Chapter 171
Kate and Russell had brought the tablet into the big house so Matt could see what was going on. Finn had been on and off the property as well, preparing some sort of surprise for Tess when they got back. They flagged him down as he brought the ute back from where he had been out, setting up the surprise. Terry was out doing chores with Claire, and they didn't want Meggie and Katie seeing the footage, so Meg took them outside. The four of them huddled around the tablet screen and watched in horror. Finn and Matt had both experienced losing spouses before, and this was hitting both of them hard.
"I'm sorry. I can't just sit here and watch this with all of you. I'll be in my truck, please give me the link, I'll watch alone on my phone. I can't do this with you. I don't even know you." Finn said as he got up and left.
"Did you know his wife was killed while she was carrying their child? Poor Finn, this is probably bringing him back to that horrible place." Matt said "I'm going to go check on him." He shouldn't be alone." Matt limped out of the house and over to Finn's ute.
"Hey mate, I know we don't know each other very well, but we have a couple things in common," Matt said as he knocked on the passenger window. Finn reached over and unlocked the door, letting Matt in. "Both of us have the women we love being held hostage and are completely powerless to do anything about it. We have both also lost wives before. Yes, I know about what happened to your wife. You don't know that Jodi isn't my first wife, and that my Anna was taken from me far too early, just like your Leah was. We both lost children too. I had a little boy, and I know Leah was carrying yours. I know you shouldn't be alone right now, because I know I shouldn't be alone right now, so we are going to watch this together and focus on how Tess and Jodi aren't Anna and Leah, okay mate?"
"I can't lose her. I've had no time to even be with her. I love her, Matt, I can't do this again. I've been a broken man since Leah. Tess is the only thing that has started to make me feel whole again," confessed Finn.
"I know, I understand. After I lost Anna, and my son, I thought that life wasn't worth living anymore. Everything that was important to me was gone. Jodi literally saved my life. I can't lose her either. We won't. We have to sit here and believe that things are going to be okay. I'm here with you Finn. We are in love with sisters, and that makes us family in my book. I know you're new here, and don't really know us, but this family looks out for each other, so I'm here, and we're going to look out for each other right now. You can count on me. We will sit here together and we will believe our women will be okay, because we have no other choice right now. They have to be okay," said Matt, tearing up.
"I can't do this again. I can't rebuild my life a second time. I can't do this alone. It was so hard the last time." Finn was shaking with fear and watching the events on his phone.
They could see on Charlotte's camera that she was now aware of what was happening.
Regan had her back to the guy, but she sometimes turned her head side to side and they could see Tess to her right and Grace, Jaz and Jodi to her left.
"Please let Charlotte stay out of this. Jodi never wanted her to go in the first place because it was too dangerous. She would never forgive herself if Charlotte is hurt." Matt said.
"But Charlotte might be their only hope. All five of them. He could kill them all. That's a revolver. Six bullets. He could destroy the most beautiful and loving family I've ever seen. He could take Tess from me. I can't lose her, I just found her. I can't rebuild my life again," Finn cried.