Finn walked. He liked to walk when he needed to clear his head. And today was one of those days. She is 10 and has brown hair and green eyes. She likes the color purple and she likes Johnny Depp. To bad Finn just met her. To bad he doesn't want a daughter. And it wasn't right to her. How dare Lauren never tell him she was pregnant? Sure they had only been together a few times but still. It explained why she left high school. And here she was now, his daughter because her mom was a strung out junkie and she had nowhere else to go. Finn needed to think now more than ever. So he got Colin to watch Jade and took a walk.
He couldn't help but notice the girl bending over to pick up the keys she had dropped. Nice legs. He thought realizing something similar probably got him into the situation he was in now. The girl turned around. Finn couldn't believe whom he'd just been checking out, much less that he didn't even recognize her. It may have been 4 years but still.
"Rory!" He yelled.
Rory turned around. "Finn!" She said rushing over to him. She gave him a hug. "I haven't seen you in forever."
"I know." He smiled at her. She had gotten, if possible an even more angelic look to her face. "So did you get the job at the paper?"
"Yeah." She grinned her blue eyes sparkling. "What's up with you?"
"Oh not to much." Finn lied, a stupid idea.
"Something's wrong isn't it? I was just going to the coffee shop. Come with me, I swear I'm a good listener and I guess I give good advice. I've been ghost writing the advice column for a while now."
Finn did tell her. He was actually glad to have some one who would listen. And she was right she was a good listener.
Rory looked at Finn. "A daughter. You know I could help you. She's ten she's going to be needing so help adjusting to teenage years and I don't think you can help with that."
"I know I can't! And I love her already. I didn't think I could love her but she's my daughter and she has my goofy smile. But I don't want to screw her up." Finn felt bad dumping this on Rory, but Rory seemed to genuinely be concerned and she didn't seem to mind at all.
"I am serious about the helping thing. Actually I demand that you do let me help. It sounds like she needs some guidance." Rory smiled and drank the last of her coffee. "I'm done for tonight. Let me help you."
"If you want to." Finn said.
"I do."
Jade came downstairs as Colin left. She looked Rory over and stood in the middle of the stairs.
Rory felt sorry for her. She must be terrified. She was thin and had a hollow look to her eyes.
"This is Rory, Jade. She's my friend and I talked to her and she insisted that I let her come help me out."
Jade stood in silence. She was terrified, but she was sort of use to it. She had been terrified when her mom would break down. She was terrified when her mom's boyfriends would beat her mom, or even her, or when the kids would pick on her in school, when she would go for days without eating, and when social services came. Jade still didn't say a word though.
"I told him you needed someone to talk to and he wouldn't be able to help. I know you probably don't want to talk to me now but I will be here. I just bought a new house down the road to be closer to work. And anytime you need anything you can call."
"I'm hungry." Jade whispered.
Finn broke in. "Lets get some food then. Anything you want." He said. He didn't know how to be a dad but he would try. There was no way he could have known but he still couldn't believe he had let a daughter live like Jade had. He took her to the kitchen and fixed her a sandwich.
"Tomorrow we could go shopping." Rory suggested. "But only if you want to." She took the plate before Finn sat it down and went and cut the edges off. Kids didn't like edges right. She then sat it down.
"I think I might like going shopping." Jade said.
"Then it's settled." Rory smiled.