Page 6 of Hazel
“What’s that?” Jade asks.
I clear my throat and turn to look him in the eyes. “I said he’s done an amazing job.”
“Well, it’s not quite finished,” he says, squeaming slightly under my gaze. “I still have to get the inspector in to sign things off. In fact, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about it.”
“The inspector?” I ask. It’s the first I’ve heard about this. I thought it was just a simple job of Finn fixing what was damaged. But as he tells me about how he’s been calling the local council and trying to arrange an appointment, it becomes clearer and clearer that my dream of opening on Saturday is still in peril.
I turn away from him. Not wanting him to see me cry. I don’t know how many tears I’ve shed this week.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
“Oh, I don’t think you have anything to be sorry about,” Jane purrs. “It’s that right, Hazel? A big strong man like him… as far as I’m concerned… he could do anything he liked.”
I turn back around. Finn and I both ignore my sister. Her blatant flirting doesn’t seem to be having any effect on him. A warm feeling fills my chest as I start to realize he only has eyes for me. “So, this has all been a waste of time?” I ask. “We’re not going to be able to open on Saturday? I have to wait for some stupid man to come down and tell me I can start selling cakes?”
“I promised I’d get things fixed,” Finn says, stepping towards me. Jade lets go of his arm and her eyes dart from me, to him, and then back to me. She gives me a knowing smile and walks back into the kitchen.
Finn takes my chin in his fingers. I look up into his face. My chin wobbles as I hold back yet more tears. “I’m not going to let you down,” he says. “You can count on me.”
“But how?” I ask, unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“For you,” he says. “I'll do anything.”
6
Finn
I put the last of my tools back in my box and lie down on the floor. It’s six o’clock on Friday morning. Sweets ’n’ Treats is meant to be opening tomorrow, but I’m no closer to finding an inspector than I was at the beginning of the week.
The work’s finally complete, but Hazel’s right. It doesn’t mean anything if I can’t make good on my promise. If the bakery isn’t open, then it’s all been for nothing.
I roll up my hoodie and use it as a pillow. I’ve spent almost every night here. Working around the clock to get things finished. My bones are weary and my back is killing me. But when I close my eyes, I see Hazel’s face, and I remember why I’m putting myself through all this.
The door at the front of the shop opens. Normally Hazel comes in through the back, but maybe she changed her mind today.
I stay lying down on the floor with my eyes closed. A part of me wants her to find me like this. I imagine myself opening my eyes and looking up at her. We’d make a little small talk as she prepares my morning coffee. I’d look at her hips and her ass and think what it would be like to wake up with her in my bed every morning.
But, instead of Hazel’s voice, I hear my brother’s.
“Sleeping on the job,” he laughs, “didn’t I teach you better than that?”
I stand up and take the fresh cup of coffee he offers me. Cracking my neck, I take a sip and watch as he looks over the work I’ve done this week.
“I didn’t think you’d get it all done,” he admits. “I’m impressed.”
“I told you I’d do it,” I growl, not in the mood for any of his bullshit this morning.
“Aye,” he says, “but word on the street says you haven’t found an inspector. I told you, Finn, you should have told the woman the truth from the beginning. Then you wouldn’t be in this mess. You could have come and worked with me all week. Earned yourself some money, instead of sinking a couple of grand on this.”
I sit down and run my fingers through my hair. My eyes feel like they’re full of sand. I need a shower and a couple of hours of sleep. The last thing I need is Seamus nagging at me about my bad decisions. It’s making it hard for me to control my temper.
“If you don’t have anything positive to say, then leave me be, brother.” I look at him with a steely gaze in my eyes. Making sure he knows I’m not in the mood to hear any negativity. “I appreciate you coming by and bringing me a coffee. We’ll have to catch up again soon. Maybe you can come over with Cathy and the kids and we can all have a nice family roast. How about this Sunday? But right now I’ve got bigger things to think about.”
“Sunday sounds grand,” he says, taking the seat opposite me. “But I didn’t come down here to bust your balls. I’m here to save your sorry ass… as per usual.”
He grins at me from across the table. “What the hell are you talking about, Seamus. Enough with the riddles.”
“Why don’t you call that girlfriend of yours,” he says, ignoring my comment, “tell her to get her ass down here.”
