Page 29 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

“With Mom and Dad, learning the benefits of embracing a back-to-the-land mindset and viewing the garden as a sacred, interconnected ecosystem,” she replied with the practiced ease of a McAllister child.

“Already?” Finch asked.

“What do you mean, already? We were grubbing about in the garden in our diapers, getting lectured like they are,” Blue said.

Finch and Birdie both nodded their agreement because it was true.

“They’ll be here soon,” Blue said. “We wanted some time alone with you first.”

“You two need to stop with the interventions,” Finch said. “I’m dealing with this my own way, and I don’t need you interfering. I’ve had too many calls from locals asking for my help. I said no to four of them. Klaus got me at a weak moment, and now I’m working for him.”

“What interventions?” Blue said, looking him dead in the eye. She was lying, of course, and Finch knew this because it was a skill he’d perfected too. “We’re not interfering. We’re making sure you’re all right,” she said.

“Do you like working for Mr. Becker?” Birdie asked.

“You’re not allowed to call him Klaus yet?” Finch asked, momentarily distracted.

“Really? That sucks. I’m allowed too,” Blue added, never missing an opportunity to annoy a sibling.

“Yeah, it does,” he said.

“Whatever, and maybe I don’t need to because I have myself together,” Birdie said.

“You’re not buying that, are you?” Blue asked, looking at Finch.

“Not for a single minute.”

Birdie rolled her eyes.

“But back to Klaus,” Birdie said, emphasizing the name. “It’s odd he asked you of all people to build the coffee hut, don’t you think?”

“Your sister likely got Klaus to lure me there, and that was after the four other people she asked to call me. Seeing as I didn’t give them my number, someone had to have.” He looked at Blue.

“Come on, lure? You could have said no,” Blue scoffed, not denying his accusations.

“Right, like that would have stopped you.”

“We’re worried about you, Finch,” Birdie added. “You’ve been in the military since you were eighteen years old. This is a big adjustment. I think helping Klaus is a great idea.”

“No, really? I didn’t know I’d been in the army that long.”

Birdie looked like she was going to cry at his words. Being rude to her was like kicking a puppy.

He sighed. “Sorry, but I need to do this in my time.”

“But you are going to keep helping Klaus?” Blue persisted.

He nodded and then blew a raspberry into Chloe’s neck, which had her shrieking again and her mother wincing. Job done.

“Good, and now it’s time to shower and shave that shit off your face. You look like crap, Finch,” Blue said. “Get a haircut too.”

She, a former New York fashion designer accustomed to wearing the latest trends, had opted for oversized sweats that had to be her man’s and paired them with an old jacket that he thought was their father’s, and she was telling him he’d let himself go? Finch took it all in, plus the messy bun and boots with fur trim.

“I mean, if we want to talk about needing a makeover….” He let the words fall away as he looked her over.

“Nice try. I have twin hellions who are coming up on two and run me ragged from sunrise to sunset.”

“Did one of them spit up all over you?” Finch asked.