Chapter 20 #2
“Because of you. And Jas. And Melba, Scarlet, and Chuck. Because of Brick, Spike, Pipe, and all my other friends. Because of Raid, and hearing how he’s been able to bond with his bloodhound.
I’ll always be overprotective. I can’t help it.
I’ll never be voted Mr. Congeniality, but I’m ready to embrace my future.
Being around Jas all summer has made me see the joys of living again.
In many ways, she reminds me of Steel. She’s friendly and loyal and excited by the smallest thing.
She embraces new experiences and isn’t afraid of anything.
That’s how my boy was. He loved life, and I loved seeing the world through his eyes.
Now I want to see the world through Jas’s eyes.
And yours. And through the eyes of our new dogs.
And our children, if we’re blessed with them. ”
“Finn,” Henley said, her eyes filling with tears.
He pulled her into him, and Henley let go of his hand long enough to wrap her arm around him as she buried her face in his chest. The position was awkward, as they were sitting in separate chairs next to Jasna’s hospital bed, but it didn’t seem to faze either of them.
“I can’t promise not to have my bad days in the future, but I feel as if I’m finally coming up for air after being stuck underwater for years. I need you, Hen. And Jas. Without you both, I’m afraid I’ll get sucked back under, and I won’t be able to surface a second time.”
“You have us. But you’re wrong. You don’t need us.
You never have. You’re the strongest man I’ve ever met.
And we don’t need you to be anyone but who are you.
We don’t care if you have bad days. I’m guessing we’re going to see quite a few of those from our hormonal teenager in the years to come.
We just need you to be here. To laugh with us, to watch over us. To be you.”
“I love you,” Finn said, his voice breaking.
Henley looked up from his chest. “I love you too. Can I ask a question?”
“You just did,” he said with a small grin.
She rolled her eyes. “Are we still going to the shelter this weekend?”
“Yes,” Finn said firmly. “The sooner I get a hundred-pound mean-looking pit bull to follow Jasna around and look as if he’d eat anyone who stepped a toe out of line, the better.”
Henley chuckled. “You know that wouldn’t have stopped what happened, right? It’s not like she can bring her dog to camp.”
“She can if it’s her therapy dog.”
“Not happening. We aren’t lying about something like that. It’s not cool,” Henley said a little huffily.
“Relax, Hen. I know,” he sighed. “But if I could give Jas a bodyguard that would glare at anyone who dared to look at her wrong, I would.”
“You’ll just have to teach her to do the glaring. And the kung fu fighting.”
“Oh, that’s definitely happening,” Finn said.
“You’re going to be an awesome dad,” Henley declared.
He stared down at her with a worried look. “I don’t know.”
“I do,” she told him firmly.
“Babies are even more helpless than dogs,” he mused. “I couldn’t protect Steel. What makes me think I can protect a kid?”
Taking a deep breath, Henley let go of her daughter’s hand and stood.
She climbed onto Finn’s lap, straddling his waist, and he grabbed her hips, holding her steady.
She took his face in her hands and leaned in close.
“What happened to Steel wasn’t your fault.
It was all that asshole’s doing. Besides, you’ll have help from me.
And everyone else at The Refuge. And the dog we’re gonna adopt, and every single guest who comes to stay at the retreat.
“Raising Jasna alone was hard. Really hard. And if I had to be a single parent again, even with how much I love my daughter, I wouldn’t want to try.
But knowing, if we’re blessed with kids, that I won’t be alone?
It makes me excited about the prospect. You don’t have to protect me, Jasna, or our children by yourself, Finn.
It takes a village. And our Refuge village will step up, I have no doubt. ”
“I love you,” Finn whispered.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that,” Henley said.
“Good, because I’m not going to get tired of saying it. Now, I’m thinking you need to crash for a few hours.” He looked behind them at the cot that had been brought in a while ago. “And before you say no, I’ll stay up and watch over Jas. If she wakes, I’ll let you know. Promise.”
“I am tired,” Henley admitted. “But you have to be exhausted too.”
“I’m more wired than anything. I’ll crash later. For now, I just want to watch over my girls.”
His girls. Henley liked that. No, she freaking loved that.
“Okay. Finn…thank you for being there for me and Jasna today.”
“I’ll always be here for you both.” Then he stood with her in his arms, and she lowered her feet to the floor. He led her to the cot, and when she lay down and got situated, Finn leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Sleep, love.”
Henley wasn’t sure she’d be able to fall asleep with the hustle and bustle of the hospital. But before she knew it, her eyes closed. The last thing she heard before giving in to the temptation of rest was Finn’s low voice, murmuring to Jasna how much he loved her.