LWP 13

Chapter 6

~~~Max~~~

After Fenix and Ghost went to their respective rooms, Johnny, Finn, and I sat in the living room. Johnny even let Finn sit on the couch with us. Sure, he had to sit between us but it was a step forward.

I smiled to Finn. "So, have ya started yer internship at the Jeffersonian yet?"

He gave a nod. "Yes'm. An' Ah have ta say that Dr. Brennan is mighty hard ta please."

"Yeah she can be a bit of a handful," I agreed. "But what can ya expect? She's had it rough an' now that she's made it in life, she's got high standard fer the people she works with. Jus' work well an' hard, hun. Ya'll be jus' fine."

Johnny made a face when I called Finn "hun" but didn't say anything. He knew I called everyone that. It didn't mean anything for anyone but him. He cleared his throat and took my hand in his. "Remember when we were cleaning earlier and you sang that song? I think that might be ours now."

Oh geez... He was trying to show up Finn. Of course, though, Finn smiled and mentioned something I never wanted to hear again. "Ya still sing? That's great! Remember our song?"

I flushed. Did he know what he just did?

Johnny paused a moment then turned to him. "What do you mean your song?"

Finn explained, "Nine Hundred Miles. She sang it in the choir once an' showed it to me while we were datin'. It seemed ta fit us jus' right so it became our song. She e'en taught me ta sing it." Johnny's eye twitched but Finn didn't seem to notice. "Do ya still remember it? It seems like forever." He began to sing it. "I am walkin' on this track, I've got tears in my eyes. I am trying to read a letter from my home. And if this train runs me right, I'll be home Saturday night. 'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home." He finished and urged me on. "Go on ya must remember that!"

Blushing, I gulped and quietly sang the next part. "And I hate to hear that lonesome whistle blow. That long lonesome train whistlin' down."

He joined me with the next part. "Miles and miles and miles and miles. Miles and miles from home." He repeated that as I sang an echo then I began the next verse while he softly sang harmony. "Well this train that I ride on is a hundred coaches long. You can hear her whistle blow a miles."

I sang, "And if this train runs me right."

He sang, "I'll be home Saturday night."

We sang, "'Cause I'm nine hundred miles from my home."

That was only half the song, and it was gorgeousbut I stood, needed to stop. "As good as e'er, Finn. But Ah gotta go organizema books upstairs." Then I ran off, leaving him with Johnny.

~~~Toast~~~

'Bloody hell,' Toast thought as Max speed walked away. 'He can sing.'

Finn looked over at him with a smile but it quickly turned to a frown. "Oh. Ah'm sorry was that..." He didn't know how to finish that sentence so he just looked away.

Toast sighed. "You know what? I need to get over this. It's fine."

"Ya mean it?" His eyes were wide.

With a slight sigh, he nodded. "Max is a wonderful person. I know she wouldn't do anything to hurt our marriage. And you..." He gritted his teeth. "You seem nice."

Finn laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thank ya."

Toast stood. "I know she doesn't actually have to organize books. She just says that when she wants to get out of an awkward situation. I'm going to go cuddle her to make her feel better."

The country boy gave a nod. "Have fun."

Catching his smile, Toast huffed a bit as he turned to go upstairs.