“I know.” And I did. But Lou was still there, still part of his world in Wyoming in ways I never would be.
Holly returned with Carter, ending any further discussion. Finn sat again, swiping through a few more screens before pocketing his phone.
The lights dimmed as Madison’s group took the stage. Jazz was definitely cooler than ballet with sharper movements, more attitude, music with actual beats you could feel. Madison grinned when she spotted us, throwing just a little more sass into her routine.
Carter had climbed back into Finn’s lap and fallen asleep against his chest. Finn held him gently, one hand supporting the small body, his other hand over mine in my lap.
After the last group finished, we waited for the kids to meet us in the lobby. Rose and Sadie appeared first, still glowing from their performance.
“Did you see us? Did we do good? Did you get pictures?” The questions tumbled out of them.
“You both were perfect,” I pulled them both into a hug. “Absolutely perfect.” I retrieved the flowers from my bag. “These are for you,” I held them out. Light pink roses for Sadie, dark for Rose.
Rose clutched her flowers to her chest. “So everyone knows we’re special.”
“You’re already special,” Finn added. “You did so good up there.”
“I remembered all the steps!” She beamed up at him, taking his hand.
“I had no doubt you would.”
“Thank you for helping me not be scared.”
“Thank you for trustin’ yourself up there.”
Madison appeared and I handed her a slightly bigger bouquet of bright pink carnations and white daisies. “Jazz is definitely cooler,” I winked and she grinned.
“Uncle Finn, did you see my jazz hands?” she demonstrated, striking a pose.
“Best jazz hands I’ve ever seen,” he nodded seriously. “Very professional.”
“Can we take pictures for your Instagram now?” Sadie bounced on her toes.
I hesitated, glancing at Finn. Posing in pictures with my nieces felt different than general family photos at events, where I’d left my siblings to post anything with Finn in it. The girls would want me to add them immediately, demanding to see the proof and then asking their mom to like them.
“What if I pose with you and Uncle Finn takes the pictures?” I proposed. Madison considered this.
“And then we take one with just Uncle Finn?” she negotiated instead. I wasn’t getting out of this.
“My arms are long enough to take one of all of us,” Finn offered, smiling. We both crouched down as the girls crowded between us. Finn and I wrapped our arms behind them, Finn pulling me closer.
“You’re squishing us!” Sadie protested in a voice that didn’t sound the least bit annoyed.
“Well, we’ve gotta act like we like each other, don’t we?” Finn teased, holding my phone out and capturing the moment.
“Now just Uncle Finn,” Rose elbowed me.
“Rose Lynnette don’t be rude,” Marcus scolded, watching us while he rocked Carter, still asleep against his shoulder.
“Sorry, Aunt Sasha,” her cheeks flamed.
“You can take pictures with Uncle Finn,” I stood. “But maybe sitting over on that bench?” I pointed down the hall and Finn shot me a grateful look. I helped him stand and he handed me my phone before herding them toward the seating.
“Have you two discussed kids yet?” Holly asked as we watched Finn take selfies with everyone.
“We’ve only been together a few months,” my face turned hot, and I tried to ignore the fluttery feeling in my stomach. We hadn’t even discussed our cover story on the matter, and we’d been asked about kids at least three times in the last few days. Most of my family seemed to ignore my concerns about having children in general, and my personal misgivings had made me forget to even broach the subject with Finn for our story.
“But when you know, you know,” Marcus winked.
