Page 30 of Finn's Future

Lucy and Maria filled the silence with easy conversation while Noah slept beside me, but every sound outside still pulled my attention to the driveway.

I kept listening for Finn’s bike without meaning to.

Eventually Lucy noticed me fighting back the yawns.

“You’re exhausted,” she said gently.

“I’m okay.”

“You fell asleep sitting upright ten minutes ago.”

Maria nodded towards the stairs. “Go get some actual sleep. We’ll stay until Finn gets back.”

“Kate,” Lucy said, “you’re safe.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Upstairs, the room felt too quiet without Finn there.

Not that he was loud, I couldn’t explain it properly. I just felt safer when he was around.

I lay Noah in his cot before I changed into panties and a vest top. I checked on Noah’s cot one more time, then I climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling until exhaustion finally dragged me under.

The sound of the bedroom door opening snapped me awake. My body jolted upright before my brain caught up. Finn paused in the doorway, looking guilty, like he hadn’t expected me to wake.

His eyes flicked over me briefly before shifting away just as quickly.

“It’s me,” he muttered.

My breathing slowly settled.

“Just startled me,” I said, pulling the sheet higher.

Finn nodded once before moving farther into the room.

I watched him check the window before crouching beside Noah’s cot. Then he looked back towards me, and whatever softness had crossed his face disappeared immediately behind something guarded again.

“You should sleep when he is,” he muttered.

I nodded and lay back down.

His presence settled something restless inside me, and sleep pulled me under again.

I must’ve drifted back to sleep quickly because the next time I opened my eyes, pale morning light spilled across the room.

I turned my head to check on Noah—who, for once, had slept through the night—and froze.

Finn was asleep on the floor beside the cot. One arm was tucked beneath his head while the other stretched through the bars of the cot. Noah’s tiny hand was wrapped around his finger.

Emotion hit me so hard, my eyes welled.

He looked uncomfortable as hell, like he never meant to fall asleep there but had anyway.

For Noah.

I stayed still, watching quietly because somehow the moment felt too important to disturb.

The next afternoon was warm enough to sit outside in the backyard.