“So what do you say? Ready to make us official?” he asks, and I look at him with tears in my eyes.
“Really?” I’m in slight disbelief.
“Sure, nothing about us has ever been standard, and that’s exactly why it works. We just consummated the marriage before we’re actually married, right here in your bakery, so might as well have the marriage in a legal office.”
He’s right. But I see his eyebrows pinching.
“Unless you want a big wedding? Flowers, the dress, the whole thing? I can arrange that too. I can get designers out to fit you a dress, I can fly in any flowers you choose.” My grin widens at how considerate he’s being, that he would do all that for me, but I shake my head.
“No. Paperwork in Sawyer's office is fine with me. Normal couples might do things by the book, but we’ve been writing our own script since the day we met. I love our life and don’t want anything to change.”
Nodding, he sighs and presses a kiss to my lips.
“I also made a new batch of cupcakes. Maybe I can ice them in white. We can take them home as our wedding cake and cut them and feed each other later?” I suggest, loving all these quirky ideas that make us, us.
“I love you,” he says firmly, and I swallow as more emotion surfaces.
“And I love you.”
But things are never that easy. Not for me.
41
Griffin
Looking at the woman next to me and holding my little man on my lap as he dribbles spittle on his new outfit, I think I’ve finally made it. I think I’ve broken through the hardest chains that were around my neck from my past.
While I still have a lot to process and a lot of work to do, Sawyer has helped with all the legal things. Tanner has been a man to confide in, and Hudson, who’s sitting here with us now, provided some introductions to a therapist. He’s good. Met him a few times already. No doubt I’ll meet with him many more.
I always hated talking about things. I hate the whole woe is me mentality. But there's more than just me to think about now, and Savannah and Tommy deserve the best version of me. I’m going to give that to them.
“So little Tommy is doing well. Growing, all things indicating that he’s happy and healthy. Congratulations on the engagement, by the way, and the marriage…” Hudson’s eyes gleam at me.
“Thank you.” Savannah gives him the brightest smile, and I give him my standard nod. I did what I said and took Savannah and Tommy over to Sawyer’s office and signed the paper with Sawyer and all our friends as our witnesses. Victoria cried, Tanner promptly served everyone a shot of our new Builder’s Arms Whiskey, and the whole thing was done in about fifteen minutes. Enough time to ensure we did everything legally required and not too much that Tommy started fussing.
“We didn’t want bells and whistles… Didn’t want a long engagement,” I tell him, and he nods, still smiling, looking at me in a way that tells me he knows something I don’t.
“Hmmmm, we’ll have to have another whiskey to celebrate at the bar this week. Your Builder’s Arms was nice.” Hudson stands, and Savannah grabs her bag. I pass her the little man as I take the baby bag from her. The thing weighs a ton. Who knew babies needed so much shit.
“You’re right. It is. The best Whiteman’s has ever made.” I’m a little biased, but the whiskey Tanner made with me in mind is by far my favorite.
“How’re things going with the therapist?" Hudson asks me, and Savannah looks up at me, pride shining on her face. It was something she mentioned to me that time in my office, and after some thought, I decided to listen to the woman I’ve made my wife.
“I’m going to take Tommy out into the sun while you finish up.”
I watch her walk down the hall, giving me the space to talk to Hudson alone, not that she needs to. I’m not hiding anything from her. She knows I’m talking to a therapist about my past.
“It’s going okay. Is it helping? I’m not sure yet, but it sure isn’t harming any, so I’ll continue to chat with him every week,” I tell him honestly. The feeling of being stripped bare isn’t as raw as it once was, but it’s still present. I walk toward the exit, Hudson keeping pace beside me.
“It might not feel like anything changes, until one day things just shift a little. Trust the process.”
I nod, knowing he’s right. It’s kind of like how Savannah and I came to be. Nothing changed until it did. She crept up on me while I stayed in denial until the point of no return hit me and then I was all in.
“I’m trying… taking my time…”
“Griffin!” Savannah screams, and my head whips to the front glass doors, my feet moving toward her instantly.
“What the heck’s happening?” Hudson looks up, eyes wide with concern, and I see Savannah in the parking lot, two men approaching her.
