Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
I hold Arthur’s hand in mine as I drive, and the closer we get to Mike’s house, the more I can feel the anxiety building in him. I glance at him with a small smile, but I can see how hard he’s working to hold himself together, as he grips his own leg with his free hand so tight his knuckles are almost white.
Just before we reach Mike’s street, I pull off to the side of the road and shift the Jeep into park. Arthur freezes as his eyes dart around, but there's no one else here. Just trees framing the quiet road.
“Where is it?” he asks in a tight voice.
“Just up the road,” I say softly, turning in my seat to face him.
Confusion creases his brow as he looks out the window, like he's expecting something to appear out of nowhere.
“Arthur,” I say gently.
His gaze shifts to me, but he can’t quite meet my eyes. His chest rises and falls in uneven breaths, and my heart twists at the sight of him struggling like this.
“I know this is hard,” I murmur, and squeeze his hand, trying to calm him. “If you want to leave at any time, just tell me, and we will.”
He doesn’t respond as he keeps his eyes on my lips, like he’s deep in thought. Just as I’m about to ask him if he’s ok, he lifts his gaze to meet mine.
“What if I can’t tell you?” he asks, his words laced with worry.
My heart almost breaks for him. He’s trying so hard, and guilt gnaws at me as I worry I’m pushing him into this before he’s ready. I don’t know if I should just turn around and take him home, or keep going.
But he’s here… and he would tell me if he really couldn’t do it, or really didn’t want to.
I pull his hand to my lips and press a gentle kiss to the back of it, then lift his pinky finger with mine. “Show me this signal.” I hold his hand between us, our pinkies raised in the air. “And I’ll tell everyone that Neville got up to no good and we have to go home… stat.” I wink at him with a smile. “They all know how bad he is, so they won’t suspect a thing.”
A small, tentative smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, followed by the softest, most beautiful chuckle. Then he nods. “Ok.”
“Ok.” I lean in and kiss him softly, feeling him relax just a little more. “Ready?”
He takes a deep breath and nods again. “Yeah.”
We pull up to Mike’s house, and it looks like everyone is already here as the driveway is full with cars. I park on the street for an easy escape if needed, and keep Arthur’s hand in mine as we walk to the front door, his nerves palpable as laughter and faint music float from the backyard.
When I reach for the doorknob and push it open, Arthur hesitates .
“You’re… you’re not going to knock?” His voice wavers, and his wide eyes look at me like I’ve just broken an important rule.
I chuckle. “I’ve been walking into this house since?—”
“Yeah b’ys!” Mike appears in the doorway with a huge grin and his arms out wide. “Arthur, my man! You made it!” He steps towards Arthur for a bro-like pat on the back, but Arthur stiffens, flinching ever so slightly as he inches closer to me.
But Mike’s smile never wavers, and he takes it in stride, waving us inside. “Come on in, let’s get you some drinks.”
I give Arthur a reassuring smile and we follow Mike into the house. His hand is still in mine as his eyes flit around the space, like he’s taking in every detail.
The sound of laughter and conversation drifts from the kitchen as we approach. Inside, Jason is gently swaying back and forth with his son, while Natalie and Andrea work together at the counter, chopping vegetables and setting out food for the barbeque.
Natalie's eyes light up when she sees me. “Hey!” she exclaims, wiping her hands quickly on a dish towel before rushing over and wrapping me in a hug.
I keep my hand in Arthur’s as I wrap my other arm around Natalie. “Hey, Nat. Been too long.”
“You’re telling me,” she says, pulling back with a smile. “Jason's been having all the fun.”
Jason scoffs, adjusting Jude in his arms. “All the fun? Which one of us had to deal with the blowout of the century all alone this week?”
Natalie looks at him over her shoulder. “The same one whose loving wife spent seventeen hours in labour with your son and never lets her husband miss a hang out with his friends.”
Jason nods and looks down at Jude in his arms. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s fair. ”
Mike laughs, grabbing two beer from the fridge. “Sounds like you’ve got it under control.”
Natalie playfully rolls her eyes before turning her warm smile to Arthur. “You must be Arthur.”
He nods as his gaze flicks nervously around the room. “Yeah.”
I gently squeeze his hand. “This is Jason’s wife, Natalie,” I say, then I gesture to Andrea, who offers a bright smile and a little wave. “And that’s Andrea, Mike’s fiancée.”
Arthur’s eyes shift between them with a quick, stiff nod before glancing down again. He takes a small step closer to me, his fingers tightening slightly around mine. “Hi,” he says softly.
Natalie gives me a smile and squeezes my arm. “Jason and I are going to put Jude down, but everyone else is out back.”
Mike holds out the beer cans for us with a smile. “We’ll be out in a bit.”
I take one from him with a nod. “Thanks.” Then I glance at Arthur as Mike hands him one.
He takes it hesitantly, with a quiet, “Thank you.”
“There’s more in the fridge, help yourselves,” Mike says, turning back to the counter where Andrea is slicing burger toppings. He cheekily steals a piece of tomato from her cutting board, earning a playful smack from Andrea.
I lead Arthur through the kitchen and out into the backyard, where Ethan, Mike’s cousin and groomsman, mans the barbeque, while Greg, his wife, and Andrea’s sister sit around the table chatting.
“Hey, guys,” I say as we step outside and all eyes lift to us.
“Hey, man,” Ethan greets with a wave of the tongs. “Long time no see.”
I wave back. “Yeah, it’s been a while.”
Arthur stands frozen beside me with a solid grip on my hand. I guide him towards the table and pull out a chair for him. “Arthur, this is Greg’s wife, Marie,” I say, and Marie smiles warmly at him. “And this is Andrea’s sister, Ava. Ethan over there is Mike’s cousin.”
Arthur lets go of my hand and sinks into the chair, nodding stiffly at everyone as he grips his beer can tightly.
Greg gives a subtle nod in greeting, and Marie’s smile lingers as she glances at me, clearly picking up on Arthur’s unease.
“Burgers done yet, fucker?” Mike calls out as he steps onto the deck with a platter of burger toppings. Andrea follows behind him with an armful of drinks, passing them around to refill everyone’s glasses.
Ethan shoots a glare over his shoulder. “Dude, I just put them on.”
Mike rolls his eyes and dramatically places the platter in the centre of the table. “Well, we got the toppings all ready, so…”
“We?” Andrea arches an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah,” Mike says, nodding seriously. “ We .”
Andrea huffs out a laugh, then drops into her seat next to Ava with a shake of her head.
Arthur shifts beside me, and I glance at him to see his distant gaze sweep over the treetops with tension in his brow. His leg is bouncing, and he’s tightly clutching the armrest of his chair.
And suddenly, I’m aware of just how much is going on. Music is playing in the background, multiple conversations are happening at once, drinks are being poured, the back door is opening as Jason and Natalie step out… It’s a lot, and it looks like he’s doing everything he can to just be here.
I glance over at Mike, about to ask him to turn the music down, but he seems to have noticed too. Without a word, he grabs the speaker and lowers the volume .
“So, Arthur,” Mike says, leaning forward.
I eye Mike, wondering why the hell he’s putting the spotlight on Arthur when he’s clearly overwhelmed. My hand slides onto Arthur’s thigh, and I get ready to jump in if needed.
But Mike surprises me.
“How’s the bird doing?”
Arthur turns his head to Mike, and he sits up a bit straighter. Then he glances at me, and I can see the excitement peeking through the worry in his eyes.
I give him an encouraging smile. “Want to share the good news?”
Mike's eyebrows rise as he looks back at Arthur, patiently waiting.
Arthur nods, and turns back to Mike. “She flew.”
“No way!” Mike smiles between us.
“What?” Jason asks from across the table as he takes his seat.
“The bird flew!” Mike announces excitedly to the table, lifting his fists into the air.
Jason’s jaw drops and he looks at Arthur. “No shit, really?”
Arthur nods, and I notice his grip on the armrest loosen a little as the corner of his lips turn up in a soft smile.
“What bird?” Ava asks, looking between everyone.
“Oh.” Mike leans back in his chair with a grin, like he’s getting ready for an epic story. “Arthur found a bird with a broken wing and brought it to the vet in St. John’s, where Trev works. That’s how they met.”
Ava’s eyes light up as she brings her hand to her chest, looking between the two of us. “That’s adorable.”
“I know, right?” Mike dramatically rolls his eyes. “So, Trev was a goddamn hero and fixed the bird’s wing, and now they’re rehabbing it together at his place.” He then raises his beer in the air. “And she flew! Fuck yeah! ”
The group erupts into cheers, lifting their drinks in celebration of a little bird they’ve never met, but one that means everything to us. She’s become more than just a bird with a broken wing… she’s been a symbol of hope, resilience, and the journey through a tough world.
But the best part of this moment is the quiet, unexpected laugh that escapes Arthur as he lifts his beer to join in.
“Arthur is also an amazing wildlife photographer,” Jason says, pulling out his phone. “Just wait until you see some of his photos.” He tilts the screen to show Natalie beside him and then looks at Arthur. “And yes, I stalk your website now.”
Arthur gives him a sheepish smile, and my heart swells with pride. Not just because he’s here, pushing through something that’s so difficult for him, but because he’s talented in ways that deserve all the recognition. Watching him face the world in his quiet, brave way, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of admiration for everything he is, and everything he’s yet to realize about himself.
“Oh my god,” Natalie gasps, grabbing Jason’s phone. Her jaw drops as she shows the table a close-up shot of a bear running through the water, looking as if it’s charging towards the camera. Its ears are perked up with a look of curiosity with crisp, sparkling water droplets suspended mid-air all around it. “You took this? How??”
“Telephoto lens with a long focal length,” Arthur explains simply as his eyes flick to the photo. Then he looks around at everyone listening to him and he sinks a bit further into his chair. “I… hiked to a river and waited. The bear came, and I took the photo… from far away.” His eyes drop to the table again, and his fingers fidget around his beer.
“If I saw a bear, I’d be running in the opposite direction,” Ethan jokes, shaking his head as he heads back to the barbeque .
“You shouldn’t run from a bear,” Arthur mutters quietly, only loud enough for me to hear.
I squeeze his leg under the table and he glances up at me with a soft, shy smile.
“This one is incredible,” Marie says, now holding Jason’s phone. She turns it around to show everyone a breathtaking shot of a large white bird with black-tipped wings soaring low over darkening water. The setting sun behind it illuminates the bird’s wings like an angel in flight, casting a golden glow over the rippling water below. “What kind of bird is this?”
“Northern Gannet,” Arthur replies almost immediately, sitting forward a little bit. “It was hunting fish. They hunt in large flocks. It was hard to capture just one.” He fidgets with his fingers, but I see the spark in his eyes, and I know there’s more he wants to share. The nervous energy in him seems to slowly be melting away as it’s replaced by the excitement of his quiet passion.
Jason smiles at him. “How does such a large flock hunt together?”
“They have great vision for spotting fish in the water,” Arthur explains, leaning forward even more. “They vocalize a lot when diving to avoid collisions with other gannets.” He pauses for a moment before he continues, like he’s finally letting out what he’s been holding in. “Their eyes are adapted for plunge-diving, so they can see underwater right after striking. They dive deeper than most plunge-divers. Up to seventy-two feet.”
“Damn.” Mike stares at Arthur in awe. “That’s so cool. Could you imagine diving seventy-two feet under the water after dropping from the fucking sky ?”
“The Thick-billed Murre dives even deeper,” Arthur replies, matter-of-factly. “Up to four hundred and ninety-two feet, for up to four minutes at a time. ”
Mike’s eyes widen. “That can’t be real.”
“It is,” Greg chimes in, and everyone’s attention shifts to him. “They hold the record for the deepest dive at six hundred and ninety feet.” He takes a drink of his beer then nods. “I saw one once while I was diving.”
The table is completely silent as Mike slowly turns back to Arthur as his jaw drops. “You’re like the G whisperer…”
The table erupts into laughter, and Arthur smiles and takes a sip of his beer. I sit back and listen as he continues to answer questions about Northern Gannets and Thick-billed Murres, and the girls continue to flick through his photos. His posture relaxes as he leans forward and gets into the conversation, with a gentle, easy smile. And I feel myself relax too. Not that I ever doubted him.
Andrea stands and heads towards the house. “Just grabbing plates,” she says. Then she looks at me, and motions for me to follow her with a little wave of her hand.
I glance at Arthur as he listens to Jason talk about the time he was chased by a Canada Goose, and lean in to press a kiss to his temple. He turns to me, and I smile at the soft look in his eyes.
“I’ll be right back,” I whisper. “You ok?”
He nods, his green eyes sparkling in the evening light, and I press a quick kiss to his lips before following Andrea inside.
As I close the door behind me, Andrea smiles over her shoulder as she pulls out a stack of plates from the cupboard. “How are you doing?” she asks.
“Good,” I reply, eyeing the small stack of plates and wondering if that’s all I’m here for. I move to take them, but she waves me off.
“I’ve got these,” she says, picking them up.
“Ok…” I give her a confused look, then glance outside to check on Arthur, where he’s still intently listening to Jason.
“He’s great,” Andrea says, drawing my attention back to her.
I smile. “He is.”
“Mike told me he was good for you,” she says, tilting her head as she observes me. “I wasn’t sure what to expect when he said Arthur was ‘quiet, intense, hella smart, and the complete opposite of everything Trevor is’.’” She chuckles.
I chuckle too, but then furrow my brow as those words sink in. “Wait, I’m the opposite of smart?”
“Bring that up with Mike,” she says simply. Then her expression softens. “But I just wanted to say I’m happy for you, Trevor. I know finding love hasn’t been easy for you.” She pauses for a moment with a gentle smile. “You seem different. In a good way. Like you’re happier, calmer… content. It’s like you’ve just… slowed down. And it looks really good on you.”
My gaze drifts back to Arthur through the window, and I watch him talk with my friends… his friends… and take a moment to really appreciate him. He’sfound his place, and he’s helped me find mine too.
“Thanks, Andrea,” I say, not taking my eyes off him. “I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.”
And with that, I head back outside, catching Arthur’s eye as I step onto the deck. The setting sun catches in his hair, making it glow like fire, and when he meets my gaze, I gesture for him to come with me.
He pushes his chair back and walks to me, slipping his hand into mine as I hold it out for him.
“I have something to show you,” I say.
Mike glances over his shoulder at us, and a smile tugs at his lips when he realizes where we’re headed. He gives a quick nod before turning back to the table, letting us have our moment.
I lead Arthur down the steps and to the edge of the yard, through a small line of trees that opens to a dip in the landscape, revealing a beautiful valley bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. The sky is a brilliant mix of orange and yellow as the sun dips below the horizon, spreading a golden glow over the treetops.
“Wow,” Arthur breathes, and I wrap my arms around him from behind, pressing a kiss to his cheek as I trail my fingers over the bare skin of his arms.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” I whisper, holding him close against me.
He just nods as his eyes stay fixed on the view, watching as the sun sinks lower. After a moment, he turns in my arms. “I don’t want to dip out,” he says softly, and his eyes lock with mine. “I want to come to the wedding.”
I lift my hand to his face, brushing my thumb over his cheek. This perfect man… who’s the complete opposite of me in so many ways, yet also my perfect match. Andrea is right… finding love hasn’t been easy.
But I’ve found it with him.