The Twins by N.J. Moss

Author:N.J. Moss [Moss, NJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

41

LORNA

Finn walks from the house with June in his arms, cradling her to his chest. He aims a warm smile at me, and I do my best to return it. But all I can think about is the fact Malcolm is in the house across the street.

And what June’s mother said. About Finn hurting June. Is it true? More importantly, should I give a single fuck? I’m only doing this because Elizabeth the crone has given me no choice.

“Buggy, bug, bug,” June sings, as Finn arranges her in the car seat.

She reaches out for me, and I turn, offering my hand. She beams as she takes it, drawing my mind to my child, to that night when any hope at being normal was smashed against the wall. When she squeezes my hand, I feel the warm glow of belonging, almost like a taunt. She seems like a happy little girl, but then, so did I when I needed to.

Dad was an expert at forcing me to behave as truly happy, non-abused children do. Finn doesn’t get into the car right away. He kneels at my side, then stands with a small pin in his hand. He studies it for a few moments, his expression changing to something that makes me think of violence.

A gesture: a nod. He’s telling me to get out of the car. With a sigh, I do it, though it’s a risk. Just being here is a risk. “What’s this?” he asks, showing me a pin with a small flower painted on the front.

I shrug. “How should I know?”

“No – I mean, was Abbey here? That’s my ex. Blonde hair. A bit of a mess.”

Needing this to be over as quickly as possible, I tell him about the run-in with his ex.

“She was drunk. I told her she had to leave.”

“Did you argue?”

“It depends how you define ‘argue’. It got a little heated. I told her that if she wanted anything to do with her daughter, showing up drunk and high was the worst thing she could do.”

Finn curls his hand around the pin, glancing in the back of the car, at June. “Can I talk to you for a second?” He nods tellingly. He doesn’t want June to hear.

He walks toward the street. No, no, no. For Christ’s sake. Following him, we end up standing in full view of Rachael’s house. Her front curtains are open. A quick glance shows me that there are three people in the front room.

Well – four. Malcolm. Rachael, with Riley in her arms. And Sadie. If Malcolm spots me now, the game is over.

“Why do you think it’s your place to get involved?” Finn asks, and again, I think of Abbey’s words: the accusation that he hurts his daughter.

I didn’t believe it a few minutes ago. But studying the angry glint in Finn’s eyes, it doesn’t seem so ridiculous now.

“I was trying to help.”

“You should’ve sat in the car and ignored her.”

“She was hammering on the window. I don’t know what else I was supposed to do.

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