Page 79 of Just Do It
Finn crouched down beside me, one of his knees clicking as he did so, the noise sounding loud in the momentarily quiet office. ‘Why do I get the feeling I just put my size thirteen in something?’
My hand automatically slid to where his was resting on the edge of my desk, balancing himself. ‘You didn’t.’
Blue eyes met mine looking entirely unconvinced and, rather sweetly, bearing in mind the size of the man, a little insecure.
‘Nothing to worry about, Finn.’ Dad broke the atmosphere that had descended over our small group. ‘I’m afraid Lizzie’s mother and I were rather more occupied with our studies than with making sure our daughter was surrounded by the warm, festive feeling you’ve created here.’
‘Dad…’ I shook my head.
‘No, Lizzie.’ Mum joined in. ‘He’s right. As your dad said earlier, we’ve had the opportunity to reconsider various choices we made in the past and have found some of them to be wanting.’
Finn stood. ‘This sounds like a private discussion. I’ll get out of your way, but it was a pleasure to meet you.’
‘Please, Finn,’ Mum said. ‘Don’t leave on account of us. You’re most welcome to stay. I can see now why Lizzie was smiling when she mentioned you even before we knew you were the one.’
‘I didn’t say you were the one!’ I squeaked before clearing my throat. ‘I didn’t,’ I said, turning to Finn to reassure him, this time at a more normal pitch.
The broad shoulders gave a shrug.
‘Sorry. Poor turn of phrase.’ Mum spoke up. ‘Although…’ she looked from me to Finn and I gave her a warning glare in return.‘But in all honesty, even if you hadn’t accidentally told us, the way both your faces lit up when you came in from the kitchen was enough to give even us two a sign that there’s something special between you.’
I don’t know what Finn had done to me but my previous ability to filter out everything but work had been decimated. I caught a glance at him, and at my parents’ faces, now creased gently with concern.
‘We’re honestly very pleased, Lizzie. From the short acquaintance we’ve had with you, Finn, you seem very lovely and even just seeing Lizzie downstairs, it was obvious that something had changed in her life. Something for the better.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, frowning at her.
Mum tilted her head to the side. ‘You were always so serious, my love.’ She held up her hand as I opened my mouth. ‘And I know we, if not wholly, then at least had a large part to play in that. Other relationships seem to have compounded that, but it appears that Finn here has brought out the fun, lighter side of you that we never took the time to nurture.’
The scene in front of me blurred as tears sprang to my eyes. This was another new aspect to my personality. I’d always been able to keep a lid on my emotions before, at least until I was sure of privacy. The man might be hot as lava, sweet as chocolate and bloody amazing in bed but I could have kicked him for this. A tissue appeared in front of me, attached to a large hand. I grabbed for it, wiped my eyes, gave a hearty blow of my nose and tossed the tissue in the bin.
‘This is your fault,’ I said, craning my neck up to look at Finn who was standing beside me looking for all the world like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
‘Yes, I was getting that feeling.’
‘Why don’t we all go to dinner this evening?’ Dad suggested, ‘If you’re both free? I know it’s a bit short notice and all that.’
‘I’d love to,’ Finn spoke first. ‘But I’m afraid I’m chief babysitter for my sister tonight.’ He looked down at me. ‘Sorry.’
‘That’s OK. Say hi to Alice and everyone for me.’
He squeezed my shoulder. ‘I’d better get back to work. Thanks very much for the offer,’ he said, looking back at my parents now. ‘It was really nice to meet you.’
‘And you, my boy.’ Dad said. ‘Hopefully we can do it another time before we head back down to Devon.’
Finn’s smile was genuine and wide. ‘That would be great. Thanks.’ He bent quickly and dashed a kiss on my cheek. ‘Talk to you later,’ he said, his voice soft and close to my ear. Then he straightened, grabbed his laptop from his desk and strode out of the room.
‘He’s lovely, Lizzie.’
‘Thanks. Like I said, it’s still early days.’
Mum appeared to receive the message and decided against pushing for more information, and instead changed the subject. ‘Are you free for dinner tonight?’
‘Yes, I am. Let me just finish up here and I can sneak off a bit early.’
Finn was hardworking, but he was also a bad influence. Prior to meeting him, I’d probably have sat here until at least seven before dashing off to meet my parents for a hurried meal. Then again, I thought, taking in the faces I’d only seen via a video screen for far too long, perhaps he wasn’t such a bad influence after all.
‘So, basically all was well in the end. Just put the wind up us both for a bit.’ Dad finished recounting the health scare about his heart that had prompted their desire to begin making somechanges in their lives, and that apparently included making amends for what they felt were inadequacies in raising me.
