Page 64 of Under One Roof

“Morning.” I smile back, and he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. It lingers, and I can feel the promise of more in it, but he pulls away too soon.

“Your song sounds good.”

“Yeah?”

He nods, pride shining in his eyes. “I wish I could stay and listen, but I’ve got to head out. Logan’s in the living room. Grace is in the kitchen.”

I set my guitar down then and stand to circle my arms around his torso, my cheek against his chest, his heartbeat steady under my ear. He kisses the top of my head as he smooths his hands up and down my back. Both of us are quiet for a long time, and I don’t think either one of us wants him to go, but he has to, eventually stepping away from me with his hands around my biceps.

“What are your plans today?” he asks, and I shrug.

“I was thinking about taking the kids downtown to hang out for a bit. I need to pick up a few things.”

He kisses my cheek and then my mouth. “Be safe. Have fun. Text me tonight to check in.”

“Yes, Captain,” I say against his mouth, and he growls with a light slap to my butt before pivoting to head upstairs. I follow him, standing at the door, watching him leave like some 1950s housewife before making myself a smoothie with the chocolate protein powder he specifically bought for me since he thinks I don’t eat enough.

I find the kids, and they agree to do some shopping with me, so we all pile into my Jeep an hour later. I’d taken it upon myself to liven up Griffin’s house. Little by little, I’ve made changes, small as they are. Like adding fun magnetic tiles to the fridge to make words, buying decorative hand towels for the powder room and a cute gnome doormat for the front door. Today, I’m on the hunt for picture frames to place around the house. I accidentally found some old family photos buried in a closet, and I thought it would be nice to have them displayed.

At the request of the kids, our first stop is Sweet Cheeks Bakery, where we munch on the most delicious cinnamon buns I’ve ever had then pop right next door to Stone Ink. Ian greets us and shows me around his tattoo shop, trying to talk me into some ink. I tell him another time and leave with a hug to Griffin’s brother, a testament to how I’ve been accepted by not only Griffin and the kids, but by their extended family as well.

Next, we head over to Chapter and Verse, where the kids separate. Grace goes to the nonfiction section, while Logan doesn’t seem all that interested in books and sits in the corner to pet the store cat, leaving me to browse through the poetry and music books. I pick out Cher’s memoir and a small collection of poetry by a Palestinian woman and set them on the check-out counter as I hear familiar voices calling my name.

I turn to see Marianne and Clara and hug both of them. “How are y’all doing?”

“We’re good,” Marianne says, waving to the woman behind the counter, who begins to ring me up. “How’ve you been?”

“Great,” I answer honestly.

Clara beams and motions to the kids. “Everything working out well with the job?”

“Yeah.”

“And our favorite fire captain?” My cheeks heat at Clara’s question, and she teasingly knocks my arm. “Ooh, I knew it! I knew you two would be good together.” She puts her hand on the side of her mouth, stage-whispering in booming surround sound, “In more ways than one.”

Marianne puts her arm around her wife, quieting her. “What she means to say is we’re happy you’re happy.”

I amsohappy. Because of Griffin, the kids, and the kindness of the local community, it’s all more than I could have ever hoped for.

“What about you?” Clara asks the woman who hands me a paper bag with my books. “How’s that husband of yours?”

I step to the side so Marianne can pay for her book as the woman turns red. “Oh, you know…”

Clara leans in, suspicious. “Haven’t seen him around in a long time.”

“He’s really busy.”

Clara nods sarcastically, but I don’t think the woman notices, her eyes cast down as she punches a few buttons on her computer keyboard.

“Well, you know if you ever feel like treating yourself, maybe giving your husband a little something to…motivate him, you can stop over to Lux any time. Friends and family discount,” Clara tells her and then winks at me. “Same goes for you.”

I laugh and thank the woman, following Marianne and Clara out of the door, Logan and Grace trailing a few steps behind, and now that I’m one of them, I need the tea.

“What’s the story there?” I ask Clara, and she lowers her voice, slipping her hand around my elbow.

“That’s Nicole Kelly, so great. So lovely. Has a bit of a grown-up Rory Gilmore vibe.”

I nod. “Yup. Got that.”

---