and tears

Chapter 78

At some point, Susan and Claire join you again and this time you give up trying to shovel them away. Together with Denise, they are allowed to set the table and Millie helps them. The kitchen is big and spacious, your parents put a lot of money into the house. But not even the architect of an end-of-time bunker could prepare for the bustle of the three girls, who flood into the room like the tide and drag all kinds of things with them as they leave again... only to come back more disastrous. The girls' delight reaches a climax when the food is served. Cursing a little and pushing young bodies aside with your feet, you make your way to the table.

“Let's eat on the sofa!” exclaims Millie after you've put so much energy into putting the three of them in their seats. Sex with you - or at least the connection between you two - puts Millie in an exuberant mood that you've rarely experienced. Megan is laughing when Millie gives you a not-so-chaste kiss, shovels heaps of potato casserole onto her plate and literally jumps over the arm of the sofa. She sits down bouncing, cross-legged and already reaches for the remote control.

"Oh come on" you call out, but can't give your voice any severity. "Nothing interesting is on anyway."

"Let them have their fun," says Megan and sits down next to you. The others take a seat at the table as well and without Millie, Maureen sits on your other side. She even looks over at her sister, who just waves to her happily. Like their friend, Susan and Claire work their way through dinner to see Millie while Megan talks to you. "They deserve it."

"Oh yes?" you ask and play the strict father. "What do they have..." But then you understand and bite your tongue. That is exactly the point with Susan and Claire. They always have to do something to deserve something good for themselves. A good position in life comes not for free. But the fun they have here doesn't cost them anything. So this argument is not entirely true and you are the proof for them that good things can happen to you without having to work yourself to **** for it. You admit it's a dangerous thought, but then you look over at Millie and see that you've strayed already too far from the strict path to be able to play the moral one now. So you shrug your shoulders and grin at Megan.

"Shit, you're right." You look over at Emma, but she is immersed in a conversation with Carrie and Karen. Your glances meet briefly and a smile is exchanged. Next to you, Maureen is also shoveling a mountain of potatoes onto her plate and you're glad you estimated the amounts of food correctly. You feel like you have calculated all measurements in tons instead of pounds and it seems to work. Maureen talks to Megan about the salt(y problem), whether it's not too much and the two quickly come to an understanding without an argument. You shake your head slightly and look at the two who are talking freely over your head. With Millie, Susan, Denise and Claire on the sofa, your sisters in conversation, and Carrie, Emma and Karen distracted, only Rachel remains to talk. What does 'only' mean here? Rachel looks at you over the rim of her glass. She decided on red wine and you recognize the connoisseur in her.

“Do you like it?” you ask the girl. She sips her glass again and then puts it down.

"With this drop, your too salty attempt of Potato-Chernobyl tastes... acceptable," she says. Comparing the food to a reactor meltdown wouldn't even cross your mind.

"Wow, hey. I have nothing to do with it. My sisters voted for the salt and I have to stand with them. I think the meal is fine and at the price this drink cost me it should taste like the tears of the angels.” Rachel shakes over her words as her head goes from side to side, puts another piece in her mouth and chews reverently around.

"Yes... I'll give the meal... a C... well, a B for the effort." A piece of potato comes flying over the table and almost hits her in the face. Megan shouts and strikes again. To her big sister's surprised and happy laugh, she throws again.

"But my throwing skills are up to date."

“Don't, damn it, don't play with food!” you exclaim. "Am I the only one here whose upbringing hasn't failed?"

“Does the one say who sleeps with his three sisters?” Rachel laughs and takes the new situation surprisingly easily. You just stare at her and Megan and Maureen are waiting for your next move too.

"Uh... touche... I can only say" you grin and watch the face in front of you closely. It's not an everyday admission for you either, but Rachel is a little crazy anyway.

“Finn Lynchwood, are out of words? That I can still experience that.” Rachel laughs and raises her glass. "A toast to that."

"Oh no please..." But you have no chance. Maybe I should sleep with her too, then she would be more submissive to me. Or she would wreck me. You raise your glass in vain expectation of the inevitable.

Rachel calls out: "To Finn," attracting everyone in the room. She even stands up and supports herself with one hand on the table so that you can look into the neckline of her tank top. “The conquistador of hearts. The conqueror of new lands. To Finn Lynchwood, the happiest bastard of our time and the idiot who thinks Robert Kapa was a nice guy." You hang your head and look at the girl with pity. Or not so, because all the girls join in the toast.

"To Finn!" Oh god, make me disappear. Grinning reluctantly, you raise your glass and want to raise it to your lips.

"Stop him, girls!" Rachel shouts and to your surprise, your two sisters tame you with their hands on your arms. Some of your cola pours on your shirt - your favorite shirt, which had to go through a lot during the time here.

"What..." You look at the girls by your side in amazement as Rachel gets up and walks around the table.

"Don't worry Finn, you can unquestionably punish her tonight," she says playfully. Megan seems to like the idea and the grip on your other arm gets also a shade tighter. The young Latina comes around the table and takes the glass from you. She smells it and pulls a pout.

“Cola in a wine glass? Are you crazy?"

"I'm not a drunken damsel like you" you laugh a little nervously. "Hey!" The content is poured out onto the terrace and the glass is shaken dry. Then Rachel comes back from outside.

“Here you peasant,” she responds and pours some of her wine into your glass. "Act like a real man."

"Oh darling, believe me, he is a real man," comes from Megan and surprisingly Maureen nods too. Or not so surprisingly owned to the fact, that she experienced living with a poor excuse of a man. Maybe Megan is the one, who can learn from Maureen and not in reverse.

"The ability to sleep with four women is nothing like the ability of... the wine," says Rachel seriously, handing you the glass. "You can let go of him now, girls."

“Say, was that a Star Wars quote?” you ask snippily and get a cheeky grin.

"Drink the wine you Wookie herder." Megan and Maureen let go of you and watch you take a sip. As the liquid wets your lips, your eyes widen. You're not a wine connoisseur, **** is only an occasional pleasure for you, but this one is delicious. Rachel grins triumphantly. "I told you so," she nods knowingly to you.

"I didn't say anything to the contrary, dear Miss Huerta" you play along with the game. But still, you sip on the glass again. "It's good. What kind of wine is that? "

Rachel proudly shares “La Musa” with you. That doesn't mean anything to you. “From Do Conca de Barbera.” That doesn't mean anything to you either. Rachel comes, drinks, and understands. "Never mind. You still are a peasant.” You can only agree with her in this context and with the luck lately in your life, it is perhaps the pathetic attempt to balance the universe.

Loud shouts make heads turn around the table to the sofa. There, too, people start throwing food at themselves. You tear your mouth in a disapproving pout, but say nothing. Millie, who is pulling out a piece of potato and cheese, sees you and puts the piece in her mouth with an embarrassing grin. You nod to her and see how the other three girls miss your sister's hint. They continue to exchange cheesy artillery shots, and Millie looks at you apologetically as the projectiles fly overhead.

"Why don't you fight back?" asks Susan, throwing her ammunition at Millie. Millie just looks your way and Susan follows her gaze. They both understand and Denise, who has not missed the glances, lowers her arm and pokes at her plate with her fork. Only Claire, who has apparently won the food battle so far, does not recognize the interruption.

“I need more supplies,” she calls out laughing and jumps off the sofa with her plate. She runs in your direction, smiles at you and grabs supplies from the table, still don't notice any danger at her supply lines.

"Does that have to be?" asks Megan when she realizes that you are wrestling with yourself. Claire looks more puzzled than stubborn at your sister.

"But I am winning" is all she says. Isn't that obvious?

"Yes, but didn't your parents teach you not to play with food?" It's not her fault. Megan hasn't spent as much time with either of them as you - and even you haven't had much in your time record either. In any case, she has no way of knowing how thinly the two siblings will react to the topic of their parents.

“Yes, they do. But my parents are not here. So who cares?” You want to put your hand on the thigh of Megan, but you're too slow.

"We care," says Megan. She doesn't sound strict at all but rather worried. Your hand lands on her thigh and she looks at you questioningly. She stayed calm and matter of factly so she doesn't understand what you're trying to say to her. You raise to explain, but this time, Claire is faster. Damn it!

“Who is 'us'? You? Isn't it enough that you could cook together? Do you now have to let hang out the 'bossy girl' too?"

"Wohow" Rachel mumbles across the table to you and Megan doesn't even know what to say. The situation escalates further when Susan steps in on the wrong side.

"Don't be such a baby Claire," she calls out, apparently to support Megan for you. This only confuses everyone more and Claire becomes rebellious.

"Oh stop it. That annoys you too!” You don't know what 'that' is, but you can imagine that it means your person. Claire stands in the room, realizing that she has no allies and looks at you for help. She reminds you of Millie, but isn't.

You have always feared this situation and it had to come at some point. In hindsight, it just surprises you that it's only happening now. Which side are you on?

"Listen, Claire," you clear your throat. “We worked on the meal for a long time. I know that you enjoy your time and that is great... but can you please leave it be." The nice tour...

"Why?" ... ends up in the ditch. The strict tour...

"Because I say that."... has an effect. But not the one you want. So far, you haven't had to live with the consequences your behavior has on the younger girls. Denise, who immediately bowed to your will so as not to lose you, is an easy case. With Claire, who does not understand that you are forbidding her happiness, you have to exercise with even more finesse. The gong sounds for the first round in the fight of Finn Lynchwood against the consequences of sticking his dick in every hole that is offered to him... even in the future. Claire makes the opening move, her face almost collapsing. She hangs her head and can't look at you.

"Sorry," she mumbles. A strong blow from Finn. Devastating.

"I'm not mad. It's just... it's not so nice for me, uh, us, to see the food so wasted that we prepared with so much yoy. I know, that you wanted to take part in it and I'm sorry. That is, why I'm not mad at you."

"But we had fun..." Slight uppercut, too little power behind it. And now another distraction runs across the field.

"But Finn is right." Susan doesn't help you a bit and you silence her with a stern look that is supported by Denise. She holds her friend back and they both watch from the sofa as you work on poor Claire. She stands there glued to the spot and does not move.

"Sorry," she mumbles again, apparently not knowing what else to say. But then she finds an argument, doesn't think about it, and immediately spits it out. “But that's unfair! You said you would spend time with us too! You only spent the whole day with your sisters.” She's right. Fucking logic! But the problem is not that easy to solve.

"They are my sisters Claire," you say in a voice that is as friendly and understanding as humanly possible. You think you did a good job.

"So what?" Never mind. Claire stands alone in the room, two feet away from the table, and bears the weight of every pair of eyes on her. She stares at you defiantly, ready to fight for her right to be around you. Any other day you would be proud. But it's your damn fault for not teaching the McKinleys not to stand between you and your sisters. Here and now you have to choose and no victory is possible. You will hurt someone no matter what you say. And even if you keep your mouth shut, you are making a statement.

“You know that a lot has happened in the last few days and we are all doing our best here to master the situation as well as possible. It is not easy for all of us."

"Easier for some than for others," says Claire. You don't get involved in that argument.

“I think I can imagine how you are feeling. I can only say that I do my best and that I will not forget you and your sister. And if that takes too long, I apologize for it."

"Then don't forbid us to have fun," says Claire and you wonder that you had expected this behavior from Susan, who is now clearly on your side. Why can't the two work together?

“I don't forbid you. I just ask that you help me be there for everyone. Equally for each of you.” You smile, but your argument is paper-thin. Still, it seems to work and Claire calms down. You turn to the table and pick up her plate. “Are you still hungry?” She nods.

"No wonder, if most of it has landed on the carpet," says Carrie a bit too snappy, but is held back by Emma, who looks at you with loving eyes. Claire watches as you serve her a portion and holds out her hands for the plate. With a shy smile, she accepts the little gesture of peace. She is right, but all you can do is your best.

"Thank you" she mutters, bows her head and her eyes quickly flit over everyone involved. Then she turns around and goes back to her friends. You too turn back to the table to resume the conversation with Rachel who sips on her wine with much interest in you and the situation. Megan grabs your hand under the table and signals her thanks. You just nod at her, still thinking about what happened just now. "What I wanted to say..." you hear Claire behind you. You are about to turn back to the girl when a loud bang echoes through the room. Then a dull 'Uff' and Claire is on the floor. You rush around, almost knocking over the chair to see what happened. When you see Claire lying on the floor, you jump up and crouch down next to her. She looks up and into your face, confused. Then her eyes wander down to the cracked plate and the spilled food. As if in a trance, she stares at the chaos while you search her hands for injuries. The damn carpet.

"Damn Claire, you little baby!" shouts Susan angrily as you heave her little sister to her feet. You lift her up like a doll and put her down again immediately.

"Are you okay?" you ask in alarm about the events of the last few days. Cuts seem to be the order of the day here and you don't want to have Claire on the list of wounded. The girl just looks at you blankly when you feel her for wounds and breathes a sigh of relief when you don't find any. "How did that happen?" you ask and smile encouragingly, even laughing a bit when asking.

“She's just a crybaby and she can't even walk properly!” shouts Susan again. You lean past the younger sister and stretch your finger on your outstretched arm towards the girl.

"Silence!" you snarl and Susan immediately shut her mouth and looks at you in shock. You immediately regret it and now you know how Kennedy must have felt during the Cuban missile crisis. Too much information, too much is happening at the same time, and you wonder what the hell went wrong. What happened here? Two minutes ago everything was fine. You look at Claire, who hangs weakly in your arms and seems to be holding up only by them.

"I... I wasted the food..." the girl stutters in her trance and looks at you in disbelief. "I'm sorry, Finn the carpet... I..." She looks at you in pure disbelief of herself. Then her face twists in a tortured grimace. Her mouth is just a squeezed white line, her eyelids tight, her nostrils flutter in jerky breathing and thick, round tears well up in her eyes. First, they concentrate on their eyelids, blurring her vision. Then they are squeezed out of her by grief and roll down her cheeks in big tears. "I hm sho s-horr-hy..." she whimpers and begins to tremble. Behind you, Susan yells something again from the sofa, but you don't listen.

"Claire..." you just mumble and are paralyzed yourself.

"I di-hdn't me-hean..." she squeal shrilly and without much noise. "I-hm s-horr-hy..." Then comes the first sob and her body is shaken with grief. You can only shake your head momentarily.

"No..." is the only thing you can think of, then Claire collapses in your arms. It's only natural for you to hug her tight and lovingly. Then there is no holding back. A sea of tears flows down your shoulder and Claire howls bitterly in your arms. It's an uncertain breath, her face pressed against your chest and cool breath penetrates your wet shirt from your chest. Then there is a howling sob, also trembling, and warm breath penetrates your chest from her mouth. The theme repeats itself for several minutes. At some point, Claire starts to speak but you don't understand anything in the pathetic crying. Just a few words of regret penetrate to you. The room is dead quiet and everyone is watching you and Claire, who wants to let you drown in tears apparently.

All you can do is wrap her in your arms. Nobody bothers when you rub her back soothingly and hold her in your arms and move back and forth in hopes of stopping the waterfall. And nobody cares when you keep moving your hands over her body and resting your cheek on her head. A few minutes pass, filled with bitter tears, then you dare to lift your head and speak to the girls at the table. You cannot turn to them, but you can reach out your hand to them behind you.

"Megan, can you bring me something to drink, please?" you ask quietly.

"On the way, brother," Megan says in a tone you have never heard her say before. Almost immediately afterward, you grasp a cool glass. You say thank you to Megan without looking at her and hear her sit down again.

"Have a drink, Claire" you say affectionately and yet firmly. Sobbing, her cheek separates from your sticky shirt and she grabs the glass with trembling fingers. Her face is bright red and not wet, but soaked. Her eyes are so puffy that they almost fall out of their sockets and she only chokes when she tries to drink something. You quickly take the glass from the coughing girl, put it on the floor and pat her gently but constantly on the back. When the nerve wreck has is finished with coughing, you start a second attempt. This time you don't let go of the glass and bring it to her dry and trembling lips. "That's good" you encourage her and feel something in your chest. It works and for three or four seconds Claire just stares at you. Then she sobs again and hugs you. But this time it doesn't take that long and it's not that bad. After another minute, her voice comes through to you.

"I am so sorry Finn. I didn't want to ruin the evening."

"You don't" you just mean and embrace her. You look at the sofa. Millie, Denise and Susan are crouching on it with their arms on the backrest and staring at you spellbound. You cannot judge the behavior of the girls at the table behind you.

“I didn't mean to waste the food. I wanted to listen to you. Really. I'm sorry. So sorry.” She sounds so miserable that your heart is bleeding. And that you helped to conjure up this situation is also a problem. Still, it doesn't even occur to you what could be the reason for her behavior. Again, only the moment counts for you. Like with your other girlfriends.

"It was an accident. You are not to blame.” Claire sobs pathetically again. But nods.

“I wanted to listen to you. I didn't mean to make you angry. I am sorry."

"Nobody here is angry with you" is all you say. “I'm not angry with you. And neither do the girls. Right, girls?" You look over to the sofa and the three girls mumble their approval. "Come on," you say encouragingly and pat Claire on the back. "Let's clean up this crap and make you a new portion." That makes Claire sit up and take notice.

"But I dropped the plate." She no longer understands the world.

“That was just a damn plate. You didn't sink the Lusitania,” you grin and tousle through her already rumpled hair. You lead Claire back to the table, where Megan has already placed a new plate for her. The remains of the casserole go onto it and then from your hands to hers. Your fingers touch as you hand over the plate and Claire winces violently when you touch. Another disaster almost happens, but this time you are ready and close. Claire looks at you startled and then averts her gaze. "Can you manage now?" you ask encouragingly. It has long been no wonder that you have this effect on the girl. But the reaction to your question does wonder you.

"No," she mumbles and again a few thick tears flow down her cheeks. She shakes her head convulsively and the heap of potatoes is only held together by the cheese and prevented from falling off the plate. "No, I can't," she sobs and her lower lip trembles again. You look around the table and this time there are different looks that meet you. Karen and Rachel look at you with undisguised curiosity. Carrie seems to be saying, 'That can't be true!' Emma and your sisters put on the same look: support. What else?

"Come on. Then we'll eat together.” What else are you supposed to do? Perhaps there is some adult solution to this problem, but you cannot find it. And actually you don't want that either. You sit down in your place, there is no other chair at the table, and wave Claire over to you. You can't read the expression on her face, but in any case, she doesn't look hurt or battered. Better than before, that's for sure. Claire comes to you with uncertain small steps, taps with her socks over the floor, sits down on your lap and you realize that she must weigh about the same as Millie, a little less than Denise. There is absolute silence at the table and everyone looks at you as Claire makes herself comfortable on your lap and already seems much calmer. “But you can eat alone?” you ask and you would not be surprised if you received a negative answer. But it doesn't come, and Claire actually seems to be thinking about it first. But then she nods and lifts her fork to her mouth.

“Very tasty” she mumbles as she slowly begins to eat. You wrap around her stomach and watch out that she doesn't slip off. The girl looks so weak that it could well happen.

---

The evening closes with the news you decided to everyone's annoyance. For far too long you haven't noticed what's going on in the world. Surprise: nothing good. Everyone rolls their eyes as you have to add your mustard with every post. Except for Claire, who sits on your lap and quietly watches the TV program. Or something else. For Susan, on the other hand, the Mars landing could also be shown live, she would not notice it. Every now and then you look over at her briefly. She snuggled up with Millie and Denise on the sofa next to you, all the pillows belong to them and keeps staring at you. She doesn't seem angry or sad, but it works between her ears. With team spirit, Megan and Maureen sit next to each other at the foot of the sofa and makes bets on what you'll say next on a particular topic. Emma has already accompanied Carrie upstairs, the good-night kiss had to be canceled today - due to Clair - but you wished her good night and she smiled at you. Rachel and Karen are also watching you, though not as intensely. Karen can't seem to believe what she's seeing. It's strange for you to have Claire on your lap too. Not the physical contact, but the circumstances of it. But to send her away would be fatal in this situation and you thank the gods for your understanding girlfriends.

Every now and then, Claire asks you questions and stops nibbling on the apple chips Millie has given her. When you explain the words to her and give her your opinion - things that are actually natural - it's like a reward for Claire to be able to listen to you. She sniffs a little now and then, but makes a good impression. You hold her around her waist and put your arms around her stomach. Her legs are on yours and she is leaning against you so that you can see the TV over her shoulder.

“He's wearing a dress,” she giggles when she makes an addition.

“It's a kimono. And that's the Emperor of Japan."

"You know that", Denise says and catches a look from you, which first calls her to rest so as not to make Claire cry again - a real possibility this evening - but then expresses your admiration. At some point, the room empties itself more and more as the digits of the clock wander further and further to midnight. Denise says goodbye first, then Karen and Rachel. Rachel gives you one last look and then disappears upstairs to brush her teeth.

“It is high time for you too,” you say, and prompt a reaction.

"Only five more minutes" begs Claire and Susan looks at you pleadingly. After five minutes the game repeats, then again. Then you have to speak a word of power and with the help of Millie, you manage to persuade Susan and Claire to leave. On the first step upstairs, Claire turns around again, rushes to you and hugs you very tightly.

"Thank you" she whispers very softly. You stroke her hair and pat her shoulders encouragingly. Susan watches you closely, but Millie pulls her upstairs. Claire follows the two of them, waves to you, and then has also disappeared.

---

You are alone with Megan. Some old crime thriller is on TV, but neither of you pays attention to it. At first, you think you need to talk about today's events. After all, that was pretty heavy and you naturally have the urge to explain yourself to your girlfriend. But the subject settles in a sentence or two and Megan calms you down in a different way.

"No matter how often I do this, or which of them you smell like, I love laying in your arms." She snuggled up next to you and put her head on your chest while you put your arm around her protectively. You can still see the blue, yellow, and brown discoloration on her knee, but she keeps reassuring you that she is fine.

"That might look nice, but I barely have a feeling in my legs." Megan giggles - one of the nicest noises she does - and rubs her cheek against you.

“So you have no stamina for your middle sister today? What Maureen said about Millie wasn't very detailed, but I can imagine that your little princess put a lot of strain on your soldier."

"How did you come up with that?" you ask and are glad that Maureen respects your privacy, or something similar, so far.

"Women see that. Especially with Millie, who always wears her heart on her tongue or on her face."

“Yes, she looks really happy today,” you sum up with satisfaction and get the idea that it could actually be because of you. Maybe. Then your hands wander lower and find your girlfriend's belly. Your fingers circle her navel and press a little into her skin. "I always have the energy for my dearest wombat" you mean and you are not lying completely.

"Hmmm..:" Megan ponders for a few seconds. She looks at the digital clock on one of the walls. "We still have half an hour until my birthday."

"Should I make you happy again this year?" you ask with a grin and you are ready for it. More or less. But the physical impact the girls have on your body doesn't matter to you. You love to overexploit your body if they are happy for just one day longer.

"No, I don't think so," Megan whispers her answer. You look at her a little puzzled and she lies down with her head on your lap. Her body is on your side, her legs drawn up and her arms crossed behind her head. You brush through her hair back and forth over and over again and look her in the eye. "You made me as happy this year as I could never have dreamed of." She briefly closes her eyes, holds out her hand and finds yours. She puts it on her cheek, kisses the palm of your hand and smells it. “Let's just lie here for a while. I will spend the rest of my life with you, half an hour or a year doesn't matter now anymore."

"Well said wombat."

---

You almost fall asleep. The television throws alternating colors into the room, the sound silently washes over you without disrupting the scene. Megan is on your lap and your hands explore her body. You say little and when someone answers he takes his time. The thought enters your head that you really have a new life ahead of you, so fundamentally different from the previous one.

"Thank you for being you" you whisper and play with her hair. You let it slide through your fingers and admire how soft it is. You don't know if she understands your statement, but you no longer care. But of course, your sister understands you.

“Always. I know how much you worry and I'm glad to be able to take care of you.” She giggles and lolls on you. "Nice to be able to return the favor sometimes."

You lie still further on the sofa, forget the time and just enjoy this here and now. It's easy with Megan. You know each other inside out, every nuance of the other. Every mood and every feeling is known to the other. The stress and fear you felt together before you made up your mind to live your lives together were the last scraps of your old life. A life in which you were separated by the world around you and its ridiculous morals. A life that would have destroyed you two at some point if you had not broken out and had not opposed it.

“People won't understand that,” you say to your sister, who has closed her eyes and is holding your hand on her chest. “But we've come to the end of the street. We have walked our way, with all the hurdles that it has set us. And now we stand on a wide meadow, happiness in front of us and nothing can separate us anymore.” And truth lies in your words. Megan recognizes too and welcomes it. "Maybe that's the reason?" You ask yourself and Megan opens one eye and looks at you. "Why I am so drawn to other girls." You are silent for a few minutes and Megan waits for you to be ready. “When I look into our future, I see myself, you, Millie and Emma. But I don't see any dangers. Sure, the way will be difficult. But I don't see how our lives can get any worse from now on.” At any other time, you would question this statement, but with Megan on your lap, you know the answer. "I know I'll be with you all my life."

"You don't have to worry about us love," Megan whispers and closes her eyes again. No worries. “Take care of the girls who need your help. I, Millie and certainly Emma have everything we need."

"I love you, Megan."

"I love you too, Finn."

---

• And I love you, dear reader. Have a great time reading and I hope everything in your life is fine.