Chapter 44
Real World: Jackson Hole
Finn
“You invited her to dinner tonight?” I asked from the bathroom doorway, toothbrush in hand, barefoot with my jeans unbuttoned and hanging low on my hips. No use in pretending modesty at this point.
“I thought it might be good for all of us to meet in a casual setting first,” Alex looked over from where she was deciding what to wear. “She seems really nice. Smart. She asked me about my job and about Sherlock.”
“What else did you two talk about?”
“Professional ethics, mostly,” she shrugged, deciding on a bright green blouse and her white cropped pants. “She couldn’t accept the comped room your folks arranged, so I helped Lou sort that out.”
Of course she did. I spit my toothpaste out and rinsed my mouth. “What did she think of you?”
“I think she liked me. She called me a smart woman,” she finished getting dressed, checking herself in the full-length mirror. “Are you nervous about dinner?”
“Should I be?” Elena had been my therapist for months now, but having her here—watching me in my environment, meeting Alex, assessing how I functioned outside of video calls—that was different.
Alex turned to look at me. “She’s here to help you, Finn. That’s it.”
I nodded, but tension settled across my shoulders anyway.
“Sweetheart, if you want to cancel, we can cancel,” she pulled my gray button down from the hanger and held it out to me. “But it’s really helpful for me to know things ahead of time. Itmakes me feel calmer.”
“I know it does,” I took the shirt, buttoning it and rolling up the sleeves before tucking it into my jeans. What she’d told me this morning about her ADHD, about needing directness and plans—I got it now in a way I hadn’t before. “It’ll be good.”
She smoothed her hands down the front of my shirt before scratching under my chin with her fingertips. “Elowyn did a good trim job on you. You look significantly less homeless now.”
“Can’t have Elena think I’m completely falling apart,” I huffed, leaning into her grounding touch. I’d asked my sister to at least trim my hair and beard when she cut her boys’ hair, and she’d been happy to oblige.
“I think she might already know or she wouldn’t be here,” Alex winked, earning her a laugh from me and then a kiss. “Let’s go.”
The restaurant was busy—most tables full, the warm lighting and low hum of conversation creating the perfect relaxed atmosphere. Elena was already seated in a corner when we arrived, looking comfortable in dark jeans and a soft blue sweater.
“Alex. Finn,” she stood to greet us, her smile genuine and warm. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thanks for coming,” I nodded, grateful for Alex’s steady hand at my back.
We settled into our seats around the circular table, me between Elena and Alex.
“This is lovely,” Elena glanced around. “I can see why your family is so proud of this place.”
“The food’s incredible too,” Alex said, opening her menu. “They grow most of the vegetables here on the ranch, and the beef is all grass-fed from their own herd, chicken comes from here, too. I think the fish is local as well, right Finn?”
“Sure is,” I passed her a grateful smile for trying to make this easier on me.
“Farm to table,” Elena nodded approvingly. “I’m impressed byhow self-sufficient this operation is.”
The server appeared to take our drink orders, and we settled into the comfortable rhythm of deciding what to eat. Elena chose braised short ribs, Alex went with Coq au Vin, and I ordered the ribeye.
“So,” Elena said once the server had left, “how does it feel to be showing Alex where you grew up? This is your first time here together, isn’t it?”
My posture relaxed slightly—safe territory. “Yeah, first time. It’s been...” I glanced at Alex, then back at Elena, “different than I expected.”
“Different how?”
“I thought it might feel smaller, you know? Coming back after all these years of being away. But it doesn’t.” I looked out the window toward the mountains. “Still feels as big as it did when I was a kid. Maybe bigger.”
