Homecoming || Future
Finnegan hadn’t been home for almost a year.
Last summer, she took some internship at a marketing firm, despite her father’s multiple, “why don’t you just intern in the marketing department at my company?” suggestions. She wouldn’t mind working at her father’s company, but ever since going to college, Finnegan tried as much as she could to pave her own path. It felt like ever since she was a kid, most of her life was chosen for her. It’s not like her parents were very oppressive, but it felt like they had very specific ideas for her future. She earned the best grades and participated in as many extracurriculars as possible so she could get into the best schools, and after 3 years at one of those schools, she was beginning to wonder if it was what she truly wanted.
So she studied abroad in Italy for an entire school year. She loved Italy when she visited the few times during her childhood, and she could use some time away to truly figure out herself. Of course, her parents were supportive, even if a little apprehensive; “A whole year? Why not just a semester?” She felt a tad guilty when she made up excuses to stop them from visiting, but her year of self-reflection in Italy was necessary for her to acquire true clarity over how she wanted to map out her own future.
She wanted to drop out of college.
She knew breaking this news to her parents would not be easy. She might as well be breaking her shorter father’s heart altogether. She wasn’t sure how she was going to tell them she reaffirmed her love for culinary arts in Italy and actually applied to various schools in and out of the country, and got accepted into most of them - which meant dropping out of her regular university.
“Woah. You lived here?”
Finnegan sighed as the cab pulled up to her house. She glanced over at Cleo, a girl she met in her study abroad program, and had been dating for almost as long as she’d been away. Finnegan hadn’t told her parents about Cleo either, and she didn’t mention much of her family to Cleo either. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about either of them, but her year in Italy was supposed to be about her, which meant she didn’t want to explain a relationship to her parents until she could see them in person. As for keeping her family hidden from Cleo… Cleo was very… politically minded. Finnegan worried if Cleo knew she came from money, she’d look at her differently.
“Yeah,” Finnegan said. “I forgot to mention, my dad owns this pharmaceutical company.”
“Huh,” Cleo pursed her lips, narrowing her gaze at the large mansion sitting beyond the cab window. “Didn’t know you came from Big Pharma.”
Finngean rubbed her face. She didn’t want to deal with an argument about this right now. Seeing her parents after a year of absence was already going to be overwhelming without Cleo scrutinizing her family or how she grew up.
“My dad is really cool though. I think you and him will probably get along. He’ll probably show you his library.”
Cleo shrugged and climbed out of the cab, stepping over to the trunk to grab her luggage.
Finnegan followed her and took her own bags from the trunk. “Cleo, can you please be… nice? I haven’t seen my parents in awhile, and this would go a lot smoother if you didn’t act so… critical.”
Cleo scoffed. “Critical? Is it my fault you told me nothing about your family?”
“Please.”
Cleo rolled her eyes and closed the trunk. “I’m going to be myself. Asking me to be anything else is shitty. Maybe you should do the same.”
Finnegan sighed. She didn’t want to argue, and Cleo insinuating that she wasn’t being herself kind of hurt, since that’s what she’s been trying to do for an entire year.
Finnegan made her way to the front door but before she could even raise her hand to knock, the door swung open, as her shorter father enveloped her into a tight embrace, calling out “FINNEGAN” as he did so.
Finnegan laughed and dropped her bags, hugging him back. She forgot how warm her dad was. “God, Daddy. You’re going to crush me!”
“I don’t care,” he said, squeezing her. “I missed you too much.”
Before the hug could go on any longer, Cleo cleared her throat. Loudly.
Mason pulled away and flashed a big smile at Cleo. “You must be Cleo. Come here. We hug in this family.” Mason then pulled Cleo into a hug - the sudden contact surprised and tensed Cleo. Finnegan could almost laugh. Daddy was always warm and welcoming while Cleo was very much not.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Holloway,” Cleo said, pulling out of Mason’s hug.
“Please! Call me Mason,” he grinned. He then turned to face the stairway before calling up, “TUCKER! Come get your sister’s bags!” Cleo flinched at the sudden volume.
“Daddy, it’s okay. We can put them in the room,” Finnegan offered.
“Nonsense. Your brother can get off his lazy butt for once. Besides, dad’s in the kitchen, making one of your favorites, buffalo chicken tacos! We figure you’re sick of eating - Italiano!” Mason said with a (bad) fake Italian accent.
Finnegan laughed. While she loved Italian cuisine, she did miss her dad’s home cooking.
“We’re vegetarian,” Cleo interjected.
“Oh,” Mason frowned. “Okay… Well, we can think of something.”
He turned again and walked into the kitchen. Finnegan glared at Cleo before following her dad.
“Oh Craigery,” Mason sing-songed. “Look who’s home.”
Craig turned from the stove and smiled at Finnegan.
“There’s my Finbug. Come here.” Craig pulled her into a tight hug.
Finnegan pressed her face against his chest and smiled, hugging back. She forgot how safe and warm she feels when she’s at home, how loved and cared for she is just by stepping through the door. She didn’t have much of that in Italy.
Craig pulled away and tugged a strand of her hair. “And you’re blonde now.”
“And vegetarian, apparently,” Mason remarked with pursed lips.
“Oh…” Craig looked down at the tacos he was almost finished with. “Okay. No problem. Your brother will eat these.”
“I’m sorry about that… I should have let you know before you went to all this trouble,” Finny said.
“That’s true,” Mason said.
Craig pursed his lips and reached over to tug on Mason’s hair. “It’s okay, Fin. I’ll make something meatless. What does your friend like to eat?”
Before Finny could answer, Cleo immediately clarified, “Girlfriend.”
Oh god.
Craig and Mason exchanged a surprised look, which did not go unnoticed by Cleo, who appeared considerably insulted.
Cleo turned to Finny. “What the hell, Fin? They didn’t know?”
“Well, I—“
“Do you know how embarrassing this is?”
She did, actually. Not because her parents were finding out she had a girlfriend, but because her girlfriend was scolding her about it in front of her parents. Finny’s face flushed red. She wasn’t sure how to deal with three people standing in front of her looking for an answer. “I-I’m sorr—“
“It’s a very pleasant surprise,” Craig said with a smile. “Fin’s a lot like her dad. Forgetful. But I’m sure you know.”
Cleo shrugged. “You’d think such an important detail wouldn’t be forgotten.”
Mason crossed his arms; his pursed lips forming into a more prominent scowl. “Well actually, Clara, she—”
“Hey!” Craig interrupted, grabbing onto Mason’s arm. “Why don’t you and Cleo go upstairs and rest? You’ve both had such a long flight. Daddy will get you when dinner’s ready.”
Finny looked appreciatively up at Craig. She could always count on him to maintain peace when her other father was clearly getting angry. He had already dropped his wrong name tactic, so Finny knew this encounter was not going as well as she hoped. “Thanks, Dad.”
Finny took Cleo’s arm and led her up to her old room. Of course, her fathers kept it the same as she had left it before going to college, so she was always happy to be back in a place of familiarity and comfort. Despite her girlfriend looking around, undoubtedly scrutinizing the boy band posters on her walls.
“Did you have to act like that? You were supposed to leave a good impression. It was your first time meeting them,” Finny said once the door was closed.
Cleo scoffed and turned to her. “How is it my fault that you kept me a secret from your parents? Which doesn’t even make sense. It’s not like they’d be homophobic.”
“You weren’t a secret! It’s not like I didn’t want them to know. I just didn’t want to combine my life in Italy with my life here. I want to figure out who I was and what I like without being influenced by either world. Doesn’t that make any sense?”
Cleo only rolled her eyes. “I guess. I’m tired. Let’s just nap.”
“You go ahead. I’m going to help my dad with dinner. It’s my fault he has to remake one,” Finny said, quickly exiting the room to go downstairs. She was getting pretty annoyed by Cleo already, and the trip just started. Once she reached the kitchen, she overheard that she wasn’t the only one annoyed by Cleo.
“Can you believe the way she was talking to Finny?” she heard her shorter father saying.
“Maybe she was just cranky. They did have a long flight.”
“Craig, don’t defend her. You would be plotting murder if a boy was talking to her that way.”
“Fine, but if you make a stink about it, you’ll piss Finny off. And we just got her back home.”
Mason grumbled. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Finny. She’s never let anyone treat her like that. That girl reminds me of that horrible girl you dated. Magpie or something?”
Craig laughed. “Just be civil during dinner. Hopefully we’ll lighten the mood when we tell her about the surprise.”
Surprise? Finny would have been excited if she wasn’t so pissed. She knew Cleo hadn’t made a good first impression, but her parents were so quick to write her off completely. She wished they could see the Cleo she knew; smart, funny, cultured. She thought at least her taller dad would get along with her. She didn’t even think Cleo treated her that badly. Finny thought her parents were just acting overprotective, which was pretty annoying, seeing as she’s now an adult capable of making her own decisions. With the way they were handling Cleo, she could only imagine how they’d react to her news of wanting to drop out of university to pursue culinary school.
She was about to make her way back upstairs when her brother entered the room, making his way to the front door to pick up the bags she and Cleo had left there.
“Wow, finally, some service around here,” Finny said, smirking.
Tucker looked up and rolled his eyes. “Shouldn’t me doing this offend your feminist sensibilities? Daddy making a MAN do something you could easily do.”
Finny snorted. “I wouldn’t say a man was doing it.”
“Wow. One year overseas and you’re somehow snobbier!”
“Shut up. I told Daddy you didn’t have to do it.”
Tucker only rolled his eyes. “Who’s the hot chick upstairs?”
Finny laughed. “Gay and not interested in high school students.”
“Oh right. The secret girlfriend.”
Finny frowned. “How did you know about that?”
“Because Instagram exists.”
Finny groaned. “I should have blocked you.”
“Too late now,” Tucker laughed.
“Well… thanks for not telling the dads,” Finny sighed. “Here, let me take one of those.” She then grabbed one of the suitcases Tucker had picked up and made her way upstairs, Tucker following behind. They set the bags down in the room quietly - Cleo was asleep and Finny didn’t want to wake her. She thanked Tucker and punched his arm to get him to leave so she could take a rest too. She didn’t realize how tired she actually was and she would need some refreshing before having to deal with dinner. She laid down next to Cleo and fell asleep.
-
Dinner was going almost as well as their initial introduction. It was almost as if Daddy and Cleo were competing over who can make the snidest comment. She was stuck between her girlfriend who kept shooting her looks for not defending her and her father who kept shooting her looks for bringing a rude guest to dinner. She wanted to disappear.
She tried steering the conversation to something more innocuous. “Dad, how’s work been?”
“Oh, it’s been fine,” he answered. “It’s mostly the same.”
“He’s being modest,” Mason interjected. “He just received this recognition by this mental health advocacy group. There’s going to be an awards ceremony next month!” Mason beamed at Craig and squeezed his arm. He then turned to Tucker. “And you’re going.”
“Oh come on, haven’t I been to enough of these awards dinners? They’re so boring,” Tucker whined.
“He has a point,” Craig nodded.
“Oh, I’m sorry, did Dad ever whine about having to go to any of your award ceremonies? Did he not show up to those little league potlucks where the only thing you got awarded for was participation?” Mason scolded.
Finny laughed. “Oooh. He’s got you there.”
Tucker huffed. “Alright fine. But Dad doesn’t even like going to those things so…”
“That’s because Dad doesn’t like going to anything. But this is important!”
“Is it?” Cleo asked. “Awards are usually political…”
Mason focused a glare on Cleo. But before he could retort, Finny interjected with, “Well I’d like to go too. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to an event.”
“Speaking of which,” Mason grinned. “We’ve got something planned for you.”
“What is it?”
“A homecoming party! We invited all your friends.”
Finny grinned too. It’d been awhile since she’s been to a party too - well, a nice one anyway, or one that honored her specifically - so she was excited. But when she glanced over at Cleo, she knew her girlfriend wasn’t exactly sharing in the excitement.
“That’s awesome. When is it?” Finny asked.
“Tomorrow!” Mason exclaimed.
“God, you should have told me sooner. I have to get a new outfit.”
Cleo remained silent and stopped eating. Finny took notice, but she didn’t want to bring attention to it. She knew Cleo wasn’t very fond of parties but it’s not like Finny had any idea they would do this, though she should have known, since Daddy would use any excuse to throw a party.
“You’ll have plenty of time tomorrow before the party to go shopping. Dad will give you his card.”
“Woah, hang on. Maybe I need an outfit too,” Tucker said.
“Well you can go with your sister. And her friend.”
“Girlfriend,” Cleo corrected.
“Are you serious? I have to babysit now?”
“It’ll give you a chance to catch up!”
Craig laughed before wincing slightly, putting his hand to his chest.
“I told you to take those heartburn chews,” Mason said, looking at Craig.
“I did take them,” Dad said, standing up. “I need to cut back on sodium is all.”
“Go to bed. I’ll clean up.”
“I’m fine, Mason.”
“Yes, but you won’t be unless you listen to me.”
Craig huffed but left the kitchen and walked upstairs anyway. Mason then stood and began clearing the plates.
“Do you need any help, Daddy?” Finny offered.
“Nah, I’m just going to clean up and turn in with your old dad. Someone needs to take care of him,” Mason laughed.
Finny smiled at him before turning to Cleo and gesturing for her to follow her upstairs. Cleo was still silent when they made it up to her room.
“Well… we made it the first day,” Finny sighed.
“I didn’t know there’d be a party,” Cleo said.
“I didn’t know either? It was a surprise for me.”
“I think I’m just going to visit some friends in town, if you don’t mind. I don’t think I can deal with a party right now.”
“Are you serious?” Finny frowned. “You’re not coming to my party?”
“Finnegan, you know how I am with parties and crowds.”
“Fine, whatever.”
“Wow. You’re really going to act like that?”
“Like what?”
“All passive aggressive because you don’t get your way. I can see where your spoiled attitude comes from now.”
Finny glared at her. Cleo had a habit of disregarding her feelings and making it seem like she was being shitty for even having those feelings. Finny could acknowledge that she acted spoiled at times but she really didn’t think that wanting her girlfriend at her party was a spoiled attitude. She didn’t really have the energy to argue with Cleo either, so she decided to let it go.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind if you don’t come. I’m sure I’ll be busy catching up with everyone anyway.”
“Exactly,” Cleo said, getting into bed. Finny sighed and climbed in next to her, but turned on her side, not wanting to be touched.
—
Despite Cleo’s absence, Finnegan was having a great time at her party. She was almost relieved to not have Cleo here. She did love Cleo, but being back home, she was starting to see how rude Cleo acted. She wasn’t sure what the difference between being here and being in Italy was; maybe she was just so infatuated with Cleo and their life abroad that she didn’t notice the little things.
As Finny rounded the corner of her kitchen, she bumped into another body. But before she apologized, she looked up at the face and scowled.
“Buddy, what are you doing here?”
Finnegan hadn’t seen her ex boyfriend since she moved to Italy for the year. She wouldn’t admit that part of the reason for her move was because she wanted to be as far away as possible from him and their break up. But now he was right here in front of her, and she wasn’t exactly happy to see him.
“Oh, uh… Your dad invited me,” Buddy answered, a little sheepishly.
Finny clenched her fists. Buddy didn’t even have to clarify which dad did this. Dad wouldn’t dare inviting Buddy over, but Daddy loved to meddle. Of course she’d be thrust right back into his schemes the moment she got back home, especially since he didn’t like the person she brought with her.
“That didn’t mean you had to come. Why don’t you try using some common sense? Or do they not teach you that in business school?” Finny spat.
Business school was part of the reason Buddy called it off. He said he had to “focus on his studies without distraction.” As if their entire relationship could be reduced to a mere distraction for him. She had even gotten him an internship at her dad’s company. It took a whole lot of begging and a silent treatment to finally persuade Dad but he eventually gave in as he is prone to do when she acts unhappy with him. And how does Buddy thank her? By ruining her whole life, that’s how.
“I just wanted to see you?” Buddy huffed. She could always tell when his patience with her was wearing thin, but she also didn’t very much care. This was her party. She could be a bitch if she wants to. “I mean, we’ve been friends our whole life and I just thought after a year away and a new girlfriend, you’d be—“
“How did you know about Cleo?”
“Tucker told me.”
Finny scowled. “He’s such a rat.” Probably conspired with Daddy.
“Where is she?”
“She’s with some friends,” Finny shrugged, trying to play it off like it didn’t matter. Buddy saw through it though. He always could with her.
“With friends. And not with you. At your party.”
Finny glared at him. “Fuck you, Buddy. Who are you to judge me or my relationship? At least she didn’t dump me to follow in her dad’s footsteps of leaving behind someone you supposedly love. But I guess you’re a step above your father because you just left me heartbroken, not heartbroken and pregnant.”
Finny knew it wasn’t right to take aim at Buddy’s family history. She’d probably claw his face apart if he said anything about either of her dads. She could tell he was pissed too, but before he could gather his thoughts to retort, Finny brushed past him and went upstairs.
This party was quickly becoming too overwhelming. She was pissed at her dad for inviting her ex. She was pissed at her ex for a list of reasons. She was mostly pissed at her girlfriend for not sucking it up and being at her side tonight even if it meant doing something she didn’t like. She knew Cleo was very independent but she was getting sick of being in relationships where no one was choosing her.
Finny slipped into a guest room to be by herself for a few minutes - the one with the balcony. But to her surprise, she wasn’t alone. Stepping onto the balcony, she saw Craig leaning against the ledge, overlooking the garden.
Even though she wanted to be alone, she didn’t mind her dad being out here. He always had this calming presence and he usually knew how to make her feel better.
Craig glanced over at Finny as she walked in, looking surprised. “Oh, Finnegan. What are you doing up here? Aren’t you enjoying the party?”
“I am,” she answered, hopping up on the balcony ledge to sit. “It was getting to be a lot though.”
“You don’t have to tell me. When you were a baby, I’d always use you as an excuse to get away for a few minutes when we had a lot of company.”
Finny smiled. She loved that anecdote. She knew her father had a hard time with crowds and socializing for too long. It was so unlike her or Daddy who thrived off it. She wondered how he dealt with it for so many years.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“You and Daddy are really different… how did you put up with it? Like all the things you didn’t want to do. Was it hard?”
Craig thought for a moment and shrugged. “It’s not hard when it makes someone you love happy. It’s a give and take. There’s a lot of things Daddy puts up with for me too.”
Finny sighed. She wished she could say the same for her and Cleo. “Cleo doesn’t like compromise. She says it hinders us from living our truths.”
Craig made a face. “Well… that’s an interesting concept.”
Finny laughed. “It’s okay, Dad. I know you and Daddy don’t like her.”
“We just don’t like how she treats you. If Buddy ever talked down to you like that, he’d be missing a limb.”
“Yeah well, Buddy isn’t much better. Apparently I’m not enough for either of them.”
Craig frowned at her. “Finnegan, you’re too special for either of them. I think Daddy had problems like that with boyfriends too. None of them appreciated what they had.”
Finny rolled her eyes and smiled. “I guess I just need to meet a jerk at the corner store and all my problems will be solved too?”
“Hey,” Craig laughed, followed by a noticeable wince as he pressed his hand to his chest.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Craig groaned. “Just heartburn. Don’t get old like me.”
Finny bit her lip. She wasn’t planning on telling either father about culinary school tonight, but she felt open and comfortable enough right now to just come out with it. She thought maybe Dad would take it better than Daddy, and Dad could soften the blow by telling Daddy for her.
“Dad… I think I’m going to drop out of university to go to culinary school.”
Finnegan wasn’t sure what his reaction would be, but she didn’t expect his eyes to widen and bulge out from his head. Was it really such shocking news to him? He looked like he was holding his breath too; his face actually started reddening. As soon as he collapsed on the ground, Finnegan knew this was much more than a bad reaction to news.
“Dad!” she cried out, scrambling down next to him. He was breathing heavily and clutching his hand to his chest. He wasn’t speaking either. Finny didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what was happening.
She scrambled for her phone, immediately calling an ambulance. She didn’t want to leave his side but she knew she had to get Tucker or Daddy or someone. She dashed to the door of the room and called out for help. Luckily Tucker appeared from the staircase.
“What the hell is going on?” he asked.
At this point, Finny was crying profusely. “Get Daddy,” she blubbered. “Get Daddy. There’s something wrong with Dad. He’s on the ground.”
Tucker ran back downstairs to get Mason. By that time, paramedics were already rushing into the door with a stretcher, much to the confusion of her guests. They ascended the stairs before Mason even had time to. Finnegan was too overwhelmed and scared to comprehend anything the paramedics did when they finally reached Craig, until they strapped him to the stretcher and carted him downstairs and into the ambulance.
Mason didn’t even say anything to Finny or Tucker before he followed the paramedics, jumping into the ambulance to be with Craig.
—
“A heart attack? Isn’t he too young for that?”
They had been at the hospital for what seemed like hours. She had been sitting in the waiting room with Tucker when Mason finally walked in after speaking with Craig’s doctor. He told them what the doctor said. A heart attack.
Mason rubbed his eyes, which looked red and swollen from tears. “That’s what I thought. He said it could be attributed to diet but it was most likely due to stress level.”
“Is he okay?” Tucker asked.
“He’s stable now. But he needs to rest. You two should probably go home and get rest too. You can come back in the morning.”
“What about you?” Finny asked. “You must be exhausted.”
“I’m not going anywhere until Dad wakes up.”
“Daddy—“
“I’m staying,” he snapped. She knew he probably didn’t mean to, but it still unsettled her.
She sighed and stood up. “Let’s go then, Tucker.”
Tucker followed her out to the car. He was mostly silent on the ride home, until very quietly, he said, “He could have died.”
“I know.”
“It was weird seeing him like that. Like weak. He’s always been stable in my eyes or something. Like we’ve never seen him fall.”
Finny considered this. It was mostly true, but she has seen Dad in vulnerable moments before, though not always on purpose. She remembered the time she caught Daddy comforting him, how he had to explain to her that he wasn’t always as stable as Tucker claimed to always see him. “I’ve never seen Daddy like that though. He seemed lost or something.”
“They balance each other out. It’s always been them two as one, I think. Like if one of them died, they’d seem…”
“Incomplete.”
—
When they finally got home, Tucker immediately went to bed. Finny was surprised to see the house cleaned up. She was sure it would be left a mess from the party.
She heard a noise from outside. Stepping into the backyard, she saw Buddy hauling a trash bag into their bin. He turned and smiled a greeting to her.
“Did you clean up the house?” she asked.
Buddy nodded. “Yeah, sorry. I thought you’d be at the hospital all night. I didn’t mean for you to run into me again. Is your dad okay?”
Finny frowned and nodded. Now she felt horrible for what she said to him earlier. “Oh god, Buddy,” she whimpered, dropping down to the cobbled ground. She began to cry.
Buddy quietly stepped over and sat next to her, hesitantly putting his hand to her shoulder. She immediately pressed her face into his chest, remembering it once as a place of comfort and refuge. In response, Buddy wrapped his arm around her. Finny couldn’t help but to think this should have been her girlfriend here and not her ex. Finny has texted her multiple times with no response. Cleo didn’t even know what she was going through right now.
“I’m so sorry about what I said, Buddy. God, I’m really such a bitch....”
Buddy laughed softly. “It’s okay, Fin. You’re not a bitch.”
She looked up at him. “Did you really come because you wanted to see me?”
“Of course I did. I’ve missed you. You were my best friend.”
Maybe it was because Finny felt scared and vulnerable and being in Buddy’s warmth again comforted her in a way she had forgotten. Maybe it was because she wanted to get back at her girlfriend for failing her this weekend. Or maybe it was because Buddy resembled the kind of partner her parents found in each other, the kind that effortlessly and without question did things for each other, the kind that were not only spouses but best friends that wanted the best for each other. The kind they would be incomplete without. Maybe it was all of these things. But Finny decided to lean up and kiss him.
Buddy hesitated at first, mostly from surprise, but he kissed her back, and it felt like a reunion that was a long time coming. Finny wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned back onto the cobbled ground, pulling him down with her. She forgot what it felt like to have her body pressed against his and even though she had Cleo, she missed Buddy’s touch. She was fully prepared to give herself to him right there, but Buddy quickly pulled away and sat up.
Finny furrowed her brow and looked up at him. “What, are business majors too good to do it outside now?” She was going to be so annoyed if she still had to convince him to get adventurous.
“Fin, this isn’t a good idea.”
“What?” she sat up. “Why not?”
“Well first, you have a girlfriend. And second, I don’t think… this is real. I think you’re just upset about your dad.”
Finny scoffed and stood up, brushing off her pants. “You’re a fucking idiot, Buddy.”
“Am I wrong?”
She glared down at him. “How dare you accuse me of not being real. It’s always been real for me! But I guess it still isn’t for you. To think I was going to let you touch me again.” Her Dad was so right. This idiot didn’t appreciate her enough. It pissed her off that she spent the last year feeling like it was her fault.
“Fin…”
“Leave me alone, Buddy. Go home.”
With that, she went inside.
—
The next morning, Finny made breakfast for Tucker and herself before planning to head back to the hospital. Daddy had been keeping them up to date and Dad was okay, which was a relief to all of them. Still, Finny couldn’t help but to feel this gnawing guilt over everything that happened. For her news to be met with an actual heart attack was not very comforting.
“So where’s your bitch girlfriend?” Tucker asked, stuffing scrambled eggs into his mouth like some kind of animal.
Finny gasped and kicked him in the shin under the table. Tucker yelped and choked on his food. “Fin! God!”
“You’re the bitch! Ugh. No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t want one if they act like yours.”
“Oh my god, what is your problem? You really want to talk about my girlfriend while our FATHER is in the hospital?”
“Seems like she should be here for it.”
Finny scowled. She knew Tucker was right but she was pissed he was being so frank about it and calling Cleo a bitch. Even if Cleo sucked, she didn’t like for guys to say things like that.
“It’s none of your business, cretin.”
Tucker shrugged and stood. “I’m gonna take a shower before we head to the hospital. Thanks for breakfast.”
As Tucker ran up the stairs, Finny scowled down at his dirty plate left on the table. “I’m not cleaning your dishes, just so you know!” she yelled up after him. The only response she heard was the sound of his bedroom door closing.
She stood and took their plates to the sink. Hating a filled sink, she decided to wash the dishes anyway but made a mental note to get back at Tucker later for it. As she was almost finished, Cleo walked into the kitchen and smirked at her. “Are you a housewife now too?”
Finny glanced back at her briefly before looking back at the dishes in the sink. She was still feeling bitter about Cleo and almost wished she never actually returned.
Cleo was unfazed by not being answered. She didn’t like Finny’s passivity and would press her until she got sick of it. Finny was starting to see Cleo pressed her a lot.
“How was the party?”
“Oh, it was great. My ex showed up, my dad collapsed and had a heart attack right in front of me, and the crab puffs were only so-so,” Finny spat.
“Which ex?”
Finny scoffed and turned to her. “Are you serious? I tell you my dad went into cardiac arrest and you’re more concerned about my ex boyfriend? I texted you like 20 times last night too!”
“My phone died. I assume your dad is okay because you probably wouldn’t be this composed if he wasn’t.”
Finny looked at her in disbelief. She didn’t know how she spent a year with this person who clearly didn’t care about her.
“It was my fault. I told him about culinary school and he almost died.”
Cleo rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. That’s not how those things work.”
Finny clenched her jaw. Cleo’s apathy wasn’t just hurting her anymore, it was infuriating her.
“Cleo, I want you to get your bags and leave and never talk to me again. We’re breaking up. Please be out of my room by the time I get back from the hospital.”
“Fin, come on.”
“Oh, and that ex you were worried about? We made out last night.”
“Finnegan!”
Finny brushed past her and called up the stairs. “TUCKER! Let’s go! And get a bag of Daddy’s clothes!”
Cleo stepped over to her and grabbed Finny’s arm. She had never been aggressive with Finny before. It would have scared Finny if she wasn’t so amped up right now. If Cleo made another move, Finny wouldn’t hesitate to throw down right here in her parents’ kitchen. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Tucker descended the staircase and looked at Finny’s arm grasped in Cleo’s hand. He looked between them, puzzled. “What’s going on?”
Finny yanked her arm free and set a glare on Cleo. “Nothing. Did you get Daddy’s clothes?”
Tucker nodded and held up a bag, looking suspiciously at Cleo.
“Great. Let’s go,” Finny said, not bothering to look at Cleo or say goodbye as she left the house with Tucker.
—
Mason was waiting in the waiting room for Finny and Tucker when they arrived. He looked even more exhausted and haggard than when they had left him last night. He probably hadn’t slept all night.
Luckily for him, Finny stopped at Starbucks on the way.
“Ugh, my golden child. Thank you,” Daddy said, taking the venti cup into his hands.
“Hey! I brought your clothes,” Tucker whined.
Mason pursed his lips and took the bag. He looked into it and rolled his eyes as he pulled out a shirt. “This is Dad’s shirt.”
Finny pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why are you an idiot?”
“I wasn’t paying attention! Sue me. It’s been a hard time for me.”
Mason frowned. “It’s okay, Tuck, come here.” As he pulled Tucker into a hug, Tucker glanced at Finny and smirked.
Finny rolled her eyes. Daddy was always such a sucker when Tucker pretended to be hurt.
“Well, can we see him yet or not?” Finny asked.
Mason pulled away from Tucker and wiped his eyes. Finny always knew Daddy was emotional but she could only imagine how hard these past couple of days must have been for him. She wanted to put Tucker in a headlock for playing on it.
“Yes, let’s go. He really wants to see you guys,” Mason said.
They made their way down the corridor to Dad’s room. As they entered, Daddy sing-songed, “Look who’s here!”
Craig, laying on the hospital bed with tubes and wires attached to his face and arm, looked up at them with a grin. “Hello Holloways.”
That was all it took for Finny to break down. As the tears clouded her eyes, she stepped over to the hospital bed and leaned down to hug Craig. She felt like a little girl all over again, scared and upset and in need of her father’s comfort. “Oh god, dad, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
Craig groaned softly, not expecting the sudden pressure against his body. He adjusted himself on the bed and wrapped his arm around her. “It’s not your fault, Finnegan.”
“I don’t know. Bringing that girl home probably didn’t help his blood pressure much,” Tucker remarked.
“Tucker!” Mason scolded, smacking the back of his head. “That isn’t funny. And Finnegan, you don’t need to blame yourself.”
Finny frowned and looked up at Mason. “Yes I do.”
Craig shook his head. “He doesn’t know yet. I haven’t told him.”
Mason furrowed his brow. “Know what?”
“Oh god, did Cleo get you pregnant?” Tucker asked.
Finny rolled her eyes and stood up. “Shut up, Tucker. No. Before Dad collapsed, I told him I wanted to drop out of school and do culinary school.” She might as well just rip the bandaid off now. Plus they were already in a hospital in case Daddy had a similar reaction to Dad.
“Oh my god,” Tucker laughed. “Are you trying to kill both dads?”
Mason pursed his lips and grabbed onto Tucker’s ear before pushing him out of the room. “Why don’t you go get us some snacks from the cafeteria? I haven’t eaten since the party.”
Tucker huffed and walked to the cafeteria.
Mason turned back to Finny and Craig. “Where’s this coming from? Did that girl give you this idea?”
“No!” Finny groaned. “It’s my idea. I broke up with her this morning anyway.”
“Thank god,” Mason replied, sitting in the edge of Craig’s hospital bed. Craig took Mason’s hand. “You can’t drop out.”
“Mason…”
“No! She’s worked so hard. Why would you throw that all away?”
“Because I don’t care about marketing! I think I only did it because Buddy was doing business but then he totally screwed me. And it’s like, I’ve always loved cooking and I want to learn how to really do it. On a professional level. I already got in to some schools.”
“You already applied? Without talking to us first? Finnegan Isabella—“
“So what? It’s my life, I’m an adult! I can choose to apply to culinary school without asking permission!”
“Not if you don’t pay for it!”
This was the conversation Finny had been expecting when she first planned to tell her parents. She just didn’t expect to be arguing in a hospital room with one of her parents strapped to a machine and IV drip. Mason and Finny were getting heated quickly, which did not go unaffected by Craig, whose heart rate monitor started to beep progressively louder and quicker. The sound got both of them to fall silent.
“Craig…” Mason sighed, rubbing his arm softly. This seemed to calm Craig down, as the beeping resumed to its normal pace.
“I don’t like it either but it’s what she wants. You’re going to make her get a degree in something she won’t do?” Craig reasoned.
Mason sighed again and looked at Finny. “You still have to graduate from this school. You’re too close to finishing to stop now.”
“Daddy—“
“BUT we will pay for culinary school after. Deal?”
Finny didn’t like the thought of having to wait to go to culinary school, but she knew a compromise would have to do. “Fine. Deal.”
“Good,” Craig sighed, leaning back onto his pillows. “I thought I was about to have another cardiac event.”
“That’s not funny,” Finny and Mason said in unison.
Craig laughed and rolled his eyes. Tucker finally returned with a heaping tray of “snacks” - which looked more like a few meals stacked on top of each other.
“Jesus, Tucker,” Finnegan remarked.
Tucker set the tray down on a counter. “What? Daddy said he was hungry.”
“Ugh, yes, my beautiful son,” Mason said, picking up a sandwich from the tray.
Finny went to pick one up herself before Tucker smacked her hand. “Sorry. There were no vegetarian options.”
Both her dads laughed and she scowled at all of them. “I swear to god I’ll kill you, Tucker.”
“Catch me in like 30 years to tell me some shocking news because this is probably hereditary,” Tucker said.
Mason frowned.
“Can you shut the fuck up for once?” Finny asked, taking a sandwich.
“Language!”
“He started it!”
“You two are acting like children,” Craig said.
Mason laughed. “They always do!”
God, her family was so annoying.
She was so happy to be home.