He wasn't one to be late so he felt bad, then add in having his sister waiting alone in the hospital during her son's surgery, it made him feel doubly worse. As he sat down in a chair by Sutton, he finally exhaled a bit, a combination of nervousness and having to rush to get there. "He's tough," he started to say, eyes going from his sister to the phone in her hand. "Hey, stop reading on the internet. It'll fuck with your mind," he reached for her phone and covering it with both his hands. "Trust me, the doctors know what they're doing and this needs to happen for him." @suttonmjames
As Griffin scolded her for looking it up on the internet, Sutton let herself exhale, eagerly preparing to put her phone away when Griffin took it from her instead. "If you're going to hold onto that at least make sure you keep an eye out from any message from Mom, Dad or Blake." she exhaled, relaxing a little more, legs outstretched as she let her back rest against the back of the chair. Yawning, she pressed her hand to her mouth, shielding the contagiousness of said yawn before she looked back at her brother. "Sorry, it was a really long night." she stated. "You think maybe they have somewhere with coffee close by?" she questioned. "I could use some but I don't want either of us to go far." @griffinxreed
"I'm telling you, you're going to blink, then he'll be in kindergarten, then again, and he'll be in college. Trust me." Blake sighed as Sutton teased that Blake let her grow up so fast. "Take that up with Sorel when she gets here, not me." Blake hated how fast it had gone, but she also knew that was life. "Good news, when Sorel is here, she can babysit so we can have a proper girls' night out." It was hard having a new baby, but Blake also knew that Sutton would need to get out and have at least one fun night out. "I mean." Blake's words trailed off for a second, gathering her words. "He did try to give me a puppy. He's actually Misha's brother, but I told him that's his puppy. If that's not love?" A small laugh came from parted lips. "Getting your girlfriend the puppy she almost got." Blake had gone with Griffin to pick up Misha and almost came home with two puppies. "I think he's serious this time, I really do. It's just hard because I love him, you know? I've always loved him." Admitting it was hard. Admitting how heartbroken she had been when they had broken up. She just hoped it wouldn't come to that again. Blake's eyes went to the door again before she spoke as if they were telling secrets they were keeping from their parents. "When did you meet Sutton?" Blake asked, surprised, unaware they had met. "I guess. It's just going to be hard because I don't want to lose her as my assistant. She's great at her job. I couldn't get as much done without her." @suttonmjames
"Oh I know." Sutton stated, shaking her head. She knew how fast things - and life - changed. And even though Finley were still tiny, she knew that if she blinked too many times, Blake's words would be true. At the mention of taking it up with Sorel, though, Sutton laughed. "I'll do just that. In fact I may even call her when we're done with this conversation." she admitted with a small laugh, shaking her head again. At the mention of Sorel babysitting, Sutton nodded. "If she wouldn't mind; though, Finley's particular about how he eats sometimes." Truthfully it was all the time; being born with the slight cleft lip, the infant had a hard time latching onto most things which made feedings sometimes feel unbearable. Though, Sutton knew that she deserved a night out with her best friend, and she'd do whatever she could to make it easier on everyone once that time came. "I'll just be sure to pay her extra. Not only because I love her or because she needs it but because she'll deserve it after a night with Finny." she laughed. Not that she meant it in a bad way. She loved her son, but she also wasn't one that denied the fact that he was so much sometimes. "I think that's the definition of love. Giving someone a baby or a pet kind of bonds you for life." she laughed. "Maybe more so the dog though; it takes a lot less effort to get someone a dog than a baby." she admitted. As the brunette asked her when she met Sloane, Sutton paused. "Uh, I'm not sure when." she admitted. "I was still pregnant. Crying in the middle of the store at how I was supposed to raise a tiny human with an animal on the butt of the pants." she laughed, the memory feeling a lot more heartwarming now than it did at the time. "I made a joke that she reminded me of someone I knew, you, and she said she actually worked for you." she shrugged. "I never told you?" she questioned, shrugging. Pregnancy brain had been something she'd not handled well. Half the time she forgot her own name. "Why would you have to lose her as your assistant just because she's your sister?" Sutton questioned, brow raised. "I mean, wouldn't that be all the more reason to keep her?" Sutton was realizing in this moment that it felt like there was something she wasn't connecting. @blakewest
"I'm sure the owners were grateful, as well. In a perfect world I think everyone would want to keep every animal they found, but it's probably best for everyone in the end." Coralie saw people online who found lost animals every day, and many of them wouldn't be able to do what they did if they kept every animal. "Yeah, me too. I guess adoption can be a sad thing, but I'm grateful I was the outlier." She shrugged. "Not to like, overshare," she said with a laugh. She wasn't the type to typically overshare things, but they'd been on the topic, so she supposed it was relevant. "Definitely aware. I would never take it for granted, that's for sure." Coralie smiled. "It can be nice. But some days, it's nice to just talk to my dad. You ever feel like you've spent too much time around other women?" she questioned with a laugh. She wasn't as close to the man, but it was nice to have him in her life. "Be my guest. If all works out, maybe he could be just the dog you're looking for. It would be a good test. Worse comes to worse, I'm sure you have more connections to find him a good home than I do."
"I definitely would." Sutton laughed. "If it had been up to me, I'd have kept every animal that came in out path and likely would've started my own farm." she laughed, shaking her head. "I know my parents would've hated that." Truthfully, that was one of her dreams she never got to speak into existence for whenever her and her late husband had planned to move here. They were going to move to Kismet Harbor, raise their babies in the log cabin his family owned, build their own farm in the back yard. But, unfortunately for Sutton they never got the chance to do that. Clayton's life was cut short before they were able to move out here. As the other spoke of her story some, sharing that she were happy to be who she was with the parents she had, Sutton smiled wider, listening. "Oh I definitely feel that." she laughed. "I am thankful that my brother and I are very close, and I mean, I'm close with my dad too; Griffin is just down the street where my dad is on the other side of the country." she stated. "It's just a lot sometimes, being around women so much, it's always nice to have a moment where you can rely on a male counterpart. Whether that's a partner, a brother, a parent." she spoke. "But, for what it's worth and what little I know about you, I can tell you were raised by good people." she smiled. Sutton smiled as the other told her to be her guest. "We'll see if we can find who this guy belongs too first." she admitted. "And if we can't then, I'll take him home. Figure out if he's the right fit for me or not." @coralie--olsen
Nicole nodded. "I completely understand. And if you played music while he was in the womb, I think it helps even more. There's a lot of music from when I was pregnant that Ryder just relaxes to." It was music she still played for him to this day and a lot of it was gaming soundtracks. She laughed softly as she watched her son and Sutton. "He's definitely got them." She joked and nodded at her. "Well when he is, we'll be right there with him." Nicole promised. "Perfect." Looking at her son, she gestured for him to come to her. "Come on, bud. Let's get your face painted." @suttonmjames
"I did." Sutton nodded, smile growing as she thought of the memories. "I didn't know that I did at the time; music has always been my safe space. Any time I'm cooking, cleaning, doing anything that requires me to be active, I was playing music." she stated. "So it was kind of just second nature. I guess he picked up on that." she laughed. Though, she'd learned in Finley's three months of life that he wasn't a kid that cared much about what song was playing as long as something was. "Honestly, watching him grow already has been so sad but I can't wait for the age where he's a little older and he can enjoy things like getting his face painted, or chasing fireflies at the park." she paused. "I'll cry if I keep on." she admitted, hand pressed against her son's back as she followed the blonde, watching as Ryder followed along too. "I'm excited to see how he does getting his face painted. He's going to look even more adorable than he already is." @nicolepeterson
For as many times as he had messed up or gone through something in his life, he knew he could always count on his sister to support him or be there for him. So there so absolutely no question as to him being there for her and his nephew no matter what, especially during the surgery and after. He drove over to the hospital to be there for them both and to wait with Sutton, racing to the floor after getting stuck in the garage. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized before wrapping his sister into a hug, "It's normal to be worried." He brought her over to a row of chairs so they could sit together, sitting down right beside her. "Deep breaths okay? He's going to be fine and the surgeon is the best." @suttonmjames
"It's okay." Sutton nodded, arms snaking around Griffin's torso in a hug of her own. In the end she were just happy to not have to wait alone. That would be brutal. As he ushered her towards a row of chairs Sutton exhaled, taking a seat and feeling the way that her body seemed to sink into it similarly to a rock sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Felt appropriate for the situation; the knot in her stomach was similar to a rock in weight she were certain. "I know he will be but -" at this point her hand was pressed to her mouth, right hand scrolling through her phone. "I keep looking at the side effects and I'm just worried this isn't going to help him." @griffinxreed
Graham understood the sentiment that left her lips. Or he had. His love for Theo had been wavered since finding out that he wasn't biologically his son. Graham knew that rationally that should not have been something that mattered, not in the slightest. Yet, the revelation was still fresh and Graham was grappling to come to terms with everything that had happened in the last few months. "I know what you mean. Some days feel like they are going to be impossible to get through." And then they do get through those days, God willing. "Nice to meet you Finley," his smile pulled at the corner of his lips. "I'm Graham, by the way." He introduced himself this time, "I forget that I'm here too, sometimes." A soft laugh left his lips. @suttonmjames
Sutton had to admit, as soul crushing as the idea of someone else being in her position was - raising a baby alone - she found comfort in knowing that she wasn't alone. Even with her best friend, her brother, and her friends she'd made here, she was never truly alone and hadn't been. But something about knowing there were other single parents here trying their hardest to figure it out made her heart feel a little less heavy. "They do." she nodded. "But even on the hardest days where we've done nothing but cried together we've made it somehow." she stated. "Granted, this little guy isn't anywhere close to six months old yet so we've got a few more months of this I'm sure, but." she paused. Yet, as the other stated it was nice to meet Finley, Sutton smiled, lifting the infants hand gently and making him 'wave' which just consisted of her doing it for you. "Hello." she spoke, voice meek as if to imitate what Finley sounded like in her head. It was only then that her eyes met Graham's and she let her smile widen for a second. "Oh gosh, I haven't even introduced myself." she shook her head. "I'm Sutton. It's nice to meet you too Graham." @grahamxweber
"It goes so quick. I mean, you remember when Sorel was his age. Now, she's off to college. Time is a thief, just enjoy every second of it." It was true, and it sucked. "Hopefully, you'll be able to survive the teenage stage. It can be pretty rough. Though I do have a good kid." It wasn't like she was doing it alone. She had her, Griff. It took an army, and she had that, just as Blake had. "I don't know, Sut. Sometimes I find myself questioning if he's serious this time." She loved Silas, she really did. It was just hard to trust someone who had previously broken your heart. "Okay, maybe I did, but also EW." Blake laughed softly, hitting Sutton's arms. "I'm too old to go through that again. Plus, I have three dogs now. That's more than enough." Blake's eyes went to the door one more time before looking at her best friend. "So you know how I told you I went to Sloane's daughter's birthday party?" She started, her eyes staying on the door before she spoke again. "Well, it got really interesting when we arrived." Blake still was unable to believe this was her life. "MY mom told me later, Sloane's dad." Blake paused one more time, eyes finally going from the door to her best friend. "He's my dad too." Blake still had trouble saying it, let alone believing it. "Is that why she and I get along so well? She's my half-sister?" @suttonmjames
"I do and I still don't know why you let her grow up so fast." she laughed, though she knew that there was no way to stop it. She'd barely blinked and Finley was already almost three months old, and it broke Sutton's heart every time she thought about it. "I'm not looking forward to the teenage stage; but I'm thankful I have quite a few years before that." Sutton exhaled. Though, knowing how fast that the baby years went by she knew that it would only be a matter of time before she were in those trenches. "He causes too much trouble I'll send him to live with Griffin." she laughed. Not that she'd ever actually do it, but it was funny to think about anyways. She listened as the other spoke, nodding when Blake admitted that she wasn't sure if Silas were serious. "I mean, unfortunately you just have to go with your gut. If he's not serious, you'll find out soon enough." she admitted with a shrug. "I think he is but you're really the only one that will ever know." she was almost jealous. Jealous that the other had been able to reconnect with someone she loved so much; Sutton would never have that. Sure, she could find someone else but she was in the newborn trenches. She didn't need to think about dating right now. "Honestly, though, dogs mostly take care of themselves." she laughed. "Not really, but, they're easier than babies, I'd say." Not that she had a dog; hadn't in quite a few years. Yet, as Blake continued to spill her life's recent events Sutton felt her eyes widen. "Damn." she exhaled, her own eyes shifting to the bedroom that Blake's mom had taken Finley through. "It makes sense, you guys do look like sisters." Sutton shrugged. "Getting along is nothing; we get along well. It's when you two start fighting that I'll really believe it." she laughed. @blakewest
ā¦closed starter for @griffinxreed
ā¦ based on: āļø | where baby Finley gets his cleft lip surgery
The 'do not enter past this point' sign seemed to be growing bigger and bigger with every second that passed and Sutton was pretty sure that she was going to be sick. At this point she'd leaned against the wall, hands shaking as she brought them up to wipe at her eyes, her gaze meeting her brother's as he turned the corner. "They just took them back." she paused, exhaling as she tried to keep her demeanor calm, something she knew wasn't going to be possible until she had her baby in her arms again. "I'm freaking out." she paused, finally letting the tears fall as she looked back at her brother. "I already text Blake; she's on her way." she exhaled. "I feel like I'm going to be sick."
suttonjames: It's your first official father's day and we're celebrating you Earth side while you're celebrating in heaven. My heart hurts a little today, but just know I'm doing my best to take care of our boy. He looks so much like you, you know. Miss you always, C.
Coralie listened intently as the other relayed the story about the dog. "Then you offered a safe haven until the owners came around. Sounds like a happy ending, at least. I'm hoping for the same happy ending for him." She knew how many stray animals there were, so the last thing she wanted to have to do was take him to a shelter. The dog seemed younger, and relatively healthy from the outside. The least he deserved was a good home. "Most days it's the best thing in the world. Having three female perspectives has saved me in more occasions than I can count." Coralie knew that wasn't typical, and she was so lucky to have that. Still, even having one mother who would go to the ends of their earth for their child was priceless. "That's all you can ask for." She gave a nod. "If you're up to the task of taking him in, I think it would be great. Even if it's only temporary until he can find a permanent family. I just would prefer if I didn't have to take him to the shelter." When the woman mentioned taking on the dog and a new baby, Coralie laughed. "I think that your hands might be full as it is. I don't think it's too late. I can probably squeeze into a store before the close and at least get food for him. I think I have chicken in the freezer if I really can't get anything tonight."
"Yeah, and truthfully that's what we wanted." she stated. "I mean in a perfect world we'd have loved to keep him but in the end we were happy that the owners found him." she nodded. "I know that's not always the case." Truthfully it was part of the reason shelters were always so full, lost dogs that never make it back home. "I do know that it's also a rare occasion for people to have one parent much less mothers that cares about them, so I'm happy that you had three." Sutton nodded. "A rare occasion that I'm sure you're aware of." she paused. "I would love to have three different female's opinions to bounce off of." she paused again. "Three mother figures." and truthfully she could; her own mother, her mother-in-law and her best friends mother, so she guessed she wasn't too far from the other in terms of family. As the conversation shifted back to the dog, Sutton let herself look down at it. "I think if something happens and we can't find who this little guy belongs too, I'd like to take him for a bit." she shrugged. "I would eventually like to get my son a dog anyways, so might as well test that I can handle it now." she admitted. Worst case she had plenty of people she could rely on to come help her out. "Maybe it'll be good for me to have something else to keep me occupied." @coralie--olsen
Nicole smiled as she looked over at Sutton. "I'm sure the music is nice for him. Ryder seemed to enjoy the music during the winter festival when he was two months old. And now look at him." She laughed and looked at the two year old dancing to the music that was playing. "One Maybe towards the end of the summer he'll like that. Or next summer for sure." She said before shrugging. "I'd say he's content, but he did want to get his face painted. We can wait to do that later, though. Did you want to check anything out? We can walk around. He can dance wherever he goes." @suttonmjames
"We do love music." Sutton nodded, eyes shifting down to her son who was sleeping on her chest. His favorite place to nap, and honestly Sutton wasn't too mad about it. "We listen to a lot of music at home, especially when he's fussy so I think that's helping." she nodded, eyes focusing on the other, watching as Ryder danced, clearly showing off some of his skills. Which made Sutton smile even more. "Look at those moves, Ryder man." she laughed, taking a moment to bend her knees, bouncing and mimicking the toddler's actions. Giggling she stopped as Finley stirred, soothing him back to sleep and looking back at Nicole. "We can get his face painted." she shrugged. "Finley's not old enough for opinions yet." she added. "But I'm always down to just walk around until we see what we can get into." @nicolepeterson
Graham knew that he wouldn't be able to fully understand what she meant by her statement. Though, to some degree, Graham had been struggling with Theo since losing Paisley. His son, he knew, could sense there was a loss. Sense that there was something off and was struggling in his own ways. "Theo here is six months and it's," Graham's gaze dropped to his son momentarily. Though, Theo wasn't really his, not biologically anyway. "It does get easier, even when it doesn't feel there is any light at the end of the tunnel." He admitted, "The world feels small when it's just you and a newborn, doesn't it?" @suttonmjames
"That's reassuring." Sutton stated, eyes focusing on the other, pausing as she did so. She took the moment to look at the other; something about it being a single father explaining it to her made her feel a little better. Was it because he was involved? Likely; but she also knew that with his admission that seemed to take some of the pressure off her own shoulders. At least she knew it wasn't her that was the problem. Or at least it made her feel a little better anyways. "I love him more than I've ever loved anything in the world." she stated, looking down at the baby bundled in the blanket. "But there are some days that I just don't know how we're going to survive from day to day. She sighed, shaking her head before she looked back up, her smile widening as her eyes landed on Theo. "You sure are a handsome little guy there, Theo." she nodded. "This little guy is Finley." she introduced her son, not quite realizing she hadn't even introduced herself. @grahamxweber
"But did you get to keep the dog?" she questioned, curious about the rest of the story. "Yeah. I think that's a sad thing about this world. I'd hate to think about what might happen to him if I hadn't found him. I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try to find his home." Coralie knew there were plenty more people who would have simply turned around and let the dog go on doing whatever it had been doing up until she found it, but she wasn't one of those people. The whole reason she wanted to be a marine biologist was because of her love of animals, and that love didn't change when it came to the animals outside of the ocean. "I've heard that does happen. Some days I can barely take care of myself. Mothers are wonderful. I was lucky to have three of them. I don't know where I'd be without them. I'm sure one day he will think the same of you." At the other's compliment, Coralie smiled. "Thank you." She gave a nod. "I hope so too, because I don't have anything at home for a dog."
"We didn't." Sutton shook her head. "Mom agreed to let us keep him in the backyard, but, a couple of days later a few kids were walking around the neighborhood asking for their dog and had a photo of them with the dog." she paused. "Which I guess means he wasn't actually a stray, and we should've known because he was pretty clean and certainly well fed. Just didn't have a collar so we didn't think much about it." she added with a shrug. They were kids; no kid thought of anything logical when you found a dog in your yard after all. As the conversation shifted to that of mother's, Sutton felt herself smiling. "I can't say that I know what it's like to have more than one." she admitted. "But my mom is the best; everything I can ever hope to be in a mom is because of her." she smiled, looking down at her son in the stroller and then looking back at the other. She'd get emotional if she thought about it any more, so finding this dog's owner was a good distraction. "Worst case, I can probably take him." she shrugged, looking at the other. "I don't know if taking a dog when I'm a new mom, but, I'll do it. My brother has a dog that I can always bother things from until I can get to the store." she paused. Granted they didn't know anything about this dog, but, he seemed friendly enough every time he sniffed the stroller she'd at least consider it. @coralie--olsen
ā¦ closed starter for @nicolepeterson
ā¦ based on: āµļøš¼ | where sutton checks out summer sundays in the park.
for the sake of the thread this takes place on the 7th.
"I wasn't so sure that coming out here with a two month old would be worth it." Sutton stated, sun hat on Finley's head, her hand pressed against the back of his head as she baby wore him. "But so far it's been a lot of fun to see everything." She paused, taking a look at the other as they continued their journey around the park. "I saw a tent where someone was making strawberry rhubarb flavored pies and there was another booth that had some fun water games for the kids that I contemplated trying with Finley, but, unfortunately for everyone around if I did that he'd be screaming." she exhaled. Bath time wasn't a very pleasant time in their household. "Is there anything you saw that you wanted to try with Ryder? I'm happy to tag along."
Below the cut is a graphic and a small little bit of information about Sutton and her late husband Clayton's son, Finley. Enjoy!
THE BASICS
Name: Finley Reed James
Age: Newborn (born April 1, 2026)
Parents/Guardians: Sutton James (mother), Clayton James (deceased)
Home Life: Lives with Sutton in Kismet Harbor, Oregon in a quiet lakeside cabin once meant for a shared future
School/Grade: N/A
WHO THEY ARE
Finley James is a newborn still learning the shape of the world through sound, touch, and closeness. He is calm in a way that surprises even those used to newbornsāsettling most easily when held and spoken to softly. His strongest sense of safety is tied entirely to his mother, Sutton, whose voice and presence he responds to with immediate recognition. For now, his world is small, quiet, and centered entirely around her.
Personality Breakdown: Suttonās calm observation, even as a newbornāsettles easily, responds strongly to voice and presence. Claytonās quiet steadiness in temperament, a calm that seems to linger even in absence. Unusually observant for his age; slow-to-cry, quick-to-soothe disposition.
Physical: Born with a slight cleft lip; scheduled for corrective surgery in a few months
Emotional/Mental: Highly dependent on caregiver proximity; soothed primarily through touch and voice recognition
Ongoing/Notes: Requires standard infant care with additional feeding attention and upcoming surgical follow-up
THE LITTLE THINGS
Foods: Formula and early bottle feeding (still adjusting)
Things: Warm blankets, soft swaddles, anything that carries Suttonās scent
Activities: Being held, gentle rocking, falling asleep to voices
Comforts: Suttonās heartbeat, being pressed against her chest, low ambient sound
Afraid of: Sudden loud noises, being put down too long, unfamiliar voices
Wants: Warmth, closeness, and consistent comfort
Feels brave when: Calm in new environments or during short independent moments
Known for: Unusual quietness and ease of soothing for a newborn
Misunderstood as: āEasyā or ālow maintenanceā when really just deeply attached and observant
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Friends: Uncle Griffin's dog Huckleberry
School life: N/A
Activities/Community: Quiet exposure to home life, occasional presence at Suttonās workplace
Safe place: Suttonās arms, the lake house nursery, the sound of running water nearby
A DAY IN THEIR LIFE
Morning: Wakes in cycles of feeding and sleep, usually cradled while Sutton moves through early routines
Afternoon: Long stretches of rest, soft observation of light and movement, brief alert periods
Evening/Night: Most settled at night, soothed by low voices, often held until sleep comes fully
Graham, having become a single parent in the last few months, found himself needing more help. Or needing more reasons to get out of the house. While Paisley had not really been living with him long, since the realization that Theo was not his son, he was struggling in staying in the house. Had they conceived Theo there? Had Reid been in his home while he was gone with Paisley? They were all thoughts he couldn't ask aloud. When he asked them to himself, he was only infuriated. When he thought of Andie, his heart ached with the kind of sadness he thought never would be cured. His mother had gone with him to one of the parent and baby mixers in Kismet Harbor, but had to leave to go pick his father up from an appointment, leaving Graham on his own. Theo was nearly seven months old but there were a variety of aged babies. He made eye contact with a woman, with a young baby in her arms. "I remember when Theo was that little," he said, a nod to his son in his arms. "They just look so peaceful at this age.
Sutton was pretty sure there was nothing more terrifying than being a single parent. She'd said it from the moment that Finley had been born, and even though she'd been blessed with her own village during the first couple of months of Finley's life, she found her heart aching for something more. So when she'd heard there was a parent baby mixer in town, she allowed herself to get herself and Finley ready and take herself down there. She'd been standing by the wall, feeding Finley - which in itself was a frustrating process with his struggles to latch, often requiring specialty bottles that he didn't like - many mom's approaching asking if she needed help which would cause her to offer a small shake of her head in response and fight back tears as she began to feel like a failure. It was only when the other heard the voice of the male she let herself look up. "We are as long as it's not feeding time." she stated, exhaling as she tried to soothe her son, his shifting to the man and the baby he had in his arms. "How did you survive the newborn bubble because we're two months in and I can't imagine it gets any easier." she admitted. @grahamxweber
