Read Online Certain Sure by Reina M. Williams - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Reina M. Williams
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seat.
“Of course, wouldn’t miss it. We need to have you at Grandpa James’s by five, though.”
Fin and Rose made sandwiches while Katie packed the basket with utensils and snap peas, carrots, fruit, and cookies. Rose held her princess ball as Fin took the basket and they piled into Katie’s car. Fin watched Rose in the back seat. If he looked at Katie too much, he’d forget his promises.
At the park, Fin pushed Rose on the swing, they all went down the slide, played ball, and chased each other around. They rolled down the grassy hill on the far edge of the park. As they picked grass out of each other’s hair, Katie studied Fin. Her eyes dazzled him, the trusting, almost childlike way she gazed at him made him feel like the new man he strived to become.
“I’m hungry,” Rose said. He and Katie faced her. Fin hopped up and they went to unpack their picnic. While they ate, Fin examined everything in the park except what he yearned most to explore: Katie.
After lunch, they lay on the plaid blanket, finding shapes in the clouds. Fin made them laugh by finding goofy things, like Cinderella’s stepmother’s crooked finger or the tail the bobcat lost. Katie’s laughter floated though him, more effervescent than the best champagne.
“Oh,” she said, sitting up. “I need to get home. Michael’s coming by.”
“Back together,” Fin asked. He stood, attempting to combat the heaviness in his legs.
“No, he’s getting his things.” Katie packed the basket.
Fin smiled and grabbed Rose’s hand. As they walked out, Rose stopped for a drink at the water fountain. An old woman sat on a bench next to it. Fin had noticed her watching them earlier.
“You have a lovely family, dears,” the woman on the bench remarked. “It’s nice to see such loving parents. Your daughter looks very happy.”
Katie blushed and followed Rose, who skipped ahead down the path.
“Thank you,” Fin replied. “Enjoy your day.”
“Thank you, you too,” she said waving as he slowly walked away. Fin said nothing. But he knew as he watched Katie and Rose that he wanted the woman’s words to be true.
He jogged down the path, growling at Rose, who shrieked in pretend fear. Scooping her up, he laughed and followed Katie to the car.
Rose chattered away on the drive back but stopped when Katie pulled the car into the driveway. Michael stood by his Lexus, waiting with crossed arms and a frown. They all exchanged polite greetings but Fin raged inside, winds scattering debris, currents crackling like before a thunderstorm. Katie ran in to get Michael’s things. Fin ignored him and walked Rose over to Mrs. Knight’s. She agreed to take Rose for a bit. He jogged back across the street. Katie and Michael stood on the porch as Fin came up the path, listening to their conversation.
“I don’t want them back. I want you back,” Michael said.
“No, you want, I don’t even know. I don’t want to know,” Katie said.
“Who’s been influencing you? Fin? You shouldn’t listen to him--”
“Better me than you,” Fin said as he strode up the steps. “Don’t worry, Katie, Mrs. Knight took Rose in to meet her new kitten. Now then, Michael, why don’t you scamper along like a good lad?”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready. Take a hike, Fin,” Michael said.
Fin positioned himself between Katie and Michael. “I don’t think so. I’m going to stay right here.”
“Move,” Michael said, getting in Fin’s space.
Fin chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to muss your pretty face, would you?”
“Stop it, boys.” Katie inserted herself between them. “Michael, I have nothing else to say. We’re done.”
“Give me a few minutes, Katie.” Michael reached for her. Fin grabbed his arm, flipping it. He’d learned some useful things in prison. Michael pulled back with a wince, rubbing his wrist.
“No, that was my mistake last
“Of course, wouldn’t miss it. We need to have you at Grandpa James’s by five, though.”
Fin and Rose made sandwiches while Katie packed the basket with utensils and snap peas, carrots, fruit, and cookies. Rose held her princess ball as Fin took the basket and they piled into Katie’s car. Fin watched Rose in the back seat. If he looked at Katie too much, he’d forget his promises.
At the park, Fin pushed Rose on the swing, they all went down the slide, played ball, and chased each other around. They rolled down the grassy hill on the far edge of the park. As they picked grass out of each other’s hair, Katie studied Fin. Her eyes dazzled him, the trusting, almost childlike way she gazed at him made him feel like the new man he strived to become.
“I’m hungry,” Rose said. He and Katie faced her. Fin hopped up and they went to unpack their picnic. While they ate, Fin examined everything in the park except what he yearned most to explore: Katie.
After lunch, they lay on the plaid blanket, finding shapes in the clouds. Fin made them laugh by finding goofy things, like Cinderella’s stepmother’s crooked finger or the tail the bobcat lost. Katie’s laughter floated though him, more effervescent than the best champagne.
“Oh,” she said, sitting up. “I need to get home. Michael’s coming by.”
“Back together,” Fin asked. He stood, attempting to combat the heaviness in his legs.
“No, he’s getting his things.” Katie packed the basket.
Fin smiled and grabbed Rose’s hand. As they walked out, Rose stopped for a drink at the water fountain. An old woman sat on a bench next to it. Fin had noticed her watching them earlier.
“You have a lovely family, dears,” the woman on the bench remarked. “It’s nice to see such loving parents. Your daughter looks very happy.”
Katie blushed and followed Rose, who skipped ahead down the path.
“Thank you,” Fin replied. “Enjoy your day.”
“Thank you, you too,” she said waving as he slowly walked away. Fin said nothing. But he knew as he watched Katie and Rose that he wanted the woman’s words to be true.
He jogged down the path, growling at Rose, who shrieked in pretend fear. Scooping her up, he laughed and followed Katie to the car.
Rose chattered away on the drive back but stopped when Katie pulled the car into the driveway. Michael stood by his Lexus, waiting with crossed arms and a frown. They all exchanged polite greetings but Fin raged inside, winds scattering debris, currents crackling like before a thunderstorm. Katie ran in to get Michael’s things. Fin ignored him and walked Rose over to Mrs. Knight’s. She agreed to take Rose for a bit. He jogged back across the street. Katie and Michael stood on the porch as Fin came up the path, listening to their conversation.
“I don’t want them back. I want you back,” Michael said.
“No, you want, I don’t even know. I don’t want to know,” Katie said.
“Who’s been influencing you? Fin? You shouldn’t listen to him--”
“Better me than you,” Fin said as he strode up the steps. “Don’t worry, Katie, Mrs. Knight took Rose in to meet her new kitten. Now then, Michael, why don’t you scamper along like a good lad?”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready. Take a hike, Fin,” Michael said.
Fin positioned himself between Katie and Michael. “I don’t think so. I’m going to stay right here.”
“Move,” Michael said, getting in Fin’s space.
Fin chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to muss your pretty face, would you?”
“Stop it, boys.” Katie inserted herself between them. “Michael, I have nothing else to say. We’re done.”
“Give me a few minutes, Katie.” Michael reached for her. Fin grabbed his arm, flipping it. He’d learned some useful things in prison. Michael pulled back with a wince, rubbing his wrist.
“No, that was my mistake last
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