Page 12 of Scorched Secrets

As if his mind had conjured her up, she came up to stand beside him. “I’m really sorry about Larry.”

“Thanks.” He moved over and gestured to the kids outside. “Brings back memories, doesn’t it?”

“I was never as athletically inclined as you Finnegans.” She smiled at the kids who made circles in the road before continuing on their way. “But this was a great place to grow up.”

“We were very blessed.” He frowned. “Even though we lost our parents, and you lost your mother, we always knew we were loved. And safe.”

“Yes, we did.” She sighed as if wishing for those days to return, then moved away. “Where are Rhy and Devon?”

“Buying baby furniture for their new nursery.” He grinned, thinking of how perfect it was that Rhy and Devon would start a new generation of Finnegans in the homestead. “They’ll probably stop for lunch along the way. If you’re hungry, I can pull something together. Devon keeps the fridge well stocked.”

“I’m not hungry.” She glanced around the kitchen. “I really would rather head outside for a while. I can’t see sitting around here all day.”

Colin frowned but could see her point. If the situation was reversed, and he was staying at her father’s place, he’d be itching to get out too. “Okay, it should be safe enough to head down to the park.”

“Really?” Her expression brightened. “I’d like that.”

“I think we have a couple of bicycles in the garage.”

“Are you serious?” She paled. “I, uh, haven’t been on a bike in years.”

“Come on, it will be fun.” He guided her toward the garage door. He took a moment to disarm the security system. “Trust me, we don’t have to break any speed records. A simple casual ride to the park, okay?”

“Okay.” Faye did not look convinced but readily followed him to the garage.

After reengaging the alarm, he opened the garage door and went over to where there were three bicycles standing together in the back corner. They were relatively clean, as if they’d been used recently. He checked the tires and the brakes, then wheeled them outside.

“I don’t know about this,” Faye muttered as she threw her leg over the seat. “I’ll probably fall on my face or break my arm.”

“You won’t.” At least, he hoped not. “Slow and steady, remember?”

She pushed off and rode down the driveway, wobbling a bit before finding her balance. He himself hadn’t ridden a bike in a long time but easily caught up to her.

“Don’t get too close,” she warned. “I’m liable to hit you.”

“You won’t,” he said again, but moved over to give her more room.

The August sun was already beating down on them. The park wasn’t far, just over a mile, but when they arrived, Faye quickly dismounted and walked with her bike. Colin did the same, eyeing her scrubs. “We should have raided Elly’s closet. You must be hot in those long scrub pants.”

“No, I’m fine.” She looked flushed, her cheeks pink from the sun or the exertion. Or both. She shook her head. “Besides, Elly’s clothes would never fit me. I just want to walk a while so I don’t make a fool of myself.”

“No chance of that. You’re the smartest woman I know.”

That made her laugh. “Yeah, that’s just a nice way of saying I was a science geek in high school.”

“A smart and pretty geek,” he corrected. “Intimidating to the rest of us dumb guys.”

“Yeah, right.” She snorted. “I remember how popular the Finnegans were. And I know you weren’t dumb either.”

“Not smart like you, though.” He was glad to see she was relaxing as they talked. Getting out in the fresh air was a good thing. “You were the only one to graduate early and start college with credits under your belt from all your AP courses.”

“I was rather single-minded in my quest to become a physician,” she admitted. “When my mom died of a brain aneurysm when I was ten, I knew I wanted to be a doctor in the emergency department. I toyed briefly with being a firefighter, but that didn’t last long. Being a doctor called to me.”

“Mission accomplished.” He strove to keep his tone light. “I know losing your mom must have been difficult for you.”

“It was all very sudden. Much like what you and your family suffered.”

They fell silent for several minutes as they strolled along the park pathway wheeling their bikes. When they reached a park bench beneath a tree, he stopped and propped his bike against the trunk, then took hers to do the same. “On the bright side, we all survived and thrived.”

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