Chapter Forty-Three
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
THEN
August 2024
“SO, HOW WAS MY sister?”
I still can’t believe Nina put Michaela on Finn’s project. Was she trying to start World War III? The thought of them working alone in such close quarters made me want to duck and cover even from seven hundred miles away in South Carolina. Michaela called me after Nina told her she’d be helping Finn with his newest project to complain, and Finn did the same. They both spent at least twenty minutes each going on and on about how the other was going to ruin their life. They were equally insufferable drama queens that night.
Finn’s eyes widen a little at my question. “W-what do you mean?”
“On Sheffield House.” I laugh. What did he think I meant? “You were practically ready to throw in the towel when Nina told you Mic was taking over.”
Nina put Michaela on the project because she needed to get some space to handle other projects, and Michaela needed a chance to prove herself. She hasn’t exactly been employee of the month recently.
“Oh.” A breath of relief. “Yeah, she was fine, I guess. Annoying, but I didn’t expect any less. She did have the idea for Coney Island, though, so I guess something good did come out of it.”
“Careful,” I drawl. “Someone might think you’re starting to like her or something.”
His head whips around to meet my gaze, his eyes blown wide. If I didn’t know any better I’d say he was nervous. He wipes his palms on the thighs of his jeans and adjusts in his seat. “She was helpful. What else do you want me to say?”
“Relax, man.” I laugh, taking a tug of my water. “I’m just making sure she didn’t screw around. I know how important this is for you.”
Sheffield House was Finn’s pet project that his father had forced on him. After one too many bailouts, Oliver told Finn he needed to get his shit together and fast. He gave his son three months to form a board-approved business. You’d think that was easy, but Finn had been struggling, so he went to the one person he knew could help him: Davina Villa.
Nina helped him form the idea for Sheffield House—a nonprofit organization that would help other foster kids—like Finn. When he told me about the idea, I felt like a proud father watching his son grow up. This was the moment we had all been waiting for, the moment Finnley Sheffield finally took hold of his future and did something with it.
“Did you only invite me over to interrogate me about your little sister?” Finn snaps.
“Hey, I have the inside scoop at my disposal, why not take advantage of it?”
I guess you could say I’ve always been an informed brother. My sister and I have been close from the moment my parents brought her home from the hospital. I’d do anything for her and vice versa. It killed me not to tell her the truth about me and Elizabeth, but I knew she’d never be able to keep that secret. The whole damn town would know before I’d even finished a sentence.
Growing up, Michaela had always hung around me and my friends, even if the others didn’t want her to. Nick and Finn were the only ones who didn’t give me much shit about it at first. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of times it was a downer having her in the way of our teenage fun, but eventually, everyone got used to her being there. The others saw her as one of our own, adopting her as their little sister, except one—Finn. They were always at odds, in a constant state of bickering, picking fights, and talking shit to each other.
“Nina doesn’t tell me shit,” I say. “Girl code and all that.”
“She’s ratted Michaela out a time or two.”
“Sure, but only when it’s really bad. Besides, Mic usually tells on herself. You know she can’t keep a secret to save her life.”
“No shit.” Finn rolls his eyes. Poor guy, my sister’s big mouth is why he spent his junior year of high school at a boarding school instead of at home. And it wasn’t one of the fun kind. “That little shit has never been able to keep her mouth shut.”
“The way you guys still hate each other blows my mind. You’d think you were the brother instead of me.”
“Dude, don’t say that.” Finn’s face turns a ghostly white, and he looks like he might throw up.
“I’m serious!”
Finn shakes the thought from his mind. God, did they really hate each other that much? This has been going on for so long, maybe it’s time for an intervention.
“Where’s Ellie?” Finn asks, attempting to change the subject.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit…I was hoping he wouldn’t notice, but it’s hard not to when he’s used to her being around. Normally, Elizabeth would have greeted him with a hot breakfast and coffee, but when he arrived this morning, there was coffee but no breakfast, and no Elizabeth. I should’ve known this was coming.
“Oh, I think she had a meeting down in Charleston,” I say, picking at the label on my water bottle.
“What does that mean, you ‘think?’”
“She’s been down there a lot more recently—lots of shoots for some family or something. She should be home any time now.” I turn away from his curious stare, looking through the fridge for something new to drink, and then turn to my phone.
“Josh, why is our—Oh, Finn!” Elizabeth stands in the doorway from the mudroom, looking like a kid caught sneaking in. What is she doing here? She isn’t supposed to be back until Monday for our meeting with the lawyer who laid out the contract years ago. I don’t know for sure but I think she wants to go over every detail of what breaking off the arrangement early entails. “Finn, what are you doing here?”
“It’s Oliver’s birthday weekend,” I say.
We stand on opposite ends of the kitchen, locked in a silent battle as Finn looks between us, sensing the tension, I’m sure. Elizabeth sets her purse in the empty place next to Finn but doesn’t let go. Her movements are stiff and unsure. Her fingers twist around the strap.
“I told you he was coming over this weekend.”
Elizabeth turns to him. “That’s right, I’m so sorry. My weeks are starting to blur together more than I realized. How is Oliver?”
“Oh, you know…Oliver.” Finn chuckles and she huffs a small laugh, but her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Will you make it on Sunday?”
“Sunday?” She asks in genuine confusion before turning to look at me.
“The Coney Island event for the thing he’s been working on,” I answer with a little more annoyance than is probably necessary, but having to cover for her is starting to get old.
“Shit.” Elizabeth sighs, her shoulders falling. “Finn, I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ll make it. I have to be in Asheville for a shoot tomorrow and then Charleston on Monday for—”
“Don’t forget our appointment on Monday.”
Elizabeth’s glare whips toward me, but I’m not going to let her forget this appointment. She’s the one who was adamant we needed to sit down and talk with him. “I’m sorry, Finn.” She sighs. “Things are just extra crazy right now.”
“No sweat, Ellie.” Finn wraps his arm around her shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze. “As long as you make it to the big party next month. You gotta take a break and celebrate occasionally.”
Another sad smile. “I promise.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I mumble.
Elizabeth glares at me again before excusing herself. She claims she had to pick up the dry cleaning because she needs one of the shirts for tomorrow. Finn’s eyes travel to the closet door outside the kitchen, where a plastic garment bag hangs filled with freshly pressed shirts. She doesn’t waste time grabbing her purse and running out the door.
When she’s gone, Finn turns to me, and without hesitation, he asks, “Dude, what was that?”
Pulling two beers from the fridge, I ignore his question.
“She didn’t even tell you goodbye. Elizabeth never leaves without telling someone goodbye, let alone her own husband. She didn’t even kiss you!”
I shrug. “Sure, she did.”
His eyes look like they’re about to jump out of his skull. We both know for a fact she did not tell me goodbye or kiss me. “Josh—”
“Finn,” I snap. “Just drop it. Okay?”