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I try to swallow the thick and heavy lump stuck in my throat.
“Are you alright?” Charles asks with a kind voice.
I nod, my throat dry and aching. “It’s just a lot to take in.”
“I could only imagine.”
“When they gave me the news that he went missing, I didn’t want to believe it. Back then it didn’t feel like I lost him, but now—” I drink some tea to help gulp down the knot in my throat. “It’s hard to think about what’s next. The few times we’ve interacted he seems so angry. Nothing like my Archer.”
“Finnegan had a tough few years.” Charles takes a sip of his tea before continuing. “He’s scared of his emotions, but not afraid to show his anger to the world. As for the future… Well, it’s hard to know what’s going to happen. We don’t know if he’ll regain his memory. If you’re planning to stick around and be a part of his life, you might have to accept that he’s a different person now.”
Can I stick around?
My heart aches at the thought of not being around Archer, but how can I just be a friend after everything we lived together? He was my entire world—my everything.
“Instead of torturing yourself with the unknown, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself? What do you do?” he prompts, his voice light and cheery.
“I’m a musician and a music therapist. I run a practice where we help people with mental or physical disabilities,” I reply.
“Like Derek Farrow?” He gestures toward the plate of cookies. “Please help yourself if you like,” he says as he reaches for one himself.
I smile, grateful for the effort he’s making to make me feel welcomed. “Derek is my business partner. What about yourself?”
He leans forward smiling, as if he’s about to tell me a secret. “I’m an archeologist. You might’ve seen me on TV.”
“Have I?”
He shrugs. “Some kids and adults like to watch my show.”
It takes me only a few seconds to remember who he is. The famous archeologist who used to have a long running show on the Educational Channel. We spend time discussing some of his favorite sites and my favorite episodes.
“Mind if I ask you about Finn’s family? Are they good people?”
“They’re different. He has five brothers and a sister.” I tell him about Kingston, the owner of Earth Fields Market. Myles, the award-winning filmmaker.
“Café Fusion?” Charles asks, as I tell him about Zach. “My godson is partners with him.”
“Eros Brassard?” I ask.
“Small world,” he mumbles.
“Indeed, it is,” I agree. “Well, Zach is one of Archer’s brothers. His twin brother, Burke, owns a consulting and communications company with my cousin.”
“That’s four brothers. What does his sister do?”
“Teddy owns a concierge company. And Fletcher is the quarterback for the Seattle Orcas.”
“He has a big family.”
I nod. “They’re incredible.”
“How about his parents?”
I sigh and it takes me long to explain to him the complexity of Donovan and Florence St. James. They’re lovely people, but their issues make them to look like two complete and utter clueless assholes.
“They are good parents?” I try to sound confident.
He stifles a laugh and shakes his head. “Debatable.”
