by Kathryn Shay
They crossed to the table. Bridget didn’t stand up, of course, because she never hugged. “Hello,” she said brightly. Then her gaze traveled to Millie and recoiled a bit. “You brought your clerk?”
Millie smiled. “Hello, Ms. Sullivan. I’m the store manager, Millie Morrison. But I’m here socially with Finn.”
She didn’t respond.
Hayley sat down on one side of Bridget and next to Paul.
Finn pulled out Millie’s chair then dropped down between her and his mother on the left side.
Bridget lifted her hand and snapped her fingers at the waiter she assumed was keeping an eye on them. Finn noticed Millie’s jaw dropped at the arrogance of the gesture. “We’d like to order more drinks,” his mother told the man, who’d scurried over.
Finn said in the friendliest voice he could manage, “Scotch for me, thanks.” He checked the waiter’s nametag. “Gerald.”
“Make that two,” Paul went on, then ordered for Hayley.
Millie gave him a reassuring look. “I’d like a glass of dry Chardonnay.”
When he left, Bridget scanned the four of them. “Thank you for coming.”
“You’re welcome.” Finn covered Millie’s hand where it rested on the table.
Bridget eagle-eyed it, but said nothing.
Hayley glanced around the restaurant. “We’ve never tried this place.”
“Your father and I used to come here.”
Paul put in, “How have you been, Bridget?”
Her brows rose. “As well as can be expected, given I don’t see these two enough.”
Finn flushed. “We’ll have to rectify that.”
Hayley frowned at him. Shit. Out of habit, he’d automatically pacified her.
“How are your charities going?”
Bless Paul for litigating this dinner.
Drinks arrived, and Bridget lifted her glass. “Hayley, what are you drinking?”
“I only wanted seltzer.”
“Why? You like champagne. I’ll order some so we can toast you.”
“No, I don’t want it.”
Bridget’s mouth thinned in a way that meant trouble.
“Mother,” she said, leaning in. “I can’t have alcohol. I’m pregnant.”
Bridget’s expression revealed something Finn had rarely seen on her face. Was that longing?
“H-how pregnant?”
“Just ending my second month.”
Millie said, “Isn’t that wonderful, Ms. Sullivan? You’ll be a grandmother.”
The sensitive expression disappeared. “This is none of your concern, Ms. Morrison.”
“That’s not exactly so, Mother,” Finn said cheerfully. “It is her business. Millie and I are a couple now. I’d appreciate if you’d treat her with respect.”
Before Bridget could respond, Hayley interrupted the unpleasant scene. “In any case, can we toast, Mother?”
“Finn, you do it.”
Finn lifted his glass. “To my lovely sister, who always glows but now has that very special blush that pregnant women get. Happy thirtieth, sweetie.”
Hayley’s eyes misted. They drank.
“Shall we order?” Paul asked. “Hayley can’t go too long without food and we had a busy day.”
Bridget picked up her menu and hid behind it for a while. Over theirs, Finn and Hayley’s gaze met. Both rolled their eyes.
During salads, Finn asked, “How’s the firm going, Paul?”
“Yes, how is it?” Bridget reiterated. “At last you got Hayley out of that awful District Attorney’s office.”
“I liked working as a DA, Mother. But, now, I can spend more time on pro bono cases.”
“Lord knows why.”
Millie bristled. “Because poor people deserve legal help.” She glared at Bridget. “And food and housing.”
“Millie volunteers at soup kitchens and is active with food banks.”
“She probably understands the poor more than we do, in any case.”
Choking down a response, Millie stared at her porterhouse steak.
Hayley set down her fork. “Mother, that was unkind.”
“Was it? I think I’m stating a fact.”
“As a matter of fact,” Finn put in. “Fitzgerald’s is looking for ways to get donations.” He angled his chin at Paul. “Maybe we’ll have a gala.”
“Please, don’t,” Paul said laughing.
Millie cocked her head at him. “I think what you did was very brave.”
That’s it, babe, Finn thought. Don’t let Bridget silence you.
“I agree.” Bridget gave Paul what passed for a smile. Finn had a theory that she was a little afraid of Hayley’s fiancé.
They finished their meal, mostly in silence.
Bridget let the waiter clear the food, then a big cake was brought in and set before Hayley. “I hope you all like carrot cake,” Bridget said to the group.
Hayley hated it.
Then they heard from behind, “Can I have a piece of that?”
* * *
Ronan watched the reactions when each person at the table turned. Millie seemed confused. Finn and Hayley were open-mouthed. Paul sat back.
His mother’s face had flushed almost to purple. “R-Ronan? I-is that you?”
“Yes, Mother. I’m a bit more gray and heavier, but it’s me.” He came to the table directly behind Hayley. Leaning down, he kissed her cheek. “Happy Birthday, honey.”
Hayley stood and threw her arms around him. “Ronan!” she mumbled into his shirt.
He held her tight. Finn rose and went around the table. He encircled both of them in his arms. When they drew back, Ronan grabbed Finn’s shoulders. “Whew. Glad you didn’t punch me again.”
Bridget sat there staring. Paul stood. “Sit here, Ronan.”
“Thanks, Paul.”
Before he sat, he turned his attention over to the other guest. “Hello, Millie.”
“Hello, Ronan.” She gave him a big smile.
Paul started to walk away. “I’ll get another chair.”
Bridget scraped back hers. Her glare at her oldest son was frigid. “You may have mine, Paul. I seem to be excluded from all this camaraderie.” Gathering her purse and sweater, she walked out.
For a brief moment, Ronan’s heart clutched like it used to when he was little and she spurned him. But the experience passed quickly. He leaned into Hayley. “Did I spoil the party?”
“Are you kidding, you saved it.” She looked at Finn. “That was awful.” She transferred her gaze to Millie. “I’m sorry for how she acted.”
“Truthfully, I expected it.”
Finn put his arm around her. “Now I’m sorry I asked you to come.”
“Are you kidding? I’m thrilled to meet Ronan.” She’d purposely turned the conversation back to him.
“I’m honored.”
Finn said, “Sorry I punched you last time. Is that why you didn’t reveal yourself to Hayley and me at my birthday party.”
“Not at all. I wasn’t ready.”
Finn said, “Thanks for the watch.”
“I don’t need it any longer.”
Hayley asked, “What’s been going on with you?”
“I’m living in New York.”
“We figured that.”
“For how long?” Finn asked.
“Five years.”
Hayley’s cup of decaf rattled as she put it down. “And all that time…”
He put his hand over hers. “Hayley, I couldn’t come to you guys. Some things happened to me when Dad died. I found out stuff.”
“Bad stuff?”
“Earth-shattering.”
“Can’t you share it with us?” Hayley’s voice was wobbly.
“Not yet.”
Ronan still hadn’t decided how much of the whole story to tell them. He was finishing up his therapy and working that out.
“I don’t understand.”
“I do.” Paul intervened. “I understand completely. I couldn’t go
to see my family, was back a long time, too.”
“That’s right,” Hayley put in.
Ronan took in a deep breath. “I came tonight for two reasons. One is to find out how you are?” He smiled at Hayley. “Congrats on my niece or nephew.”
“You know?”
“Hmm. Tell me about that and about your work.”
“You seem to know a lot about me.”
“Yeah, but not from you.” He winked at Paul. “Come on, sis.”
She and Paul talked about the firm.
Then he turned to Finn. “The second reason I’m here is to tell you I’ve got money to invest in your building if you need it.”
Finn gasped. “I…”
“What’s going on with the building?” Hayley asked.
“I found out it’s being sold to a condo developer.”
“You could lose Fitzgerald’s?” Hayley asked.
“I could.”
Millie gripped his hand.
“You won’t.” Ronan had promised himself this.
“I can’t take more from you. The lake house, our apartment. You gave those to us.”
“Only my third. I didn’t want anything from our father. Even the money he left to us.”
Finn said, “I used some of the five million to get Fitzgerald’s off the ground. And expand. Do upgrades.”
Millie sputtered. “Your father left you each five mil?”
“Yes, he did.”
Hayley sighed. “I put some of it into our firm. The rest I saved. You can have mine, too.”
“This was my thinking about the money,” Ronan explained. I invested it in risky stock. Thought I’d simply gamble it away.”
“Ah, so you lost it?” Paul asked.
“The opposite. The amount doubled. At that point I put it in an account and forgot about it. When I heard what was going on with you, Finn, I put your name on the account too. You can have it to invest in the building. I don’t want it.”
“Ronan…”
“This isn’t up for discussion. Just know it’s there if you need it.”
Ronan started to rise. Hayley grabbed his arm. “Please don’t leave, Ronan. Like you’ve done twice before.”
“Leave? Hell, sis, I’m gonna cut the cake.”
* * *
Finn was choked up for the rest of the night. It was like it always had been with Ronan. He made everything fun. Yeah, they weren’t kids anymore, but having him here was a gift.
“So, the director said, ‘If you don’t take your pants off right now, I’ll take them off of you.’ The cast and crew guffawed, letting the starch out of the guy, and he walked out.”
“You did the love scene, though.” Hayley put in. “I’ve got the movie.”
“Yeah, but we did it my way.”
“It was very tasteful.”
As the time passed, Finn could tell Hayley was flagging. Paul must have seen it, too. “I think Hayley needs some rest.”
Ronan stood when Paul did.
“I don’t want to leave you,” Hayley said grabbing his hand. “I won’t see you again forever.”
“I won’t stay away completely. Give me your phone.” When she did, he took it and typed something in. “That’s my cell. You can call me, or I’ll call you.” He kissed her head. “In a bit, I’m going to be ready to rejoin the family.”
After Hayley and Paul left, Ronan turned to Finn and Mille. “Now, how about if the three of us adjourn to the bar for a nightcap?”
Millie stood. “I think that’s a great idea. I’m, however, also tired so I’m going home.”
“If you’re sure, Jonah should be back in the parking lot now.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Have a good time with your brother.”
He hugged her tight. “Thanks, love.”
After he saw her in the car, Finn went into the bar, half expecting Ronan to be gone.
His eyes filled when he looked down the bar.
Ronan sat at the end, waiting for him.
* * *
At one a.m., a knock sounded on her door. Millie had fallen asleep on the couch but she’d texted Finn to come over when he left Ronan. She roused, as did Scout who moved toward the kitchen ahead of her, but she’d taught him not to bark. Finn stood before her on the landing, his body slumped and his eyes tired. “I’m glad you texted.”
“I had to know how you are.” She stepped aside.
He came in, knelt to pet the dog. “Do you want anything?”
He stood. “Some ice water. I had a bit more to drink.”
Millie got them both a water, and they sat on the living room couch.
Finn took a long gulp, then put his arm up on the back cushion, facing her more. “I can’t believe what happened tonight.”
“You’re happy about Ronan coming back, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Still shocked. At least he gave us a phone number to contact him.”
“What did you talk about for two hours?”
“Our lives, I told him about you, he said there’s no woman in his life but he’d been serious about a few. He talked about his movie days, more personally about his life after Hollywood. Still not much about Bridget or my father. But I filled him in on our cousins.”
“This is so strange. He’s living right here in New York.”
“Five years, like he said. I do feel bad he’s been under our noses and he didn’t contact us.”
“I can see why.”
He said to her, “I’m so sorry my mother treated you like she did.”
“You and Hayley stood up for me.”
“One of the few times I’ve crossed her. I’m pathetic.”
“No, life’s complicated.”
He laid his head back on the cushion. “Can I sleep here on the couch? I’m too tired to go home.”
“I have a better idea. Come sleep in my bed. Just for sleep. This isn’t the right time for anything else. But I want to be in your arms all night.”
Finn barely got his clothes stripped off, boxers left on, and he collapsed on the bed. Luckily, she’d drawn the top sheet and duvet back. She got in, too, her back to him, so he spooned her from behind. They fell asleep immediately.
She awoke at dawn. She was still plastered up against Finn. Closing her eyes, she savored the feel of his skin against her, the light brush of the hair on his chest and legs. She decided to go back to sleep. Until she felt him stir. Then he turned her toward him. Everything had awakened, she thought as he pressed her close. “Hmm.”
“It’s only dawn. You should sleep more.”
“I don’t want to sleep right now. I want you.”
“I know. I want you, too.”
“We’ll talk about why later.”
He kissed her. Deep, deep explorations that made her mind fuzzy. His mouth traveled to her neck and he gave her a love bite. Millie felt her skin flush, tingle. He said, “I need this off.”
While she slid the slip of a nightgown over her head, he divested himself of his shorts. When they came together again, he asked, “Now where were we?”
She lowered his head to her breasts and he kissed them. “Beautiful.”
He kneaded her flesh. “I’m small.”
“Perfect, though. Just perfect.” His mouth moved to a nipple, suckled it, for almost too long. By the time he switched to the other side, she was strung tight.
When his hand went to her groin, she bucked into it. He nudged her apart and inserted a finger. She whispered, “I’m ready.”
“I can see that. How do you like it, honey?”
“Surprise me.”
“I’ll try to be gentle.”
“Finn, let yourself go. Please, I want your unrestrained love.”
“All right.”
He laid on his side and turned her to face him. Angling her top leg over his, he slid into her. Her eyes glazed. “Oh, God, Finn.” He was firm and full and very male.
He brushed his hand over her curls and she arched up again. He pushed in further. Further
. And further. Rising up, he linked their hands.
On the last thrust, they came together in one cataclysmic burst of the brightest fireworks in the universe.
* * *
When Finn awoke, he was alone. But he was in Millie’s bed, so he hadn’t dreamed what happened. He hadn’t dreamed about Ronan either. Laying back with his hands behind his head, he gazed at the ceiling and replayed the lovemaking with Millie. He wished she hadn’t left him, but he remembered she had to open the store.
Then he retraced all of what happened with Ronan. Grinning with the good memories, he got up, put on his boxers and walked into the kitchen. She’d made coffee, and left a note. “Early this morning was delicious.”
He’d just poured a cup when he heard the keys in the door. Expecting her, he smiled.
Her grandfather walked inside. He recoiled. “Oh, um, I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Henry, I don’t know what to say.”
The man chuckled. “I’m not Millie’s keeper, Finn. She’s an adult and can take care of herself. I came up to leave some mail that came to us.” He walked to the counter. “Can I have a cup? Black.”
Finn poured the brew.
“Now, go get dressed then we’ll sit and talk about what I expect from you.”
Finn didn’t get to the store until after eleven. For some reason, he felt like he was doing the walk of shame, but he held his head high. “Morning, Judy. Erin.”
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
“What’s going on around here?”
“There’s been a lot of spillover from our Columbus Day sale already.”
Finn studied the store. People browsed the shelves and stacks and murmured to their companions. “Good crowd. Millie in the back?”
“Uh-huh.”
He felt as if they all watched him head there. She was at the desk, working on the computer. Her hair was down and she had on a simple white blouse. He closed the door before she knew he was there and caught a glimpse of him over her shoulder. From behind he bent down and whispered in her ear, “You were wonderful early this morning.”
A giggle escaped her. “You were, too.”
“My mind’s still reeling with what happened between us.”
“Mine, too.” He stepped back so she could swivel around. Then he leaned over and kissed her.
