“Sam’s right,” Jules added, their voice gentler. “And you’re not allowed to burn yourself out trying to save everything on your own. We’ll hold the buckets with you, Ollie. That’s what family does.”
The simple statement hit Ollie with unexpected force. He blinked rapidly, fighting the sting behind his eyes. “I don’t deserve you guys.”
“Probably not,” Sam agreed with a grin, “but you’re stuck with us anyway.”
The conversation shifted back to fundraising logistics, but something had eased inside Ollie. He was so absorbed in their planning that he didn’t notice the bakery door opening until a familiar voice spoke from behind him.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
Ollie turned to find Finn, a folder tucked under one arm.
“Well, would you look at the time,” Sam announced, standing abruptly. “I just remembered I have a…thing.”
“Yes, the thing,” Jules agreed, gathering their tablet. “The very important thing you asked us to help with.”
Maya rose more gracefully. “We’ll keep working on brainstorming. Text you later, Ollie.”
“Don’t make any major life decisions while we’re gone,” Sam stage-whispered, earning an elbow from Jules as they retreated.
Finn watched them go with a raised eyebrow, then slid into the booth across from Ollie. “Your friends are about as subtle as a wrecking ball.”
“It’s part of their charm,” Ollie said. “What brings you here? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but I thought you’d be supervising the mold team.”
“They’re set up and working,” Finn replied, opening the folder he brought. “I wanted to give you an update in person. The remediation is scheduled to take three days unless they find something more serious, then we can resume the repairs.” He tapped a document in the folder. “I’ve been on the phone with your insurance company. They’re being difficult, but I’ve dealt with worse.”
“You’ve been fighting with my insurance company?” Ollie asked, surprised.
Finn shrugged. “Someone needed to stay on top of it. I have some experience with persistent negotiation.”
“Thank you,” Ollie said quietly. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” Finn’s eyes met his. “How are you holding up? Really?”
The question, simple as it was, cut through Ollie’s carefully constructed facade. He opened his mouth to deliver his standard “I’m fine,” but what came out instead was the truth.
“Not great,” he admitted. “I haven’t slept much. I can’t stop thinking about what happens if we can’t save the store. My parents have worked so hard, and I just—” He cut off, aware that his voice was rising in volume. “Sorry. You came to give me an update, not listen to me fall apart.”
“You’re not falling apart,” Finn said firmly. “You’re dealing with a crisis. There’s a difference.” He paused, studying Ollie’s face. “You look tired, Ollie. Really tired.”
Ollie tried to laugh it off. “I’ve been told I rock the ‘disheveled professor’ look. Very on-brand for a bookstore owner.”
Finn didn’t smile. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
The simple statement landed like a stone in still water. Ollie looked down at his coffee, suddenly finding it hard to meet Finn’s gaze.
“I’m terrified,” he said, the words barely audible. “If this fails, I’ll let down my parents, my friends, myself. I’ve always been thehelper, you know? The one who fixes things, who makes people smile. I don’t know how to be the one who needs help.”
Finn was quiet for a moment, his large hands wrapped around his coffee mug. When he spoke, his voice was low.
“After Holly left, I was determined to do everything on my own.” He met Ollie’s eyes. “No matter how many times people assured me I could ask them for help, I was certain that would prove I was incapable of taking care of Brooklyn.”
The admission—so honest, so unexpectedly vulnerable from someone as contained as Finn—caught Ollie off guard. “How did you get over it?”
“I reached a point where the choice was taken from me,” Finn admitted with a small, wry smile. “I was falling apart, working all day and then trying to be both parents for Brooklyn. I promised myself from the day Holly left that our daughter wouldn’t suffer for her selfishness.”
“What happened?” Ollie asked, genuinely curious.
“I burned the candle at both ends until there was nothing left but a nub,” Finn said. “I got sick, and my friends and Brendan thumped me upside the head to let them take care of us.”
