Page 46 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

Finch directed Nina toward the door.

She put on the brakes just before they were about to pass through it. “I need my things!”

“No more yelling,” Finch said, wincing. His head wasn’t bad, but there was a niggle in the back of it.

It had been a long time since he’d been around so many people. Finch needed to get Nina home, then head back to the cottage so he could sit in quiet and darkness for a while. Lynx was there, but he’d understand.

“Sorry,” she hissed loudly.

“I got your bag,” Zoe said, holding it out. “You can get the rest of your things tomorrow. Just go home now, Nina, and sleep. Make sure she drinks more water and takes some pills for her headache.”

“I don’t have a headache,” Nina protested, looking confused.

“You will,” Zoe added.

The women hugged again—there had been a lot of that all day. Finch had managed to avoid most of it, but some people had slipped under his guard, clearly missing the don’t-get-too-close signals he was sending out.

Finally, they left Circle Left. Stepping into the early evening air, he inhaled and exhaled slowly.

“Finch?”

“Nina.”

“I feel a bit funny.”

“Funny as in I want to empty the contents of my stomach, or funny odd, but no puking?”

“Not sure,” she said.

“It’s only a short drive to your house. You want to try for that?”

“Okay.”

He opened the passenger door and lowered her onto the seat, then jogged around the hood and got in his side.

“Buckle up.”

She fumbled with her seat belt, so he took it from her and clicked it into place. He then drove her home as fast as he could without breaking the speed limit.

“Finch?”

“You going to puke?”

“No. I want to say thank you for coming.”

He shot her a look, but she was staring straight ahead. She looked small, he thought, in his front seat. Small and vulnerable.

Finch couldn’t imagine what it was like to lose the only member of your family you had. He was surrounded by them, and while they annoyed him constantly, he knew how lucky he was, but Nina had no one. She had friends, sure, but no family, and that had to be hard.

“It was a lovely service. Your mom would have been proud, especially of what you said, Nina.”

“Sh-she was special.”

“I know.”

Pulling into her driveway, he looked at the house. Finch wouldn’t tell her what he thought he’d seen earlier. He probably should have mentioned it to the Sheriff, especially considering what he’d told Finch.

“I think I’m going to be sick now, Finch.”