CHAPTER 67
Finn
I sit in stillness for several long moments, staring at the waterfall and wondering what the fuck just happened. Then I use my phone to search for dyslexia therapists, finding that one of the best is based in Los Angeles. I make an emergency appointment for tomorrow.
I can’t believe what an ass I am.
Emma came to me with a concern. I took it as judgement of my parenting skills and I snapped at her.
Why did I do that?
I’ve dodged more bullets than I can count. And bombs. And knives. The shot Emma just fired my way was more lethal than every other attack combined. Because when she looked at me with those impossibly sad eyes, I saw defeat in her expression.
She already assumed I’d fail her again. She was expecting it, even.
And she walked away.
What have I done?
The last time I saw that gut-wrenching look on Emma’s pretty face was the day I found her sorting Jasmine’s toys and told her to leave.
Did I just do that to her again?
I jump up and start grabbing anything I can throw. I start with the ceramic pitcher filled with wildflowers and hurl it against a tree down the hill. It explodes.
Next I reach for a wrought iron chair and throw that into the deep end of the pool. I’m about to flip the table when I hear a low growl behind me.
“Yo, asshole.”
I spin around to find Special K glaring at me. Declan, and Evander are behind him at the double doors.
K looks like he’s about to pummel me. “What did you do to her?”
I just shake my head. “Leave me alone. Get out.”
I see no movement.
“I fucked up, all right? I’m such a fucking idiot.”
Declan laughs. “You think?”
Evander points at me. “We just saw Emma heading to Dad’s with her bag packed.”
“What?” Oh hell, no. I march to the sliding doors, but my brothers form a wall to stop me.
“You need to cool off, Finn.” Special K’s eyes are hard.
“I agree,” Declan says. “In my experience, women don’t like it when you approach them with supersonic afterburner flames shooting out of your nostrils.”
Evander smirks at Declan. “You have experience with women?”
I’m not in the mood for this shit. “Out of my way.”
Special K presses his palm to my chest.
“What do you need?” Evander asks.
“I need to rewind the last fifteen minutes of my life. You gonna give that to me?”
“So what happened? Whad’ya do?”
“I think I’m in love with her.”
“Welp, that certainly explains why she’s running away,” Declan says.
I lift my face to the sun and close my eyes for a moment. And then it occurs to me.
I lower my glance to find my brothers waiting.
“I’ve spent so long taking care of my kid that it’s the only thing I’m hardwired to do. Emma came to me today with a concern about Jasmine. Because Emma’s the most loving and generous soul I’ve ever known. And I… I just…”
Special K’s lips pull tight in disgust.
“I accused her of pointing out what a shitty father I am.”
Nobody says anything.
“I haven’t been in love with a woman in eight years! That’s a long fucking time!”
Evander looks like he’s doing math problems in his head. “Wait. Fifteen minutes? All this happened fifteen minutes ago?”
“Yeah, why?”
My brothers look at one another. “We saw Emma ten minutes ago. Which means she was on her way to Dad’s five minutes after your conversation.”
I’m a smart man. I’m such a smart man that I developed a brand-new algorithm to use in satellite-supported cybersecurity missions. So I know that means Emma was already packed and ready to go when she came to the barn to find me.
Oh, shit.
“Sonofabitch!”
I hear a knock at my front door. Nobody knocks around here. I’ve fantasized about my family having the courtesy to knock before they barge in, but I’ve never been that lucky.
“Expecting someone?” Evander asks.
Whoever is at the door is now ringing the doorbell. So this is either some sort of door-to-door sales call or someone who’s lost.
“I’ll get it.” Special K turns around, walks through the house, and opens the door. I hear the faint rumble of his voice until he yells, “Finn! Visitor!”
I walk inside to find Tammy Bellendorf standing in my living room. I shake my head in confusion, because I can’t seem to put the facts in any kind of order that makes sense.
Cheerleader captain Tammy? Emma’s mean girl? In my living room? On Yosemite Ranch? Why the fuck is this happening?
I hear Declan mumble an obscenity behind me. Oh, that’s right. Declan dated her after me.
Poor Tammy looks a little out of her depth.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt. I should have called.”
That would have been a trick, since my number’s unlisted.
Her eyes are scanning the house. She looks shocked.
“Are you here for Emma?” I ask.
“What? No. I was hoping I might speak to you.”
Something about this feels wrong. Off. I don’t like it. “Let’s talk outside,” I say, and Special K is already herding Tammy onto the porch and down the steps to the ranch lane.
“It’s a bit of a delicate subject,” she says, looking around at my brothers. “Oh, hello, Declan. Nice to see you.”
“Hello.” His voice is devoid of any humor, which doesn’t often happen.
“Whatever you need to say can be said in front of all of us,” Evander says.
“All right. Well,” she laughs nervously. “I thought you should know that your maid has been pretending to be Jasmine’s mother. It’s kind of embarrassing, really.”
I nod, waiting for whatever juicy details Tammy came here to share.
“Anyway, she’s going around talking to the principal about Jasmine’s reading comprehension problems, even though she’s not a parent or guardian and that kind of academic information is protected by law.”
I decide to let Evander handle this, since he’s the attorney.
“Personally identifiable information in an educational setting is indeed protected. Which begs the question—how are you privy to a conversation between Emma and the principal?”
She stammers. She’s flustered. I don’t like this at all.
“What did you say to Emma, Tammy?” I take a step closer to her. “Were you unkind… again? I sure hope not.”
“What? Of course not! I just thought you should know in case you wanted to set boundaries with your cleaner so she doesn’t do something like that in the future. I mean, she even thinks it’s okay to be a school volunteer.”
“She was asked to volunteer.”
“Well, she should have declined.”
“When’s the next volunteer event?”
“Well, we have a planning meeting after school today, followed by snacks and a cornhole competition.”
“I love cornhole,” Declan says.
“I’ll talk to Emma,” I say.
She brightens. “Thank you! That’s wonderful to hear.”
Special K steps away and opens the driver’s side door for her, a not-so-subtle hint that Tammy needs to get the fuck out.
“Oh.” Tammy smiles, trying to hide her embarrassment at having overstayed her welcome. “The ranch looks lovely!”
Special K clears his throat.
“Drive carefully,” Evander says.
I look over at Evander and appreciate, for once, that he’s wearing a suit. It adds flair to his threatening physical presence. Our middle brother can be downright intimidating when he wants to be. I guess it’s a gift all the MacLaines share.
We watch Tammy drive off.
“You love cornhole?” Evander shoves Declan. “What the fuck was that about?”
“Just trying to be polite. Remember what Dad says—the MacLaines are known for their hospitality.”
Special K turns to me. “You need any backup at the volunteer meeting?”
“No, thanks.” Special K’s idea of backup is appropriate in only a very few situations. Like a hostage rescue. Or a taking out a terrorist cell. I don’t think he’d be much help at Sweetbriar Elementary School.
Besides, I got this.
This afternoon’s volunteer meeting’s gonna be lit.
I head over to Dad’s.
“What are you doing? Declan yells.
“Bringing Emma home. Have the jet ready to take us to Los Angeles tomorrow.”
“Do you know what she’s planning for dinner?” Special K asks.
I get to my Dad’s front door, reach for the handle, and it flings open. Phyllis blocks my entrance.
“She needs space, Finn. She’s very clear about not wanting to talk to you right now.”
“I need to apologize and explain…”
“She’s resting.”
The door slams in my face.