Page 25 of The Path To Us

Chris loved Zoey more than anything in the world, but Addy was a close second. “It’s okay, Addy. You don’t have to think about anything right now. Just take care of his daughter. That’s your only responsibility. We’ve got the rest of it under control.”

“Okay.”

“You need to go to the flower shop today?”

“Yeah, I do. If nothing else but to check in and catch up on bills.”

“Want me to spend the day with Zoey or what did you have planned for her?”

“You don’t have to do that. She can come to the shop with me.”

“That’s not why I’m offering.”

“Thank you. And, yeah, she’d probably rather do that. I’ll need to figure something out permanently for her this summer because it’s not fair for your mom.”

“You don’t think my mom wants to watch her while you’re working?” My mom loves being both grandma and babysitter for Zoey. And it’s not as if Addy or Chris expected it. It worked well because my mom doesn’t work outside of the home and she wanted to be there. Chris had always had a bit of an irrational fear of Zoey going to a daycare, so Grandma it was.

She shrugs and looks down into her coffee cup. “I don’t know… I feel like such a burden. Or like I’m taking advantage.” That’s nothing new. She’s always felt that way, though not because of anything other than her head getting in the way. That’s Addy, though. She grew up with a single mom who was determined to do everything herself and it trained Addy to do the same. She has a hard time accepting help, but an even harder time understanding that sometimes help from others is necessary. I’ve also learned that nothing I say right now will change the fact that she thinks she’s taking more than giving, but in reality, it’s not a competition. Plus, my mom doesn’t feel like spending time with her only grandchild is anything but a blessing. “I’m sorry,” she says, clearly frustrated with herself, especially when she starts crying again. Addy pulls the sleeve of her — my — hoodie over her thumb and wipes away the tears. “I don’t know why I can’t stop crying and I definitely don’t know what I would do without you or your family.”

“You won’t have to find out. And don’t call them my family. You should know by now that they’re your family, too.”

“I know.”

I stand up and stretch my arms above my head, the sun now fully in the sky and warming up the air. “Let’s start some breakfast. I’m starving.”

“Makes sense. You haven’t eaten since your midnight snack,” she teases.

I pat my stomach. “I’m a growing boy.”

She rolls her eyes and stands, brushing past me to go into the house. “You passed that stage a long time ago.”

“I can’t help that I have a big appetite.”

She shakes her head. “You’re inhuman.”

“Why is that?” I reach around her and slide open the patio door and wait for her to step inside.

“Because! You eat enough for three men and still look like that!”

I don’t even try to hide my grin. “You like the way I look?” I ask, teasing.

She does another eye roll but doesn’t answer. “Aren’t you full enough from all that ego?”

Inside the house, we begin getting some breakfast ready for the two of us but since Zoey’s still sleeping and Addy doesn’t want to wake her, just the two of us eat some scrambled eggs.

“I’m going to shower if you don’t mind?” Addy asks while rinsing her plate.

“Of course not. When do you need to be at the flower shop?”

“No set time. I’ll get ready and head in after Zoey wakes up. I’ll only be gone for a couple hours.”

“Take your time and do what you need.”

She nods and walks down the hallway to her bedroom and I settle in on the couch with my phone and another cup of coffee. If I know Grant, and I do, I know he’ll have already sent me an email with some preliminary numbers for what he’s thinking if I buy into his business.

Propping my feet up on the coffee table, I cross my ankles and open my email app, taking a drink of coffee as I let my messages download. Two minutes ago, Grant sent an email with an attachment so I click on it and wait the few seconds for it to open.

I’m not entirely surprised by the numbers he sent me considering that I’ve worked side by side with him for several years and had a firsthand look at most of his accounting.

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