Veronica arrived a little earlier than expected, just after the Mendelsons had finished breakfast. She wanted to see Thomas—wanted to make sure he was all right, and to talk more about what he had been hinting at the day before.

  Ruth answered the door and smiled when she saw her.

  “He’s upstairs,” Ruth said. “Go ahead. You’ll find him in Iona’s old room.”

  “Thanks,” Veronica replied.

  Ruth returned to the project she’d been working on before the knock.

  Veronica paused in the doorway of Iona’s old room, surprised by how different it looked. The new furniture softened the space, made it feel less battered, less worn. She had to admit—it was nicer now.

  Thomas was still lying down.

  She stepped closer and gently touched the side of his neck. It was cool.

  “Scoot over,” she murmured.

  Thomas shifted toward the wall, and Veronica lay down beside him. She leaned in close.

  “Take my hand,” she whispered.

  He reached out and took it.

  “So,” Veronica said quietly, “what are you wrestling with? I used to do this with Shoshana.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Thomas whispered back.

  “That’s why Ruth let me come up,” Veronica said.

  Thomas stared at the ceiling. “This whole week…”

  “I thought it was a good week for you.”

  “It was,” he said. “That’s the problem. I keep expecting the other half—the yin to the yang, or the yang to the yin—to show up.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “So you’re waiting for something bad to happen.”

  “Did I ever tell you how things ended with Melinda?”

  Veronica smiled teasingly. “Have you been holding out on me?”

  Thomas chuckled softly. “It’s almost funny now. It started with her pinching my rear in the hallway. It ended with me getting into a fight with her brother’s best friend—her ex—right before finals.”

  Veronica inhaled sharply. “Oh. That fight.”

  “You know it?”

  Shoshana said we’d seen you before but couldn’t place where. Given how many people we meet up there, I’m not surprised.”

  She closed her eyes, searching her memory.

  “If I remember right, he was a senior. Almost twice your size. And you were holding your own.” She opened her eyes and looked at Thomas. “You didn’t look like you felt pain.”

  “It wasn’t one of my better moments.”

  “He did push you,” Veronica said gently. “You were right to defend yourself. But… yeah. I can see why you’re careful about getting upset.”

  Thomas nodded. “I was actually glad you grabbed me and made me go have lunch with you that day. You helped pull me into a completely different world.”

  They lay there quietly until Ruth’s voice drifted up the stairs, calling Thomas down to eat.

  As Veronica’s footsteps faded, Sholomoh stepped out of his office. His expression was tight—worried—but lit with sudden understanding.

  Ruth saw it and felt her stomach twist.

  “Will you call Veronica’s parents?” he asked urgently. “I’m going to call Eric and Wendy. I just realized something—and we need their help. Before we turn in Thomas’s paperwork.”

  Ruth blinked. “What did you realize?”

  “Three things,” Sholomoh said, counting on his fingers. “One—his willingness to help. Two—how easily he gets overwhelmed. And three—just how exceptional he’s becoming.”

  Ruth nodded slowly. “All true. But what does that mean?”

  “The good he does,” Sholomoh said, “can be used against him. He avoids the spotlight. He’s eager to help. That combination makes him vulnerable.”

  “So the attention he’s about to receive could hurt him.”

  “Exactly. And people will start connecting the dots—him and Shoshana. Both submitting paperwork at the same time.”

  Ruth’s voice softened. “What do you think that means for him?”

  “It’s why we planned to keep them apart until Thanksgiving,” Sholomoh admitted. “Time to grow. To stabilize.”

  Ruth paused. “You think he’s about to become a very popular tutor.”

  “Yes. And I was already planning to promote Eric at the start of the year. Now I think it needs to happen sooner.”

  “To what role?”

  “Coordinating the engineering shift managers. Backup trainer. From the reports I’ve read—Thomas is ready.”

  Ruth nodded and began making calls.

  The guests arrived quickly.

  Veronica’s parents came first. Then Eric and Wendy followed, carrying boxes—one of donuts, the other of foil-wrapped breakfast burritos. The kitchen filled with warmth and the scent of eggs, cheese, and potatoes.

  They gathered, waiting.

  Sholomoh took a breath. “Do you know the average time it takes to understand why we use Summa Theologica?”

  May answered first. “Thirteen months. With help.”

  “Twenty-five,” Ruth said. “I didn’t take it seriously at first.”

  “Fifteen,” Wendy added. “And I had a tutor.”

  “Nine,” Daniel said. “Lots of false starts.”

  “Eleven,” Eric said quietly.

  Daniel went pale.

  “Do we delay?” he asked.

  “No,” Sholomoh said. “The Worshipful Master already knows.”

  Eric turned to Wendy. “Where did your tutor come from?”

  “My parents found someone who cracked it in six months.”

  May’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not just that he finished, is it?”

  Ruth smiled faintly. “Shoshana is submitting too.”

  Daniel leaned forward. “And you expect Veronica to be ready soon.”

  Ruth nodded.

  Eric rubbed his forehead. “So he’s an early probationary member. Earned his coins. Mentoring others. And his instinct to help might slow his own growth.”

  “And he still has school,” Daniel added. “And he’s dating my daughter.”

  “So how do we help?” Wendy asked.

  Sholomoh answered slowly. “We manage access. Keep eyes on him. Last night was likely sensory overload.”

  Eric nodded. “When it’s too much—he shuts down.”

  “That’s what we saw,” Wendy said softly.

  Ruth nodded. “Iona always made sure he had a place to retreat.”

  “We’ll stay close,” Daniel said. “Official events.”

  “And keep being his friends,” Ruth added. “And mentors.”