Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
FINLEY
Ever since my diagnosis, I’ve fought feelings of insecurity that I wasn’t like everyone else. But spending last night with Thomas and his family changed all that. The Culpeppers have embraced me in such a way that makes me feel normal—or whatever it is I perceive that to be.
I fell asleep replaying the conversation Thomas and I had on his porch.
I don’t like that he lied to me, but I understand he thought he was protecting us both by doing it.
The fact that he’s staying here for me, even after I sabotaged his revenge, is totally crazy.
He is an exceptional man, and I’m going to do everything in my power to let him know how much I appreciate his belief in us.
I roll out of bed and put on a brand-new pair of pink socks. Then I wrap myself in my furry robe and check the weather to make sure there’s no rain coming our way. Once I know it’s going to be a beautiful day, I get busy making some calls.
When I’m all done, I text Thomas and tell him to meet me at my shop at five.
The Culpepper clan walks into Happy Snaps at four fifty-two. Morgan comes straight toward me and immediately takes my hands in hers. “How nice of you to plan an adventure for us all, Finley.”
As soon as I make eye contact with Thomas, a jolt of joy floods my nervous system. “Do you mind if I tell them what tonight is?”
With a giant smile on his face, he says, “Go right ahead.”
I turn toward his family and announce, “Tonight is Thomas’s and my second date.”
“We figured you were more than friends,” Vivie says with a wink.
“We just thought you wanted to keep it on the down low for a while,” Jason adds.
“I think it’s better for us to tell the truth,” I say.
“I like the truth.” I give Thomas another meaningful look and he shoots me a double thumbs up.
“Is there anything you wanted to tell your parents, Thomas?” It’s okay if he wants to wait to tell them about taking over for Dr. Hall, but if it was me, I’d want to get it over with.
Thomas clears his throat and announces, “I’ve left my job at the hospital. I’m done working in the ER.”
“You can’t mean you’re coming home?” Morgan strangely sounds like she wouldn’t support this, which is confusing since according to Thomas she wants him back in New York more than anything.
“I’m not leaving Elk Lake,” Thomas tells her.
“Good,” she says, before adding, “You can’t leave Finley.” Her opinion means a lot to me, especially as she barely knows me.
“Why exactly are you leaving the hospital?” Jason wants to know. “And please tell me it’s not so you can become a model.”
Thomas explains, “I’ve met a general practitioner who’s planning on retiring soon. I’ve decided to buy his practice.”
“That’s a big change, son,” Jason says. “Have you spent time with him?”
“I have,” Thomas assures him. “Not only do I love the pace and predictable hours, but also think I’ll enjoy getting to know my patients better.”
Jason nods his head. “As long as you’ve thought it through.” Then he asks, “When do you start?”
Thomas puts his hands into his pockets and shifts his weight from one leg to the other.
Even though things appear to be going well, I can tell he’s still nervous.
“I’ve already started,” he says. “Edward has been introducing me to patients and next week he’s going to shift some of their care over to me.
If things continue to go as expected, I’ll buy him out in two months’ time. ”
Vivienne walks up to her brother and gives him a hug. “I’m excited for you, Tommy. I think this is going to be a great opportunity.”
“Thanks, Vivie,” he tells her. “But this means I won’t be moving back to New York.”
“That’s okay,” she replies. “I’ve been here now, so I know I can come visit again. I might even stay with you for a month or two over the summer just to see what life in a small town is like.”
I know what a big deal that would be for Vivie, so I tell her, “I can make space for you in my studio to paint, if you want.” She nods her head enthusiastically.
“Well, if Vivie is planning to visit for an extended time, surely Morgan and I can do the same. We could rent a house so we don’t cramp your style, son,” Jason says with a wink.
Morgan adds, “My home is where my family is. And if that means spending part of the year in Wisconsin, I’ll do it.”
I give Thomas’s family a quick tour around my shop and reiterate the offer that I want to take their picture. We decide to do that over the weekend. When we’re all done, I tell them, “I’ve ordered a car service to drive part of our group. I don’t think we’ll all fit in Thomas’s car.
“You drive with Tommy,” Jason says. “Morgan, Vivie, and I will take the other car.”
“I just need to get ready,” I tell them. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I hurry into the back room and put on my knee-length rain boots; I pair them with a matching long yellow raincoat and hat. Then I put on a pair of yellow dishwashing gloves. Yes, I look odd, but I’m going to need it for what’s to come.
When I join the Culpeppers up front, Thomas takes one look at me and starts to laugh. “You look like that girl on the salt box.” Then he asks, “Should we have dressed differently?”
“You’re fine,” I tell him. It’s clear he’s wondering what’s going on, but he doesn’t ask.
We all walk outside as soon as the car arrives. It’s the same big black Cadillac that Vivie was sitting in yesterday when I went to Thomas’s house.
It pulls up to the curb and Mr. Picknell gets out. I know him because his son hires me to take pictures of his grandchildren. I greet him, “Mr. Picknell, I didn’t know you worked for a car service.”
He waves at me, “Call me Pickles, Finley. And I just do this part time. I also work as a drivers’ ed teacher.”
“Seriously?” I ask. “I’m going to sign up for driving lessons as soon as I get my permit. Maybe you can be my teacher.” And if he is, surely I shouldn’t call him Pickles. That seems disrespectful.
“I’d love to teach you to drive!” he assures me. Then he turns to Thomas’s family and greets them.
“Pickles!” Morgan announces. “How nice to see you again.” The use of Mr. Picknell’s nickname sounds funny coming from a lady like Morgan. But it just goes to show you that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Thomas’s mom might look like a society woman, but she’s really very down to earth.
As Mr. Picknell opens the back door and the front passenger door for the Culpeppers, I tell him, “You know where you’re going, right?” He nods his head. So, I say, “We’ll be right behind you.”
Getting into the Mustang, Thomas asks, “Where are we going?”
“To the parking lot by the lake where you and I went the night you took me for a drive.”
“We’re having our second date in a parking lot?” he wants to know.
“No,” I tell him. “That’s where we’re parking. Now no more questions until we get there.”
Thomas does a pretty good job of driving us. He still slows down about a block before he gets to a stop sign, but hey, at least he has his license.
The rest of our party is already waiting for us when we get there.
After we join them, Mr. Picknell asks, “What time should I be back?”
“How about seven?” I suggest.
“See you then.” He waves as he pulls out.
Morgan says, “I don’t mean to be a complainer, dear, but it’s very cold out here.”
“We’ll have you warm in no time,” I tell them. Then I start walking toward the beach.
Thomas catches up with me. “You don’t like the sand.”
“I don’t, which is why I’m dressed like this.” I raise my rubber-gloved covered hands into the air.
“I don’t understand?”
I stop walking and turn to face him. Then I explain, “You said that you love the beach, and I wanted to do something you would enjoy. Now, do you want to stand here or do you want to see what I have planned?”