Brady grins. “I like it. It suits you. Don’t buy a flannel, that’s what I'm getting you for Christmas.”
I snap my fingers in excitement. “Yes! Don’t buy a banjo, either.”
Finn scowls jokingly. “Too late. I already own both those things.” He directs his gaze to only me. “And you? How’s social work these days?”
“There are probably few jobs that are worse.”
Finn opens his mouth, but I beat him to it. “I’m sure whatever job you’ve just come up with is worse than mine. But trust me, my job is awful.”
I never aspired to be a social worker, and yet I felt called to the career. Giving children the love they deserve gives me a sense of satisfaction, and every time it happens, I feel a tiny bit of healing.
“Cool. We all either hate our jobs or we don’t have one.” Brady laughs ironically. “Let’s clean up the mess.”
Finn steps aside and starts for the kitchen. Kneeling, he begins gathering the largest pieces of flowery china. Brady and I follow, bending to help.
Our first day back and here we are, cleaning up my mess. That’s how it all happened that summer too. We were thrust into a mess I didn’t ask to be a part of. But this is different. We’ve been brought together by death, but this time nobody suspects one of us might be to blame.
5
Now
I’msure there’s plenty of coffee in my mom’s house, but staying in there one more second might just mean I’m going to blow a gasket. That place is full of her, and still so full ofhim, that it makes me want to scream.
I had to get out, so I threw on some clothes and headed into the summer sun. I have to go find Wilma at Joyful Noise Bible today anyhow. It’s time to face what brought me back here.
Agua Mesa might be a big suburb, but in some ways, it’s a small town. Somehow, everyone knows everybody else. There aren’t any gossiping old ladies on a park bench, but there are whispers in a chain a mile long, and if a married person is stepping out on their spouse, you can bet the secret won’t last.
I park the car and walk into a little coffee shop attached to the clubhouse of a golf course. It’s off the beaten path and I’m hoping this will minimize the chances of me running into someone I know.
There’s no gift card to be used here, so I order a black coffee and find a seat. As I’m lifting the drink to my lips, two hands slip over my eyes.
My shoulders stiffen, my belly seizes.
“Guess who?”
His voice is warm, melting the stiffness in my muscles. My free hand lifts and covers one of his hands, pulling it away. He moves the other hand, and I turn my neck, looking up at him.
He’s still unfairly beautiful, his face like a painting that manages to convey both his golden heart and his recklessness.
“Hi, Finn.” A thrill runs through me at the sound of his name coming from my lips. It means I’m finally sharing the same air as him.
He sinks into a seat beside me, takes the coffee from my hand, and sips. His eyes are on mine as he gives it back to me. Our gazes stay connected, and I find myself swallowing a huge lump in my throat.
Smirking, he drums his fingers on the table top and says, “Let me guess: You came here hoping you wouldn’t run into anyone?”
I tap the tip of my nose with a finger and he laughs.
Smiling back, I say, “Thank you for helping me clean up yesterday.” He took off as soon as the mess was clean without an excuse or a reason, and I didn’t get a chance to thank him.
“Of course.” Finn glances at the case full of bagels, muffins, and pre-made yogurt parfaits, then back to me. “Did Brady stick around?”
I nod. Brady stayed the rest of the afternoon, then ordered dinner for us. We ate burritos beside the small pool in my backyard, dipping our toes into the water. When he left, he pulled me in close, told me I was strong, and kissed the top of my head.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay.” Finn pulls my coffee over and takes another drink. “My uncle has cancer. Yesterday was a chemo day, and I told him I’d drive him home since I’m in town.”
My hand flies to my mouth. “Finn, I’m so sorry. Is it bad?”
He drags the pad of one thumb over his lips, nodding. “They caught it late. I can’t remember him ever going to see a doctor. He wasn’t going to do the chemo, but I asked him to. I wanted him to at least try.”
