Page 19 of Wonderstruck

Why am I hugging Finn?Howam I hugging Finn? What the hell was he even doing here after everything?

When I pulled away, I didn’t look at him.

Instead, I turned to the stairs and forced a grin, remebering why we were all suddenly in my house anyway. “The attic’s first.”

A collective groan rose behind me, forcing a weak chuckle out of me.

“And since I’m the one bravely confronting childhood trauma and deciding the fate of my father’s sock drawer,” I added, “I’m appointing someone to take one for the team.”

Almost unconsciously, my eyes fell to Finn, whose smile rose like he had a secret tunnel to my mind.

He groaned before I could even say anything. “Don’t do this.”

Oh karma. You sweet, sweet mistress.

I pointed upward, flashing him a smile that was anything but nice. “You’re on attic duty, Rhodes.”

Cora’s laugh rang out. “Savage.”

Heraised a brow. “If I get attacked by a ghost, I hope it’s your dad. I havenotes.”

The sting at the back of my eyes didn't pinch the second the word 'dad' rang through the room. Instead, my throat bobbed with the promise of a laugh, a small laugh, that felt needed. Stronger. “You and me both.”

And without another word and a half assed salute, he started up the stairs.

Not looking back.

And thank God. Because the second he turned away, I let myself feel it—the weight of him being here. The memories he dragged in. The way one look still burned like it used to.

But we weren’t that version of us anymore.

We were just two people with boxes to sort, rooms to empty, and an attic full of ghosts to chase out.

“Oh look! I found baby Rory!” Goldiesquealed from the corner of the guest bedroom, light spilling over a dozen half opened boxes and bubbled wrapped trinkets.

“Let’s have a look!” Cora called as sheabandoned her boxes by the stairs, thatwe’d found out held all of dad’s old car parts.

“Oh look!” Daisy cooed. “It’s you inyour school play dressed as a tree.”

I huffed a laugh, remembering howhappy I was with that role, as I sank into the room where they'd all congregated.

Jess and Tristan had appointed themselves to the downstairs rooms. And the girls and I were happy exisiting in the first floor. And right as my mind flew to him, I heard footsteps on the ceiling.

A very small, miniscule part of me felt guilty for sending him up there all by himself, but one reminder of how he treated me last year and that guilt vanished like the dust paticles hovering around us.

“Check this one out Ror,” Coramumbled, a look that almost made my brows furrow resting on her face. It wasn’t sadness, it held more longing than that, like whatever was in the picture was something she wanted one day.

And when she handed me the photo, Iimmediately understood what that lookwas all about.

In the bottom right corner of thephoto was written ‘Aurélia and ArnoldGreene. March 1995.'

“It’s from their wedding day.” I barelysaid.

Pink rose petals fell over them as theystood on the church steps of what I knewwas St. Bernadette’s in Honeywood. The streaks of sunlight were dancing through Mom’s veil, floating behind her slightly. Even with all the natural beauty around them, though, their smiles were my favourite part of that picture.

“Your mom’s dress is breathtaking.” Cora said, leaning over my shoulder.

“Ooh, let’s see,” Daisy said, so Ipassed the photo back to her. Her eyes turned to globes as she took it in. “Oh my… it’s so unique!”

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