“I am. You’re the only birthday mate I have.”
He and Seth were born on the same day, five years apart. When they were kids, they had double family birthdays. Though he was shy then, Finn had loved every minute of them. Sharing the date with his smart, out-going cousin was special.
“Speaking of that, I’m turning thirty-five. You’ll be thirty. Guess what Hayley wants to have?”
“A party for you and me. What about her birthday? It’s in two months.”
“Paul will do something for hers. She wants to do this for us, Seth, and she won’t take no for an answer.”
“Where would we have it.”
“At the apartment in New York. All my friends and yours, plus family.”
“Sure, then. I’m game.”
“Do you have time to talk about it now? Give me thoughts. Then Hayley can do her planning.”
They spent a half hour choosing a date, time, food and guests. When they were finished, Finn said, “I can stay a while longer. Tell me how you’re feeling.” He examined his cousin. “Your color’s better but did you forget to comb your hair today?”
“I bet I did.”
In truth, Finn envied Seth his casualness about his appearance. Finn had to look meticulous before he left the house.
“I’m going stir crazy,” Seth told him. “I can’t go back to the office for two more weeks, and I hate inactivity.”
“I’ll bet. You and Hayley are real go-getters.”
“Hey, you get things done. In your own way.”
“I do. But I move slower than most people because I’m… thoughtful.”
“I didn’t bring this up in front of Hayley, but Rafe told me you went after Ronan with lightning speed at the hospital.” Finn’s oldest brother had disappeared twenty years ago, but showed up when Seth got hurt. When Finn saw him, he punched his brother in the face. Ronan had left right after.
“Yeah, my anger and worry got the best of me. But I feel bad. Hayley was broken-hearted he left.”
“Have you heard from him again?”
“No, but Paul made the point that he had to be living close by, in New York maybe, to get to the hospital so fast.”
“How would he know I got stabbed?”
“All he told Hayley was he gets alerts on us.”
“Look who’s here.” Carmella had come out on the patio and Finn was relieved. Talk about Ronan always upset him. He stood and hugged her. “Aunt Carmella.” He felt emotion well in him. This woman meant a lot to him.
She drew back. “It’s good to see you again.”
Someone spoke behind him. “I’ll put away these—Oh.” Julianne Ford stopped at the sliding-glass doorway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”
“Come on out and visit with us, dear. Leave the groceries and I’ll put them away later.”
Finn smiled up at her. “Hi, Julianne.” She’d been Seth’s friend then girlfriend who joined their happy band of cousins frequently.
“Hi, Finn.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. The last time he saw her was at the hospital. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for the incident in the waiting area. I’m apologizing to everybody who was there.”
“No problem. Emotions were running high.”
Seth stood. “Why don’t you stay and have lemonade with us? Catch up with Finn.” She and Seth were eleven and Finn was sixteen the last time they saw each other as kids.
“No thanks, I have some financial stuff to do for the school. Good to see you, though, Finn.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Seth had started around the table.
“Why?” she snapped. “I know the way.”
He held up his hands, arrest style. “Okay, okay. Goodbye.”
She nodded, hugged Carmella and left.
Finn said, “Am I missing something? She was as frantic as the rest of us at the hospital when you got stabbed.”
“She still loves Seth,” Carmella announced. “But she’s having none of him. I don’t know why.”
“It’s private, Mama.”
“I’ll let you two chat.”
“Mama, you don’t have to—”
“We’ll catch up before you leave, Finn.”
When she left, he said, “Why are you on Julianne’s shit list again?”
“Because I hurt her bad, and I don’t want to talk about it. Now, are you still writing? You used to be filling up journals the whole time we were growing up. You published some stories over the years.”
“I don’t want to talk about that.”
Instead, they discussed both their jobs, he visited with his aunt then left the house. But instead of driving back to New York he headed to downtown Hidden Cove, parked in the City Hall parking lot and walked inside. He punched a number in his cell phone, before he got to the reception desk. “I’m here,” he said when she answered.
“Be right down.”
Soon, Valerie Daniels walked into the lobby, wearing a deep pink summer suit, with a silky white blouse, heels on her feet. She took his hand as if to shake, but instead caressed it. Her skin was silky, all over. “Hello, Mr. Casella.”
“Mayor.”
They left city hall at a discreet distance away from each other and got into his car. And headed toward Finn’s cottage.
* * *
Seth stood in Julianne’s garage, while she remained in the open doorway of her house. She was right, he was a dog with a bone. “Hi.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hi. What do you want?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
Her brow furrowed beneath hair that was damp. She’d probably worked out. “Is something wrong?”
“No, why would you ask that?”
“Because you have a plethora of siblings and cousins who’ll do you favors.” Her tone bordered on exasperation.
“Nobody’s available to drive me where I have to go.”
She fidgeted with the door handle, as if she was nervous. Then she stepped out on the top stair. “You want me to take you somewhere?”
“Yeah, to the Lincoln Circle area on the outskirts of town.”
“I read in the paper this morning that some of the roads are closed out there.”
“They are. It’s a difficult place to get to geographically. I don’t want Ali or Mama to get stuck with taking detours and getting caught in closed roads. Or worse, getting lost.”
The corners of her mouth crinkled. “But you want me to?”
“Yep. You’re a daredevil driver.” He raked his hand through his hair. “I could go alone but the doc benched me for another week.”
“I have time, I guess.” She lifted up her arm and sniffed. One thing about Julianne that he loved was that she was so earthy and natural. “I smell from going to the gym. I’ll come get you after I shower.”
“No, I’m ready now. Let me in, and I’ll wait downstairs.”
“All right.” Once inside the kitchen, she turned her back to him and called out over her shoulder, “You know where everything is.”
He did. He’d spent half his life here…