“Mum will love this dress. But watch out… she’ll probably ask where you bought it. Hopefully, she won’t be able to buy a matching one, so you won’t ever be… big and small red Twinkies.”
“No chance of that. I bought it from a resale shop.”
“I’m sure it looks better on you than the original owner.”
A chuckle bubbled from her throat. “You’re getting better at this, Finn. There may be hope for you, after all.”
“Good evening.” The driver, who stood by the open limo door as they approached, had eyes only for Laurie. “May I say you look stunning in red?”
“Yes, you certainly may. Thank you.”
She bestowed the most brilliant smile on him, her even white teeth sparkling. He grinned like a schoolboy with a crush, and Finn fought a sudden urge to accidentally plant a sharp elbow in his ribs.
“We should get going,” he said crossly. “Don’t want to keep Mum waiting.”
Inside, on the plush leather seats, Finn was relieved when Laurie scooted away, leaving a generous space between them, allowing him to clear his head. He watched her expressive profile in the soft inner lights of the limousine.
“Thanks again for doing this,” he said. “I don’t expect you to act like you’re in love with me or anything.”
“Good thing,” she replied.
“I need to tell you one more thing before you meet my mum and sister.”
“I think you already told me more than I could possibly retain this afternoon.” She ticked off facts on her fingers. “Your mother is Susan. Your step-dad is Joe. She married him and moved to the States after your dad died in a car accident. You have two older sisters, Sarah and Katie—both married with kids. Neither of them has CF. And I don’t remember the kids’ names.”
“That’s more than I thought you’d remember, but this isn’t another factoid. I just wanted to tell you Katie knows the scoop.”
“You told her the truth?”
“I didn’t have the chance to talk to her alone at lunch, but I called her an hour ago to enlist her help. She knows everything. She’ll help deflect my mum’s questions.”
“That sounds good.”
Laurie’s fingers roamed lazily along her purse strap, and his eyes were mesmerized. He found himself jealous of the strip of leather, caressed by her gentle touch. He tore his eyes away.
“Mum, however, will probably grill you about your entire life’s story.”
“She’ll be bored. I’m not that interesting.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you about Mum and my sister… they’re really pushy.” Even as he cautioned her, he felt the need to defend them. “Don’t get me wrong—I love both of them. My mother would give you the shirt off her back, and my sister would probably invite you to live in her house. But they really like to meddle. To be honest, my whole family is like that. Even me. I think it’s genetic.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m warning you they both really want me to get married, and I’m afraid of what they might do.”
“But your sister knows the truth, right?”
“Yes, but I don’t trust her. Even after I told her what really happened—the whole fake girlfriend thing—she was asking all kinds of questions about you, like where you were from and how to spell your name.”
She sat up, bolt-straight, glaring daggers at him. “Did you tell her?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I? Anyone could guess how to spell Laurie Fields.”
“I know that. But you told her where I’m from?”
Finn could see her blood vessel pulsing on the side of her neck. Why was she so upset?
“I didn’t tell her your mother’s address or anything, but I did mention Tampa Bay.”
Her eyes squeezed shut, her hand rising to cover her throat. Her lips moved, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying.
“Laurie, what’s wrong?” The hair stood up on the back of his neck as his fingers balled into tight fists.
She gave her head a shake, a forced smile on her face. “Forget it. I’m being paranoid.”
“About what?”
“It’s nothing… I swear. There’s someone from my past I’d prefer never to run into again.” She crossed her arms, tucking her trembling fingers away. “I’m not in danger. He didn’t abuse me or anything like that.”
As she peered out the window with unfocused eyes, a slew of emotions passed across her face like a slideshow. Finn wondered about the man who’d caused this kind of pain. Was it an ex-boyfriend? She said he hadn’t abused her, but Finn was certain he had. After all, abuse comes in many forms besides physical. He wanted to probe deeper, but he knew he hadn’t earned the right. Nor had he earned her trust.
Something in her called to his soul, stirring up protective feelings, deep inside. Yet he didn’t dare let himself get closer. Maybe, if he was careful, he and Laurie could establish a bond of friendship, as he had with his partners in Phantom Enterprises who’d known each other since they were teens at a computer camp for disabled kids.
Yes, I can do this. We can have a platonic relationship, like good friends or even siblings.
Remembering his joy at Branson and Stephanie’s marriage, he imagined himself watching from a church pew as Laurie walked down the aisle in a white satin wedding dress that complimented her creamy dark skin. When she passed by his pew, on her way to marry her groom, Finn gave her a thumbs-up. But then his knuckles blanched, his hands gripping the pew-back in front of him, somehow certain her unknown groom wouldn’t treat her right. In a panic, he waited for the proper moment to call out his objection, hoping he could prevent this disaster from happening.
He jumped as the car door opened, tearing him out of his trance. Concentrating to slow his labored breathing, he forced his clenched fists to relax.
