Strangely Normal by Tess Oliver

few days. Chloe had been born prematurely like me. My mom’s doctor had told her she cooked babies too fast.” She turned around and faced me. “Chloe caught the flu from me, but she just couldn’t seem to kick it. She ended up in the hospital. Dad took me to see her, but she didn’t even look like my sister. There were all kinds of tubes coming out of her.” Finley sat on the bed, and Some Pig trotted over as if he sensed her distress. She played absently with the pig’s ear as she continued. “She didn’t make it. I brought the flu home, and my sister died from it.”
    I reached down to touch the pig. “And that’s what all this is about. Your anxiety all has to do with the fact that you think you caused your sister’s death.”
    She scooted back and flopped against her pillows. I joined her.
    “Yep. Nothing too deep or complex in my psyche. Just major guilt. And by the way, it took Dr. Houston eight two-hour sessions to figure out that little plain as day mystery.”
    “I suppose he was the inspiration for the ignoramus doll?”
    “You got it.”
    Some Pig snorted mildly as he rooted around in Finley’s shoes. I stared at the long shelf of trophies for a moment. “Have you ever tried walking past it?” I asked.
    “Past what?”
    “The invisible perimeter.”
    “Not for a long time.”
    “Well, then that will be our first goal.” I propped up on my elbow and looked down at her. “After lunch today, we’re going to take three steps past the perimeter.”
    “I don’t know, Eden. It’s already been a crummy day.”
    “Today, when Cole was talking about his party, he mentioned his friend Max. You like this guy don’t you?”
    “Unfortunately, yes.”
    “Well, how are you ever going to go on a date with Max if you can’t get past the barrier?”
    “It’s hopeless. I’m nuts.”
    I sat up. “Finley Tate King, you are not nuts. Fucking eccentric, yes, but you’re not nuts. And if I can walk out to that pool area in the ugliest bathing suit ever sewn, then you can take three friggin’ steps out of your comfort zone.”
    She seemed to be mulling over my pep talk. Then she laughed. “Oh my god, that suit really is hideous.”
    “Yes, thank you. I know.”
    She sat up. “Three steps and no more.”
    “Just three.”
    A knock on her door was followed by Jude’s voice. A slight tremble returned to my hands upon hearing it, and I wondered what the hell that was about.
    Jude opened the door and poked his dark head inside. “I need to borrow Eden for a second. William is here.”
    I looked questioningly at Finley, but she avoided direct eye contact with me. She slid off the bed, walked over to her computer, and sat down. “Don’t keep her long. We’re going to shop online for a bathing suit.”
    Hesitantly, I slid off the bed and walked to the door. I had no idea what was going on or who William was, but I followed Jude down the stairs. We ended up in the kitchen where a middle-aged man in an expensive suit sat at the counter sipping a soda. His briefcase leaned up against the legs of the stool he sat on. He stood as I stepped into the kitchen behind Jude.
    “Hello, Miss Saxon. I’m William Shuster, lawyer for Nicky King.”
    “Lawyer?” A pile of legal looking papers sat on the counter next to a pen.
    “Yes, Mr. King has all of his employees sign a contract.”
    He motioned for me to sit on the stool next to him. Jude did not join us, but he stood nearby to watch. I wondered if this was all his doing. Obviously, he still didn’t trust me, and that thought tightened a knot in my stomach.
    The lawyer flipped the pages through his fingers once as if I could magically read them.
    “I’m an excellent reader, Mr. Shuster, but I’m afraid my reading skills don’t allow me read at the speed of light.”
    A small laugh came from Jude’s direction, but I was too angry to even look his way.
    “It’s all basic legal terms releasing my client from liability if you’re injured or killed on