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Maureen chuckled. “If you mean here, I got my green card twenty-three years ago and was a social worker in Edinburgh before that, so you could say I’ve seen my share of bairns go to their new homes.”
Finn glanced at her. He meant to make some joke about Scotland, America, kids even, but all that came out was, “I’m scared.”
“Of course, you are,” Maureen agreed, like he hadn’t just admitted this huge thing. He stared at her.
Maureen smiled. She didn’t smile lightly. It was a full-face effort involving every wrinkle of a life well lived. “I was given up by my sixteen-year-old birth mother who had me in a Salvation Army mother and baby unit.”
Finn didn’t know what to say.
“And I even tracked her down when I was around twenty-five. Just had my first daughter and wanted her to know.” Maureen shrugged. “She wasn’t interested.”
“That’s awful,” Finn whispered.
“Not really. I did find out that she gave birth in the unit because her parents threw her out. Putting a baby up for adoption isn’t the coward’s way out as many think, it’s one of the very bravest things someone can do. And after that maybe she didn’t have any more courage left in her to talk to me. Maybe she still had guilt for some insane reason. Maybe she didn’t want the reminder.”
Finn glanced down at Zuri’s face. When the time came, what should he tell her?
“Up to you, but my two-penneth is, don’t brush it off until they’re older,” Maureen offered, correctly guessing his thoughts from his expression. “Just make it a normal part of her childhood, and whatever happens, whatever she decides, don’t make her feel like she can’t ask. Half the bairns I see in here never ever felt they could talk to their parents. Don’t be that father. If your child screws up, you want them to know absolutely they can come to you. Come to youfirst. And nothing they ever do will make you stop loving them.”
Finn wiped his cheek. “I’m such a sap.”
“Saps make the best dads,” Maureen pronounced. Finn glanced at the clock, knowing he should have been out of there twenty minutes ago, but no one seemed to be in a hurry to make him leave.
“So, tell me while we’re at it, is it the whole adoption thing that scares you, or something in particular?”
Finn huffed out a laugh. “Yes and Yes.”
She waved a hand. “Let me have it then.”
Finn said what he could. “They went through an awful time with their previous foster family because the mom wanted a baby, and the only way was adopting a sibling group.”
“And you want a baby?”
Finn nodded, shame heating his skin. He was such a bad person. How could anyone trust their kids with him?
Maureen beamed. “Well thank the Lord, because I have a feeling you’re going to have your work cut out. Never mind the fact that she isn’t sleeping.” She leaned forward. “With those looks? You’re going to be beating the boys off in droves.” She cackled. “Girls as well.”
Finn laughed, even if it might have sounded suspiciously like a sob.
Maureen patted his hand. “I’ve never met her brothers, but I know Elijah thinks they’re all his responsibility, and would kill to protect them. He’s quite taken with boxing now, apparently. His relationship with Kai was a bit rocky, but they seem to be past that.”
Just as Finn was wondering how the hell she knew, she chuckled again, clearly not finished. “Asa doesn’t like blue anything. He’s worried that people only want them because of Zuri. He’s scared for both his brothers and convinced a mark on his face means you don’t love him. Oh, and he likes pineapple on pizzas which I’m pretty sure someone made a law against.
“Henry loves animals, and you’re thinking he’s going to come out of his shell when you get the new puppy. Olly, Talon’s rescue dog, adores Henry and lies on his feet. You think Henry might be a musician in the making and you have a friend called Sebastian who’s going to arrange concert tickets and see if he can help Henry. Incidentally, you’ve already started them all in therapy with a very interesting man who seems to have an obsession with coffee.
“And then there’s Zuri. Zuri who’s probably, as I said, going to give you the most sleepless nights because...well, just because.” Maureen smiled. “And Talon, who utterly adores you and will be with you every step of the way.” Finn was speechless. How the hell could she possibly know all that?
She leaned forward. “I’ve met you three times, Finn.Three times.I nearly know more about those bairns than I do my own, because you never shut up about them. That isn’t because you’re obsessed with ababy. It’s because you’re obsessed with afamily.”
Finn knew he was crying.
“And obsessed in a good way.” She let Finn absorb her words for a moment and arched an eyebrow. “Although, I get the feeling your stalker tendencies will manifest themselves on Zuri’s first date. Always assuming Tampa PD isn’t following her en-masse,” she added.
Finn gaped. He knew his mouth was open, but he couldn’t seem to get his jaw to function to close it.
“I changed my shift because of you,” Maureen confided. “I wouldn’t miss seeing you take her home on Friday for all the whisky in Scotland.”
Chapter Seven
