by Jasmin Quinn
“She needs to try these on,” he said bluntly giving Nika a little push toward the clerk. As Nika followed the sales woman, he said, “I’ll wait here – be quick.”
She was quick, less than 5 minutes, earning Finn’s admiration. She came out holding a pair of jeans and a pair of leggings, two tops and a dress. “These will do,” she said as she thrust the clothes at Finn. “And these.” She picked up some lacy panties from a display rack. “Four if you don’t mind. I want one in each colour.” She dropped them on the pile of clothing and then added some socks and a pair of stockings. “Where are the shoes?” she said looking around the store.
“In a different store,” Finn responded rifling through her choices, trying to get a sense of how much it was going to cost.
“Do you approve?” Nika asked mistaking his intentions.
“They’re fine. I was just doing a quick check on the total cost.”
“Oh,” Nika responded. “It will cost $237.46. That includes the tax.”
Finn scowled at her, feeling irritated. She was playing with him and he didn’t like it. “How the hell do you know that?”
Nika shrugged. “It’s not hard, Finn. I added up the price of the clothing and then calculated 5% general sales tax and 7% provincial sales tax. Then I totalled the taxes and added it to the price of the clothing. Is it too much to spend?”
Finn shook his head at her and stalked toward the counter. The saleswoman scanned through the clothing, folding and bagging them as she went. “Your total comes to $237.46, please. How will you be paying?” Finn was stunned. He handed over his credit card as he looked around for Nika. She was several feet away from him running her hands over a soft, mohair sweater, completely engrossed. What kind of circus trick was that? He thought maybe he’d just found himself a mutant and wondered how dangerous she really was.
They went to the shoe store next, Finn letting her have the run of the place while he stayed near the door glowering. He didn’t like unknowns and this particular unknown was seriously rattling his cage. She waved brightly at him, holding a pair of red Maryjane shoes that really didn’t match the dress he’d just bought her. And, he noted sourly, as he handed over his credit card, cost far too much. Nika was smitten with them though, so he didn’t even try to talk her out of them.
Next stop was the drugstore to get toiletries for her: hairbrush, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and paste, deodorant and a razor. “That is all I need right now,” Nika told him as he once again handed his credit card to the clerk. She was already becoming an expensive habit.
Nika stopped him when he went to buy a suitcase. “Why bother? We can just put this stuff in your suitcase.”
“If we put the stuff in mine,” Finn responded, still grumpy, “that will imply that we are a couple and my parents will think that we should share a bedroom.” Fuck, he was such a noble bastard.
But Nika just shrugged. “How else are you going to explain me to your parents?”
Finn stared thoughtfully at the suitcases in the store. He’d already considered and rejected a half-dozen scenarios. None of them seemed remotely plausible except for one. Nika would be introduced as his girlfriend. He watched her watching him, waiting for his slow brain to catch up to her fast-moving thoughts. “I feel like I’m in a fucking romantic comedy,” he growled at her.
“Is this funny?” she asked, a small frown on her lovely lips as she tried to understand the subtlety of their exchange.
“You have no idea.”
When they got back to the car, Finn removed the tags from the clothing while Nika tried to refold them. “I have someone clean for me, so I don’t usually do my own laundry,” she explained as she struggled to match the seams of the pants.
“Kept girl, are you?” Finn took them from her and folded them himself, putting everything into his suitcase.
Nika shrugged as she climbed into the back seat. It was clear she had no idea what he meant. He didn’t bother explaining.
Before he closed the back of his jeep, he took his gun from the glove compartment, emptied the magazine and put both the gun and the bullets in one of the empty shopping bags. He put the bag into the suitcase and cushioned it with some clothes before zipping it up. Nika watched him intently as as he did this. He could feel her assessing him and he wondered what she was thinking, wondered if she liked what she saw.
As he slid into the driver’s seat, he said, “You need to sit up front with me. I’m not going to try to explain to my parents why I’m driving you around like you’re a princess.”
Nika grinned as she crawled through the gap between the front seats, brushing Finn with her sexy ass, and dropping into the passenger seat. She put her seatbelt on and smiled brightly. “I’m ready.”
On the way to his parents’ home, he told her about them. His father’s name was Donald – most people call him Don. His mother’s name was Eileen.
“And you, Finn McQueen? What should I know about you?”
He looked at her, not wanting to tell her about him. Not wanting to tell her about two years ago, but she needed to know him, after all she was his ‘girlfriend’. “Let’s say we’ve been together for about 3 months. So just after Christmas. That way my mother won’t come down on me for not mentioning you during the holidays.” He passed the Western Speedway and the road became narrower and less paved. They had about 15 minutes to get their stories straight.
“Okay,” Nika nodded.
“So then, what would a couple share in three months time?”
Nika looked thoughtfully out the window, startling as a deer jumped into the trees. “I don’t know the answer to that.”
Finn glanced at her, puzzled. “What’s the longest relationship you’ve had?”
“I haven’t had one before.” She said it matter-of-factly, without embarrassment or reserve or anything else that every other man and woman in their early 20s would be feeling in that moment.
Finn almost drove off the road. “Are you kidding me?”
She scowled at him. “Why would I be kidding you?”
But Finn didn’t reply. His mind was tumbling around, trying to make sense of this situation. “Fuck,” he swore. “I wish there was more time for us to talk before my mother gets her hands on you.”
Nika grinned. “I have only had one mother in my life, but compared to her, your mother sounds delightful.”
Finn rolled his eyes. Then he said, “Don’t swear in front of my mother.”
“I don’t swear,” Nika replied.
“Yes, you do. You said ‘goddamn’ twice on the ferry.”
“Well that was to appear intimidating. It seemed appropriate in the moment.”
Finn laughed. “Have you ever looked in the mirror, Nika? You’re not exactly menacing.”
Nika smiled warmly at him. “I like you Finn,” she said softly.
Finn glanced over at her and grinned, buoyed by her assessment. “Okay, I’ll rattle off what I think you need to know about me. We’re getting close, so I’ll speak fast. Can you remember?”
“Of course I can, Finn. I remember everything.”
He told her as much as he thought she needed to know about him if they had been dating three months. His birth date, his favourite colour, his favourite food, his love of baseball and hockey; his favourite teams, that he was a scratch golfer, that he had an older brother named Doug, that he’d never been married, that his last girlfriend’s name was Lara and she was kind of a bitch, even when they were together. But that was a couple of years ago. And then as he pulled onto the winding driveway that would take them to his parents’ home, he told her that he almost died two years ago, that he was shot three times, in the leg, in the chest and in the stomach. And that he, in turn, had killed someone. With one shot, to the head.
Then they were at the house. And as he looked at her he saw that she was keenly feeling the loss of him even though he was sitting beside her fully alive. He touched the back of her hand softly, saw sorrow in the depths of her gold-flecked eyes
and said, “Sorry. You needed to know that, because they do. We don’t talk about it much, but it might come up.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Finn’s mother Eileen was beside herself when she saw Nika. “Oh, she’s perfect, Finn.” She embraced Nika with the fervour of a stalker. “You’re perfect,” she repeated as she brought her hands to Nika’s shoulders and leaned back to take a good look at her. “I can’t believe Finn brought you.” And then to Finn, “Why didn’t you tell daddy and me you were bringing a girlfriend?” and then back to Nika, “You are his girlfriend, aren’t you?” and before Finn and Nika were able to respond, Eileen grabbed Nika’s hand and pulled her inside the house letting the door bang shut in Finn’s face. Finn stood outside in the rain holding the suitcase and wondered why he thought any part of this was a good idea.
As he struggled into the front entrance, Eileen and Nika had already disappeared from his sight. He kicked off his shoes and dropped the suitcase in the entrance way, giving the bridge of his nose a quick squeeze to help thwart his growing tension. He caught up to Nika and Eileen in the living room, where his mother was making introductions to Finn’s father. “This is Finn’s girlfriend,” she exclaimed, holding Nika by the shoulders and propelling her towards her husband. Don McQueen was a slightly less exuberant copy of his wife, standing to shake Nika’s hand enthusiastically and giving Finn a bear hug.
“This is great! We’re all together!” And then Don added as he saw Finn’s look of confusion. “Doug’s here too.”
“Doug’s Finn’s older brother,” Eileen explained to Nika.
And Finn replied, “She knows.” But he silently cursed. He hadn’t given Nika the background on his brother. “I didn’t realize Doug was coming this weekend. No one told me.”
“Well, no one told us about Nika either.” Eileen huffed and then gave Nika a little squeeze on the shoulder. It was like she was claiming Nika, making sure she didn’t get away.
“I wanted to surprise you,” Finn countered lamely.
“Well you certainly did that!” And then Eileen smiled broadly. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you, Nika. Is Nika your full name? It’s so pretty.”
Nika started to answer, but Don jumped in, “Hockey on tonight, Finn, Canucks and Oilers. It’s a fucking waste of time but it’s all we got.”
Finn grinned, and Eileen gasped. “Don!” and then to Nika. “He never swears when it’s just us. Finn brings the worst out in him.”
Before Finn could defend himself, Doug strolled into the room, an older version of Finn, slightly taller, slightly leaner, longer hair and lighter eyes.
“Hey,” he said as he stopped a foot short of Finn and awkwardly shook his hand. Nothing’s changed, Finn thought sullenly. “Who’s this?” Doug looked at Nika with interest.
“Doug, this is Nika. Nika, my brother Doug.” Doug offered his hand and Nika dutifully shook it, her hand swallowed up by his grip. She seemed overwhelmed already, but she smiled brightly.
“I am pleased to meet you, Doug,” she said, her accent a little more pronounced than previously.
Doug nodded as he took back his hand. “Likewise.” And then he turned to Finn. “This is a surprise, Finn. When did you and this lovely little woman become an item?”
“After Christmas,” Finn and Nika said in unison.
“I see.” Doug smiled sardonically. “Looks like you got your stories straight before you arrived.” Nika’s eyes widened and she glanced over at Finn who gave a small shake of his head.
“It’s just Doug stirring the pot, Nika. He thinks he owes me one,” Finn reassured her.
“I don’t think it, you asshole, I know it,” Doug growled.
Nika dropped her eyes to her feet, anxiety on her face. Eileen stepped in between them. “You two, stop being beasts! And Doug, watch your language. What a bad first impression we must be making on Nika!”
“Sorry mom,” Doug apologized insincerely. “If I’d known Finn was bringing a date, I would have gotten a haircut and worn my Sunday best.”
Eileen looked to Don, who had seated himself in his recliner and was holding the remote control in his hand like it was a magic shield. She shook her head in exasperation. “All of you need a good kick!”
Then she turned to Nika, “Darling, you’re exhausted, and it doesn’t look like Finn gave you a chance to change out of your work clothes.” Yep, mom, totally my fault, Finn thought irritably as his mother assessed Nika with her sharp, critical eyes. Her wild hair, her tired eyes, her casual, wrinkled, slept-on-the-streets appearance. Finn felt like a shit – Nika did look exhausted.
Eileen narrowed her eyes. “It’s just like Finn to drag you all the way over here after a long day at work.” She glared at Finn, who stared back at her impassively. “Honestly Finn, you could have waited until tomorrow, after you both had a good night’s rest.”
Finn sighed as looked from his mother to his father, who gave Finn a small shake of his head before sheepishly returning his eyes to the remote control. Doug dared to chuckle softly. They all knew that if Finn postponed coming over until tomorrow, there would have been no living with Eileen for the weekend. But other than Doug’s small show of bravado, none of them was willing to give voice to those thoughts. Both Eileen and Nika caught the glance between father and son, the intimation in Doug’s laugh. Nika looked confused and Eileen looked annoyed.
“Oh, stop it!” she scolded loudly as she took Nika’s hand, pulling her past Doug to the stairs. “Finn, get your bags and bring them up to your room.” Finn dutifully followed her orders, picking up the suitcase and trailing behind the two women.
Eileen stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the single bag. “Where’s Nika’s?”
“Nika packed her clothes in my bag. The zipper on her suitcase broke.”
“I see. Did you even give her time to pack?” Eileen asked superiorly and then didn’t wait for Finn’s response. “C’mon, follow me.” And she hauled Nika up the stairs, chattering away.
Finn turned to Doug, but Doug grinned wickedly, “I don’t know about you, Finn, but I’m enjoying this immensely.”
Finn sighed – he probably deserved that from Doug. They hadn’t talked since Christmas, because, according to Doug, Finn was an opinionated, unbearable ass. He glanced up the stairs – his mother was gesturing animatedly as she talked to Nika, who was trying intently to follow Eileen’s constant stream of conversation. She’d barely said a word since she arrived, though, in fairness, it was hard to get a word in edgewise around his mother. He wondered when they were going to find enough alone time to talk.
When he reached the second-floor landing, Eileen was already steering Nika down the hall. “This is Douglas’s room,” she pointed, “And this is Finn’s.” She turned to Finn. “If I had known you were bringing Nika, I would have made up Douglas’s room for the two of you,” she huffed, and then to Nika. “It’s bigger and you would’ve been more comfortable.”
“My room’s fine mom,” Finn said but Eileen was already down the hall, guiding Nika into Finn’s room.
“Finn has the smaller room because he’s younger, but in future, we can change things around so that you and Finn have the bigger room. I’d do that now, but Doug’s been here two days and he’s already slept on the sheets and used his bathroom.”
“Why has Doug been here two days already?” Finn asked as he brushed by Eileen and set the suitcase on the bed.”
“Not on the bed!” Eileen shrieked startling Nika. “The suitcase is filthy.”
“It’s not filthy mom,” Finn sighed as he set the suitcase on the floor.
Eileen ignored him. “What do you think, Nika? Will this work?”
Nika looked around Finn’s room in wonder as Finn mentally rolled his eyes. It was not small by anyone’s standards except Eileen’s. A queen-sized bed, a large wardrobe, two-night tables, a walk-in closet and plenty of floor space leftover.
“It will work well, Mrs. McQueen. Thank you.”
But Eileen wasn�
�t done yet – she pulled Nika to the bathroom. “Look!” she exclaimed proudly, pushing Nika a few steps onto the tiled floor. “It’s a private bathroom. For just you and Finn. It has a lovely tub and a nice shower. I’ll put some of my pretty soaps and shampoos out for you, and even some bath salts so you can take a nice long hot bath later tonight.”
“I don’t bathe, Mrs. McQueen.”
“Call me Eileen, and for heaven’s sakes, why on earth don’t you bathe?”
Nika opened her mouth to speak and then closed it abruptly. She’d obviously said something she wished she could take back. Finn jumped in, “She had a bad experience, mom. It’s personal.”
Eileen looked at Finn darkly. “You weren’t involved, were you?”
“No,” Nika said, picking up Finn’s thread of the discussion. “It happened when I was a child. I almost drowned.”
She was most certainly lying, Finn thought as he watched the lowering of her eyes and a small flush to her cheeks. A question to ask later.
Finn put his arms around Eileen’s shoulders and gently steered her towards the door. “Thanks for your help, mom. Nika and I are going to unpack and freshen up, then we’ll come down.”
Eileen hesitated, a slight frown creasing her forehead. She didn’t care what Finn did, but she didn’t want to leave Nika behind. “Dinner will be ready in a half-hour so be quick – you were a little late getting here and I timed the roast based on when you should’ve arrived.” As she stepped out of the room, she explained to Nika, “It’s Finn’s favourite.” And then as she reached the stairs she called out to no one in particular, “I am just so happy that my boys are here for Easter. And Nika’s here too!”
Finn closed the door behind Eileen and sat down heavily on the bed, closing his eyes and rubbing at his temples with his fingers. This was such a bad idea, he thought. But at least Eileen was so chatty there wouldn’t be much opportunity for the two of them to say something that would blow their cover. Providing Eileen didn’t get Nika alone. Finn opened his eyes and looked at Nika. She was still standing by the bathroom door, watching him warily. She seemed frayed. “You look like a frightened deer.”