Page 90 of One Last Time
Her eyes brighten, and she takes Noah’s hand and tugs. “Come on! I can showyou.”
Noah doesn’t seem to mind, and after a few steps, he lifts Aubrey into his arms as she points toward the information area. Another brick around my heart pulverizes. Seeing him with my children means more to me than anything. They are my heart and soul and him tryingmatters.
I look back over to Finn and sigh. I don’t want to push him, but I raised him better than this. Noah tried to engage him in a conversation several times, and he was rude. I don’t tolerate my kids beingdisrespectful.
I nudge Finn’s arm, and he turns to the side a little. “Hey, you ready to goinside?”
“I don’t want to behere.”
My knee-jerk reaction is to tell him too freaking bad, but I would like him to be less of a turd. I hear my mother’s voice in my head, telling me to pick mybattles.
“I know you’re angry, and you’re allowed to be, but you’renotgoing to be rude to my friends, do you understand?” I askhim.
His eyes narrow, and I see the defiance swirling. “Fine.”
“I mean it, Finn. Noah and I are friends, and he wants to hang out with you and yoursister.”
We’re friends who are trying to figure out where we go from here, or I am, atleast.
“I said fine.” Finn continues topout.
There are times when he’s so grown up, and then there are times like this, which remind me how young he really is. He’s in so much pain, but he doesn’t know how to process it. Instead of talking, Finn shuts down. It’s heartbreaking to watch my sweet little boy struggle with things beyond hiscontrol.
“Okay then. I hoped you would be a little happy since you love thisplace.”
Finn crosses his arms against his chest. “Dad took ushere.”
And there it is. “Don’t you think your dad would be happy you’rehere?”
He looks at me with his lip trembling. “I don’t want a new Dad. I don’t want a newMom.”
Asshole is the most selfish person I know. The only reason the kids found out he was going to marry Jillian is that Finn heard her screaming at him about thewedding.
Scott tried to explain that nothing will change for them, but Finn isn’tstupid.
“Noah just wants to be your friend.” I look at Aubrey, who is now leading him to another one of her favorite spots, the gift shop. “He was hoping to talk to you more about the show...what is it calledagain?”
He fiddles with the cord of his headphones. “You don’t have topretend.”
This kid is too smart for his own good. “Okay, I’m just saying you love Noah’s character, and here’s your chance to hang out withhim.”
Finn smiles but then seems to remember he’s supposed to be pissed off at the world. “Why? Why does he want to knowme?”
I shrug. “Maybe because I told him how cool youwere.”
Finn may have done his best to ignore Noah, but I caught him looking at him with wide eyes a few times. Heather and Finn watchedA Thin Blue Linemarathon, and he washooked.
“Can you smile and try?” Iask.
“I’m so excited.” At least I know the kid can nailsarcasm.
I didn’t want to have to do it, but he’s left me no choice. I need to pull out the bigguns.
I blow a raspberry against his cheek, and he makes a noise. “Mom!”
“Don’t be a grump, and I won’t kiss you in public.” Igrin.
“You’re soweird.”
