“How about Soundgarden?” Reesee called out, “Dusty, do you know ‘Fell on Black Days’?”
Instantly No started the opening chords of the song Rees was talking about. Dusty looked to Rees as Mike felt something intangible but foreboding coming from beside him and he looked to his left. He saw Fin moving down the hall toward the kitchen, phone to his ear and something about Fin’s posture made Mike’s eyes narrow on his back. He couldn’t see anything particular but he could feel it.
“I can give it a go,” Dusty answered Rees and Mike looked back into the room.
Then she “gave it a go”. Rees’s choice was excellent. Simple, disconsolate words, No’s guitar and Dusty’s pure, sweet voice making a phenomenal song even better.
But this time, that something he felt from Fin nagging at Mike, when they were in the second verse, Mike tore his eyes off Dusty and No and looked down the hall. He saw nothing then Fin paced across the kitchen doorway, one fist to his hip, the phone to his other ear, neck bent, eyes to the ground. He was in profile and Mike couldn’t catch his expression but he did note Fin’s jaw was hard. Then Mike watched Fin pace out of sight.
Even without being able to see Fin’s expression, his movements, posture and hard jaw made Mike push away from the jamb and move down the hall toward the kitchen.
He got into the room to see Fin standing at an angle to the kitchen table, his back to Mike, his head up, his eyes across the room and he heard Fin say in a low, rumbling, pissed off voice, “Dad’s dead. Ma’s practically dead. And now, you are totally dead.”
Then he beeped off the phone, turned on his foot and spied Mike.
Mike braced at the look of sheer fury on the boy’s face.
“Fin –” he started low but Fin moved.
Swiftly, Fin’s long legs took him through the kitchen, past Mike and down the hall.
Mike followed just as swiftly. But even so, he was too late. After seeing that look on his face, Mike should have caught Fin in the kitchen. Unfortunately he didn’t and when Fin hit the living room, his fury unleashed.
“You’ve lost your fuckin’ mind!” he roared, No stopped playing, Dusty stopped singing and all eyes went to Fin but Fin’s eyes were locked on Rhonda.
Jesus. Shit. Fuck.
Mike moved to Fin and started to lift a hand to lay it on his shoulder but Fin’s head jerked toward Rivera and Jerra who each had a kid in their laps.
“Get your kids outta here,” he ordered and Rivera’s gaze cut to Mike.
Jerra got up instantly, putting a staring at Fin, open-mouthed Adriana on her feet but taking her hand. Della moved toward Joaquin, Rivera and Jerra’s little boy. They led them out as Mike got close to Fin’s back right side and his eyes went to Dusty who had stood as had No, putting his guitar down and leaning it against the chair. Rivera and Dean also stood. Rees, too, had found her feet and she moved close to Fin.
But Fin only had eyes for Rhonda.
Mike’s gaze cut to Rhonda who was staring at Fin, frozen.
“Fin, honey, take a breath,” Dusty said placatingly.
Fin ignored her.
“That was Bernie McGrath on the phone,” Fin announced.
Mike tensed.
Jesus. Shit. Fuck.
Fin went on, “Wanted me to tell you to be sure you deposit that five thousand dollar check.”
Jesus. Shit. Fuck!
“What’s this?” Dean asked but Fin ignored him too.
“Then I called Aunt Debbie,” he continued. “She’s filled me in, Ma, that you’re on board.”
“On board for what?” Dusty asked, looking back and forth between Fin and Rhonda and at her question Fin’s eyes sliced to her.
“On board as a plaintiff contesting Dad’s will.”
Jesus. Shit. Fuck!
Dusty’s body got visibly tight, her cheeks got visibly red and her eyes fired. Mike could see it from across the room.
But he read the situation that was more volatile was Fin and Rhonda so Mike positioned himself beyond Fin and between Rhonda and her son.
Rees approached Fin and laid a hand on his arm.
Fin ignored her too.
“You haven’t been up in your room feelin’ sorry for yourself,” he stated, his eyes glued to his mother. “You been up there plottin’ with fuckin’ Aunt Debbie.”
“Rhonda, please say this isn’t true.” Dusty’s voice was soft but forced.
Rhonda kept her eyes to her son and she whispered, “It’s for the best.”
At that, Fin’s torso twisted violently, his arm swinging out in a blur across his front and the phone went flying across the room, over the couch to smash against a wall.
The room, already tense, went wired.
“Fin, take a walk,” Mike ordered.
Fin ignored Mike too and looked back at his mother.
“For the best? That…is…whacked!”
Rhonda, surprising everyone, straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “This farm killed your father,” she declared.
“So now you open your mouth and Aunt Debbie speaks?” Fin asked sarcastically.