Page 66 of No Going Back
“They said there’s only so much that can be done.” He reached for her, pulling her close, convincing himself he was offering comfort instead of taking it.
“Well that’s fucking stupid.” Dianna leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist.
If he had it in him to smile right now he would. Her reaction made him feel a little bit less like he was overreacting. The emotions still weren’t comfortable, but at least they were warranted.
Griffin stroked one hand up and down her back, stealing a few final moments with Dianna before she had to go to work and he had to face down a situation he was ill-equipped to tackle. “Troy said they’ll be discharging her sometime this morning, so I told him I’d head over there as soon as I could.”
Dianna nodded, pulling away from his hold a little too soon. “Of course.” She went to the kitchen, her steps hurried. “Do you want to take breakfast with you?”
He’d planned to grab something on the way, but the temptation to eke out just a few more minutes with her was too great. “That sounds like a good idea.” He stepped in beside her at the counter, easily falling into the comfortable routine they’d established in such a short period of time.
“A breakfast sandwich would probably travel the best.” Dianna started grabbing items from the fridge and sliding them onto the counter. Just as the eggs were in place, her eyes snapped to his face. “Do you want to take something for Troy and Amelie too? I can’t imagine hospital food is that great.” Her lips pressed into a frown as she scanned the line-up. “But I’m also not sure how warm everything will stay on the trip.” She chewed her lower lip, eyes narrowing the tiniest bit. “I could pack it in an insulated lunch box.” Her eyes jumped back to his. “If you think they would be hungry.”
He understood what she was asking. It was the same question she’d been asking when she sent the cake yesterday, and it had nothing to do with how hungry Troy and Amelie might be. They were getting to the point where he was going to have to tell his son what was going on between them. He would have to confess his lack of self-control and focus.
He’d considered it a number of times but putting it into words had been impossible so far. So maybe he didn’t have to put it into words. “I bet they’re starving.”
Dianna’s lips curved into a soft smile before pressing together. She nodded. “Okay.”
They started to work, assembling his favorite sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich together, him in charge of making the patties and the toast, and Dianna monitoring the actual cooking. In under fifteen minutes everything was packed and ready to go, including a large travel mug filled with coffee.
Dianna ushered him out onto the porch, giving him a final kiss before sending him on his way with the promise she would see him later that night.
Griffin packed everything into the truck and backed out, giving her a wave as he pulled away, watching her watch him in the rearview mirror.
Part of him wished he could stay behind with her. That everything was still right in the world and he could sit with Dianna on her porch swing, wrapped up in the electric blanket he’d ordered to extend their mornings on the porch.
But his son needed him, and this was where he could prove that no matter what, Troy would always come first.
* * *
THE DRIVE TO the hospital felt dramatically faster than it had the night before—probably because he wasn’t consumed by panic and fear—and before long Griffin was pulling into a spot in the garage and heading for the main entrance. He collected an identification badge at the desk, gaining permission to enter the maternity ward, before making his way to the third floor.
Amelie looked surprisingly well when he walked in, sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, wearing a set of pajamas that looked soft and expensive.
“I don’t remember hospital wear looking quite that comfortable.” He greeted Troy with a hug before leaning in to kiss Amelie on the top of her head.
Amelie glanced down, smoothing the soft looking top across her pregnant belly. “These are definitely not hospital issue.” Her hands stayed against her stomach, cradling it close. “Evelyn brought these over for me last night because I was uncomfortable in what they gave me and the clothes I had on were ruined.”
His stomach clenched, the guilt he felt earlier over keeping Dianna up all night compounding immediately. “I could’ve brought you something.”
He hated that Amelie and Troy didn’t think they could count on him. That he wasn’t someone they considered reliable enough to reach out to when they needed help.
Amelie relaxed back against the upright portion of the bed. “We didn’t want to bother you. Especially after you had to drive us all the way out here.” She smiled, like she was trying to reassure him. “Plus, I’m sure you had other things to do.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but it would’ve been a lie. He did have other things occupying his night.
And maybe that was a bigger problem than he’d wanted to admit.
“What you got there?” Troy motioned toward the insulated bag still gripped in his hand.
Griffin stared down at it, the opportunity he thought it presented suddenly feeling all wrong. “I made up some breakfast sandwiches in case you guys were hungry.” It felt wrong to cut Dianna’s involvement out, but bringing her in didn’t seem right either. Not when it would confirm Amelie’s suspicion that he wasn’t a person they could always rely on.
“I’m fucking starving.” Troy settled into the chair beside Amelie’s bed. “The food here fucking sucks.”
Griffin set the bag onto the rolling table, his gut churning as he opened it up and passed out the wax paper wrapped sandwiches Dianna had taken so much care to assemble.
Troy immediately tore into his and took a huge bite, groaning a little as he chewed. “This is amazing.” His brows pinched together as he swallowed, eyes going to the stack of homemade bread and perfectly cooked sausage. “You made this?”
