Page 88 of Small Town Frenzy
He rubs his hand over his stomach. “I remember.”
But my mom and dad are moving down the row of us like we’re a receiving line, ending face-to-face with Griffin’s dad. I hold my breath as they shake hands. “It’s been along time, Bryan,” Thomas says with a pat to the upper arm.
“It has been.” Okay, this is good.Light. Conversational. Surface.I hope they can keep it that way. Just when I think it’s over, and I’m ready to redirect them to the table to find a seat on the porch, he says, “I wanted to give you my condolences. As you know, I held a high regard for Julie Ann.”
“Yes, I know. I appreciate it. It’s been hard, but she’d want us to all move forward and live life to the fullest.” He spies Jacob running by, and adds, “She’d love all these grandkids. She’d be amused that we’re family in a way.” They finally release hands. Thomas pushes his into his pockets, and says, “You know, I never did talk to you at the funeral.”
I see Griffin visibly shake, and I reach to slip my hand in his. His eyes look down at me next to him before rubbing the bridge of his nose to hold back his emotions.
My dad replies, “You didn’t need to. I wasn’t there to draw attention away.” He takes my mom’s hand in his own act of reassurance. “I was there to pay my respects, and you allowed me to do that.” Glancing at my mom, he gives her a knowing smile that evokes one of her own. They’re a team, and by how the aura feels different around them, it’s not against me.Anymore.He adds, “Delancy brought gifts. I should get them out of the Suburban.”
Before he does, he moves closer to Griffin again, and says, “I was thinking we could put this feud behind us, once and for all, now that you’re with my daughter.”
“I think that’d be alright, Mr. Dover.”
“Call me Bryan. All my friends do.” They shake hands once more before my parents walk back to the vehicle.
As soon as we’re alone again, I lean against him and look up. “How are you?”
Taking a sobering breath seems to ease the tension caught in his jaw. “That went better than expected. How are you?”
“Optimistic? Is it wrong to feel this way?”
“It’s healthy. I think we take it as it comes. It’s possible to get things on the right track. What do you think?”
I start to smile again. “I think the path to healing takes time. You’re right. I’d rather take it at present value than keep holding on to the past.”
His hand comes around my lower back, and he kisses my forehead.
Another slam of a truck door has us seeing Peaches coming with boxes of goodies in her hands. “Sorry, I’m late. Had to wrap up the lunch crowd at the pizzeria.”
Lauralee gets up to greet her mom. “I can’t believe I left the cupcakes at the shop. Pregnancy brain. Thank you for bringing them.”
“No worries, honey.” She rubs her cheek before turning to Thomas and giving him a quick kiss. “What fun did I miss?”
Maybe that shouldn’t make us all laugh, but we do, and it feels good to feel like we’re in this together as a family. Family. Mine. Griffin’s. Us together.
I’m caught in a hug of warm fuzzies from the family and the celebration of the day when Griffin pulls a phone from his pocket and stares at the screen. His light mood turns heavy, and he says, “I have to take this,” and walks away from the party.
Everyone goes about filling their plates as they sit around the table, sharing stories and getting to know the guests at the ranch. Although I get Jacob to eat a hot dog, he’d rather be playing. I shrug and promise to call the kids back over when it’s time for cupcakes.
The chatter is strong, and my name comes up here and there, but I can’t take my eyes off Griffin. Pacing through the far end of the field, closer to the edge of the forest that leads to the river, he occasionally looks back, but he has his head down and pressed to the phone most of the time.
I want to go to him, to be the person who walks alongside him in moral support. I’m also damn nosy and have been anxiously picking at my cuticles for the past half hour. I force myself to stay put, to eat a hot dog, and drink lemonade. It’s a party and should be enjoyed after all.
But when he shoves his phone into the back pocket of his jeans and starts back this way, I stand and rush down the steps that will lead me to him. I’m walking and then I’m running, my heart racing as fast as my feet until he catches me in his arms. The side of my head is covered in kisses, and when my feet land back on the ground, he takes hold of my hands, and says, “I just got called up.”
“Called up where?”
“To the majors.”
Three months later. . .
This button is goingto pop before it holds my boobs in properly.Damn, Savvy.She knew what she was doing when she ordered this Cardinals jersey for me. Griffin is going to love it, especially with his name on the back this time.
Waiting outside the gate for the players to come out of the locker room with all the other baseball bunnies isn’t my idea of a good time. I heard cleat chasers once. I don’t know the official term, but I do know they’re looking to score. I’mlooking to . . .okay, fine. Maybe we’re not so different. At least I’m guaranteed a good time with the man I’m madly in love with and with whom I share a kid.
The guards open the gate to let a few players into the parking lot. With bodyguards keeping a path clear for them, some load onto a bus, and others have rides waiting for them. I turn back when I hear a scream, with Griffin shouting in the middle of it. Two players part, and I see him, my sexy and oh, so handsome man. I join in with the others because I’m bursting at the seams and excited to reunite with him. It’s been a few weeks since he hit the road to travel with the team, and I was back working and spending my time with Jacob in Dover Creek. We watch the games with his family, and sometimes at his dad’s house. I work on the puzzle that he started and never finished, saving the last piece for him to complete when he gets back.
