The Way Back by Vivi Holt

Author:Vivi Holt [Holt, Vivi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Lab Press
Published: 2017-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

17

FINN

Dave leaned back precariously in the chair behind my small desk at the bike shop. I raised an eyebrow and continued replacing the tires on an older-model Shimano road bike. “So how’s Hayley doing?” I asked, spinning a new tire around with one hand.

“She’s great. I mean, exhausted. You know? She’s home now, and Jake’s still in the nursery at the hospital. So, she’s back and forth to the hospital all the time. Pumping breast milk, then delivering it, and giving him as many cuddles as she can before she has to head home again. It’s crazy. But he’s such a strong little dude. He’s getting bigger everyday. The doctor said we can bring him home soon.” He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

I stopped what I was doing and gave Dave a sympathetic look. “It get easier, mate. The sleep deprivation sucks, but it doesn’t last forever.”

Dave grunted, sounding unconvinced.

“But then, of course, you have to deal with a whole host of other stuff as they get older.” I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

Dave laughed and sighed. “Yeah. It’s hard to believe I’m a Dad, with him still at the hospital. We just can’t wait to bring him home.”

The doorbell chimed and I turned to see Eleanor walk in. She smiled tentatively at me and waved to Dave. “Hi, Finn, Dave. How’s Hayley? I haven’t been to see her in a few days. Is she coping okay?”

Dave grimaced. “Yeah, she’s not in pain anymore, so that’s good. Speaking of which, I’d better get back to her. Drop by if you can – I know she’d like to see you. See ya, Finn.” He pushed himself to his feet and slapped me on the shoulder as he walked past toward the front door. I caught a glimpse of a smirk from him, and frowned. What was he smirking about? Just because Eleanor was there, no doubt.

Well, he was reading far too much into things. Sure, there was still an attraction between Eleanor and I, but it was time for me to move on, as Trev and Lorna had so aptly pointed out only two days earlier. It was time for me to heal – I owed that to my girls. And dating Eleanor Farmer, or anyone else for that matter, wouldn’t be good for them. I wanted to focus on Sylvia and Sarah and their needs. I’d been enveloped in my own pocket of grief for three years, and they’d patiently waited for me to emerge. Now that I was finally coming out of that dark place, I could give them the attention they needed.

As Dave walked out, Eleanor turned to face me with pink cheeks. “How are you?”

“Fine, thanks. You?” I returned to working on the bike – anything to keep my eyes off her spaghetti-strap dress and darkening tan. She was already settling back into the beach lifestyle, her blond curls floating naturally around her face.

I could see the old Eleanor had returned, at least partially.

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