“It’s all here. I mean, there’s literally everything here…” She huffs a laugh, and Tommy fusses a little. I hold him close, not believing that I have this little human in my arms. I haven’t held a baby before, not really. The kids of my friends climb all over me, but a newborn. A baby only days old. This is new. Completely frightening, yet it feels so natural.
“I need to feed him.” Hearing his little whine, she walks over to us.
“Take a seat. Put your feet up,” I tell her and she sits down in the new rocker I got her, and I pass her Tommy.
“Oh gosh, this seat feels like a cloud…” she moans as she gets comfortable.
“I’ll go get your bags and things. I’ll be back.” I start to walk out, feeling good. Feeling like I’ve finally got my shit together and I’m doing something right.
“Griffin,” she says, and I pause at the door and look back.
“I can’t…” She stops and swallows. “I don’t think…” Pausing again, she takes a deep breath as Tommy settles on her breast. “I’m never going to be able to repay you. I’ll never be able to replace something if it gets broken. I’m going to have to go on a payment plan to pay the hospital fees…” She rubs her weary eyes.
“You don’t need a payment plan. I paid,” I tell her, and she looks up before she frowns, thinking about it.
“Is that what you did when I saw you at the nurses’ station?” She pieces our morning together.
“I paid it all.” I nod, not wanting her to worry. I’ve got the money. I’ve got more than enough money for me to live a hundred times over.
“You didn’t need to do that. I had it handled…” I can see her shoulders tighten, clearly not happy about it.
“Yeah, well, when you get back to work, you can make me some of those cinnamon buns I love so much.”
“That’s not… I can’t…”
“Savannah,” I say abruptly as I slowly walk back to her. Her eyes widen as I get closer and lower down to her level, making us face-to-face.
“I haven’t always believed in God after everything I’ve been through. I prayed often, hoped that something bigger than me could put me on a path that was paved with gold instead of the one I was dealt. For the most part, prayer worked. I have money. I have a skill. I enjoy my work, and I have good friends. But finding a good woman who understands me, having a family, a safe haven with someone else, was never something in the cards for me. But I know God brought you right to me. He’s been listening. Knowing what I need. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Let me take care of you. I want you with me. I want Tommy too. I want you here, to live here together. Be… together.” I inhale a deep breath and watch it all finally sink in exactly what I mean.
“I think God brought me to you too. I’ve never been more grateful to Him than I am right now.” Her eyes are glassy as she watches me. It’s a lot. She’s tired, her body sore. Kissing her forehead, I brush my thumb across her cheek before I stand, taking in another full breath to calm my surfacing emotions and settling into myself again.
“I’ll go get the bags,” I start to step out before I say anything more.
“Do you have sweet pickles in your kitchen?” She rolls her lips like she’s trying to tame a smile while my lips curve.
“You still got a craving?” I don’t tell her that I had a carton of them delivered here while we were at the hospital. I wasn’t sure if her cravings would continue or not. That wasn’t something the app or any internet sleuthing could tell me for sure.
She nods, and I huff a laugh. “That and ice cream.”
“Good thing I have both. I’ll get the bags, and then the two of you can rest. I’ll bring you up a little snack on my way back.”
“Griffin…”
“Yeah, sweetness?” I look at her adorningly, stepping closer to her again.
“I’m so glad you walked into my bakery all those months ago.” Her voice is a mere whisper.
“Walking into that bakery was the best damn decision of my life.”
30
Savannah
I feel like a stalker. Standing here, barely awake, yet totally captivated by the sight in front of me. Leaning against the doorframe, I feel content for the first time in a long time.
“This here are the plans. See that?” Griffin points to something on his laptop screen.
“That’s where the pool will go, right up against that giant rock. It’s called a boulder.” He continues, talking to my son like he’s a grown boy, not the mere baby that’s cuddled on his naked chest.
