Darker The Forbidden Berry

“Stop talking for once and listen to me!” Finn demanded. “I am doing what I want to be doing!”

Linda leaned back and her face hardened again.

“Then you’ve made your bed, Finn. I want you out of my home as soon as you get back to the states.”

“We’ve already made that arrangement, Linda,” Richard said, sipping his espresso. “When they get home they are going to start the process of looking for a home that better suits their family,” He paused to savor his second sip. “And I’m signing over the MIchigan restaurants to him.”

“WHAT…!” Linda was obviously shocked by the volume of her own voice. “What do you mean?”

“Well, all the restaurants in Michigan were inherited from my father to us, remember? I think it is only fair that we give Finn and Aja the same leg up we had.”

“We were married!”

“Times have changed, Linda,” he said simply. “People move in together, fall in love and get married later. Marriage isn’t a requirement for love.”

“You know this isn’t a good idea, Richard.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said, waving a finger. “I don’t know if this is a good idea or a bad idea. I like Aja. She seems like a sweet girl, but there is a chance that she’s scamming Finn for his money. But there’s an even better chance that she cares about our son and wants to make a life with him.” Richard shrugged. “Neither of us knows what the truth is and you need to stop acting as you do. We need to let Finn live his own life and make his own choices. We’ve trusted him with our businesses. We need to start trusting him with everything else.”

“And what if this is a mistake?” She asked, talking to Richard now.

“Then he made a mistake and he’s going to have to deal with all of the consequences of those mistakes.”

“So you’re willing to set our son up for failure?”

“And we’re back at this,” Richard said with a heavy sigh. “Linda. You should go.”

“I will do no such thing.”

“Then we’re leaving,” Finn said, standing and offering a hand to Aja.

Aja glanced at Linda and let out a defeated sigh as she took Finn’s hand and stood, grabbing her purse and tossing it over her shoulder.

“We are not done, Finn. You will come to the house and we will discuss this further.”

“No, Mother. I don’t think we will be discussing this anymore,” he said simply. “I think it’s time for Aja and me to head back home and start looking for a home.”

“I did not ask.”

“I know you didn’t. That’s part of the problem.” All the anger was gone from his voice and was replaced with a weariness that broke Aja’s heart.

“You will not leave on my plane. I can assure you of that!”

Finn just shrugged a little and put an arm around Aja’s waist.

“We’ll buy a ticket home. Enjoy a few more days in Italy.”

Linda seemed shocked at the response. Aja was pretty sure there was a part of her that forgot that Finn had his own money. He wouldn’t be stranded here just because Linda wouldn’t allow him to use the family plane.

They started to leave, but as she walked by Linda, Aja paused and looked at her sadly.

“I will take care of him. I know you don’t believe it, but I hope in time you will see that I love him.”

She did not wait to see Linda’s reaction. She just followed Finn out of the restaurant, leaving everyone sitting in a stunned silence. Once they were out the door, Aja let out a breath she’d been holding.

“Holy sh*t that was terrifying.” She said, looking at Finn.

“That was amazing!” Finn said, grinning.

“What?! How was that amazing?! I’m pretty sure we just tore your family apart!”

Finn gripped her arms and pulled her close and kissed her deeply, still grinning even as their lips met. He held the kiss until the world spun when he pulled away. Aja leaned into him, pleasantly dazed.

“Why are you so happy?”

“Because I’m free! I don’t have to worry about her stupid demands anymore! I can do my job and be with you and…There’s nothing she can hold over my head, Aja!”

Aja could practically feel the joy radiating off Finn and she could not help but smile in return. She leaned up and kissed his chin gently, watching him.

“You’re really happy?” She asked.

“I have never been happier, Aja.”

Aja had her doubts about what he was saying. She was not sure they should be too excited about what had just happened in the restaurant, but she trusted Finn. If he felt like this was a good thing, then she was not going to argue. Maybe Linda would come around eventually.

“Then I’m happy too.”