Sasha and Connelly exchange a glance. She heads for the stairs.
She finds Finn in the smaller of the two guest bedrooms, sitting on the edge of the bed with Java’s carrier beside him. The cat has stopped yowling and is making small, uncertain sounds. Finn has his hand pressed against the mesh door, letting Java sniff his fingers.
“Hey, pal,” Sasha says from the doorway. “You okay?”
He nods without looking up.
She sits beside him. “Big day.”
“Yeah.”
“Big house.”
“It’s nice.” His voice is soft, careful. “Different from home.”
“It is different.” She watches him stroke Java’s paw through the mesh. “Want to let him out? He might want to explore.”
“In a minute. I think he needs to... adjust first.”
Sasha’s chest tightens. “You’re probably right.”
Finn is always the more cautious twin, the one who needs time to warm up to new situations. Fiona charges in headfirst. Finn observes, assesses, then commits. It’s who he is. And under normal circumstances, Sasha would give him the space to do this at his pace. Would sit here with him and Java until he was ready to open the carrier, explore the house, and claim his territory.
But they don’t have that kind of time.
“Finn.” She keeps her voice gentle. “Dad and I have to go out tonight.”
He looks up, startled. “Tonight?”
“There’s a faculty dinner. For Dad’s new colleagues. It’s last-minute. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He says it too quickly. “You should go.”
“You and Fiona will be here on your own for a few hours. We’ll order Chinese food or pizza, make sure you have everything you need?—”
“Mom, it’s fine.” He straightens his shoulders and pushes past his discomfort. “We’re almost twelve. We can handle it.”
Her heart cracks. Because he’s right. They can handle it. But he shouldn’t have to, not on their first night in a strange city.
Connelly appears in the doorway. He takes in the scene. Finn on the bed, Sasha beside him, the unopened cat carrier. His eyes soften.
“Everything okay in here?”
“Fine,” Finn says, before Sasha can answer. “I’m just letting Java get used to the sounds before I let him out.”
“Smart thinking.” Connelly leans against the doorframe. “Listen, bud. Mom and I have to go to a dinner thing tonight. Faculty baby shower. Should be back by nine, nine-thirty at the latest.”
Finn nods. “Fiona and I will be fine.”
“I know you will.” Connelly’s voice is steady, but Sasha hears the strain. “But I also know this is your first night here. If you need us to stay?—”
“I don’t.” Finn meets his father’s eyes. “Really. It’s okay.”
Connelly holds his gaze for a long moment. Then he nods. “Okay. House rules: doors locked, no answering for anyone, no matter what. And if anything feels wrong, you call one of us. We’ll come right back.”
“Got it.”
“And Finn?” Sasha touches his shoulder. “You’re allowed to feel weird about this. New house, new city, your parents leaving you alone on the first night. That’s a lot.”
