finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

When she asked him for his id, he nodded, fishing his wallet out of his pocket. He opened the first flap, handing her the plastic card before closing it up. “I…If you can’t find one, that’s okay. My mom is searching at home but uh, its not, like I don’t have to have it right this second; if you’re busy with other customers, I… I can come back.” He said, finally looking up at her. He was nervous that she would recognize him, or his father’s name, and be like so many others and dismiss him on sight. He couldn’t help who his father was but he could try to fix things, even if no one else saw it that way. He didn’t want to sell the firm but he couldn’t leave the Goodman name on it either, not with all the honest and trustworthy people working there now. Giving it a new name would certainly help or at least, he hoped it would. When she spoke again, he finally looked up at her and shook his head. “No, thank you. Water is fine. Are… are you sure you’re not busy? I don’t want to be a bother to anyone.”

when the other introduced himself selen didn't had to think twice of who he was. goodman, this name was very much stuck on her mind ever since the moment she had them as her lawyer. a case that had been unsolved ever since. was he his son? she got out of her thoughts the moment finn mentioned he came because of a safety deposit box. she listened to him speak and the way he avoided making eye contact with her didn't go unnoticed. she instantly felt a lump in her throat as she realized how difficult this must be for him. gulping away quickly the tears that were threatening to fill her eyes. clearing her throat. "let's see what i can do for you. we might have a spare key," she mentioned. "could i get your id card for confirmation and check up?" selen questioned softly before grabbing the can of water and filling two glasses before placing one of the glasses in front of finn. just as a gesture of comfort. "would you like to drink anything else? coffee, tea? this might take a little while. the application is a little slow today."

[finnagoodman]

Finn had no idea why he was at a flower shop but apparently Stitch had decided it was something he should be doing. He supposed he could take some to his mom, or perhaps leave a bouquet on Marley’s doorstep for their daughter but he supposed seeing her was not the best option right now. Seeing her again had dug up all the old wounds of his past and while he knew they should talk about what had happened, he just wasn’t ready. Would he ever be ready, he couldn’t say for as painful as it was for her, it was just as well for him. He wasn’t 100% at fault for what happened to them but he would shoulder all the blame because that is what you do when you hurt the person you love.

Hearing a voice off to his left pulled him from his thoughts as he looked to the many varieties of flowers arranged in beautiful bouquets alongside the wall. “I don’t think that is a situation where flowers will help but uh, you’re also asking the wrong person. I have no idea what any of these are, other than roses of course. Are the flowers for a female or male? Not that that will help my decision but I’m just asking.” @riverxjackson

River was at Belle Blossoms today trying to do some shopping. He had been running around all day trying to find the right thing for what he was looking for. It had been a few weeks since the fire in the apartment and it was all well and good now and fixed up since uncle's company was able to get fixed rather quickly.

But he had felt bad about all of it. So he wanted to do something or maybe a number of things to make it up to Drew for what he had done to the apartment. He did know it wasn't just River and it wasn't Rory it was an accident the candle flared up and they didn't notice in time. But thankfully it was one wall and was repaired and they were back in the apartment.

He sighed as he looked at al the flowers and looked at a person walking in "What says..." he eyed the flowers "Sorry I nearly burned down the apartment you gave me because you're amazing and I failed" he laughed. @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

Who: @marleyxmadden

When: Evening of June 27th

Where: Various places in Downtown

Finn hadn't seen Marley since their awkward first encounter at the drug store and for all intents and purposes, he missed her. He knew he owed her an explanation as he could just imagine what her parents, or his own, had filled her head with after he'd left. He had tried to explain it all in his letters but since she'd never responded, he assumed that her feelings had changed and she truly hated him for leaving. He couldn't blame her, not really, she needed him and he'd left, a coward, too scared to stand up to his father. And now, he was sure he'd lost the only person he ever loved. Not just the relationship but the friendship that had formed before. All of it. Gone. Because he was weak. A shell of his former self. He didn't laugh, he barely smiled. He was not the Finn she remembered and he never would be again.

Still, he found himself wandering through town, hoping to "accidently" run into her. Their connection would always be there but it was fractured, on the verge of breaking completely, and it was all his fault. He had to make things right before he left town. He couldn't leave without mending the bond, or at least, trying too. He had gone to so many locations that he remembered she loved, the bookstore, the music store, the gazebo, their spot in the woods where they would go to be alone, and nothing. She was a ghost and maybe it was better that way. He had caused enough damage, why cause her anymore? He stopped abruptly, causing Stitch to become alert, looking up at him with concern. "Sorry girl, thought I saw her. Nevermind. Let's go home."

[finnagoodman]

There was something truly healing about a good slice of pizza that could make even the grumpiest of people feel good. Or so he hoped. He had hit yet another snag in trying to sell the firm and while he shouldn't have been surprised, it had pissed him off enough that he'd gone home and in a rage, managed to break several of his dishes. Rather than clean them up however, he had left them where they were and headed to town, needing a distraction from his still shitty life. He just wanted to be gone from here, every familar landmark or building a stark reminder of a life he had been trying to forget. The one shining light he had left was flickering and he doubted it would stay lit enough to last. He'd managed to secure a part time job as a bartender and it was decent but it wasn't what he wanted to do.

Passing by a woman sitting alone at a table, a rather large pizza in front of her, he headed to the counter to order one of his own, a small thin crust so that Stitch could partake. Walking back to where he'd spotted the brunette, he approached cautiously, a nervous air about him. "S... sorry to bother you but um, I was wondering if I could sit here? At least until my pizza is done. I don't like sitting by the windows." He admitted, meeting her gaze. "If you're waiting for someone, that's fine, I just..." He trailed off, his social skills in talking to people had been taken from him in the blast and now it was like he was relearning how to be a basic human being. @kvtieansley

Katie had slept for a whole twelve hours, while Maisie had a sleepover at their neighbor's house. She just told the woman that she wasn't feeling well and that she needed someone to watch her little girl while she got some much-needed rest. But truth be told, it was her brain that wasn't feeling well. She'd been feeling so down the last few days, having no motivation for much of anything.

What's the point of life anyway?

She did manage to get dressed today, though. Now she was sitting in a booth at Dough Depot, pumped full of caffeine and with a big ass pepperoni pizza in front of her. Not sure why she got a large, since she's just one person, but whatever. Fuck it.

She took another slice, taking a bite and gazing intently around the quiet restaurant. Lucky fuckers, with their perfect lives and their perfect families. Fuck them. @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

"Don't worry, just passing through. I won't be a bother at all. In fact, I'll sit over here." Finn said, not even looking at the guy as he sat down to watch him. He could respect the dedication an determination but he couldn't understand the why. Things as simple, or rather not so simple, as that had become lost on him as he became desensitized to most things during his time in the Army. Things that were once fun for the veteran were now just concepts that he simply could not enjoy anymore out of fear and anger. Having an artifical leg also didn't help the situation either. There were things he would never be able to do again and he was still trying to come to terms with that fact. "How many attempts is this?" He asked, finally meeting his gaze.

closed starter || @finnagoodman

It was a very rare occasion that Dean had spare time that he wasn't spending in a bar or with a woman. But today was a nice day, the weather was beautiful, so he decided to go to the park. He was supposed to meet up with some friends, but they were running late. Out of pure boredom, he sat down at a picnic table in the park and started building a tower with a deck of cards. "If you're sitting down, be careful, I don't want you to shake the table and ruin my progress" he said as he heard someone coming up to him.

[finnagoodman]

Finn wouldn't admit this out loud to anyone but he had been enjoying himself in the week he'd been back. Seeing Marley again had brought up feelings he had never forgotten but simply buried. He'd reconnected with him mom and hashed out a few things to try and fix their broken relationship. He still hadn't found a buyer for the firm and the prospect that he had had backed out once they heard the history of it so as of right now, it still belonged to him. He hadn't gone to see it, not ready to walk the same floors that his father had tainted. He had heard things were going great and everyone was trying to put it behind them but until the Goodman name was erased from it completely, it would never be what it could be. He had been out for a walk, re-familarizing himself with the town when he decided to stop off at Driftwood Diner for lunch. He hadn't been waiting long when he heard a voice from behind him. He turned, wondering it was directed at him, only to see a bag pointed in his direction. "Uh no. Not Ben, sorry. My name is Finn." He looked around to see if he could help her locate him but he didn't know what he looked like. "I wonder if he got yours by mistake, you think?"

𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 -- capping at 2 (0/2) -- once capped please message if you want to reply!

"Excuse me?" Teagan questioned, letting herself glance down at the bag in her hand before she took a step forward, approaching the person currently standing at the counter, assumingly waiting a to-go order as she was. DRIFTWOOD DINER had become one of her favorite places to visit, and she often found herself there every Tuesday night after work. She'd order it an hour before her shift ended to go, go grab the food and then head home where she'd indulge in whatever she'd purchased and a glass of wine, all while watching whatever show or movie series she was binge watching. Today upon arrival though, she'd been responding to an email for work and hadn't been paying attention, grabbing the first bag she saw before turning on her heels. She'd only made it a few steps to the door to leave before she realized that the order she'd grabbed didn't have her name on it. "I grabbed this order thinking it was mine. Are you Benjamin by chance?" she questioned. "I promise I didn't open it and will even pay you for it if I need to!"

[finnagoodman]

Finn didn't want to do this. He couldn't understand why he had to handle his dad's affairs or why his mom had sent him here to retrieve the contents of his safety deposit box. But he had nothing better to do and even though he hated his father, he was curious to know what was inside. Although knowing his father, it would be empty, yet another fuck you to him and his mother. As he waited his turn in line, he saw a lot of angry customers entering and leaving and another woman doing her best to explain. He felt empathy for her, working a job like this couldn't be easy, but he just needed to get in and out as quickly as possible.

Hearing the prompt to come in, he smiled and closed the door behind him before sitting down. "H...hi. I, um, I'm Finn Goodman. I got a letter stating that I needed to come down and get the contents of my father's safety deposit box. But uh, he didn't, leave a key so I'm not sure if that's something you need or if you guys have a spare. I didn't feel like rummaging through a dead guy's pocket for it soo..." He finished, looking around the office to avoid making eye contact. He had left Stitch at home with his mom, a mistake no doubt, but he needed to do this himself. Another mistake.

starter: open (capping at 5)

location: the bank, selen's office

it had been such a chaotic day. there had been a small issue with the bank application, which was giving errors, and it was going to take an extra day to fix. this caused a lot of people to call the bank for extra information. it wasn’t just phone calls; many people were visiting the bank as well. she could totally understand the frustration of some customers. however, there had been a few people who didn’t want to understand what she was explaining to them. "ma'am, there has just been a small issue. our it specialists are doing their best to fix this problem. they're working on it. don't worry, your—" she was cut short as the customer just got up, mumbled some rude things, and stormed out of her office, leaving the door open. a soft sigh escaped from selen's lips before she saw another customer standing in front of the door. "oh hey! come in," she smiled politely.

[finnagoodman]

The minute she said his name in that soft soothing tone that always seemed to calm him down, Finn felt himself relaxing and he loosened his grip on Stitch's leash, letting it fall loosely to his side. "I, erm, sorry, I wasn't, you know, mad at you. God, even from the grave he's managing to piss me off." The brunette said, letting out a sigh. "I think that's a given." He replied, shuffling from one foot to the other. "I mean, you don't..." Finn started to reply, his voice low. He knew she probably had better things to do than talk to him so he just nodded. "For the record, I was in your way but yeah, I should get back. Its almost time for Stitch's dinner. Maybe I'll see you again before I leave." He said, his statement full of hope but not expectation.

END

"Finn." Marley spoke softly. She could see him getting angry, it was the same signs as when they were teens, and the last thing she wanted was for him to get mad at her the first day the saw each other in over a decade. "I know. You don't have to explain it to me." She reminded him before nodding. "Well, our parents would hate it." She smiled a little before taking a deep breath. "I, um, I should get out of your way. You were going." @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

Finn listened to the man introduce his dog and he smiled, bending down as much as he could to gently give Stitch a scratch on her head. "This is Stitch. We were just down at the beach for a bit of a run and are supposed to be heading back to the Homey Inn, but I might be a bit lost." He admitted, looking around for anything that might be a bit familiar to him. "This place has changed so much in the last 13 years that it no longer feels familiar. How long have you been here?" He asked, attempting to make small talk. It was nice to run into someone finally, the loneliness had started to overwhelm him, forcing him to panic and as a result, lash out potentially. "I knew I should have drove here but it was a nice evening so I thought why not?"

Donny had been trying to do better lately getting out in the world and meeting people. He knew if he kept it up and didn't stop he wouldn't fall down into the hole he once was in. So even on the days he felt like he didn't want to get out of bed he made himself. A few days ago he had a day he had to fight himself to get up. Just not feeling like there was a reason to get up.

He smiled at the two dogs that already did seem to get along well. "Thank you" he patted Honeys side with a smile "Her name is Honey and we are on her walk so she can take a break of taking care of me" he said with a chuckle. He cared for Honey a lot she was a smaller dog but did so well to care for him. @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

"You think I'm wrong to hate him? To not want anything to do with him?" He asked, feeling his anger threatening to surface. He tightened his grip on Stitch's leash, turning away to let out a few deep breaths. Everytime the subject of his father came up, he had to fight to control his anger. "I... I'm sorry. I just... he might have been my dad but he wasn't my father." Finn stated with a shrug of his shoulders. At her question about his cat, he chuckled, thankful for the change of topic. "Its actually Quincy but I call him A'hole when he's being... well an asshole."

She took a deep breath and nodded as she moved her eyes away from him for a moment. "I know, but..." But what? He was still his dad and while Marely would feel the same way about her parents one day, she would still say the same. Her eyes followed him and looked down at the dog that was with Finn and then back up at him as he talked about his pets. "A'hole? You named your cat that?" @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, Marley. He was an asshole and deserves to rot in hell for what he's done to me, to this town, to..." He trailed off, fidgeting back and forth as he tried to keep himself calm. He reached down, not taking his eyes off of her, to pet Stitch, his fingers scratching the top of her head and behind her ears. "Oh uh this is Stitch. Not sure why she's named that but she's already grown attached so I can't change it." Finn said, a small smile crossing his features. His smile these days, when present, was usually forced, because what does a person with a life such as his have to be happy about? But with Marley, just like times before, it was genuine. She just had that way about her. "I also have a cat named A'hole. We're all staying at the Homey Inn."

"Right." She said, remembering now she had heard about his dad, but she didn't think she'd see Finn. Not when she knew the relationship was worse than hers with her parents. At least he was closer to his mom. "I'm sorry." She apologized and tried to get the thoughts in her head to stop screaming at her. It was all the memories of them together, especially those last few days, and it was hard to stand there, but she forced herself to. "T-Thanks. So, um, so do you." He always looked great. He was definitely older than the boy in her memories, but he still looked the like the man she had falling in love with. @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

Seeing her again after all this time send his mind into overload and for a second, he forgot how to breathe. She was here. In the flesh. Not just a memory he's held on to for 13 long and torturous years. He never forgot her face or her voice. Like an angel. But seeing her now, things had shifted. They were no longer 18 year olds in love, making plans for their future. They were adults, he was a divorcee with no real plans for his future. And she was the complete opposite of all that he was. "I was. I just... Dad died and mom she, she didn't want to be alone while going through all his things so I came to help. You... you look great." You look great? You.look.great? You look like an idiot, Finn.

Staring at him, she could feel so much coming back to her that she had tried so hard for thirteen years to suppress. She thought she had gotten over a lot of it, but it was resurfacing and her heart started aching; forcing her to try not to cry. "F-Finn..." She finally let out and took a step back. "What are you doing here? I... I thought you were in New York." She had seen things about him and his wife over time and while she tried not to read about them, she found herself doing it and it always hurt. @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

In his reluctance to leave New York, Finn had forgotten to grab his medications from his cabinet at home and now found himself in desperate need of them. He remembered the old pharmacy in town and hoped that they would be able to fill the prescription he had had his doctor call in. With his trusty service dog, Stitch, at his side, he made his way towards the drug store, stopping only to notice the subtle changes that had been made in his absence. If he wasn't in a hurry to get out of here, he might be more appreciative of the town's growth. As he was leaving the store, pill bottle in hand and eyes focused on reading the side effects, he bumped into someone. That voice... it hadn't changed after 13 years... he looked up and into the eyes of his first love. "Don't be. That was all my fault."

closed starter for @finnagoodman location: pharmacy

Marley was running some errands downtown that she had put off during the week. She had a prescription to grab at the pharmacy before she headed towards the grocery store. So she had parked down the street between the two places and headed towards the door when it opened and she ended up walking right into someone. "Oh. I'm sorry." She said and she moved back before looking up at the man and her face fell instantly as she saw who it was.

[finnagoodman]

What are you doing here? You don't belong. Your dad was a piece of shit and so are you. These were just some of the many taunts that had been flung at him the week he'd been here. He wasn't his father and he certainly never wanted to be but to some of the victims and their families, he might as well be him. He had returned to Kismet Harbor for one purpose: to sell the law firm to someone who could actually do something with it and then get the hell back to New York. He didn't belong here and these people knew it. He was greatful for the peace and quiet that the Homey Inn offered but it wasn't his place in New York. Still, it offered him what he needed during his short time here. He couldn't predict how long the sale would take but he would be here until it was finalized completely and his hands washed clean.

He had decided now that the town had fallen quiet and the sun had dipped below the horizon to go for a walk, knowing that the few stragglers that may be lurking would hopefully not care that he was there tainting the town with his presence. Grabbing Stitch's leash, he affixed her vest onto her back and gave her a few scratches before heading downtown. He hated his prosthetic, an everyday reminder of his time in the Army, a time he wished he could forget completely. He had just returned from his second trip around the square when he heard a voice complimenting his dog. "Thanks. So is yours." Finn said, not coming closer out of both caution and fear. "What's their name?"

Donny was taking a walk with Honey today just around the downtown part of town. For Honey to get out more and have some time off from working and they both really did need the exercise so he was doing it/trying to go out and walk the downtown each day or part of it before it was to dark to see.

He liked to go out at sundown since it was cooler out for both himself and Hoeny to enjoy the walk around down. He sighed as looked at Honey. "Should we head home or keep going?" he asked her as they waited at a stop light. But Honey started to walk away from home so she wanted a longer walk. "Fine girl" he smirked as he looked up to see another man walking his own dog. He paused a moment as he saw the other walking he knew that walking gate well but kept walking till he was near the other side "Your dog is cute" he smiled trying to make small talk. @finnagoodman

[finnagoodman]

Finn Goodman is 31 years old and was born in Kismet Harbor, Oregon. He’s been back in Kismet Harbor for one week and will eventually work as an EMT and is also the reluctant owner of Lighthouse Legal. He is currently single and is staying at the Homey Inn during his brief stay.

TW: CHILD ABUSE, DV, TEEN PREGNANCY, MISCARRIAGE, CHILD LOSS, RELIGION, FAMILY DISAPPROVAL, BLOOD, DEATH

CHARACTER INFORMATION, FACTS, & BIOGRAPHY

FULL NAME:

Phinneas Andrew Goodman

NICKNAME(S):

Finn ; Andy ; Finnocence

AGE:

31 years old

OCCUPATION:

EMT

New Owner of Lighthouse Legal 

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:

Resident at Homey Inn 

LENGTH OF TIME IN KISMET HARBOR:

Born and raised - recently moved back (temporarily) to handle his dad’s affairs

FC:

Josh Hutcherson

CHARACTER INFORMATION

BIRTHDAY:

October 12, 1992

ZODIAC SIGN:

Libra

PLACE OF BIRTH:

Kismet Harbor, OR

HOMETOWN:

Kismet Harbor, OR

GENDER & PRONOUNS:

Male ; He/Him

SEXUAL ORIENTATION:

Heterosexual

RELATIONSHIP STATUS:

Single

POSITIVE TRAITS:

Caring 

Empathetic 

Funny 

Loyal

Romantic 

NEGATIVE TRAITS:

Callous

Pessimistic

Self-Destructive

Temperamental

Withdrawn

PERSONAL

LANGUAGE(S):

English

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma from Kismet Harbor High School (class of 2012)

Bachelor’s degree in Business from Columbia University (class of 2020)

VEHICLE(S):

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5

AVERAGE SALARY:

Undisclosed 

PAST LIVING LOCATIONS:

New York, New York - 2016 to present 

APPEARANCE

HEIGHT: 

5’5”

HAIR COLOR:

Brown

EYE COLOR:

Hazel 

TATTOOS:

3 - an anchor on his side, a Libra sign on his wrist, and a ship sailing into a sunset with classic birds and lavender clouds on his back.

PIERCINGS:

Ears but they have since closed 

FACTS

LIKES:

Reading 

Long Walks

Swimming

Spending time with his animals 

Football 

Journaling (is required by his therapist) 

Watching television and movies 

DISLIKES:

Mushrooms

Brussel Sprouts

Asparagus 

Bigots

Racists

Judgy people

Snakes

HOBBIES:

Football

Crocheting (NOBODY knows this - NOBODY) 

Video games

Gardening 

TOWN ACTIVITIES:

Budding Minds

Compassionate Friends

Knit Happens

LGBTQIA+

Mindful Madness

Wounded Warrior

MEDICAL CONDITIONS:

Leg Amputation (left leg) 

Anxiety

Severe PTSD

Survivor’s Guilt

Nightmares

Tremors

Depression

ALLERGIES:

None

PHOBIAS & FEARS:

Going to war again 

Losing people he loves

DRINKING, DRUGS, & SMOKING HABITS:

Drinks occasionally 

No Drugs

Does not smoke 

FAVORITES

ALCOHOLIC DRINK:

Vodka Cranberry

ANIMAL:

Quokka

COLOR:

Teal

DESSERT:

Not a sweets eater

DRINK:

Dr. Pepper and Hot Tea

FOOD:

Italian 

HOLIDAY:

Halloween

ICE CREAM:

Mint chocolate chip

MOVIE:

Avatar

MUSIC:

Rock

Pop

SEASON:

Fall

RELATIONSHIPS

MOTHER:

Stella Diane Goodman (strained but working on getting better)

FATHER:

Daniel Grant Goodman (deceased - estranged) 

SIBLINGS:

None

CHILDREN:

Dahlia Goodman (May 18th, 2012, deceased)

EXTENDED FAMILY:

None 

PAST RELATIONSHIPS:

Marley Madden (2008-2012)

CLOSE FRIENDS:

None 

PETS:

His service animal named Stitch and his cat named A’hole (It's really Quincy but he calls him A’hole)

BIOGRAPHY

TW: CHILD ABUSE, DV, TEEN PREGNANCY, MISCARRIAGE, CHILD LOSS, RELIGION, FAMILY DISAPPROVAL, BLOOD, DEATH

Phinneas was born under a Libre moon with plenty of stars in the sky. His parents, Stella and Daniel, were ecstatic as he was considered a miracle child. Stella was told at an early age that she would not be able to conceive despite over a decade of trying. Finally, it happened. And to Stella, he was perfect. She made sure he got whatever he wanted and was never without the finer things in life. His father owned the first ever law firm built in Kismet Harbor, Lighthouse Legal, and his mother was a Sunday school teacher at the local church. Finn grew up innocent, assuming that his life was perfect. He had his best friend, Marley, living next door and they did everything together, attended church, went to the movies, all the things that best friends did. Their parents were friends so it was only natural that they would gravitate towards one another. 

When Finn was about 9, he started noticing strange people coming and going from both his home and the law firm where he would hang out after school and do his homework. It was really the only time he got to spend time with his dad as he was always working late and would come home after Finn was already in the bed. One particular day, Finn was playing in the house when he stopped outside his dad’s study (which he was not allowed in) and overheard two men inside talking about something called ‘coercion’ and ‘witness tampering.’ Of course he was only 9 so what did he know about all that? He just walked away and let the grownups talk. He was over at Marley’s house so often that he considered them his second set of parents. They always came around for dinner and to talk business while he and Marley disappeared upstairs to play video games or watch a new film he’d just gotten. 

Things like this were normal. He attended church every Sunday and never missed an opportunity to hear his best friend sing at all the functions, even if Mom and Dad weren’t as interested. One day, Finn was approached by a tall male outside his house and he wanted to know where his dad was. Finn didn’t think anything about it and told him he was at his office at the Law Firm. When dad got home that evening, he hit Finn for the first time and left a bruise on his face that he had to lie about. His mom said nothing about it to anyone and life went on, with the occasional beatings when Finn would misbehave or act in any way that his father didn’t approve of. He would find out later that he hit Stella as well. 

When Finn turned 15, his relationship with Marley had changed and instead of seeing her as his best friend, he had started liking her as more so one day, out of the blue, he asked her out, knowing that if he didn’t, his mom and dad would start asking around at church for someone for him to date. He knew she would say yes because that is just how they were but now it was different. Now there were real feelings involved, and consequences for actions that you couldn’t blame on being kids anymore. Their relationship soon blossomed and they became even more inseparable. Still, being raised by strict religious parents, whenever they hung out, it was ‘doors open’ or a curfew wherein they only had a couple of hours where they could truly be alone. 

By the time Finn was 18, he had endured enough to fight back against his dad’s beatings. “I’ve already been cursed with a midget for a son, i’ll not have a sissy too.” His dad was smart enough to know how hard to hit to either not leave a mark or leave them in areas no one could see and Finn had gotten tough enough to fight back, ending most of them before too much damage had been done.. Escaping to Marley’s house was his safe haven, even if his dad knew exactly where he had gone. They spent all day together while her parents were away and they discussed their future, fully expecting to get married like everyone expected. The next day at school, his friends teased him about having sex, wondering why they hadn’t done it yet. He just brushed it off with a joke but the words stuck with one. 

One night, after a church function, Finn told their parents they were going up to the lookout to eat dinner and listen to a podcast, to which their parents approved. During this time alone, Finn brought up the idea of sex and they both agreed that they would like to take it to the next level so there under the stars, they had sex in the backseat of his car. It was just like he had imagined and so much more. He was already convinced that they were soulmates, destined to leave Kismet Harbor and his parents behind for a life of pure bliss. Then Marley sort of became distant and he could tell something was different about her. He decided to ask her about it and she told him she was pregnant. 

He made the decision right then to step up and be there for her, like a good future husband and partner should. They kept it hidden for as long as they could but then one day, her mother found out and then as a result, his parents found out. But instead of preparing for a beating like he had assumed, they had just told him that he had to marry her, which he was planning to do anyway. His mother gave him her mother’s ring and said to propose to her on graduation night, to which he agreed. He was shocked that his parents weren’t more upset that they had had sex out of wedlock but as long as he wasn’t being beaten, he was okay with it. 

Finn was at home that fateful day when Marley showed up, looking absolutely terrified and scared. She told him something was wrong adn they rushed to the hospital. He stayed by her side the entire time and cried with her when they told her that their baby girl had died. In a cruel twist of fate, she still had to deliver the baby and Finn had barely even seen her face before they whisked her away forever. He didn’t blame Marley for what happened, it was an accident, but his father didn’t feel the same. He tried to forbid him from seeing her but he defied him, needing to check on her. They tried to make it work for weeks after but eventually the grief was too much and they broke up. 

Finn wasn’t sure what to do now, he still loved Marley, still wanted to be with her, wanted to marry her but his father had convinced her parents that it was best that they stay apart. One evening, as Finn was filling out college applications, his father came in and ripped them up, throwing them in his face in anger. “I told you not to see her anymore! You’ve got good genes, Finn, and I’ll not let you throw them away on some girl who can’t even keep a child alive! Now you’re going to take this ticket, hop on a bus and join the military. And if you don’t, then your mother is going to end up homeless and on the streets and you, you will never see another dime of my money.” 

Finn knew he meant every word so without even so much as a goodbye, he hopped on a bus and that was the last time he saw Kismet Harbor. He wrote letters to Marley during his time in the service but never received anything in response so he just assumed that she had moved on, eager to forget the man that had given her a beautiful child and then left her without so much as a goodbye. He couldn’t blame her, leaving like he did was torture and he wished he could go back and explain it all. 

It was a cool night in Afghanistan, and he and his friend were on patrol around the campsite and they really should have been paying attention where they were stepping but Finn was telling him about Marley when he heard a click and two seconds later, an explosion rocked the ground. Finn was thrown 30 feet in the air, landing hard on his left side. His head slammed into the ground, causing him to immediately pass out. He wouldn’t learn about the extent of his injuries, or the fate of his friend, until he woke up 3 weeks later. His friend had died instantly and Finn was seriously wounded and would have died had it not been for the quick work of his squad mates. He had lost his leg, his arm was broken and now put back together with screws and plates, and had broken 7 ribs. “But you survived. You get to live your life.” What kind of life could he possibly have? 

He was honorably discharged from the military after 4 years of service but instead of going home, he went to New York, enrolled in Columbia University and got a business degree. He still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life but he could figure it out now that he had a degree. One day he got a phone call from his mother, saying that his dad had been arrested on conspiracy charges and that she would explain things once she knew more. His father was doctoring and falsifying evidence against his opponents so that his clients would win and therefore line his pockets while also simultaneously stealing from his elderly clients.

During this time, he met a famous Broadway actress named Kelly and while he would always love Marley, he knew he needed to move on so they started dating. It would be another year before he asked her to marry him and she had said yes. They got married in 2022 and for a while things were good but being in the limelight was not something Finn enjoyed. He didn’t like reliving the trauma he experienced overseas, or dodging questions about his injuries. 

He and Kelly fought constantly because she wanted a trophy husband and a family and Finn wasn’t about that life. He had made a promise to himself to never have a child again, not after what he’d gone through and she couldn’t accept his answer so she filed for divorce in 2023. He was getting used to being single again, thankful to be away from that lifestyle and just being able to focus on himself. He missed Marley, he missed his mom, but he couldn’t go back there. His father had screwed over the entire town, all the clients who had invested their money into his services and he had screwed them over. Even if he had nothing to do with it, he was guilty by association. No, he was better off where he was. 

So why was he on a plane back to Oregon right now? Because his father had died. He had had a heart attack while awaiting trial. And in an odd twist of fate, and a final fuck you from him, he had left the firm in Finn’s name, making him the sole owner. He was shocked but knew he needed to go back to take care of it, and quickly, so he could get back to New York. A quick trip home, 2 weeks maximum. It was a big small town, no chance of running into the one that got away right? Right.