41. Adele
Adele
“Ineed to talk to him.” As the pieces clicked into place, I knew in my bones Richard had been involved.
Not only because he was left-handed, either.
The comment Parker had made about his fight with my dad had bothered me.
It had also struck me as odd that he’d let his criminal nephew work off the books at our camp.
In his position, he was expected to follow the letter of the law and set a good example for his subordinates.
That was not the kind of behavior my father or Henri would have tolerated.
Henri and Paz may not have seen him for who he really was, but I did. And it was time for answers.
“No.” Finn’s voice was more firm than I’d ever heard it. “We’re going to the police.”
Oh, Finn. Sweet, na?ve Finn. All tall and strong with his do-gooder military training. No amount of long hair and tattoos could hide his inherently good nature. He was a rule follower through and through. A man who respected the way things should be.
And while I loved those things about him, we were far past that stage.
“I’ve been to the cops,” I explained. “You know what their response was? They mansplained brakes to me and questioned my conclusions.”
His sharp intake of breath was reassuring. “Shit.”
“Yes. So if I could just talk to Richard—”
Finn held a hand up. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Richard is left-handed, but we don’t know that he’s the one who tampered with the brakes. Wasn’t he your dad’s best friend?”
It was true. He had been Dad’s best friend for years, and he’d worked for our family for even longer. Even now, he held a position of authority. Henri and Paz trusted him. “Yes. But things have been different since Dad died.”
In my head, it was simple. I’d go over to his house and ask a few questions, and that would be it.
Richard wasn’t a murderer. He had probably gotten caught up in illegal activity.
His nephew had been trafficking opioids across the border from Canada, after all.
But surely once he understood the ramifications and how serious the issue was, he would have untangled himself from that web.
“I need to talk to him. To see what he knows,” I reasoned.
But Finn wasn’t buying it. His jaw was clenched as tight as his fists. Shit. My gentle giant was getting upset. He was protective. I couldn’t deny I loved the security of being in his arms and in his heart, but I could handle this.
“No. Let’s review the evidence and talk to Parker before taking any more steps. Maybe she can put us in touch with the FBI team. Surely there’s something they can do.”
“No way.” I shouted, my anger taking over. “They won’t do shit. Two years, Finn. I’ve been staring at those brakes for two years.” I was shaking. Didn’t he understand?
From across the kitchen, he assessed me. Those icy eyes said everything his words could not.
“I swear. I’ve got this feeling that he knows something. If I can get to him, he will crack.” The urge to stomp my feet was overwhelming, but I held myself in check. My emotions were running wild and nausea was creeping up inside me again.
He crossed the kitchen and gently grasped me by the shoulders.
“Adele, I need you to look at me and listen carefully.” Ducking his head, he waited until I obeyed.
His brow was furrowed and his expression was so earnest. “You can’t do that.
He could be dangerous. You cannot take those risks.
You’re pregnant, for God’s sake. Please, please, can we sit with this information and work together to figure out the next steps? ”
I scanned his handsome face. He was so worried and so scared. I’d truly never seen him like this.
And then it hit me.
This wasn’t about me. It wasn’t about him. It was about us. The two of us and our baby. He was right. We didn’t know if Richard was dangerous. And while I was almost certain he wasn’t, it didn’t matter. It was not a call I got to make on my own. Finn and I were a team now.
I loved him and respected him. And I wouldn’t put myself or our baby in danger.
“I’m sorry,” I said, tears welling in my eyes and blurring my vision. “I’m so sorry.”
Without a word, he pulled me into a hug, resting his chin on the top of my head.
“I’m so used to doing whatever I want. Believing that I know best all the time. But I haven’t been fair to you.”
Smoothing my hair, he held me and rocked me from side to side as I cried. Dammit. I did not deserve this incredible man. This generous, kind person had given me all the time and space and latitude I needed. And I repaid him by behaving like a brat. I had to do better.
“I want this,” I said between sobs. “I want the real thing. Partnership. Love. Respect.”
He pulled back and cupped my face. “I want that too. And we’ll have it. But we’ve got to work together and listen to one another.”
“You’re right. And we can’t hide anymore. I don’t want to.”
It was time. To come clean. To tell the world. How could this relationship grow and evolve if we continued to keep it secret? This baby was coming, and before long, I’d be showing. Our little family deserved to live out loud, truthfully and joyfully.
“I’m telling my family,” I said. “As soon as possible.”
He laughed softly and kissed my lips. “We’re telling your family.”
“Can we do it right now? I could call Parker. Have her help me round everybody—”
“It’s dinnertime on a Tuesday.” Finn chuckled. “Maybe wait a day or two?” he suggested, pulling me into his chest again.
“Okay fine. Tomorrow I’ll call a family meeting. Once we break the news to them, we’ll head straight to your mom’s house and tell her.”
“Whatever you want, She-Ra. But how about we take a moment to breathe first? Let’s get some food in you.”
I nodded. “I am feeling nauseous.”
“Then you need a cheeseburger.”
“With bacon,” I added.
“Okay. I’ll order takeout from the Moose. Bacon cheeseburger for my girl and my baby. Anything else?”
I shook my head. My stomach was already rumbling.
“Do you want to come with me to pick it up?”
“He-Man has been cooped up all day. I think I’ll take him for a walk around the neighborhood while you go.
” I needed a few minutes to myself to settle anyway.
All my frustration, fear, and grief were still simmering right below the surface.
Fresh air would do me good. Finn didn’t deserve to be the target of all my feelings, so I’d process on my own for a bit.
“Okay. Be careful,” he said. He pecked my cheek, then grabbed his keys and phone.
Fall nights in Maine could be crisp, so I grabbed my sweatshirt, then I snagged He-Man’s leash from its hook beside the garage door.
He immediately jumped up on my legs and whined.
Nightly walks had been our routine for a long time, but I’d been feeling so sick lately that I’d been neglecting my fur baby.
I picked him up and gave him some snuggles. “I love you. You’ll always be my baby too.”
Garnering all my fortitude, I set off into the cool night air, determined to recalibrate before Finn returned.
I was already feeling better. After thirty-three years of relying on no one but myself, I had finally found my person.
And yes, I had some growing to do, because I wanted to be as encouraging and supportive to my man as he was to me.
And right now, that didn’t seem like an impossibility at all.