6. Tori

The last customer of the day was always a welcome sight, but when it was Dr. Justin Verona coming through the doors of the Riverfront Café, wearing scrubs and a gorgeous smile? Tori's heart soared.

"I wasn't expecting you today," she said, heading across the dining room to get her hug and kiss.

"Three cancellations and a clear afternoon," he said, holding her close and adding a squeeze. "But I never ate. So, where better to get a late lunch than my favorite café with my favorite person on Earth?"

Warmed by the compliment and his strong arm around her, she led him toward the back booth near the kitchen where he frequently ate when he came in here alone.

"We're out of the stroganoff special, but I can get you a bacon burger just the way you like it." She checked her watch. "I still have forty-five minutes before I have to get Finn."

"A burger is perfect." He slipped into the booth and snagged her hand. "But five minutes alone first."

She happily snuggled in next to him. "The kitchen crew is cleaning, so…yeah."

"Did you talk to Finn?" he asked. "Did he offer any more information about what was bothering him last night?"

"Not a word. He was silent and sullen when I dropped him off." She closed her eyes and dropped her head back. "You know, he's never not had a sport, so this is going to be a long semester for him. And in a new school with no friends? It's tough."

"It's too late to sign up for spring teams?"

"Way too late, and the biggest is baseball, which, as you know, he's had enough of. It'll pass," she said. "Kids go through phases, and this is just not going to be easy. But he'll be fine."

"The bullies bother me," he said.

She shrugged. "He could get in the car this afternoon and be on fire for a new project. Kids are in a constant state of change and…" Feeling a vibration, she checked her smart watch to see that someone was calling from a number she didn't recognize, but it was local. "Hang on, I better get this. I'm trying to find a new bun vendor."

His brow flicked with amusement. "A bun vendor, huh? Just remember there's only one Hottypants in your life, my dear."

She laughed. "One and only one. Let me get this call and tell the cook to start your burger." She pecked his lips and slid out, grabbing her phone from the closest shelf in the kitchen. "Hello, this is Tori."

"Ms. Wingate, this is Nancy Gomez. I'm Principal Addler's assistant at Palm Cove Middle School."

Her heart thudded to the vicinity of her knees. "What's the matter? Is Finn okay?"

"He's fine…" She drew the words out. "But he's been suspended, and Principal Addler needs you to come and have a chat."

What? The words did not compute. "What did he do?"

"He was in a fight, Ms. Wingate."

"No! Is he—"

"No one's hurt," she added very quickly. "But only because it was broken up before Finn got out of hand."

For a moment, Tori couldn't speak. A fight? Finnie? Out of hand? She couldn't quite conjure up the image of him fighting. His father? Oh, yes, she'd seen it. But Finnie was peaceful and…and…and suspended.

"I'll be right there," she said. "Thank you."

She leaned against the kitchen door jamb, letting the adrenaline dump through her whole body.

This was bad. Oh, this was so bad. Out of character, terrifying, and if Trey got wind of it? He could yank her right back into court to renegotiate this custody arrangement that allowed her to raise the kids here.

"Tori? You okay?"

She turned at the sound of Justin's voice. She'd forgotten he could see her from the booth.

"What's wrong?" He came over to her, concern on his features. "One of the kids?"

"Finn got suspended for fighting."

"Oh. Is that all? From the look on your face—"

She gasped. "Is that all? This is my sweet Finnie, who…who doesn't fight."

"He probably took on the bullies," Justin said. "Is he hurt? That's all that matters."

"No, no. But I have to go get him."

"All right. I'll drive." He tugged her closer. "It'll be okay."

"You?" She still wasn't thinking quite straight enough to form full sentences.

"You have a better significant other to take you there? Yes, me." He led her toward the back office. "Let's get your bag, tell your staff, and get to school and the bottom of this."

His willingness to take a role was sweet, but would Justin showing up just make Finnie madder? Or embarrassed?

Finn's comment about it being weird if Justin went with Kenzie to look at a college came back to her again. Would Justin driving her to school when Finn was in the principal's office be weird to him?

"You're thinking too hard, Tori. Let's go get him."

She stared, blinked, and came back to the moment. "You're right. He's suspended from school and what he thinks about who picks him up shouldn't slow me down."

With that, she got her stuff, both of them quiet as they rushed across the parking lot.

Once they were in the car and on the road, Justin reached for her hand. "What did you mean when you said what Finn thinks about who picks him up? Is there an issue?"

She frowned, having to drag her thoughts from what could possibly have happened at school to the comment he was referencing.

"No, it's…nothing."

He shot her a doubtful look. "Nothing…to do with me?"

Did he have to be so empathetic and sensitive? Well, that was probably what made him a great doctor, and it was definitely what made him a great man, so yes. He had to be.

"I just didn't want to upset or embarrass him by showing up with you," she said. "And then I realized the fact that he was in a fight upset and embarrassed me, so why would I worry about what he thinks?"

"Why would that upset him?" he asked. "I spend a lot of time with Finn. We fish, we sail, we…male bond."

"I just thought he might be humiliated that he got in trouble or that he might not think it was, you know, appropriate for you to show up as a parent." All true, and she was happy to have been honest with him.

"I get that," he said. "I can stay in the car."

"No, it's fine."

"I'm in scrubs," he added. "I can be there strictly to examine his head."

"Someone needs to examine it," Tori said dryly. "Who or what does he think he is? Fighting."

"He's a thirteen-year-old boy who got into a scrap, Tori. Maybe these bullies taunted him, and he defended himself. I doubt he started it, and I also doubt it'll be his last fight."

She sat up straighter, turning to him. "It darn well will be his last fight. I hate fighting. It's dumb and dangerous and…just like his pigheaded father. Sorry, but it is."

Justin didn't look convinced. "It probably isn't his last fight or at least his last brush with kids who want to fight. I know exactly what to do, and I'll talk to him. I have an idea."

She drew back, getting that same feeling she had when Kenzie mentioned him going with her to see Flagler College. Was she jealous? No, no, that wasn't the feeling. It was…fear.

But what was she afraid of?

"What kind of idea?" she asked.

"Martial arts. I'll take him. There's a place just outside of—"

"No." She fired the single syllable, knowing exactly why that idea bothered her. "He is not going to karate chop his way through high school. No. I never even let him do that as a kid when all his five-year-old friends were going to tae kwon do or whatever. I don't like…martial arts."

"Because you don't know anything about them," he replied. "I took Shaolin for twelve years, Tori. Do you remember the day you were nearly attacked on the dock, and I helped you?"

She'd never forget the moment the previous cook at the café threatened her when she fired him—and Justin leaped from the deck of his docked sailboat to take that cook down handily. She didn't even know him then, only that he was Dad's doctor and she'd spilled coffee on him at the hospital.

The rest, as they say, was their history.

"Was that karate or…what did you say it's called?"

"Shaolin. It's a form of kung fu. It's also a powerful philosophy that grounds a man and teaches him patience and focus and breathing techniques. It'll give him confidence, and the next time a bully comes after him—"

"He'll break him like a two-by-four with the side of his hand?" Tori scoffed. "No, thanks. I'm not teaching my son how to fight. I'm teaching him how to walk away, which, in my opinion, will serve him better than anything else." She blew out a breath, not wanting to have this fight with Justin. "Turn here. The school's at the end of this road."

The car line hadn't formed yet, so Justin drove right up to the school and pulled over to the curb. "Do you want me to come in with you or not?"

She thought about that for a moment. If he came in, if he handled this problem, if he stepped into the role of co-parent…it just sealed his position as the kids' "new" dad. No, not yet.

"Let me handle it. You can park and, hopefully, I won't be long." She reached for the door, but he put his hand on her arm, stopping her.

"You don't have to handle this parenting thing alone, Tori. I have grown kids and I've been through things like this. I'm here for you."

She let out a sigh, not ready to process her own reluctance to take his help while she had a suspended son in the principal's office.

"Thanks. I appreciate it. Let me go assess the situation and talk to Mr. Addler. If I need backup, I'll text you."

He leaned across the console and gave her a kiss. "Good luck."

Inside, she signed in and headed around the corner to the offices. Had she ever had to go to a principal's office in all these sixteen years of motherhood?

Only to pick up an award or volunteer her time or drop off a gift for a great teacher. Never did she dream it would be to get her wayward, fighting son. In this school, it had been to meet with the principal last fall and arrange for Finn to transfer in the spring.

She hoped Principal Addler didn't regret saying yes to this new student.

She walked up to the main desk, where a woman sat, face in a computer screen.

"Ms. Wingate?" the lady asked without looking up.

"Am I infamous already?"

She finally tore her gaze from the computer to Tori. "Principal Addler does not tolerate fighting," she said, turning to point at a door that led to the hall. "Nancy is with your son outside the last office."

Nodding her thanks, she started toward the doorway, then slowed, looking over the reception desktop again. "And the other kid who was involved in this fight?"

She just gave a dry laugh. "Ryan Wilder wasn't involved in a fight," she said. "He was the victim of some bullying, and is currently in his seventh-period class, no doubt acing a test."

Was she saying…Finn was a bully? Bristling, Tori opted out of this conversation and headed to the next.

Outside of the principal's office, on a bench, she found Finnie, head in his hands. An admin was at the desk, tapping on her keyboard.

"Hey."

He didn't look up. "Hey."

"What happened, Finn?" She sat next to him, sharing a silent look with the woman she assumed was Nancy, who'd called her.

"Nothing."

"Nothing doesn't land you in the principal's office."

He just shook his head, silent.

"Finn, you have to tell me what happened."

He seemed to just dig deeper into his hole.

"I'll take you in to Principal Addler," the woman said, standing. "Finn can stay out here."

"Finn can come with me," Tori said.

"Just go, Mom," Finn said. "I've had enough of this…crap."

She sucked in a breath to deliver a language reprimand, but the door opened and the man she'd met once months ago stepped out. She remembered him as being older, overweight, and cheerful. He was still pushing sixty and paunchy, but there was nothing cheerful about the look he gave her.

He nodded and she walked by him into the office, perching on one of the guest chairs.

"What exactly happened, Principal Addler?"

"It seems your son picked a fight with a straight-A student council president who volunteers on the weekends for Habitat for Humanity."

"And you're absolutely certain this other boy didn't start this fight?" she challenged. "Finn is not a fighter."

His eyes narrowed. "Please don't be one of those parents who assumes their child is perfect," he said. "I've never had an issue with Ryan Wilder, and he's been at this school since kindergarten. Finn…" He looked at a paper on his desk. "Hathaway, is it? Different from yours, as I recall."

She straightened her spine and sliced him with a look. "Yes, sir. He has his father's name."

"And someone's temper, it appears."

Irritation snaked up her spine. "Finn doesn't have a temper unless he's pushed to the brink."

"Ryan didn't push him to the brink."

Apparently, St. Ryan never pushed anything, except an old lady's wheelchair across the street. She managed to keep her mouth closed and swallow her snark.

"The fact remains," the principal said, "fighting means automatic suspension. He's out for three days, but responsible for every test or quiz, keeping up with the materials in his class, and cannot attend the pep rally at the end of the week."

Something told her that wouldn't crush Finn. "Have you even considered that he was on the receiving end and didn't start this fight?" she asked.

"To be frank, no. I know Ryan and I don't know Finn."

"So you can't give him the benefit of the doubt?"

"I heard both sides and made my judgment, Ms. Wingate."

She wasn't going to get anywhere with this man. It was nearly the end of the year, and Finn would be in a different school in the fall. "All right. Anything else?"

He angled his head. "I'm sorry, ma'am. This isn't good for anyone. I know Finn is new here, and it all takes some adjustment. On top of that, fighting sometimes indicates even bigger problems, like some instability at home. He can't go around taking out boys because he's jealous."

Taking boys out? She almost laughed but knew that would be the wrong reaction with this man.

"He's going to come in contact with lots of Ryan Wilders in his life," the principal continued. "He can't punch them all."

She squeezed the chair seat to keep from reacting. "You seriously expect me to believe my son punched another boy."

"Yes, and I know it's true, whether you want to wear blinders or not."

"Is this other boy hurt? Does he have a bloody nose or split lip? Did he need medical attention?"

"Is that your bar, Ms. Wingate? It's only an assault if the victim needs stitches? No, Ryan is fine, thank God. His parents haven't even been called, but next time, they will be."

"There won't be a next time," she promised on a harsh whisper.

"There better not be." He closed the file in front of him just as a loud bell rang. "We'll do what we can to monitor things at school, but you might be able to address the root cause by making sure things are steady and solid at home."

She just stared at him, feeling guilty and worried and anything but steady and solid.

"Thank you," she managed, not up for arguing with a man who obviously thought he knew everything. Anyway, he'd just think her son got his attitude from her.

The thing was, Finnie didn't have an attitude. He rarely pushed back, except when he and Kenzie were in a sibling fight. He never even argued with Trey, and nobody could stand that man.

He was a good boy, with a lot of friends and no issues.

Of course, that was before she yanked him out of his school, moved him to Florida, and told him to start over because she wanted to. He'd never said he didn't want to make this move, he just did it because he was good and agreeable like that.

But what if the whole thing had changed him? What if her relationship with Justin, which was still relatively new and not well-defined, had turned him upside down and inside out? And she was so wrapped up in her big family and new restaurant and wonderful man that she missed all that? What kind of mother did that make her?

They didn't speak until they got to the parking lot. She put a hand on his back.

"Listen, Finn, I don't know what happened—"

He whipped around, his eyes flashing. "Then I'll tell you. That jerk Wilder and his stupid posse got me alone in the bathroom, called me names, laughed at me, and told me that if I didn't take a swing at Ryan, they'd… hurt me. Then that little…idiot said…something. And I lost it." Tears welled up.

"Why didn't you tell that to the principal?" Tori demanded, ready to turn around and repeat all of this to that smug administrator who thought he knew everything.

"Because he wouldn't believe me. Ryan Wilder is…the king. And he's a really…bad…kid." She could tell he was fighting not to use words that would offend her, and that right there told her all she needed to know about Finn Hathaway. Even so angry his head was about to explode, he wouldn't swear in front of his mother.

Could they say the same of Ryan Wilder?

"Please," Finn said, sighing in pure exhaustion. "I got a three-day break from this place, and I need it."

"How are you going to keep up with your studies and tests and stuff?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not worried, Mom. Not about that, anyway."

"What are you worried about?" she asked.

He just frowned as they walked up to Justin's car and saw him sitting behind the wheel with the windows open.

"Why did he…" He let the question trail off and shook his head. "Never mind. I just want to go home."

All her maternal instincts said to let it go, for now.

"Well, that was fun."Kenzie made no effort to hide the sarcasm in her voice when she slipped into Tori's room a few minutes after Justin left that evening.

From her seat on the bed, Tori had purchase orders and receivables spread all around in an attempt to get some of the back-office work done for the restaurant. She let out a sigh, knowing exactly what her daughter meant.

"No, that wasn't our most fun dinner we've ever had. Finnie didn't even eat." She made a face. "That's probably what worries me the most."

"I just saw him inhaling the entire contents of the pantry." Kenzie perched on the edge of the bed, absently braiding her long hair with concern in her eyes. "I also can tell you and Justin are fighting," she said, holding up a hand to stave off a denial. "You weren't quiet, and I was in the next room."

Yes, that had been, at least for them, a spirited disagreement.

"I think you're wrong," Kenzie said.

Indignation rose in her chest. "Well, I think you're not a mother, Kenzie, and you may very well forget that your father was no stranger to a fight. He cussed out umpires and yelled smack at other drivers, and did you forget the time he literally punched our next-door neighbor?"

"I was five and, no, I haven't forgotten it but not because I remember it." She pointed at Tori. "But you bring it up often enough."

Tori shrugged, refusing to apologize for that. "It was traumatic. I mean, in the middle of—"

"A Fourth of July block party," Kenzie finished. "I know. But, Mom, Finn doesn't have a violent bone in his body."

"Tell that to King Addler." She rolled her eyes. "Not only does he blame this all on Finn, he implied we have an…unsteady household. He seemed to think that's the root cause of Finn's acting out. Oh, and the boy he picked on is allegedly perfect. They'll probably name the new gymnasium after him."

Kenzie snorted. "Whatever. I don't believe Finn picked on this Ryan kid. It had to have been the other way around."

"I agree, but he is suspended."

"What would it hurt for him to know some martial arts, Mom? Yes, I heard Justin."

Abandoning the paperwork, Tori fell back on her pillows, aware that Kenzie didn't deny the "unsteady household" claim at all.

"Martial arts? That's not what I want for him."

"It's a sport, you know. And a kind of cool one," Kenzie said. "I looked it up."

"Kenzie!" Tori jabbed her leg with a bare foot. "Whose side are you on?"

"That's just it, Mom." Her expression grew serious. "I don't want there to be sides in my home ever again. I never want to go through…that."

"Oh, honey." She shot forward, reaching for her. "Do you believe we have problems in this family? Is that why Finn is fighting? Justin and I were just talking. We're not breaking up."

Kenzie eyed her, looking uncertain.

"Kenzie?" Tori pressed.

She swallowed, clearly uncomfortable. "I'd believe that more if you got married."

Tori wasn't sure how to answer that. Sometimes, marriage to Justin felt inevitable but…was it? They never really talked the specifics of getting married, but mutually put it on the back burner while she settled in.

But what about the kids?

"We're living in a house he bought," Tori said, gesturing to remind Kenzie that they didn't buy this two-story stucco home with a pool and a circular drive. Didn't that show permanence? A commitment?

"And why doesn't he live here, too?"

"You know why."

"You don't want to live with him and two teenagers, but come on, Mom. We know what's what. This situation feels really…uncertain. Temporary, even."

Tori searched her face, trying to imagine how their not being married made Kenzie feel. And Finn, who'd never in a million years bring up the subject to Tori.

"I get that," Tori finally said. "Like we don't really own a house and haven't lived here that long and…yeah. It must feel like we're in transition, not a home."

"Don't get me wrong," Kenzie said. "I'm not trying to push you into something you don't want to do. I love Justin and Finn does, too, and I'm sure you do, so…"

So what were they waiting for? The question hung in the air, unasked and unanswered.

"I don't want to rush marriage," Tori said, drawing the words out slowly as they formed. "But I also don't want you two to get attached to Justin and then…something happens."

"I don't want that, either," Kenzie said quickly. "So I don't know how to feel."

Tori closed her eyes, knowing Kenzie had just nailed the whole thing. The kids wanted to be attached to him, to the idea of them as a family…but it scared them.

"I like Justin," Kenzie told her. "I think it's fair to say I love him and want you two to stay together. But until you guys make this permanent, I'm bracing myself for the worst, Mom. And maybe Finn feels that way, too. I don't know since he's thirteen and can't express himself very well."

"Do you think that principal is right?" Tori asked, following her daughter's train of thought. "That's why he really got in trouble? Because of…us? Of Justin and me?"

"That doesn't seem right," Kenzie said. "But Finnie's a weird duck, so who knows?"

"But he's our weird duck," Tori joked. "Quack, quack."

"And the martial arts?" Kenzie asked.

Tori shook her head. "I'm still saying no. If Finn does a sport, it will be one where he's on a team so he can make friends. And it won't be violent or aggressive, because I don't want that for him."

"You've said that twice, Mom. That you don't ‘want that' for Finn. What about what Finn wants?"

"Does he even know what he wants?"

"He wants to fit in, Mom. That's all most kids want." Kenzie stood up.

"Not you," Tori said.

Kenzie shrugged. "I just want…hope."

"For what?"

"The future, I guess. For harmony and stability and for all of us to be happy again."

"Aren't you happy?" Tori asked, her heart climbing up to her throat.

Kenzie gave a wistful smile. "It was a long time of not being happy when you and Dad were at each other's throats. Even after the divorce. But now, he's in North Carolina, and we're starting over, and I just don't want anything like that ever again." She grinned and pointed to Tori. "How's that for a—brace yourself—soliloquy? I just learned that word."

"It's a good one."

"And I'm going to bed." She leaned over Tori and kissed her head. But when she straightened, her expression was sad and familiar.

It was the face of that little girl who'd already lived through one divorce.

"I love you, Kenz."

"Same, Mom." She blew a kiss and left Tori alone.

She stared at the papers spread on the bed, knowing in her heart that Kenzie was right, that the kids deserved permanence and stability and certainty.

So how did she get that without taking a risk she wasn't quite ready to take yet?