My Dearest Finley

~ Chapter 10 ~

Georgia and Fin woke up the next morning, and got ready for Finley's last therapy appointment. Today would seal Finley's fate. The two rode along the road in silence, each of their hands trembling in each others.

Georgia wasn't allowed to come into the therapy room, so she had to wait for the hour long session to end. This would, hopefully, be her last time to visit this facility. The cream colored walls had only a few photos: a painting of a man on crutches, a photo of the doctors, and a photo of a man with the top doctor. The man was missing one leg. Georgia cringed, and prayed to God that her husband wouldn't have to go through that.

She read for a little while, but her nerves were on edge, so she put the book back in her purse. Georgia busied herself by reorganizing all the magazines on the little tables scattered around the room. The hour was finally up, and she saw the doorknob turn. Catching her breath, she grabbed her purse and walked over towards the door.

Finley emerged from the door, and he didn't have any crutches. Trying to be as gentle as possible, Georgia ran up and hugged him. "You're walking, Fin!" She cheered, kissing each cheek, and then his lips. Finley kissed her back, and grinned. "Sure am, Honey." He chuckled. That's when it hit Georgia. They only had today, and until noon tomorrow together. He would have to leave soon to join the fight. Finley sensed Georgia's realization, and held her close. "Not here." He whispered, and rubbed small circles in her back. They paid the $25, and went home.

Once safe in the security of her own home, Georgia fell apart. "Finley! We only have today and a little bit of time tomorrow!" She cried. Finley walked over to where she was standing in the living room, and wrapped his arms around her. Placing his chin on top of her head, he held her close and traced circles on her back. "I know, G. I know. Let's make the best of it, okay? How about this: I'll take you to dinner, we'll dance for a bit, and we can pick up our little bundles of joy on the way home." Finley offered. Georgia agreed. "Alright, now I'm going to go get cleaned up, and we'll leave around... Six." He smiled down at his wife. Georgia nodded her head, and headed upstairs to touch up.

~~~~~~~

The couple went to the burger joint where they had first met. "I met you here." Georgia commented, taking a bite of her burger. "Yep. That's why I wanted to bring you here. Plus, we can dance after we're done." Finley replied. The two finished their burgers, and talked a bit more after.

"I don't want you to go, Fin."

"I know, Sweetheart. I've got to go. They need me."

"I need you here. We need you here."

"That's not fair-"

"No. You suddenly leaving without discussing this with me twice is not fair." Georgia snapped.

"Uh, G- you got me. Let's not think of that right now." Finley pleaded.

"No! When are we going to think about it, Finley? We can't just keep pushing this aside! We have two babies, and my parents live twenty minutes away. What am I going to do without you?" Georgia was in tears.

"Geor-" Finley felt horrible.

All Of Me by Louis Armstrong was playing in the dance room, and that was "their" song. Finley got out of his chair, and offered his hand to Georgia. She accepted, and the two walked to the dance floor. They danced close together: Georgia fearing he would disappear in the blink of an eye, and Finley fearing his wife would fall apart.

They danced for a few more songs, and left to go pick up their week old bundles of joy. "Hello, Johnny Babe!" Georgia blew a soft raspberry on his small tummy. The little baby giggled and squirmed. "How were they?" Finley asked, putting Nancy's coat on her, then wrapping a small quilt Mrs. Anderson had made. "Absolutely wonderful! They slept through the night, and woke up around 7 A.M. No crying, screaming, no nasty diapers." Mr. Anderson smiled, handing Finley the girl diaper bag. "Sweet!" Georgia grinned, placing Johnny's diaper bag on her shoulder. "Well, we should be going." Georgia said as she made her way towards the door. They left and made their way towards home.

Georgia sat next to Finley on the couch, each holding a baby. "Hey, Nance. You be good to Mama, alright?" The baby giggled in response. Finley smiled, and as Georgia looked on, she saw his love for his daughter. "Hey, Johnny. Don't be too terribly bad." Finley leaned over to kiss his forehead. The two loving parents laughed, and played with the babies until it was time to take baths.

Finley was washing Johnny in the large tub in the master bathroom, and Georgia soon joined to help. Georgia had Nancy, and Nancy wasn't having it. "Here, let me try." Fin took the baby, and she relaxed and let him bathe her. Fin stuck his tongue out at Georgia as he began drying Nancy off. "Not fair! You made her into a Daddy's girl!" Georgia joked. After putting the children to bed, the two got ready for bed.

Snuggled up together, they listened to the wind howling outside. "The snow must be terrible." Georgia said. Finley agreed. Georgia's head laid where it had been for several years: Fin's chest. He was playing with her hair, and occasionally placing a kiss at the top of her head. Georgia rubbed small circles on Finley's chest, and tilted her head to kiss his cheek every now and then. Whether they both cared to admit it, they were secretly trying to spend every last minute together possible.