Chapter 7
Finn
DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT BY TOPLOADER
“Uncle Finn!”
I look up and there’s Junie in pink sparkle sneakers with hot pink safety goggles that are too big for her face.
Hair sticking up in a halo of dark messy curls around the strap of the goggles.
Her dog, a blue heeler, Lola trots beside her, tongue hanging out, watching every move her little person makes.
She was Ivy’s dog and now she pretty much follows Junie everywhere.
Sometimes when Junie’s at school, she’ll come hang out in my shop with me.
I scoop her up before she can trip over the extension cord. “What’s up, Junie Bug?”
She wraps her arms around my neck. “Ivy said I could come see you before my bus comes. She’s over there smooching my dad in the barn. It’s gross.”
I laugh. “Lucky me that I get to see you,” I say, spinning her around until she squeals. “What’s the big plan today?”
She frowns. “Stupid school. But then we have pasta night.”
“I have questions. First, why is school stupid?”
“There’s a boy that keeps being mean to me. Ivy said we can work on a special spell for him,” she says with a grin.
“Well, that sounds like he better back off or he’ll be in big trouble,” I say trying to be serious. “What’s for dinner? Can I come?”
“You can always come, silly.” She leans close, like it’s a secret, holding up two fingers. “Ivy and I are making homemade pasta with two different sauces.”
“Homemade pasta?” I whisper. “Well, now I have to come. I won’t turn down dinner from my favorite little chef.”
She laughs, loud and happy, then pushes at my shoulders until I set her back down. She looks around the shop like she always does, checking out whatever I’m working on. She touches the corner of the cabinet.
“This one’s very smooth,” she says.
“It’s looking good,” I tell her. “You still want to work on a bird house with me sometime?”
“Yeah,” she says, nodding happily. “And we can paint it.”
“Okay, Bug, we can definitely paint it,” I promise as I hear Ivy calling for her.
She nods solemnly. “I gotta go to school,” she says, goggles slipping down her nose. I keep a special set just for her by the door so she can put them on before she comes in.
When Ivy shows up a few minutes later, she waves as I stand in the doorway and watch Junie bounce toward where her bus comes, little pink shoes glittering in the sun.
She’s my favorite kid. I love having my shop out here and being able to see my brother Remy, Ivy, and Junie. Someday I’ll move my shop to town, but for now I don’t mind coming out here, because I get to see my family and I have all my wood stored, and plenty of room for projects.
I press my palm over the smooth edge of the cabinet faces I’m building for a client.
This part is my favorite when something rough starts looking like it’s going to make a space look great.
I love the thought of someone’s kitchen having my work in there for decades to come.
The morning sun spills in through the wide doors of the wood shop, and I’ve got music playing low, just enough to keep the quiet from swallowing me.
I finish sanding my cabinets and lay them aside.
I head over to the barn where my brother Remy is already at work for the day. He looks up from his desk when I walk in, pulling the door closed behind me.
“Thanks for your help yesterday,” I tell him as I slide into the chair across from him.
He and Tate dropped everything to help me move all of Rowan’s plants from her shitty cottage to my backyard which luckily is much bigger than the area she had.
She doesn’t know this, but I had all of the pieces to the greenhouse waiting for months.
I had planned on surprising her but then when she got evicted, it was perfect timing.
“If someone messes with a Maren, they mess with us. We’re not putting up with that bullshit,” my brother says, like it’s obvious.
I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. But inside, I’m boiling.
Way too far, way too personal. Every instinct in me wants to march into that office, grab that guy by the collar, and make it crystal clear that Rowan Maren isn’t someone to be messed with.
My fists clench at my sides, my jaw tightens, and I can feel my pulse hammering.
I’m already running through ways to shut this down before it gets worse.
No one, especially some self-important mayor asshat, is going to make her life harder on my watch.
“I agree. Have you heard from Mom today? Anything on how Pete’s doing?”
Remy sighs and leans back in his chair, the heaviness hanging between us. “Hanging in there. His doctors say that new drug he’s on is giving him time and he’s comfortable so that’s what’s important. He made the comment the other day that every single day he has right now is so special to him.”
Hearing that is like a kick to the chest. “I hate this,” I say, looking out the shop window at the rows of trees in the distance. “First Uncle Carl, now Pete? What did those two do to deserve this?”
“Not a damn thing. Life is too fucking short. We gotta live each day to the fullest and love our family and friends. That’s it,” Remy says as he flips a pen on his desk, looking just as sad as I’m feeling right now.
Pete, the retired old harbor master has been like a father figure to both of us since we moved to Wisteria Cove when we were little kids.
Our mom was a single mom to both of us rowdy boys, and when she needed Pete, he put us in line, and took us under his wing like a dad.
Those two were never romantically involved to our knowledge but they were best friend companions.
Last fall he was diagnosed with cancer and it’s not lost on us that he’s on borrowed time.
“Speaking of Mom and Pete, they are coming to dinner tonight. Are you coming?” Remy asks, looking up at me.
Trying to lighten the mood, I say, “Well, just so you know, I’ve already received my official invitation to pasta night from Junie.”
He snorts. “I love that kid.”
“Me, too. I’ll be there,” I call as I turn to head out, closing the door behind me.
We’re definitely going to live life to the fullest. That puts this mayor nonsense into perspective with Rowan. They need to leave my family the fuck alone. We have got enough that we’re dealing with right now.
On the way home that afternoon, to shower before pasta night, I stop by the store to grab a few things. I like to bring dessert and drinks when I go to my brother’s and not show up empty-handed. I am badly in need of groceries.
There’s a new flier displayed by the front windows in glossy pastel pink. Better Bodies Pilates Studio. Marilyn’s face is right there at the top of the poster next to Vanessa’s.
“Finn,” someone singsongs behind me and I immediately tense up when I recognize the voice.
I turn and Vanessa’s already closing the distance, her perfume hitting me square in the face. She rests her hand on my arm, her bright nails flashing in the light. I pull back just enough to make it clear I don’t like it. She ignores me and scoots even closer into my space.
“Did you see?” she says, gesturing at the poster. “We’re having our grand opening in two weeks. You should come to a class. I think you’d love it.”
I stare at her. “Are you out of your mind?”
She laughs like I’m being cute. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a Pilates class. It won’t hurt, I promise. You’ll have fun.” She giggles, covering her mouth with her bright pink acrylic nails, so long they hit her nose.
“You’re unbelievable,” I say flatly. “I’ve been wondering why you’ve been treating Rowan like crap. She hasn’t done a damn thing to deserve any of what you and Marilyn have been pulling.”
Her smile tightens and she drops the baby act with her voice. “Rowan just isn’t a nice person, Finn. She’s a bitch.”
Something inside me snaps when I see Jessica standing a few feet from Vanessa, obviously a part of this. “First of all, watch your mouth.”
She blinks, surprised. “What? We all know how Rowan is.”
I tilt my head. “And how is Rowan? Enlighten me.”
“She is…well you know…difficult,” Vanessa says, examining her nails and not meeting my eyes.
“No, I don’t know.” My voice comes out low, steady, and it hits harder than yelling ever could.
“She’s done nothing but work her ass off for that shop all while being a good friend to all of you.
So if this is about jealousy or whatever game you’re playing, find someone else to mess with.
She’s been supportive of both of you and encouraged you.
You both used to take her yoga classes for years.
You are the ones who are out of line here. ”
“And you.” I turn to Jessica. “You’re actually supposed to be her friend. Some friend,” I clip, my eyes not leaving her face as she looks away guiltily.
Her cheeks flush and Vanessa pipes in, looking angry. “You don’t know everything about Rowan.”
“I know she doesn’t need friends like you.
” I brush past her, grab my bag from the counter, and before I walk out, I turn to them and say, “Rowan isn’t even as mean as she could be.
And I wish people like you would appreciate that more before she stops tolerating your bullshit.
Because that’s what she’s been doing. Good luck with that when she stops. ” The door slams behind me.
The warm sea breeze hits the air as soon as I step outside, and it does nothing but add to the heat under my skin. My jaw is locked tight and my hands are curled around the paper bag tightly.
Small towns have their bullies, I get it. Wisteria Cove isn’t different from any other small town. But Rowan doesn’t deserve this. She’s trying to build her business and studio. It’s bullshit mean girl jealousy is what it is. I’m so mad right now I can hardly see straight as I drive to my house.