by Daisy Allen
I watched as his shoulders lifted, then fell.
“What does it smell like?”
He cleared his throat. “Like someone I once knew. This smell will always remind me of her.” He turned facing me for the first time. “Nice dress.” He said, without a smile but a cocking of his eyebrow.
“Thanks, it’s had a few rough runs, but I thought, third time might be the charm.”
He turned back towards the sunset. And away from me. Was it too late for us?
“I hear you might be getting a divorce?” I said.
“I might be.” He said, emotionlessly.
“Are you sad about it?”
“I don’t want to break my promise to anyone.”
“I know. That’s why I told her to rip the divorce papers up.”
Finn turned to me, his eyes searching mine for understanding. “Then why are you here?”
“Because I think we can work around it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, don’t you?” He didn’t answer. “You should’ve told me the truth, Finn, instead of making me find out that way.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You know, I think you’ve used up your quota of sorries to me for the rest of your life.”
“Then what should I say?”
“Nothing. You should just take my hand.” I reached forward and closed the distance between us for the last time, taking both his hands in mine. “That’ll give us the strength to get through it, through anything. By doing it together.”
He stared at me, a smile slowly spreading across his face. “I love you, Kara.”
“I love you, Finn.”
The smile grew to the wolfish grin I’d loved my whole life. “I know, you loooove me.”
I poked my tongue out at him and tried to pull away, he just held tight on my fingers before spinning me around, our arms entwined, facing the dance of purple and pink against the canvas of the sky. His face buried in my hair as he whispered, “you just saved me from a life time of sad.”
I melted against him, getting shivers at how my body fit his perfectly.
“Hey, how’d you know I’d be here?” Finn asked, brushing the hair off my shoulder and nuzzled my neck.
“Because it’s home.”
“Ours?”
“I’m hoping.”
We stayed until the night crept over the day, and walked, hand in hand back to the hotel.
“Hey, I didn’t realize until I got here that I didn’t know what your hotel was called. I know you renamed it after you bought it, but you never told me what it was.
“I didn’t? I think you’ll like it.”
“Oh?” I braced myself, who knew with Finn.
“Yeah. It’s called, Kara Mia. Or, if you like…”
“My Kara.”
And I was. I really, really was.
Epilogue
One year later
“Blake! Where are you?” Heather yelled across the field. “Ugh. When they’re little you can’t wait to get rid of them, when they’re finally old enough for you to ask them to actually do things, they’re never around!”
“Heather, you’re making motherhood sound so tempting.” I laughed, watching her face grow red from frustration.
“Oh. Sorry. I mean, it could just be mine, yours will probably turn out all perfect. That is, if it’s more like you than Finn.” She rolled her eyes.
“My ears were burning. Is Heather gushing about what a great twin and boss I am again?” Finn came up and draped his arms around us. “How are my two favorite girls?” He kissed our cheeks each in turn.
“Heather was saying how this little one is probably going to turn out just like Blake,” I said, rubbing the small bump growing in my belly.
Finn’s face turned green and he fell to the ground, playing dead.
“Finn!” I laughed, nudging him with my foot and watched Heather do the same, unable to hold in her laughter as well.
“Um, excuse me, just what are you two doing to my husband?” Madeleine materialized next to us.
“We’re attacking him for being mean to Blake!”
“Well, in that case, as my last act as Mrs. Finn O’Reilly, I approve of the beating.” She joined in, poking his leg with her shoe.
“Women!” Finn got up, and brushed himself off, “Blake! Come save your uncle.” He called out to his surly nephew, who’d finally made an appearance.
“Shall we do this, Finn?” Madeleine turned to him and asked.
“Let’s do it.” He smiled and followed her to the small crowd gathered outside Kara Mia Hotel.
“Friends, can we have you attention please? Firstly, thank you all for being here on this horrible rainy day,” he said gesturing to the clear blue sky to the smattering of laughs. “The reason we asked you all here is because most of you were present for the beginning of the union, so we thought it only fitting that you were here for the end of it. Madeleine and I thank you for all your support and understanding over the last three years, and today, are officially no longer husband and wife. We will, however, be life long friends.”
Finn held out his arms and Madeleine succumbed to his hug to the sound of applause.
As they pulled apart, Madeleine turned to me and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“I’d like to thank someone very special, Heather, who not long from now, I imagine, will take over the name and duties of Mrs. Finn O’Reilly, but not before…becoming the mama of Finn Jnr! Join me in wishing them all the happiness in the world.” Madeleine declared and toasted, to the sound of happy gasps from our friends and family.
“And now…” Finn continued, “let’s eat and drink, and make memories we will be too embarrassed to tell our children about!”
The crowd dispersed with a burst of laughter.
Finn came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, dropping a kiss on my shoulder.
I sighed with happiness.
“Do you think everyone gets a chance at happiness like us?” I asked, wondering, as a feeling of complete contentment washed over me as I watched our home filled with laughter and our loved ones.
He paused as he looked out on all we were so lucky to have.
“I certainly hope so, if not, then at least, a second chance.”
The End.
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