by Lisa Worrall
Finn was staring at, but not really seeing, the screen when Aiden set the tray on his lap. Okay, maybe there was something that could make him smile. Aiden had cooked his favorite. Steak with onion rings and French fries, with a beer on the side. He sighed contentedly and lifted Aiden’s hand to his lips. “I love you,” he said and pressed a kiss to Aiden’s knuckles.
“I know,” Aiden replied as he settled down beside him. “Now eat.”
Finn lounged on the couch, his stomach pleasantly full and his second beer amping up the buzz. Aiden was on the phone to Finn’s mother. They were heading to Texas for a long weekend, but he and Kaylee would be leaving in the morning without Aiden. He would be joining them on Saturday morning after the presentation he’d been working on for the last few weeks.
Of course, he could only hear half the conversation, but his eyes narrowed when Aiden scrabbled for the notepad and pen they kept on the coffee table. Then he stared at Aiden in disbelief as he repeated the ingredients while he wrote them down, for what sounded suspiciously like an apple pie. Holy crap! She’s giving him the apple pie recipe? “Hey,” he said, jabbing a gentle elbow into Aiden’s side. “Isn’t she supposed to kill you if she gives you that?” He grinned when Aiden shushed him with a wave of his hand. “Have you any idea how many times my sister has asked for that recipe, only to be told she’s got to wait for the reading of the Will?”
Aiden ignored him, then smiled at something Finn’s mother said and tossed over his shoulder, “Momma said keep quiet or she’ll tell me the sled story.” He settled against the cushions and turned to face Finn, a mischievous glint in his green eyes. “What sled story?”
“I’m shutting up and you’d better do the same your end, Molly Thomas,” Finn said loudly enough for his mother to hear. He nodded toward Aiden’s note pad and said sagely, “You just carry on with your recipe, Betty Crocker.” He turned his attention to the screen and surfed the movie channels, but cast side-long glances at Aiden as he told Molly all about his upcoming presentation.
Watching Aiden’s face light up and hearing him chuckle here and there as the conversation went on, Finn’s heart swelled in his chest. His family had taken Aiden and Kaylee to their hearts from the moment they’d met them, but then he hadn’t expected anything less. Of course everyone thought they had the best family in the world, but he actually did, without a doubt. But beneath the happy fluttering of his heart, there was a heaviness. He didn’t know if it was losing Elvis, or just the joy on Aiden’s face, but he suddenly wished it was Aiden’s mother at the end of the line. He wanted her to hear the laughter in Aiden’s voice. To know how happy he was. To tell her what a wonderful man her son was. What a wonderful granddaughter she had in Kaylee. He didn’t understand how she could have missed so much. Surely it wasn’t as hopeless as Aiden made out? They must regret decisions made in haste. How could they not? And how could he forget the fact that Aiden had a sister he still hadn’t even told Finn about? Where did she fit in? Did she abandon him as well? She was only a kid, not that much older than Kaylee was now. Had she not been given a choice?
Finn worried at his bottom lip thoughtfully, the germ of an idea taking root. Dallas was only four hours drive from San Antonio—less by plane. He could easily hand Kaylee over to his parents or AJ the airport and then hop on another flight to Dallas. Patti had all the information he needed. It would be a piece of cake and, if it all went wrong, Aiden need never know.
“Mom says g’night and they’ll be there to pick you up at the airport tomorrow,” Aiden said brightly, before adding Finn’s goodbyes to his own and ending the call. “You okay, babe?” Aiden asked, snuggling into Finn’s side, his long legs stretched out over the arm of the couch.
Finn nodded and leaned in to capture Aiden’s lips in a very thorough kiss, excitement at his new agenda buzzing through him along with the beer. “I’m good,” he replied, then laid his cheek against Aiden’s hair as they settled down to watch some ‘chase ‘em down ‘n shoot ‘em up movie’ they’d Tivo’d last week. He wasn’t just good—he was great! He was on a mission. He was going to Meet the Parents.
III
“Are you sure you’ve got everything?” Aiden asked—again.
Finn would have liked to say he knew how many times Aiden had asked him that question since they’d left the house for the airport, but he’d lost count after the first dozen. He swallowed down the snappy response on the tip of his tongue and forced a smile to his lips. “I’m sure.” He looked down at Kaylee. “Kaylee, are you sure you’ve got everything?” Finn took her narrow-eyed glare and clenched fists at her sides as a ‘yes’. “See,” he said brightly, “we’re good.”
Aiden was so engrossed in searching through Kaylee’s fluffy pink backpack, again, that he totally missed the slight sarcasm in Finn’s voice. “Did I put your magazine in here and the peppermints?” Finn quickly covered Kaylee’s mouth as she parted her lips, before she told her father what exactly what he could do with the magazine and the peppermints.
“Aide, babe, we have to go through the gate now,” Finn said patiently, glancing at the information board one more time. “We’re only going for three days and if, by some miracle, we have forgotten something, you can bring it with you tomorrow.”
Aiden sighed and lifted Kaylee into his arms for one more hug. Finn smiled fondly as Aiden kissed her and then they rubbed noses. “Now you mind Finn, and I’ll see you in time for lunch tomorrow.”
“Aiden, hun,” Finn nudged him. “She needs air, man.”
“Sorry,” Aiden kissed Kaylee again and set her on her feet beside Finn. “I love you,” he said softly, and ruffled her hair.
“I love you, too, Daddy,” Kaylee replied. “And don’t forget. If you get scared, or lonely, you can call me.”
Finn had to cover a snort at that, because both he and Aiden knew that Aiden was the one who was far more worried about being parted from Kaylee than she was from him. “Hey,” he huffed, mock-affronted. “I’m feelin’ a little unloved over here.”
Aiden grinned and slipped his arms around Finn’s neck, pulling him down for a tender kiss. “Be good, don’t give Nana and Gramps any trouble and make sure you clean your teeth before you go to bed,” he said soberly.
Finn engulfed him in a bear hug and inhaled the scent of Aiden’s spicy cologne as he buried his face in Aiden’s neck. “I love you,” he murmured into Aiden’s skin and nipped teasingly at the flesh before he let him go.
“I love you, too.”
Finn shifted his backpack higher onto his shoulder and took Kaylee’s hand. “See you tomorrow. Come on, Squirt, I wonder if the pilot will let us fly the plane.” He was only half-listening to Kaylee’s less than impressed response as he handed their passports and boarding passes to the officer. His mind was already running through his plans for when they touched down in San Antonio. But he was sure there was something about him being too tall and not actually knowing how to fly a plane, which was apparently essential. They gave Aiden one last wave as they walked through to departures, and his gut tightened with excitement. He couldn’t wait to see Aiden’s face when he saw his parents for the first time in five years.
*
“My ears hurt,” Kaylee said, her nose screwed up in distaste as they began to descend.
Finn took her backpack out from under the seat and scrabbled around inside for the peppermints Aiden had put in there. “Here,” he said, opening the packet. “Suck this, but don’t bite it.” Kaylee took the round white sweet and popped it into her mouth, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked. “You remember we talked about the air pressure in the plane last time we came to see Nana and Gramps?” She nodded. “That’s what’s making your ears hurt, but sucking on that peppermint will help. In fact, I bet, by the time it’s all disappeared, we’ll be on the ground.”
“Do you think Ben will be home by the time Daddy gets here tomorrow?” Kaylee asked excitedly, curling her little fingers around his. “I can’t wait to see him.”
“M
e too, Squirt.” Finn sighed, his own excitement at his brother coming home from college for the weekend as high as Kaylee’s. “He’ll definitely be there by the time Daddy arrives, so you won’t have to wait too long.”
He squeezed her fingers, wanting to keep her distracted to take her mind of the landing—her least favorite part. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay helping Nana look after Gramps and Grizzly while I see my friend tonight? You won’t be scared if I’m not there?” As he knew she would, she turned and gave him a condescending stare.
“I’m nearly six. I’m not a baby,” she said with a damned good impression of a derisive teenager who knew everything about everything.
“I know, I know,” Finn said, holding up his hands in submission. “But can’t you pretend you’re not so grown up… just for a little while longer? If not for my sake, at least for Daddy’s?” The plane landed with a bump but he didn’t think she’d even noticed.
Kaylee sighed heavily and he had to bite the inside of his lip to stop himself from laughing out loud when she said, “I’ll try. But he acts like I’m only just five.” Finn nodded solemnly and then concentrated on unbuckling her seatbelt for her, sniggering as quietly as he could. Aiden was right. She was growing up way too fast. Kaylee grabbed her bear, which she was apparently not too old for and stood up. “Come on, Finn, let’s go. Nana said we’re gonna make cookies for Ben and I get to lick the bowl.”
By the time they’d picked up their suitcase and made it into arrivals, Kaylee was literally bouncing in her shoes. Not that Finn could blame her, he hadn’t seen his parents for two months and he was just as anxious to see them as she was. He scanned the crowd, but Kaylee spotted them before he’d had a chance.
“There they are, Finn. There they are!” Kaylee tugged on his jacket. “Nana! Gramps! We’re here!” she yelled at the top of her voice, waving her arms like a tiny windmill.
“Is that my Sugarbear?” Dan’s voice echoed around the terminal and he rushed toward them. Finn stared, open-mouthed, as his diminutive father shoved a guy built like a body-builder out of the way in his haste to get to Kaylee. Dan scooped her up and kissed her cheek soundly. “I’ve missed you, darlin’.”
“I’ve missed you more,” Kaylee squealed. She held out her arm to bring Molly into their love-fest. “And you, Nana.”
“I am so happy to have you home, baby,” Molly cooed. “I’ve made your favorite chocolate pie, and I’ve got everything ready for cookie making as soon as we get to the house.”
“Hey,” Finn said, tapping his mother on the shoulder. “Remember me? Middle son, favorite child. Ringing any bells?”
“AJ?” Molly teased then threw her arms around Finn’s waist and hugged him tightly.
“You’re getting funnier, Mom,” Finn chuckled. He buried his face in her hair and took a deep breath. A wide grin spread across his face. Yep. Still the same. His mother had a scent unique to her and every time he saw her, the first thing he did was breathe her in. A wonderfully comforting mixture of the perfume she’d been wearing for as long as he could remember, lavender soap and cookie dough. He was home. She was home.
“Years of practice baby,” she replied, kissing his cheek, then extricating herself from his arms. “You’d better run if you’re going to catch that connection.” Her expression sobered. “Are you sure about this?”
“He misses them, Momma,” Finn replied. “He doesn’t say it, but he does. Every time we’re all together I see him watching us from the sidelines, and I know he’s hurting.”
“Not everyone loves the way you do, honey. I don’t want this to cause problems for you and Aiden.”
“If it doesn’t work out,” Finn said, “he’ll never need to know. I just want them to see what a wonderful son and beautiful granddaughter they have. To give them the chance to be a part of our family.”
Dan shook his head slowly but hugged his son to him anyway. “Your Mom’s right, Finn. Your heart is too damned big for your own good. I assume you spoke to Patti?”
Finn nodded, shifted his backpack on his shoulder and glanced over at his mother and Kaylee, who had wandered over to one of the shops on the concourse, making sure they were out of earshot. “Yes. She’s given me the address. She wasn’t happy about it, but she gave it to me. I’ve got a hire car waiting for me in Dallas and it’s a ninety minute drive from the airport. I’ll be home in time for dinner tonight. Nothing’s gonna go wrong, Pops. I promise.” He checked his watch. “I have to go. Squirt!” Kaylee ran back to him and he picked her up, kissing her tenderly on her soft cheek. “Don’t forget. Make sure Gramps doesn’t eat all the pie and that Nana saves me a piece.”
“I will, Finn, I promise,” she said solemnly, lifting her hand and joining their pinkie fingers together with a small shake. “You can call if you want. If you get bored.”
“I might just do that, Squirt. Be good, and I’ll be home in time to kiss you goodnight.” Taking one last look over his shoulder at his parents and the little girl who had become such a big part of his world, he grinned and waved before he walked through the gate into departures. His father was wrong, surely? How could anyone not want to be a part of their child’s life? Everything was going to be fine… wasn’t it?
*
Finn returned the stewardess’ smile as he joined the line of passengers disembarking at Dallas International Airport. The flight was uneventful and, at a little over forty minutes, he’d barely had time to drink his coffee and crack open his peanuts before they’d begun their descent. He wasn’t exactly what you’d call vain, but Finn knew he was considered what passed for attractive, and he recognized a come on when he saw it, whether it was from a man or a woman. If he was reading the glint in her eyes and the curve of her lips right, the stewardess already had him stripped naked and tied to the bed. She tipped him a wink and Finn blushed as he dropped his gaze to survey his passport with mock interest. However, when he stood at the car rental desk, he found himself wishing the stewardess was beside him. The cashier looked at him as though he wanted to slap him between two slices of bread and eat him whole.
“Here you go, Mr Thomas. The Prius is waiting for you in lot A, row three.” The man licked his lips suggestively. “It’s a very comfortable model. Lots of room in the back seat.”
Finn gulped, grabbed the keys and paperwork, mumbled thank you and tried to walk away with as much dignity and as little hip-movement as possible. He didn’t want to give the guy a coronary and his eyes were already burning a hole in Finn’s ass. It didn’t take long to find the car and he de-activated the central locking on his approach with a quick press of the key fob. He wasn’t kidding about the back seat, skittered across the surface of his mind when he opened the back passenger door to toss his backpack inside. He chuckled to himself as he slid behind the wheel, preening his feathers a little in the knowledge that he may be off the market, but he’d still got it—not that he knew what it was—but he’d got it. Finn turned on the engine and, after fishing in his pocket for the piece of paper Patti had written the address on, punched the details into the onboard sat nav. “Okay,” he mumbled as he snapped on his seatbelt. He adjusted the mirrors, lowered his seat, took a deep breath and gunned the engine. “Here we go.”
Finn whistled through his teeth as he stared at the house. If you could call it a house—mansion would have been a much closer description. He knew Aiden came from money, but this? Never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined this. He was stood at the bottom of a gated driveway that curved up to the type of home he’d only seen on lifestyles of the rich and shameful. His mother would be in hog heaven if she were here. Aiden’s family lived here and they thought their son and granddaughter were only worth a measly twenty grand? Finn’s gut tightened. Not with anticipation, but with anger and he took a moment to get a handle on his emotions. He had to remain calm. Going in half-cocked wasn’t go to do anyone any good. Least of all Aiden. He swallowed past the lump in his throat then pressed the call button on the intercom beside the gate.
Eventually some answered.
“Can I help you?” The disembodied voice was male and English, the accent upper class and crisp.
“I’m looking for Olivia and William Reid,” Finn said politely into the speaker. “I’m a friend of their son’s.”
“One moment, please.”
Finn waited for the gate to open, but there was no tell tale buzz as the release button was hit. Neither did any voices come from the intercom, British or otherwise. After almost fifteen minutes, he was about to press the button again, when a slender, blonde girl trotted down the drive toward the gate. He frowned as he noted she glanced over her shoulder several times, as if she were expecting someone to be following her.
“Hi,” Finn said, his smile wide and, he hoped, reassuring as she came to a stop and quickly crossed her arms. “I’m Finn—”
“You’re a friend of Aiden’s?” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder again.
Finn nodded, “I was looking for Mr and Mrs Reid.”
“They’re not here.”
“When will they be back? Can I come in and wait?”
“No!” Finn was concerned. The girl was so tightly wound she seemed to vibrate within her own skin. “What do you want? Is Aiden okay?”
“Yes, he’s fine,” Finn assured her. “Can I ask who you are?”
“I’m sorry, I’m Meredith, Aiden’s sister.” Her face lit up when she smiled and Finn had no trouble in returning the gesture. Of course she was. He could see it now her eyes were not darkened by fear. Eyes that were the same shape as Aiden’s but a paler green, but she definitely had his mouth. “I’m Finn, Aiden’s partner. It’s really nice to meet you.”
Meredith’s gaze widened. “Partner?” She glanced over her shoulder again and Finn followed her gaze. A tall, thin, austere looking man approached them. “I can’t talk now. There’s a little coffee shop at the end of the street. Turn right and keep going, you can’t miss it. I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.”