Chapter Two
Finn had a closing on Tuesday morning. So on Monday after practice, he’d asked Barrett to take over until Finn got there, hopefully around ten.
“Absolutely,” Barrett had said. “I’ll keep things moving along.”
The closing was finished on time and Finn headed straight for the high school. When he arrived on the field, the first thing he looked for was his favorite nurse.
But Kenzie wasn’t there. A burly guy in a tactical shirt with a Tenacity Fire and Rescue patch on the sleeve stood on the sidelines instead. He carried an orange first-responder bag and looked more than ready to step in if called upon to provide first aid.
That the team had medical help on the sidelines was all Finn really needed to know. For one reason or another, Kenzie couldn’t be there. As long as she’d found someone to sub in for her, no big deal.
Or it shouldn’t be.
But it was, damn it.
Because, well, what if something bad had happened? What if she was really sick? What if there had been some issue with the baby?
She lived alone. Yeah, she had a lot of friends in town, and that eased his mind a little. If she needed help for some reason, she would no doubt have a list of people she could call.
But still. He couldn’t stand the idea that she might be sick or hurt. That the baby might…
He refused to complete that thought. Because he knew he was overreacting. This wasn’t the summer after their senior year. She was fine and the baby was fine.
But just to be sure, he left Barrett to work with the team for another few minutes and introduced himself to the bearded EMT, whose name was Rufus. As they shook hands, Finn asked, “So where’s Kenzie? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, far as I know. Something about a routine doctor’s appointment…”
Routine. That was good, right?
Of course, it was. If she was sick or if something had gone wrong with the baby, she would have called him, wouldn’t she? At least she would have let him know that she had to cancel their dinner date.
Which wasn’t a date. Uh-uh. Just two friends sharing a companionable meal. Nothing to see here…
“You sure she’s alright?” he asked Rufus again.
“Honestly, man. She seemed fine. You know what I know.”
“Okay, then. I appreciate your filling in for her.”
“Hey, no problem. Happy to help. My boy’s on the team—Darren Tuttle?”
“Darren. Of course.” Finn took a minute to talk to Rufus about his son.
Darren was a big, strong kid, who had shown up for tryouts, unsure of which position to go for.
Finn had explained that Darren didn’t have to name his preferred position immediately.
They wouldn’t be choosing the starting lineup until much closer to the first game of the season.
The truth was, Finn already had Darren pegged as a linebacker. But that choice could change due to any number of factors.
“We’re all excited to have you in charge of the team this year, Coach,” said Rufus.
“I’m honored to hear that,” Finn replied. He and Rufus shook hands and then Finn jogged over to join the team on the field, where Barrett had set up an endurance circuit.
The players worked through the circuit as Barrett shouted instructions and encouragement. As for Finn, he just stood there, staring at nothing, worrying about Kenzie.
Rufus had said she was fine. The guy was an EMT. If there was some problem, Rufus would have picked up on it. Hell, Kenzie would have told Rufus that she wasn’t feeling well.
Wouldn’t she?
Of course, she would. There was nothing to get all worked up about. But Finn got worked up, anyway.
He kept telling himself he was being an idiot and nothing bad was happening to Kenzie or her baby.
It didn’t help. He kept stewing. The apprehension made him sick to his stomach.
The past was crowding him, taunting him.
He would never forget how it had been, that she’d felt under the weather for a couple of days—she’d felt achy, she’d said.
And she was cramping. She’d been unable to sleep at night.
And then, she’d started bleeding and…
He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted their baby until the baby was gone. After that, he just wanted to get away, to forget what they’d lost. But he’d never forgotten, not really. That loss was part of him and always would be.
Barrett stepped close. “You okay?”
“All good—but I need to make a quick call.”
Barrett peered at him more closely. “What is it, Finn? What’s wrong?”
“I just…have to check on something.” He needed to know for sure that nothing bad had happened to Kenzie or the baby.
“Alright…” Barrett had a funny look on his face, probably because Finn’s anxiety was way too plain to see.
“Long story,” said Finn through clenched teeth. “Just…don’t ask. Please?”
“Got it,” said Barrett. “No problem. Make your call.”
Finn pulled his phone from his pocket and headed for the sidelines just as Kenzie, in dark blue scrubs with her hair pulled back in the usual tidy bun, breezed through the north gate onto the field. She was pulling her black wheeled bag and she looked perfectly healthy.
Sheepishly, his heartbeat roaring in his ears, Finn slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Kenzie went straight to Rufus. When she reached him, they shared a few words. The EMT was on his way to the gate before Finn’s racing heart finally slowed to an easier rhythm.
Kenzie spotted him then. She gave him a wave and a dazzling smile. He waved right back as Barrett asked, “All good?”
“Yeah,” Finn replied with a long, slow breath.
He wanted to jog right over there, but he held himself back.
It was obvious that Kenzie’s routine doctor’s appointment had been just that.
She didn’t need him falling all over her no matter how much he longed for absolute proof that she and the baby were doing fine.
“Everything’s great,” he said. And it was.
Now wasn’t then. Kenzie’s baby was safe and so was she.
He tipped his head toward the hardworking players as they pushed through a sprint and then dropped to the ground for burpees. “Think they’re ready for a break?”
“Couldn’t hurt,” Barrett said with a nod. “I’ve worked them pretty hard.”
“Okay, let’s take a huddle and talk aims and objectives…”
* * *
Kenzie’s house, on the east side of town, had a cute picket fence around a tidy patch of lawn and a cozy front porch complete with a porch swing. The welcome mat was printed with bright flowers.
Kenzie opened the door before he had a chance to knock. “Right on time.” She stepped back. “Come in, come in…”
“This is nice,” Finn said as she closed the door behind him.
He took in the open living area. There was a stone fireplace, oak floors and gorgeous wool area rugs woven with decorative vines and geometric shapes.
The sofa and chairs faced the fireplace.
Through the arch at the back of the room, he could see a dining area with a Craftsman-style table.
Beyond that there was an island that marked off the business end of the kitchen.
“Homey,” he said. “And I mean that in the best way.”
“I like it here.” She glanced around, grinning. “And since Tate couldn’t wait to get out of town, he had zero problem agreeing that I should get the house. Come on. I’ll give you the ten-cent tour.”
He followed her into the kitchen, which was as cozy as the living area, with two windows on the sidewall looking out on the thick trunk and leafy branches of a mature oak tree. She had an office space on the main floor.
The primary bedroom was there, too. It was nice and roomy, that bedroom. She had a king-size bed with nightstands on both sides. There was a rocking chair by the window, a walk-in closet and a good-size attached bath.
From there, she led him upstairs, where there were two more small bedrooms, another bathroom and a loft area.
“It’s a great house,” he said when they’d reached the main floor again.
“We were lucky to get it.” She frowned. He wondered if she was thinking of her ex-husband, of the life they had shared in this charming bungalow. But then she grinned. “And now, it’s all mine.” She hesitated a moment before she said, “I guess we should probably head for the restaurant, huh?”
Was she nervous? Because all of a sudden, he sure was. Absurdly so. He allowed himself one last glance around her cozy, inviting living room and gestured her ahead of him. “After you.”
As they went down the front walk to Finn’s waiting pickup, Kenzie suggested, “It’s nice out and it’s only a few blocks to the restaurant. Why don’t we just walk over there.”
“Great idea.” He dared to tuck her hand in the crook of his elbow…and felt like a million bucks when she wrapped her fingers around his arm.
Satterfield’s Steak House, on Central Avenue not far from the Grizzly, had a heavy wooden front door painted a lustrous black with leaded glass lights on either side.
Inside, booths lined one wall of the dining room.
On the other there were tables covered with snow-white linen tablecloths.
A small bar ran half the length of the back wall and copper pendant lights gave the place a warm, inviting glow.
“I like this,” Kenzie said as the hostess led them to one of the two unoccupied booths.
The woman—the owner, as it turned out—introduced herself as Ruby Satterfield.
“Just call me Ruby.” She was slim and tall with lustrous black hair and dark brown skin, and she might have been anywhere from thirty-five to fifty.
“We’re new here and we’re so glad to be a part of this community,” she said.
“Your restaurant is beautiful,” Kenzie replied.
“Thank you—best steaks in the Treasure State,” Ruby said. “I’ve put my name on the place, so you know I’m not kidding.”
Finn was nodding. “You’ve made a big hit in town. Everyone says the food here is excellent.”
“That’s what we like to hear.” Beaming, Ruby handed them menus, rattled off a couple of specials and assured them that their server would be right with them.
Once she was gone, Kenzie leaned toward him. “Things are definitely looking up in Tenacity.”
“It’s about time.”