Page 30 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

Blue looked down and saw the stain on her sweatshirt. “That was Chloe. She threw a spoonful of her breakfast at Troy and missed.”

“Good girl,” he said to his niece.

“Back to you,” Blue said.

“Not back to me.”

“Hello!”

“I’m moving out,” he said through his teeth at his mother’s greeting. His family meant well, but he’d had enough and needed solitude. Where he would go was another matter entirely.

“No, you’re not,” Blue scoffed. “Where would you go?” she added, echoing his thoughts.

“I’ve lived without family for years. It suits me, and even more so now that I realize just what an interfering group you are. Maybe I’ll move to the other side of the world, where none of you can find me.”

“Cake and muffins!” Meadow called. “Jay and Sawyer are here and putting the coffee on.”

“You brought your men?” Finch glared at his sisters.

“They came with us to annoy you,” Birdie said. “Now, come and have coffee.” She took his hand. “Blue’s right. You’ve been avoiding us, and we’re worried about you. Families worry about each other, Finch. That’s how this works.”

“I’m all right, Birdie, and I now have a new career as a builder.” He’d said the words to make her smile.

“Builder,” Chloe said kissing his cheek. “Dollhouse.”

“You want a dollhouse, and Daddy won’t build you one?”

She nodded.

“That’s mean. Maybe Uncle Finch can look into that project, okay?”

She hugged him hard.

“And already she has him wrapped around her finger,” Blue muttered.

“Did you hear about Nina’s mom, Finch?” Birdie asked as they reached the house where their mom stood waving at them like she hadn’t seen them for five years. “That was the day we took her to visit Shirley. You remember because we took you home from Circle Left too.”

“Yes, I remember.” And I hugged her. He kept that to himself because it would open up all kinds of questions he didn’t want to answer.

“The girls wanted to spend the evening with her last night, but she’s not up to that yet, apparently. But she told me about her news over the phone,” Blue said.

“What news?”

“She’s buying Circle Left. Her mom left her some money.”

“That’s quick.”

“And exciting,” his mom said. “But odd because I remember Shirley struggled a lot when Nina was young. She worked long hours just to survive. Everyone helped where they could, but she was a proud woman.”

“Were you friends with her, Mom?” Birdie asked, which meant Finch didn’t have to. Nina intrigued him, and he wanted to know more about her.

“Yes, of course. We were all friends. She was nice, Shirley. I remember once when she came here and drank too much elderberry wine at book club, she let it slip that her husband hadn’t been a good man.”

“In what way?” Blue asked.

“She didn’t clarify, and the next day, she said to pay her words no mind because when she drank, she got loose lips,” their mom said.

“That’s odd,” Birdie said. “I’m pleased Nina is buying Circle Left, though, and really glad I went with her to the home the day before Shirley passed away.”