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“Actually, it’s our dad,” Chelsea said. “He grows all sorts of stuff. He uses the petals from the flowers in the different perfumes and colognes he creates.”
“And then the dyes that he makes,” Polly added.
“Yeah,” I said, smiling at Finn. “Our dad is an inventor. I think I told you about him.”
“Oh, yes. Yes,” he said with a nod. “But you said his inventions weren’t particularly good.”
“They’re not bad. They just haven’t made any real money yet.” I shrugged. “So I guess they haven’t exactly hit it out of the ballpark.”
“Well, you never know,” he said. “It could always happen.”
“Yeah, I suppose it could.”
The front door opened, and my mom and dad walked out. I stared at my mom with her crazy, frizzy hair that was all over the place and then at my dad with his absentminded gaze. Only today, he didn’t look so absentminded. He headed out of the door straight toward Finn.
“My man. So good to see you, Mr. Joseph.”
“And you, too, Mr. Campbell.” Finn shook my dad’s hand, and I stared at them in confusion.
How did my dad know who Finn was? I looked over at Chelsea and Polly. Had they called my parents to tell them we were on the way? What exactly had they said? Had they told them that I just slept with him? I knew Chelsea had a big mouth, but even she wouldn’t be so cruel as to tell my parents what had just happened.
“Oh, there you are, Harriet dear.” My father turned to me. “How are you, darling?”
“I’m fine. I kind of lost my job. I know Polly and Chelsea have probably told you already, but Finn is my new boss, and we’re kind of dating. Don’t be mad.”
My dad blinked and then smiled. “Now, now, dear. I’m sure everything will be fine.” He turned toward Finn again. “Is it working as I told you it would?”
“Yes,” Finn said. “But there is one last test.”
“Of course, of course.” My father nodded, and I scratched my head in confusion. What the hell were they talking about? What was going on?
“Finn, have you…” I started, but Finn shook his head quickly. He headed toward my mother.
“So nice to meet you, Mrs. Campbell.”
“And you, too. You must be Finn Joseph.”
“Yes, that is me.”
“Wow. What a surprise to meet one of the richest men in the world.”
“Oh, he’s not actually one of the richest men in the world, Mom. He’s…” I paused. Wait, what? Why was my mom acting like she knew about him as well? I was about to ask Polly and Chelsea exactly what they said to my parents when they’d called ahead when a three-legged golden retriever came running out the door and jumped into my father’s arms.
“Oh, Harley, stop it,” my father said, shushing him away, but I could see from the look on his face that he loved him.
“This is Harley, our new dog,” my mom said, beaming proudly.
“I thought his name was Bingo?” I asked in confusion.
“Yeah. Didn’t you change it to Bing?” Chelsea added.
“Yes, we did, but your mother thought the name Harley suited him better. And I thought, well, Harley is better than Bingo because imagine calling the dog and every time you say his name, you think you’ve won some money.”
“Sorry, what?” Finn said, looking confused, and I smiled to myself.
We told him my dad was distracted and absentminded, and he thought he knew what that meant, but you could only follow along with my dad if you’d known him as long as we had. His thoughts and sentences were so random.
“Well, now, Finn. I did want to show you the flowers that I was using.”
