“Okay, so I draw the line at being drenched in my brother’s disgusting sweat.” Katie slid into the chair beside Laurie’s.
“Admit it… you’re just a wimpy girl, afraid of a little extra-salty perspiration.” Finn sat down, cradling Lucy in his arms, like a pro.
“Don’t even start with me, Finn. You can’t call me wimpy after that backpacking trip I went on with you, where I didn’t get to shower for a week.”
Laurie loved the way the two bickered, like any other siblings. Katie obviously didn’t cut him any slack because of his CF, as demonstrated by her non-reaction when he referred to cystic fibrosis increasing the salt content in his sweat.
Finn wrinkled his nose at Katie. “Yeah, you were a little ripe.”
“And you smelled like an entire men’s locker room, but I was still willing to hike with you.” Katie took a drink from her water glass.
“As I recall, you made me stay behind you the second half of the week. Plus, you were twenty at the time. You’ve gotten a lot wimpier since then.”
“How did you do your treatments in the wilderness?” Laurie wondered aloud. “You must’ve had a ton of stuff to carry. Surely you couldn’t run all that equipment on batteries.”
Katie’s gaze riveted on Laurie. “How do you know about all that? Finn told me you guys haven’t even been on a date.” She moved her glare to her brother. “What are you trying to pull?”
Finn lifted his free hand. “You remember I told you about Bran’s stepdaughter, Ellie? The one with CF? Laurie was her nanny.”
“For years,” Laurie added, in confirmation. “I love her like she’s my own daughter.”
“Is that so?” Katie’s expression was a bit too smug for Laurie’s comfort. “Next, you’ll be telling me she sings and plays the piano.”
“I do,” Laurie answered, wondering why it mattered.
When she saw both of them staring at her with slack jaws, she quickly clarified. “I have a so-so voice, but I took piano lessons from the time I was six years old. I really miss having a piano—I never get to play anymore.”
Katie was grinning from ear to ear. “I’m sure Finn will let you play his Steinway grand.”
It was Laurie’s turn to stare at Finn. “You have a Steinway?”
His mouth moved, but his words seemed to be stuck.
Katie answered for him, “He not only has one, but he plays beautifully. He almost majored in music at Julliard, but decided to go the computer route, instead.”
“Wow.” Laurie couldn’t hide her shock. Of all things, she never would’ve imagined him being musical.
“Such an interesting turn of events…” Katie drummed her fingers on the table.
“Don’t read anything into this, Katie. Like I told you, we’re not a thing.”
“Uh-huh,” Katie said, unconvincingly, as she scanned toward the entrance. “Wonder what’s keeping Mum so long? You think she fell in?”
Determined to convince Katie of their true relationship, Laurie tapped on her arm. “Really. Finn and I don’t even like each other.”
“I can totally understand why you don’t like Finnster.”
“Hey!” he objected, with a laugh.
“But…” Katie looked pointedly at her brother. “What’s not to like about Laurie?”
Finn’s face turned the color of Laurie’s dress. “Katie, you promised to help.”
“Yes, I did.” She ran her finger through the moisture on the outside of her water glass. “But that was before I actually met her.”
“What do you mean?” Laurie’s pulse picked up its pace. Was Katie going to blow their cover in front of Finn’s mother?
Katie reached out to pat her hand. “I’m only teasing, Laurie. Believe me, Finn deserves it.”
Before Laurie could respond, the hostess returned with the extra chair. Katie lifted the empty carrier from the floor and settled it on the chair.
“Thank you, Marla.” Laurie tried to make up for having intimidated the young girl, who escaped quickly, giving her a wide berth.
“There she is.” Katie waved toward Susan, who strutted between the tables, draped in a gorgeous dress with a vivid pink and black floral print.
“She loves to make a statement,” Finn commented, clearly amused by her choice of apparel.
Susan waved back and started their direction but stopped to chat with a couple at another table.
“Who’s she’s talking to?” asked Finn.
Katie shrugged. “Beats me. You know how Mum is. She knows everybody.”
Susan gave them each a hug before continuing to their table in the back. “Laurie!”
She moved around the table and Laurie stood to greet her. Before she could speak, Susan’s arms wrapped around her, squeezing so hard Laurie felt like a boa constrictor’s prey. At last, her death grip loosened and the air rushed back into Laurie’s lungs.
“I didn’t hug you earlier, love,” Susan told her, as if it were a heinous crime. “Finn forbids me to hug the employees in his building.” Her eyebrows danced a mischievous jig. “But outside the building, they’re fair game.”
