Page 84 of No Going Back
“The main issue is that a bigger space won’t solve all our problems.” She took another sip of ginger ale, taming down the tiny edge of nausea that followed her throughout the day. “I would also probably need to hire another employee.”
It was actually a necessary evil either way. Not only would she need another employee when and if she expanded, she was going to need someone else to help carry the load when she was on maternity leave. With Janie on full time, she’d been able to expand her offerings so much that one person could no longer handle all the prep involved.
“Luckily you know people who can help.” Griffin slowly stroked over her skin, offering up a reminder that grounded her in reality instead of in the past. “People who love you and people you can trust to guide you in the right direction. People like Mae and Mariah.” He tipped his head at where his ex-girlfriend was now making their daughter belly laugh. “And then you have Janie.”
“I heard that.” Janie leaned closer to Nadia, rubbing her nose against their little girl’s. “Auntie is going to feed you so many beans the next time she babysits and then send you home to stinker all over daddy.”
“She can’t have beans.” Griffin smiled as their daughter continued to cackle. “But sweet potatoes do make her fart like crazy.”
Dianna laughed, shaking her head. “Do I have to separate you two?”
Griffin and Janie had a complicated sort of truce. They’d each apologized for past bad behavior, but they would never be close. And that was fine. Because while they didn’t have a friendship, they did have something just as important.
Mutual respect. Not that it was always apparent.
“Come on then.” Dianna grabbed her pop and carried it toward the door leading to the back room. “You can help me back here while Janie and Nadia run the counter.”
“Why do we even need to hire someone else when we’ve got you, huh?” Janie’s sing-songy voice followed her into the kitchen.
So did Griffin.
His big body immediately crowded her back against the stainless-steel countertop. He leaned close, his nose skimming up the side of hers. “You remember this spot?”
She smiled as his lips brushed her mouth. “Of course.”
His eyes held hers. “You still think that day was a mistake?”
Her chest squeezed at the uncertainty in his tone. There were still days it pushed through. Even though they had a beautiful daughter and a wonderful life together.
She laced her arms around Griffin’s neck, pulling him so close the clips of the baby carrier he wore dug into her boobs. “No way.” She smiled against his lips. “Except the part where I let you leave without helping me clean up.”
* * *
GRIFFIN
“I CAN’T BELIEVE how warm it stays out here.” Dianna sat beside him on the swing, curled up among the pillows and blankets, their daughter nursing at her breast. “I was a little worried all these windows would let the cold air come right in, but it’s perfect.” She sighed, the sound content and relaxed. “And I freaking love this swing.”
Griffin held out a bite of the French toast he’d put together while she showered, feeding it to Dianna so she didn’t have to juggle both baby and breakfast. “I’m glad.”
He’d drawn up the plans for it himself. Cut every piece and assembled them all, carefully sanding, staining, and sealing so it would last for years. He’d even figured out how to do basic upholstery, thanks to Nora Pace. She’d spent an afternoon helping him with foam and fabric, happily offering her assistance even though he’d snatched some of the most prime real estate in Moss Creek right out from under her.
And to think he’d done it in the hope that it would keep him away from Dianna. Luckily, it had done the exact opposite. It brought him right to her doorstep.
And ultimately her to his, making it theirs.
“What do you have planned for the day?” Dianna’s voice was a little sleepy, which would definitely be a determining factor in any plans he made.
She’d been working her normal hours even though she was exhausted from being newly pregnant, still breastfeeding, and almost continuously nauseated. Luckily, her normal hours weren’t nearly as long as they used to be, thanks to Janie’s help at The Baking Rack.
“I haven’t decided yet.” He offered her another bite of breakfast. “I might just hang out around here.”
His Sundays looked a little different now than they did before. He no longer worried about dedicating the entire day to Troy, thinking he had to continuously prove how much he cared. How much he wanted to be the dad Troy deserved.
Now he took a more relaxed, but still just as dedicated, approach to their relationship. They both had young babies and wives taking up most of their days, so he and Troy had to squeeze in time together whenever they could. Sometimes they met up in town for a quick lunch, just the two of them. Other days they got together as a big family, taking the babies and Muriel to the zoo or a museum. The time they actually spent together might be a little less quantity wise, but it was just as gratifying. Maybe more so.
Before, the pressure to be a perfect father made him feel like every interaction with his son was somewhat of a life-or-death situation. One wrong move and everything would crumble around him the way it had so many times before.
But now he knew that wasn’t the case. Troy didn’t expect him to be perfect. He just wanted him around. The realization allowed him to breathe and actually enjoy the time he spent with his family.
