Chapter 26
twenty-six
. . .
Eden
Other than Felix singing or pointing out landmarks, the rest of the ride is quiet. My head is a total mess. Every time a police car passes in the other direction, I tense and hold my breath. I don’t even know for certain that Felix did anything, but my gut says yes.
Most of my friends describe me as a tree hugger or a hippie living in the wrong era.
But on the other hand…I’ve never had someone defend me like that before.
Even Kyle would rather tease me for being oversensitive then defend me.
It would be a lie to say there isn’t a part of me that likes the idea of Felix standing up for me.
I pinch the bridge of my nose to keep the headache at bay, jumping when Felix touches my leg.
“Hey…are you okay?”
Forcing a small smile, I nod.
“Yeah, just a headache brewing.”
It’s a half-truth. It’s been there since we left the diner, but the worrying is making it worse.
“I’ll massage your neck and shoulders when we get inside.”
I look up and realize we’ve stopped and parked outside of what looks to be a large hunting cabin in the middle of the woods. If I wasn’t already feeling like this might be a bad idea, I am now.
“You don’t like it?”
I glance around.
“It’s just so…remote.”
“I thought you loved the wilderness, trees, and being outside?”
Crap.
“I do.” I shake my head, trying to dislodge my negative thoughts. “I’m sorry. I guess I was expecting something else.”
Felix tilts his head to the side as if inspecting me, then reaches out and runs the back of his knuckles down my cheek.
“You know I’ll never hurt you, right? I will tear this world apart piece by piece to keep you safe, Eden.”
There is so much sincerity shining out of his eyes. How can I possibly question his intentions?
“I know, and I’m sorry. You planned this thoughtful getaway, and I’m ruining it.”
“You could never ruin anything.” He smiles. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
With a nod, I open my door and slowly emerge into the bitter January air. It’s the kind of cold that makes you believe it’s possible for hell to freeze over.
Pine trees stretch up so tall they seem to touch the sky. I imagine there are plenty of wolves in the area, traveling in packs close to the house at night. Their eerie howls send shivers along anyone’s spine.
Felix grabs our bags, and I meet him at the front of the car.
He takes my hand and helps me up the steps to the covered porch before pulling out a key and letting us inside.
When we step over the threshold, I’m shocked to find it warm, inviting, and a lot more lived in than I expected.
A fire is burning in the fireplace, and a dirty coffee cup is on the table.
We stop, and Felix looks around, his brows drawn together. We both turn around at the sound of a vehicle and see a truck parking beside Felix’s car.
“Is the cabin double booked?”
“No,” Felix grumbles. “This is my uncle’s place, but he was supposed to be away ice fishing.”
A man gets out of the truck, opens the back door, and grabs three bags. He looks up at Felix and me standing in the doorway.
“What are you doing here, Felix?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought you were away. We came up for the weekend.”
His uncle’s eyes flick between us, and then he nods toward the car.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Help me with the groceries and keep the door closed. We don’t need to warm up the countryside on my dime,” he says, his voice gruff.
With a heavy sigh, Felix releases my hand.
“Just get comfortable. I’ll find out what’s going on.”
He walks out the door, and I sit down on the wooden bench to remove my boots. I catch a few words of their conversation. Not enough to know if he’s angry or happy we’re here.
I get my boots off, hang my jacket on the coat rack, and reach the couch just before they come through the door together. If Felix is angry, he doesn’t show it as he kicks off his boots and marches into the kitchen with his arms full of groceries.
Felix’s uncle sets the bags down and closes the door before walking over to me.
He has the same blue eyes and jawline as Felix, but instead of the shock-white hair, his is black, with salt-and-pepper on the sides.
The beginnings of a beard shadow his face, and the plaid shirt he wears shows off just how muscular he is.
It’s like getting a sneak peek into the future Felix.
Felix steps up beside me, and his hand goes to my waist.
“Eden, this is Uncle Jim.”
Jim smiles warmly and holds out his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Eden. I’m sorry that your weekend away has been interrupted. There is a big storm moving in up near my ice fishing camp, and I decided not to chance it.”
“Nice to meet you as well. Thank you for having us.”
“Not a problem at all. I hope you like card games. I don’t have television out here,” he says, and I nod.
“Love them, actually.”
“Perfect. Do you like steak and beans?”
“Yes, to the steak. Not sure about the beans.”
“Oh…you haven’t lived until you have steak with beans,” Jim says, hooking his thumbs through the belt loops on his jeans. He looks positively rustic in that mountain man or lumberjack kind of way.
“I do not agree,” Felix says, making a face, and I laugh.
“Can I do anything to help with dinner?”
“Sure, come on, I’ll put you both to work. It’s not often I get cheap labor.”
A few minutes later, music that is half static plays from a radio in the corner, and laughter fills the cabin as Felix and Jim poke at one another.
I’m peeling potatoes into a pot because I can sit at the table and do it.
Felix washes and cuts vegetables, and Jim uses a small inside grill to cook the steaks.
I look around at the photos closest to me and recognize Felix.
He looks to be about six, standing between Jim and another man who has to be Felix’s father.
The man looks so…normal. He has his arm around Jim’s shoulder while he holds Felix in the other, smiling for the camera.
How can someone look so unmurderous and then do what he did?
My eyes travel from the photo to Felix, and I can’t help thinking about the guy in the diner. I don’t believe everything that Kris has accused him of, and I still won’t pin his father’s crimes on Felix. But…does he have the same capability for violence hiding under the surface?
Goosebumps cover my arms, and the hair stands on the back of my neck.
Shaking my head to dislodge the thoughts, I focus on my task.
Forty minutes later, the three of us are sitting around the table and enjoying the meal.
“So Eden, tell me…do you like the beans?”
I laugh. “I do, they’re really good.”
Jim laughs and claps Felix on the shoulder.
“See…you’re missing out.”
Felix just shakes his head.
“Tell me about yourself, Eden. How did you and Felix meet?”
My face falls, and just like that, grief sneaks up and grabs me, cutting off my ability to form words. Felix comes to my rescue. He clears his throat, jumping in to answer for me.
“We were in a really bad accident together, and I got Eden out of her car. The door wouldn’t open, so I smashed the window, pulled her out, and she’s been stuck with me ever since.”
Once more he glosses right over his own loss like just having to think about it is too much.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. When was this?”
Felix answers.
“Three weeks before Christmas. Eden lost both of her parents, and we’re trying not to talk about it while away. We just want to have a good time and not think about all the bad stuff that’s happened.”
Jim nods. “I’m sorry, Eden, my condolences. I won’t bring it up again.”
“It must be difficult for you as well,” I say, and Felix grabs my hand.
We all look at one another.
“Did you receive a call from the police?”
Felix’s eyes are on his uncle.
“Ah…yes, I did, so this was the same accident?”
“Yes.” Felix looks down.
“Felix is right. This is a sad conversation. Tell me something else about yourself, Eden?”
It takes a second to compose myself.
“Um…I suck at this. Let me see. My favorite color is turquoise. I love sea turtles and coffee. Felix and I both enjoy old movies and have started watching them together. And…one day I want to live part of the year on a boat.”
“Oh, I could never do that. I get seasick when I go out in my little boat to fish in the summer. I can’t even imagine living on one,” Jim says.
“What about you? Why do you live all the way out here?”
Jim shrugs. “I prefer the wilderness. Animals are far more honest than people, and I love the fresh air.”
“It doesn’t help that people ran you out of town when Dad was arrested for murder,” Felix says, his tone laced with bitterness.
The room is silent except for the crack of the fireplace.
“Yes…well, there was that too. When my brother was convicted, the people in town didn’t like having me around. We look a lot alike. I would’ve gone back to Vancouver where we’re from, but Travis married Felix’s mother right out of high school, and her family was in the same area.”
Jim lifts a shoulder and lets it drop. I can’t help feeling bad for him and Felix. Felix said that the other kids at his school tried to bully him because of his father, and I just don’t get it.
“I don’t think I would’ve received better treatment from anyone there. It was difficult for everyone,” Jim says, looking at Felix, who is busy moving food around on his plate.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, both of you. I don’t believe in blaming someone for another’s sin, even if they’re family.”
Felix raises his head, and the look of pain and affection in his eyes stills my heart. Reaching out, he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. When he looks at me, I see that six-year-old-boy with his scars laid bare. And in that moment, I decide that I must find out what happened.
What did his father, Travis, do to him? Will Felix eventually tell me?
A wave of protectiveness that I’m not expecting washes over me. I want to care for Felix the way he cares for me. I smile, and he takes a deep breath as his face relaxes.