Certain Sure (8 page)

“I’m hungry,” Rose said. He and Katie faced her. Fin hopped up and they went to unpack their picnic. While they ate, Fin examined everything in the park except what he yearned most to explore: Katie.

After lunch, they lay on the plaid blanket, finding shapes in the clouds. Fin made them laugh by finding goofy things, like Cinderella’s stepmother’s crooked finger or the tail the bobcat lost. Katie’s laughter floated though him, more effervescent than the best champagne.

“Oh,” she said, sitting up. “I need to get home. Michael’s coming by.”

“Back together,” Fin asked. He stood, attempting to combat the heaviness in his legs.

“No, he’s getting his things.” Katie packed the basket.

Fin smiled and grabbed Rose’s hand. As they walked out, Rose stopped for a drink at the water fountain. An old woman sat on a bench next to it. Fin had noticed her watching them earlier.

“You have a lovely family, dears,” the woman on the bench remarked. “It’s nice to see such loving parents. Your daughter looks very happy.”

Katie blushed and followed Rose, who skipped ahead down the path.

“Thank you,” Fin replied. “Enjoy your day.”

“Thank you, you too,” she said waving as he slowly walked away. Fin said nothing. But he knew as he watched Katie and Rose that he wanted the woman’s words to be true.

He jogged down the path, growling at Rose, who shrieked in pretend fear. Scooping her up, he laughed and followed Katie to the car.

Rose chattered away on the drive back but stopped when Katie pulled the car into the driveway. Michael stood by his Lexus, waiting with crossed arms and a frown. They all exchanged polite greetings but Fin raged inside, winds scattering debris, currents crackling like before a thunderstorm. Katie ran in to get Michael’s things. Fin ignored him and walked Rose over to Mrs. Knight’s. She agreed to take Rose for a bit. He jogged back across the street. Katie and Michael stood on the porch as Fin came up the path, listening to their conversation.

“I don’t want them back. I want you back,” Michael said.

“No, you want, I don’t even know. I don’t want to know,” Katie said.

“Who’s been influencing you? Fin? You shouldn’t listen to him--”

“Better me than you,” Fin said as he strode up the steps. “Don’t worry, Katie, Mrs. Knight took Rose in to meet her new kitten. Now then, Michael, why don’t you scamper along like a good lad?”

“I’ll leave when I’m ready. Take a hike, Fin,” Michael said.

Fin positioned himself between Katie and Michael. “I don’t think so. I’m going to stay right here.”

“Move,” Michael said, getting in Fin’s space.

 Fin chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to muss your pretty face, would you?”

“Stop it, boys.” Katie inserted herself between them. “Michael, I have nothing else to say. We’re done.”

“Give me a few minutes, Katie.” Michael reached for her. Fin grabbed his arm, flipping it. He’d learned some useful things in prison. Michael pulled back with a wince, rubbing his wrist.

“No, that was my mistake last time,” Katie said. “Please leave.”

“He needs to.” Michael motioned to Fin.

“That’s it.” Fin grabbed Michael’s arm again and yanked him down the walk. They stopped. Fin edged closer. “I know about you and Maureen,” he whispered. “Think Katie’ll ever forgive you for wanting Maureen to have an abortion? Thank God she didn’t, especially since Rose isn’t yours.”

Michael’s cheeks colored almost purple with rage. “Damn you Dunbars,” he hissed. “Doesn’t matter. She won’t believe you.”

Katie walked toward them. Fin’s stomach clenched. If Michael ever called his bluff…he’d promised Fergus not to tell anyone about the paternity test.

“Goodbye, Katie,” Michael said. “If you change your mind, you know where I am.”

“She won’t,” Fin said. Michael hopped into his car and drove away.

“I don’t need you to fight my battles for me, Fin.”

“I know. I have so little fun these days, though, surely you won’t deny me?”

“I suppose if you put it that way…” Katie laughed.

Fin grasped her hand, Katie squeezed his. Longing and lust bubbled up, a hot spring, new and unexpected.

“Let’s go get Rose,” he said. Katie nodded and they walked over to Mrs. Knight’s, hand in hand.

Chapter Seven

“Banish the unwanted suitor, young Dunbar?” Mrs. Knight said. She led Fin and Katie into her living room, where Rose sat, dangling a string in front of a tiny grey kitten.

“We did, thank you,” Fin said.

Mrs. Knight inclined her head with a smile. Katie released Fin’s hand and glanced around. The room hadn’t changed much since Katie was Rose’s age. Mrs. Knight and her home had timeless elegance.

“We better go, Rose,” Katie said. “We need to change and go to your grandparents’.” Fin’s hand over hers had caused her head to throb, among other places. She had to think of something else, remember her duties and plans.

“Thank you,” Rose said to Mrs. Knight.

“Come back anytime. When you visit your uncle Fin, he can borrow Lancelot.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Knight, but my dad’s allergic to cats. I can bring her here next time she visits,” Katie said, puzzled when Mrs. Knight raised an eyebrow at Fin.

“She means once I move into the cottage in back,” he said.

“Fin has agreed to fix it up for me, in exchange for a reasonable rent. I said he could live there rent free, if he’d keep changing my light bulbs and all the little things he’s been doing, but he insisted.” Mrs. Knight smiled.

“When are you moving?” Katie tucked her hair behind her ears and tried not to frown. She’d be gone soon too. So why did she feel the urge to beg Fin to stay?

“Can I help?” Rose said. “Will you paint?”

“Yep,” Fin said. “I’ll be moving as soon as I get the place ready. If I can find the time, it shouldn’t take long. Thanks again, dear lady.” Fin kissed Mrs. Knight’s cheek. Katie felt simultaneously warm at how sweet he was and flush with jealousy that he’d kissed every woman of their acquaintance, young and old, but never her.

Once they returned home, Katie helped Rose get ready while Fin changed. She smiled at him. She couldn’t help it, the way he moved, confident and casual, in his dark Dockers and blue button-down shirt, the collar open, sleeves rolled, exposing the tiny black hairs of his arms and chest. Katie blushed as if exposed herself as he grinned back, like he knew what she had in mind.

“Come on, Rose,” he said. “Let’s get your things in the car while Aunt Katie changes.” He gave her a last glance as she went into her room. She bit her thumb. Katie had to file her nails; she’d been biting them again.

She tried to hurry, but she wanted to look pretty and feminine, so she took some time picking her dress, finally deciding on her white sundress with blue embroidery on the hem and white espadrilles. She fluffed her hair and blotted her lipstick before cautiously opening her door. She told herself over and over her feelings were ridiculous, pointless, but she couldn’t stop the pleasant jump in her tummy and warm tingling in her limbs. As Katie stepped down, Fin glanced up, his brow crinkled, his mouth soft, his eyes…yearning. Katie almost believed she floated down the stairs, her feet not touching the ground.

“You’re pretty, Aunt Katie,” Rose said as Katie smiled. Rose grabbed Fin’s hand. “Isn’t she?”

“Beautiful,” Fin said, still staring at Katie.

“Thank you.” Katie smiled. A tiny voice yammered at her that she was acting like a goof, Fin wasn’t sincere. She stuffed it back like an unruly jack-in-the-box. “Ready?”

Rose tugged Fin’s hand, pulling him toward the door. “Let’s go,” she said. Fin followed her, opening the door, letting Rose and Katie go through. Katie couldn’t look at him or she might burst.

She drove over to the Dunbars’, her eyes never straying from the road. Rose chattered away in the backseat. When they got out at the Dunbars’, Fin led them in, his hand on the small of Katie’s back. Little pulses shot through her at his touch. She wanted to turn to him, to see if he felt the same, but she didn’t. She followed Rose in. Fin went to get her bags.

“Don’t you two look pretty,” Mary said after they greeted each other. “Wouldn’t you say, James?”

“Yes, indeed,” Mr. Dunbar replied. Katie shifted. She wished she hadn’t seen him with her aunt.

“Mom, how are you?” Fin kissed his mother’s cheek. “Sir.” He nodded to his dad.

“Fin, good of you to bring Rose and Katie over.” Mr. Dunbar rested a wide hand on Rose’s shoulder as she hugged her grandpa’s leg.

“Maggie has dinner ready.” Mary led them into the dining room.

Thank goodness for Rose. Katie wasn’t sure how they’d all get through the evening without her cheerful talk and questions, pulling Fin into her games in the back yard after dinner while the rest of them watched from wicker chairs on the patio. As the sun dimmed, Mary took Rose upstairs to get her ready for bed. Katie and Fin kissed her goodnight and hugged her goodbye. They followed Mr. Dunbar into the living room, where he poured himself a whiskey, offering Fin and Katie a drink. Katie declined but Fin nodded, downing his in a few quick gulps. Mr. Dunbar shook his head.

“You’re not in a pub. You never knew how to act in front of a lady.”

“I haven’t heard any complaints,” Fin said.

“You haven’t kept good company, until recently.” Mr. Dunbar flicked his eyes at Katie.

“Fin’s been nothing but a gentleman to me,” Katie said. She wished he wouldn’t.

“I should think so. He knows his brother and I will thrash him if he isn’t.”

Katie’s cheeks warmed as if she’d had a shot of that whiskey. Fin poured himself another drink and downed it in one swallow.

“Who are you to lecture me about being a gentleman?” Fin turned on his father, who glanced at Katie. She stood still, barely even breathing.

“I’ve tried. It’s more than we can say for you.”

“At least I’m honest,” Fin said.

“Are you now? That would be a change.”

“I think he has changed,” Katie said. Both men stared at her for a moment. The Dunbar look--she wanted to run. “He’s wonderful with Rose and a great help to my dad at the pub.”

“Your dad never was much for knowing a good thing,” Mr. Dunbar said. “Excepting your mother, of course. He’ll regret losing you, Katie.”

“He won’t. You know, my aunt Aleen said you two actually have a lot in common.”

“Did she?” Mr. Dunbar said as Fin chuckled.

“Yes, you both work hard, have your own business, are traditional Irish men with peacekeeping wives and two children. One of whom can do no wrong while the other can’t do right.”

“Leave it to Aleen. Except you’ve never done anything to disappoint, Katie girl. We can’t say the same of Fin here. Your father’s welcome to him, I’d as soon take you. When you want a job, or if you need anything, you let me know.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that, but--”

“You’re unbelievable,” Fin said with his voice raised. “Katie has a job, at the pub. You have to control everything and everyone, don’t you?”

“That’s enough,” his father snapped.

“Nothing’s enough for you. Why Mom doesn’t leave you, why she ever even married you--”

“Fin, don’t speak to your father that way,” Mary said, entering the room.

“Why not? Can’t bother the man, can we? He’s busy making money.”

“He’s been a good husband and father. He’s always taken care of us.”

Katie watched the back and forth as Mr. Dunbar poured himself another drink.

“Security, that’s what it’s about?” Fin said.

“Fin, you forget we have a guest.” Mary peered at Katie. Katie quickly glanced down, unable to bear the sadness in Mary’s light blue eyes.

“Oh, Katie knows about marrying for security and pleasing your family, same as you, Mom. Why do you think she would marry Michael?”

“But I’m not,” Katie said in a quiet voice.

“You may change your mind yet. You seem to a lot. I don’t think you know what you want.”

“Let the girl alone,” Mr. Dunbar said.

“I do know.” Katie stared at Fin and waited until his eyes met hers. Fin blinked and leaned against the sofa table. “Thank you for dinner. I’d like to go home now.”

“Thank you for coming,” Mary said. She and Mr. Dunbar hugged her and walked them to the door. Fin followed Katie out, holding her door for her. He shut it without a word and got in. Katie drove home.

“I’m sorry about all that,” Fin said after several minutes of fidgety silence.

“It’s okay. It’s kind of funny, really, your dad worrying you’d be less than a gentleman with me. I mean--”