” Wide eyes barely skimmed the modest house over my shoulder. “I can’t.”

Was she worried about…the…house?

Although the style was dated and had little street appeal, people passing always commented on Dad’s perfect lawn and Mum’s messy cottage garden. It was the only house I’d ever known. It wasn’t on the ‘right’ street or in the ‘right’ suburb for the people I worked with, but this was Eden. She wasn’t like them. She’d spent her last weekend off working at a barbecue fundraiser to raise extra money for the youth centre. She was there two nights a week. She didn’t care where people came from, only wanting to lift them up so they got where they wanted to go.

No, the house wasn’t the problem.

“Come on,” I said, making sure the low tone of my voice was reassuring. “Let’s go inside.”

“Ican’t. It’s ahome, Zach. A properhome. Afamilylives there.”

My heart twisted in my chest. There it was. The real reason she was nervous. “Yeah, a family does live there.Yourfamily.”

Eden jolted up straight. “M-My…” A blink.

“Hate to break it to you,” I said casually, trying—probably failing—to keep the mood light, “but I’m pretty sure Mum has adopted you whether or not we stay together.”

“But—”

“No buts.”

“What about all my, you know…issues?”

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