“He’s Elliot’s cousin. From the posh side of the family.”
I considered the way Fin spoke, how his words sounded clear and rounded. His enunciation couldn’t have contrasted more with the flat Dales dialect I was used to. “That explains the accent.”
Annie laughed. “Lovely, isn’t it? Although his branch is nothing like the one I married into. Anyway, I haven’t seen him for years, not in person. Not since the funeral actually, and even then I didn’t expect him to come.”
I supposed that explained why Fin had never visited her house.
Annie appeared thoughtful for a moment. “Good of him, considering. Although he and Elliot were quite close once of a day, so I suppose I shouldn’t really have been surprised.”
I didn’t know Annie back then, so I never had the honour of meeting her husband in person. By all accounts he was a well-loved man and people often talked about him. I could appreciate why Fin would have wanted to pay his respects.
“Fin’s an only child,” Annie continued. “He used to come up and stay with Elliot’s family during school holidays, which apparently, he loved. I got the impression his parents weren’t as hands-on. Children should be seen and not heard, kind of thing.”
“That seems sad.”
“Elliot reckoned it didn’t do Fin any harm. It’s what makes him able to focus.” Annie furrowed her brow. “I thought I’d told you all this.”
I shifted in my seat. “It doesn’t hurt to have information confirmed.”
Annie’s frown turned into a grin. “You don’t remember any of what I said, do you?” She giggled. “I know we drank a lot that night, but I told you to keep quiet, not forget. This is hilarious. Boy, are you in for some fun.” She had a glint in her eye.
“Keep quiet about what?” I asked.
Annie’s smile remained. “Nothing,” she said, putting a piece of decimated tangerine and marzipan muffin into her mouth.
10
It was dark by the time I got home. Pulling onto the drive, I turned off the car engine and lights and sitting there for a moment resigned myself to the fact that my house guest wasn’t going anywhere for the next couple of nights.
I contemplated the evening ahead. My feet ached and I was talked out thanks to the myriad customers I’d dealt with at the bookshop and the last thing I wanted to do was to spend the evening entertaining Fin. I took off my seat belt, stuffing the last-minute gift Annie had given me into my bag. A thank you for having Fin stay, she’d said as she handed it over at the end of our shift, in a kind, yet unnecessary, gesture. I climbed wearily out of the vehicle, hoping Fin wouldn’t mind takeaway for dinner. Not that he had much choice. I had meant to call at the supermarket on the way home, but in the end I couldn’t face more crowds.
As I let myself into the house, the delicious smell of something cooking hit my nostrils and breathing in the appetising aroma, I relaxed a little. After a busy day at work, it was a welcome surprise to know I had one less thing to worry about and if Fin was trying to earn his keep, he was doing a very good job. Goodness knew what meal he’d managed to throw together though as the last time I looked the cupboards were bare. While I’d realised at breakfast that the man was a culinary magician, dinner had clearly taken his alchemy to another level. I took a deep breath and, readying myself to play hostess with the mostess, fixed a smile on my face, just as Fin appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Your bath’s ready,” he said, making his way down.
“What? You’ve run one for me?”
He chuckled as if such an act was nothing.
“Fin, I could kiss you right now.”
“After a busy day at the Christmas coal face I thought you might be ready for a good soak.”
“Strike that,” I said. “I could snog you.” I wondered why I couldn’t see his wings. As far as I was concerned, the man was an angel.
He reached the bottom step and took my bag and coat, all the while meeting my gaze. “Dinner first, dessert later.”
Speechless, I simply stood there as Fin turned and headed down the hall. Almost swooning, I had to question why I’d spent the last twenty-four hours determined to get rid of him. I told myself I’d died and gone to heaven and sighed at my evening’s good fortune. He might have been joking about afters, but an attractive man, catering to my every other need… what other explanation was there?
“Don’t be too long,” he called back. “Dinner will be ready soon.”
Fin disappeared into the kitchen and I trudged upstairs. Already undressing by the time I entered the bathroom, I paused, surprised by the serenity that greeted me. It was like walking into my own little spa. The only lighting came from the vanilla-scented candles dotted around, while the tub brimmed with glistening bubbles. A big fluffy towel hung warming on the heated rail, and I had to smile at the glass of wine sat on the corner of the bath. Fin had thought of everything.
I pondered for a moment, wondering if the man was for real. Good looks, confident personality, thoughtful, not forgetting his sense of humour. There had to be something wrong with Fin somewhere, no one was that perfect. I supposed if he did have any flaws, they were bound to show themselves at some point. After all, if Fin was play-acting, the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to maintain any pretence.
I sighed as I looked around the bathroom again and taking in Fin’s efforts, wondered if I was just being cynical. After all, not all men were selfish pricks, Dad and Mitch were proof of that. I pictured my father giving Mum a foot rub despite her not having the most attractive of feet. And I’d often seen my brother-in-law massage Vee’s back when the strain of carrying their baby took its toll. Fin was obviously of the same ilk.
I felt a twinge of jealousy as I imagined Fin preparing a bath for someone he loved instead of me, the woman he was merely showing gratitude to. It saddened me to think I hadn’t yet bagged my very own Fin, that my experience hadn’t been positive when it came to members of the opposite sex. In fact, the only men I could’ve truly relied on were the ones I was related to. I shook my head. It was no wonder I was jaded.
Stripping the rest of my clothes off, I couldn’t wait to climb into the bath. I took a deep breath and exhaled in pure bliss as I lowered myself into the water. Leaning back, I felt my muscles relax. I appreciated the efforts my house guest had gone to – whether the man was genuine or not. As I lay there, a part of me wished he could stay forever, while another warned me not to get used to such pampering.
Fin is here for a couple days, it said, and a couple of days only.
11
“I hope you’re hungry,” Fin said. He smiled as I entered the kitchen.
“Famished,” I replied, feeling the most relaxed I’d been since his arrival. Wearing my pyjamas and with a towel wrapped around my head, I took a seat at the table.
“Glad to hear it. There’s enough to feed a banquet.” He turned to look at me again. “Don’t get too excited though, it’s nothing special. Your little village store isn’t exactly bursting with choice on the ingredients front.”
“Let’s just say the locals are a traditional bunch.”