Chapter Fifty

Finley

Connor stayed at my house for the rest of that week, to make sure that I didn’t suffer any side effects of the bond being broken and I didn’t. Everything went back to normal the next day, everything except that hollow feeling inside my heart but I promised myself that I wouldn’t break down in front of him.

He left me reluctantly and only after I promised to stay in touch and answer my phone when he called. I would miss his presence as we had grown quite close. Archer called me every day but visiting was a bit difficult at the moment since he was undergoing clowder training and initiation which would last for the next six months.

“What do you mean you haven’t written anything?” Harley asked me as disbelief filled her eyes.

“I think I have writer’s block,” I said to her.

I couldn’t write about wolves anymore, trust me I tried, but the words wouldn’t come. The ideas were in my head but I physically couldn’t type them. Sheila was constantly phoning me for an update on my new book that I hadn’t started and I didn’t know what to tell her anymore. I was under contract and I had no idea what to write about next.

“You need to get out of the house, Fin,” she said to me.

“I go out of the house,” I said.

“I’m not talking about emptying your mailbox,” she said to me.

“I went to the store on Friday,” I said to her and she laughed.

“We should have a girl’s night,” she said.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, I don’t feel like mingling,” I said.

“It’s been weeks, Fin,” she said to me.

“I know, things are just complicated at the moment,” I said.

“You have to human at some point,” she argued.

“I know, soon okay, I promise,” I said to her.

“Okay love you,” she said and we ended the phone call.

She was right though, I needed to start living my life again. I smiled suddenly as an idea popped into my head and I started typing. I didn’t move from my laptop for seven hours and when my back started cramping I stood up and realized that I had written almost ten chapters. I felt elated and a little more like myself again.

I didn’t leave the house for the next month as I focused on writing and Sheila loved where the new book was going. Harley on the other hand was quite shocked when I told her I wouldn’t be writing about wolves anymore but after reading what I had written she fell in love with the new characters just like I had.

It was about four months after I had gotten back from New York that I finally braced myself and made a lunch date with Harley and Wells at their house. I knew that they would both be shocked to see me but it was time for the truth to come out. I had decided to tell them as much as I possibly could and as little as possible about Damon and his life.

“Finley’s here!” I heard Wells yell as he opened the front door for me.

“Hey Felicia,” I said as he gave me a gentle hug and I followed him to the living room.

“You look different Susan,” he said to me and I smiled slightly.

“I’ll be right there!” Harley yelled from down the hall as Wells went to the kitchen to make coffee for them and tea for me.

I made myself comfortable on my usual seat and put my phone on silent. I didn’t need any interruptions while I told them my story and I had no doubt that they would switch from the coffee to gin as the story progressed.

“Finally!” Harley squealed as she entered the living room and we hugged for a long time while I remained seated.

“Make yourselves comfortable because I have a lot to tell you,” I said.

“Why do I get the feeling that this is serious?” Harley asked me.

“Just don’t interrupt me and keep an open mind please. I also understand that when I’m finished you might be very pissed off with me,” I said and looked down.

“Okay,” they said in unison as they both sat down across from me.

“My real name’s Lucea Adams,” I started and took a deep breath as I looked at both of their eyes widened.

“I changed it when I ran from my husband, Jackson. We got married when I fell pregnant and my life was a living nightmare. After Sebastian was born things were better for a while and the night after his fourth birthday, Jackson beat me up so badly that I was afraid he was going to kill me, that’s when I ran with my son,” I said.

“You have a son?” Harley asked as she looked at me emotionally.

“We’d been on the run for about a month and I guess I fell asleep behind the wheel because the next moment my car was rolling and Sebastian was dead,” I said as tears fell from Harley’s eyes.

“After that I changed my name and settled here and started writing under a pseudonym, afraid that Jackson would find me, that’s why I never wanted to date until Damon came into my life. The other thing though is I used to hurt myself and Damon found out about it and he literally saved me from myself, that’s why he moved into my house,” I said not looking at them.

“Holy shit Finley,” Wells said as they both stood up and sat down beside me.

“I’m sorry I never said anything, I was so wrapped up in my guilt over Sebastian, ashamed that I killed my son,” I said as the tears finally spilled over my eyes and down my face.

“Finley, we’re your friends, we’re never going to leave you no matter what,” Harley said as she wrapped her arms around me.

“So what happened with you and Damon?” Wells asked me.

“It was a mutual decision to split up, his work keeps him busy and I didn’t want to leave. We didn’t part on bad terms and now he’s with his family and that’s where he’s supposed to be,” I said trying to sound braver than I actually felt.

“I’m so sorry you had to go through all that,” Harley said, crying more than I did.

“Jackson also died three months ago,” I said.

“So no more running or hiding?” she asked me.

“No, now I’m free and it was time to tell you both the truth,” I said.

“I’m glad you did and we’ll always be right here, no matter what,” she said as I nodded.

“Thank you, I love you guys,” I said.

“And we love you, so do we call you Lucea or Finley?” Wells asked me as we all started laughing.

“I’ve decided to keep using Finley, imagine if everyone had to start calling me Lucea,” I said with a smile.

I spent another hour with them before finally getting into my car and driving away. I felt lighter and I smiled to myself knowing that I wouldn’t ever have to hide my past again. I was also heading to Mimi’s house to tell her everything.

“You look fat,” Mimi said as we sat in the living room and I told her everything.

“That’s all you got from everything I said?” I asked her with a laugh.

“Well the rest is in the past right?” she asked.

“True,” I said as she almost smiled at me.

“Have you just been sitting at home and eating all this time?” she asked me.

“Basically, I’ve been pigging out,” I said as she laughed at me.

“I can see that, that piece of dough you call a stomach needs to go,” she said as she stared blankly at me.

“And that’s why we’re friends,” I said.

“Best friends,” she said and finally smiled at me.

“For life,” we said together and laughed.

“So… whispers?” she asked me.

“Always,” I said.

We ended up on a couch each watching movies with whispers and pizza and basically just stuffing our faces. I left her house at ten pm and felt better than I had in a long time. I couldn’t help my eyes roaming over Damon’s house every time I left the house.

As the days progressed I fell into a routine again, writing and taking better care of myself. I’d stopped drinking and smoking and focused on my future. I had also agreed to do an interview once the book I was busy with was released and I felt proud of myself for agreeing to it.

It was about four months later and I was busy painting the guest bedroom, having already had all the furniture moved down into the basement when I saw lights on in the house across the street. I could feel my heart beating louder as I realized he must’ve sold the house and now I would have new neighbors.

Nothing much has changed between me and Mr. Hagley on the other side since I still listened to my music too loud and I still vacuumed my driveway at five am once a month. I hadn’t been sleeping all that well and I was up at odd hours.

I had seen Archer a few times over video call and Kat also called regularly. Connor phoned me once a week and once or twice even Jared called. I constantly put Connor off from visiting and instead agreed to video call them.

It was a constant struggle to put all that behind me when they kept inserting themselves into my life and as much as I appreciated the fact that they cared, I wanted to be alone and move on. I was even contemplating moving just so I could have some peace and quiet and maybe changing my number but Archer would never forgive me if I did that and he was planning to come visit me at the end of the month.

I stood behind my car in the driveway contemplating how to get the boxes out of the boot and into the house since I was redecorating. I didn’t really have all that much time left and I swore at myself for yet again leaving things to the last minute.

“Holy shit!” I yelled as I turned around and walked into the man standing behind me as he steadied me by holding my arms.

“Careful,” he said as I glared up at him.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to sneak up on people!” I said angrily.

“I thought I’d introduce myself as your new neighbor,” he said trying to hide his smile.

“By giving me a heart attack?” I asked as I started pulling the large box from the boot.

“Should you be carrying that?” he asked as he took the box from me and walked towards my house.

“Thanks,” I murmured as I followed him and opened the front door.

“Where do you want this?” he asked me.

“Upstairs, first door on the left,” I said.

“I’m Damon by the way,” he said as he came back downstairs and smiled at me.