But my room at Finn’s place is huge, not to mention there’s a decent-sized barn in the backyard that, from what I can tell, is mostly unused. I’ve wondered for the last few days if he’d let me set up shop out there. I’d like to get back into pottery. It’s relaxing and would be a great hobby to do in the evenings after I’m finished with work.
I don’t buy anything, wanting to talk to Finn first, but it’s nice to see that if he were to agree, everything that I would need is here. I wouldn’t have to order anything.
Back at the house, I turn on some music on my phone, and Tucker and I get started on making the playdough. He’s so dang excited he can hardly sit still, and it’s contagious. I love seeing him so happy about this. After the dough is made, we separate it into five different balls so we can make different colors. Tucker decides on blue, red, green, yellow, and purple.
“This is so cool!” he exclaims once we’re finished and he’s able to start playing with it.
I picked up some cookie cutters at the store, so he’s able to cut out whatever shapes he wants. The two of us sit at the table, playing with the colorful dough and listening to music for what feels like hours. By the time I look up at the clock above the stove, I realize it’s lunchtime. After we eat, we decide to take Bubba on a walk around the property. I don’t know my way around this place yet, so I make sure to stick to an easy path so we don’t get lost.
East of Finn’s house, there’s a trail surrounded by trees. As far as I know, it’s part of the Moore’s property. Tucker’s got his helmet fastened, and he rides his bike along the path as Bubba trots beside him the whole time. They seem to be the best of buds. It’s cute. I always wanted a dog when I was a kid, but it never happened. From behind them, I snap a picture and a quick video, shooting it off to Finn. I know he’s working, so he may not see it until later, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate it once he does have a moment to look.
Much to my surprise, a few minutes later, my phone buzzes in my hand. A response from Finn.
Finn: Cute.
Man of many words.
Me: We made some playdough earlier too. May be too soon to tell, but I think I’m killing it at this gig. Tucker loves me. The dog loves me. Hell, I think even the chickens fancy me. You’re welcome. *wink emoji*
Finn: So modest.
The way he doesn’t use any emojis and his favorite form of punctuation seems to be a period trips me up. Like, is he mad at me? Annoyed by me texting him? Hate my guts? Or maybe he’s just an eighty-year-old man trapped inside the body of a…thirty-year-old? I guess I don’t even know how old he is, but he’s certainly young enough to use emojis.
My phone buzzes with another message.
Finn: Wednesdays are family dinner night up at my dad’s house. If you don’t have plans, you’re welcome to come.
He’s inviting me to family dinner?How nice.
Me: I don’t have plans. I’d love to come. :)
Finn: It’s at six. I’ll be working late, if you and Tucker want to meet me there by then.
I send him the Michelle Tanner “You got it dude” gif. It shows read immediately, but he doesn’t respond.Figures.I wonder how my sister likes his short and to-the-point texts.
Finn and Violet couldn’t be more different, and not for the first time since I moved in not even a week ago, I wonder how they work, and how they came to be a couple in the first place. From the day I moved in and saw the way he interacts with her, I’ve been more than a little confused. The way Violet has talked about him for the last couple of months since they started dating made it seem like they were getting pretty serious. Yet Saturday was the first time she ever met his family, and he didn’t exactly look thrilled to see her when we showed up.
Eh, not my circus, not my monkeys.
The rest of the afternoon goes by without a hitch. Tucker is well-behaved, and I genuinely enjoy hanging out with him. It doesn’t feel like a chore having to entertain him, which definitely helps. I’ve had jobs where I didn’t mesh with all the kids, and it would make the days drag or I’d want to pull my hair out. That’s not the case here—at least not yet anyway.
By the time it’s nearing dinner and Tucker and I are getting ready to head up to Gentry’s, nerves rustle low in my gut, but I’m not sure why. So far, everybody I’ve met here seems wonderful, but I guess I want them to like me. I live here now, and work for Finn, taking care of Tucker. The Moore clan seems to be close-knit. Their approval matters. Not that I worry that I’m unlikable or anything, but… I don’t know. I want to impress them. ImpressFinn. Want him to know it wasn’t a mistake hiring me, even if we got off on the wrong foot that first day.
Hollis and a guy I haven’t met yet are tossing a football around as I park my car in front of the barn next to the other two vehicles out here. Tucker unfastens his car seat and jets out of the door, running over to his uncle and the other guy, leaving me behind to walk over to them without a buffer.
Glancing up at me, Hollis smiles and nods. “Hey Ash, this is my cousin, August.” Then he directs his gaze at him. “Aug, this is Ash, Tucker’s new manny.”
Manny.I don’t know why that phrase makes me chuckle.
“Hey.” I lift my hand into a wave like a weirdo. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
God, this is awkward.
“Finn’s inside with our dad,” Hollis offers, maybe sensing our uncomfortable I feel. “Or if ya want to play catch with us, feel free to join.”
Hollis and Finn have a lot of similarities as far as their appearance goes, but from what I can tell in the little bit of time I’ve been around Hollis, they couldn’t be more different when it comes to their personalities. Where Finn comes off stoic and almost cold, Hollis seems bubbly and extraverted. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s been smiling or laughing, whereas that seems to be a rare occurrence with his brother. Gentry shares that quality with the latter, so I’m guessing Hollis gets his personality from his mom.
