Except we have guests. The house is full when we step inside, with not only both sets of grandparents but also all of Everest’s friends. The grandparents, I understand. But Everest’s friends?
“What are they doing here?” I ask Everest in the foyer when I hear all those extra voices echoing out of the kitchen.
He shoots me an annoyed look as he hands Ivy to me. Other than getting the x-ray by herself, she’s insisted on being carried at all times. Everest and I have traded her back and forth the entire way home.
“Because they care,” Everest hisses at me.
I frown. I didn’t mean to imply they didn’t care. I’m sure they do. But what does that have to do with loitering in our house all day?
“Hi, how did it go?” Mom leads the procession out of the kitchen to meet us halfway.
Nell’s right behind her and she gasps with an excited expression. “Oh my gosh, is that a pink cast, Ivy?”
Ivy gives her a shy smile and nods.
“It’s so pretty!” Logan sidles up next to me, holding out his hand. “Can I see?”
Ivy giggles quietly as lets him examine the cast that runs from just below her elbow to halfway down her fingers.
He knocks on it softly with a knuckle. “Whoa! You have an arm of steel!”
Ivy giggles some more and Logan rises in my estimation.
“You guys must be hungry,” Mom says, ushering us back toward the kitchen. “We’ve been keeping it warm for you.”
In the kitchen, Donnie and Christian are setting the table for us. I thought they would’ve just heated up the leftover food from the party, but instead, I find three plates of baked pasta filled with some of the random vegetables I had in the fridge.
My surprise must show on my face because Donnie gives me a knowing smile.
“I tend to stress cook, so I took the liberty of raiding your kitchen.”
“That’s…” Words fail me as gratitude and the sense of unworthiness overwhelms me. I sit down heavily on a chair, feeling so utterly exhausted. “Thank you,” I say, voice thick with emotion.
“You’re very welcome.” Donnie steps back and lets the other guys crowd in.
“Hey Ivy, can we sign your cast?” Sawyer holds up a brand new pack of sparkly-colored Sharpies. We definitely didn’t have those in the house before we left for urgent care, so the guys must have gone out and bought them while we were gone.
Across the table, Everest catches my eye. He cocks a brow, as if saying, “See? That’s why they stuck around. That’s what it means to care.”
Yeah, yeah, fine. He’s right. I can admit it. It’s nice to have people, and Everest’s people are definitely excellent options.
Enticed by the prospect of sparkly markers, Ivy scrambles out of my lap and into her own chair, kneeling on the seat and holding out her arm. “Can you draw me a unicorn?”
The guys stare at each other, a little dumbfounded before Christian holds up his hand. “I can give it a try?”
With Ivy distracted by the guys, Everest and I each grab a fork and dig in. My stomach grumbles as I take my first bite, andI realize I haven’t eaten anything all day, not since my morning coffee.
“I assume the cast means it’s broken?” Nell asks, she and Mom slide into the seats next to me and Everest.
I nod. “In two places?—”
Both Mom and Nell wince.
“But it could’ve been worse.”
“We have to bring her back for a follow-up next week,” Everest adds.
“Do you want us to stay a bit longer?” Mom asks. Both sets of grandparents were only planning on staying for the weekend before heading home.
