Page 100 of Rules in Love
“Red, what—”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Finn, kids…Jerry. But I can’t do it. I thought I could, but I can’t. I’m bloody terrified of heights. You’ve seen me move, Finn. I’ll trip and smash through the glass and fall to my death, I know it. Please don’t make me do it.” My heart was pounding through my chest, vomit rising in my throat, and I was crying. Not cute, feminine tears either. This was Kardashian-level ugly crying.
Finn held up his hands, waved and moved slowly toward me as though approaching a raging, red-headed Tasmanian Devil.
“Take it easy, Red. It’s okay. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you. It’s perfectly safe. No one dies here. It’s a fun tourist spot, right, Jerry?”
“Well, no one’s died recently, but many have died in the past by—”
“You’re not helping me, Jerry.” Finn grimaced. There were now more eyes on me than on the view, and the kids were becoming upset. Finn remained calm as he continued to move toward me until he was close enough to peel my hand from the handrail. Holding it tightly in his, he looked me straight in the eyes and gave me a wink. “I won’t let anything happen to you. You trust me, right?”
“Yes. Yes, I trust you.”
“Right, then. You need to trust me that it’s safe to let go of the rail. Just hold on to me and walk out of the lift, step by step. I promise you will be okay. You don’t even have to go outside. You can just sit and wait here, and I can take the kids out for a peek.”
“I can really stay inside?”
“Absolutely, you can really stay inside. But not of the lift. The lift you have to get out of.” Ben and Iris joined Finn’s rescue mission, making me feel even more pathetic.
“C’mon on, mum. It will be okay. I will wait inside with you if you like.”
“Me too, Scaw.” They looked so sad. I didn’t want them to miss out because of me. But I also didn’t want to die. It was a tough decision made no easier by the ever-present mum guilt kicking in.
Jerry tried again. “I promise it’s safe, ma’am. Millions of people visit us every year. Listen to your family.”My family.
“Okay. I’ll do it,” I said the words, but my body didn’t respond. Didn’t move an inch.
The corners of Finn’s lips twitched, but he held the laughter bubbling away inside. “You need to lift your feet, Red. One at a time.”
“I’m trying. They won’t work.”
“Okay, then. We’ll do it this way.” Two seconds and two giant strides later, Finn’s arms wrapped around my body. Without so much as a puff, I was lifted off my feet, flung over his shoulder, carried out of the elevator, and set down on the polished tile floor. The kids rushed to my side, cuddled my legs, and sang my praises while Finn continued to hold me tight and kiss the top of my head until I calmed. “See, Red. You’re out. You’re alive.”
“I’m a complete fool.”
“You’re not a fool. You’re courageous. I can’t believe you were planning to do this when you have acrophobia.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid of spiders. Just needles and heights.”
“No, that’s arachnophobia. Acrophobia is the fear of heights.”
“Oh, well, yes. As you know, I have acrao….aroflo…fear of heights. Sorry, I’m still scared. My brain isn’t working.”
“You’re so freaking cute.” Finn squished me between his bulky, deliciously smelling moobs as he shook with laughter. “I love you, you big baby.”
“Hey!”
“You know, I’ve heard they have a cure for acrophobia. A bloody great needle right in your ass.” The kids giggled along with the comedian. I didn’t. “Too soon?”
“Oh, shut up. You go now. Enjoy the view while I stay here on the solid ground, shitting myself and dying of embarrassment.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come, mum?” Ben asked sweetly while walking away.
“Yes, darling. I am sure. You go with Finn and Iris and have fun. I will be right here, not panicking at all, when you get back.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
