Going Full Throttle

Chapter 8

"I've been thinking," Scotty declared with a formality that was very un-Scotty-like.

"Don't hurt yourself," I couldn't help but mutter under my breath.

A small rumble of chuckles around the deck told me that I may not have been as quiet as I thought. I lifted my gaze from Finn playing on the lawn to smile sheepishly at Scotty.

"As I was saying," he glared pointedly at me, "I've been thinking that us youngin's really haven't had any time to ourselves yet. No offence," he added offhandedly to Beau and Twyla.

"Some taken," Twyla said with a rueful smile. Even though Twyla's eyes were bright blue and Scotty's were dark brown, the twinkle that shone in each set was a perfect match. "Are you already sick of spending time with us?"

"I seem to remember being shooed away from the adults for most of our childhood, don't you Pia?"

I tapped my chin as though I had to think hard. "I do recall that we were usually sent off to play as soon as the spiked punch was brought out."

"Exactly," Scotty said, "So now—sorry Ma—but we are shooing ourselves off to play."

A small squeak brought my attention back to the lawn. Finn had just turned a stone over in the garden and it must have been the motherload of worms.

"I can't," I sighed, my eyes still on Finn. "I guess I'm one of the boring adults now who have to stay on the porch and watch the kids play."

"Finn and I were going to go fishing anyways," Beau interjected. "Go have some fun sweet pea."

I hesitated for a moment as I looked back at Beau. The fine lines around his dark, warm, eyes crinkled as he smiled at me. He and Twyla had fully embraced Finn as their family, and in doing so had dedicated much of their time to entertain him. Their involvement made me feel a whirl of emotions. I was grateful for their support, relieved that Finn gained more love, and—if I was being honest—annoyed that they were doing what my parents would not.

"You guys take him too much," I waved off Beau's offer.

"That's because we enjoy spending time with him," Twyla said, punctuating that with a warm smile towards Finn. "You are doing us a favour by sharing the little rascal."

I didn't doubt that they loved spending time with Finn but, I was fairly positive that their insistence had more to do with helping me. It felt like a fine line between accepting their support when I really needed it and shirking my responsibility off on them.

"Fine," I said begrudgingly. "Only because I haven't spent enough time torturing my dear cousin."

"Remind me why I wanted to spend time with you again," Scotty grumbled. "Tyler's just finishing up some business calls upstairs then we can go."

The bubbling excitement that stirred in my stomach deflated slightly. The image in my mind of Scotty and I going off together to adventure shifted to include the unwanted third wheel and I grimaced.

"Can you try not to look like a rabid dog at the thought of spending time with him?" Scotty laughed. "Come on," he added, "I want to show you something while we wait for him."

I followed Scotty up to his room and dropped dramatically onto his large four-poster bed. I had spent so much time in this room growing up, having sleepovers and movie nights, that it felt like my second bedroom. I had always been a little embarrassed that Scotty's room was so much larger and grander than mine, that I had preferred we spend time here rather than at my cabin.

Scotty plopped next to me and opened his laptop. "I know you weren't sure about letting Tyler post the footage from the track," he said as his fingers tapped repetitively at the keys. "So, I wanted to show you what I'd come up with."