Page 77 of Your Two Lips
I pulled to the back of Finn’s house but didn’t see his truck. I peered over toward the barns but didn’t see anyone there either. He was probably out in a field. I sent him a text.
Me:Can we talk? I’m at your house now and I was hoping to see you. I owe you an apology.
The noontime sun was warm, so I grabbed a water bottle from my car and waited on the deck for him to come home for a lunch break. Rex greeted me and stayed closer than usual. He even climbed onto the lounger with me, which was new. I petted his soft fur and nose. Maybe he sensed my distress and wanted to comfort me.
I must have closed my eyes because the sound of boots on the boards startled me.
“Ma’am.”
“Oh hello. Can I help you?” I asked.
“Sorry to startle you. I knocked in the front, but my boss said Mr. Bakker may be in his shop back here. I’m Seth with Eddleson Builders. We’re scheduled to start the grading on your field Monday, but with the clear weather, we finished the previous job early and wondered if you wanted us to start today. We brought the equipment already.”
I stood and saw two large golden construction tractors by the tree line. “Oh, yes. Great. Finn is eager to get things going. Thank you for thinking of it.”
“No problem. I just need the 25 percent due to get started.”
I blinked at him.
“He paid 25 percent as a deposit, then it’s 25 percent at the start of work and 50 percent when we’re done.” He angled his chin down like he was asking me a question.
“Right, of course.” I reached for my purse. “What’s the amount?”
He checked the clipboard in his hand. “Ten thousand even.”
I sat at the deck table and wrote the check. “Here you are.”
“Thanks. Have a good rest of your day.”
“Thank you, Seth. You too.”
I pulled out my phone to double-check my account balance. I could easily cover the check. Still no text from Finn. A niggle of anxiety hummed in my gut. I dialed his number. He answered on the second ring.
“Emily.” His voice sounded strange. Something was wrong.
“Finn. Where are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m at the hospital.”
My heart leaped into my throat. He was in an accident. “Oh God, Finn, what happened.”
“My dad.” His voice cracked, and he coughed. He sounded exhausted. “He had a heart attack last night. We’re all here at the hospital.”
“I’m coming. Do you need anything? Does your mom or anyone else?” He paused, then asked me to bring him a clean shirt, a ball cap, and his laptop. Donna asked for a change of clothes, but Lucas and Tess were okay. He gave me the code for his mudroom door and said Luis had already secured the broken front door of the farmhouse, but the slider in the back should be unlocked.
I grabbed the cleanest cap from those hanging by the door and headed back to Finn’s bedroom. The scent of his aftershave accosted me as I stepped inside. God, I loved his smell. His closet was like being wrapped in a Finn-scented sweater. I packed a clean blue button-down and a white T-shirt in his brown canvas overnight bag leaning against the wall.
Walking out, I grabbed a toothbrush and toothpaste and added them in. I found the laptop and its padded case and ran to the kitchen. He sounded awful on the phone. Decent food would help. I grabbed two Cosmic Crisp apples, a hunk of Cougar Gold cheese in a baggie, and a probiotic soda I left here a couple of weeks ago. I double-checked everything was off in the house and pulled the mudroom door closed with a thud.
Rex greeted me on the farmhouse deck. He knew something was wrong because he didn’t bounce or jump but clung to my legs as I went inside. The change of clothes for Donna was hanging on a hook in her closet like she said, and a sealed container of her mixed berry muffins sat on the kitchen island. I added those to the bag with everything else.
I checked Rex’s food and water on the deck and added some kibble from the bin in the pantry. He sniffed at the food with interest but looked back at me when I turned toward the deck stairs. Giving him a pat, I told him everything would be fine. I really hoped it would be.
I couldn’t get to the hospital fast enough. Perry Harbor didn’t have a rush hour, but it was a sunny September day, and folks were out to take advantage. Sitting at a stop light, I called in an order to Shakey Grounds Cafe. Thank goodness for hands-free dialing. They knew the family, so I asked the owner, Mrs. Temple, to make what she thought they would want.
I rushed through the sliding doors and found the elevator to the second floor.
“Emily.”
