Page 73 of Home Safe

I’ve always wanted these for myself. But I’ve always been too financially practical to purchase them. Even though these are Jason’s birthday present, I know they’re just as much Griffin’s gift to me as well.

“Christin says hi, by the way,” Samantha says as Jason walks the phone around the room showing Griffin his other presents. “Her bookstore is the cutest—no wonder you love it. I told her I know you but didn’t mention my relation to Griff,” she adds with a wink.

“Thanks for this,” I tell her. “For getting the books and for coming over. This really means a lot.”

“Consider it a sign of how muchbothof us care about you two,” Samantha says. “Griff told me it’s been a tough week. It really is killing him to be far from you while this is all happening—I can hear it in how he talks. It’s probably a good thing he doesn’t have to play much at spring training yet because I don’t think he would be doing so hot.”

“I feel guilty that I made him feel bad,” I say with a sigh. “I know there’s nothing he can do about his schedule.”

“There’s no need for guilt. It’s important for you to express your emotions. And especially important to have people to lean on for support,” Samantha says. “But you might need to widen the net of support for when Griffin’s away. You’re not close with your family?”

I shake my head. “They’re the polar opposite of supportive. I do have friends from book club who I know would be eager and willing to help if I told them I needed it. And my coworkers at school are all incredibly supportive, but I’ve felt guilty thinking about burdening them with this struggle when they also have to see Jason in the context of school.”

“Do any other staff members have kids at the school also?” Samantha asks.

“Well, yeah, of course. One of the benefits of being a teacher is having your kids there with you,” I reply.

“Then they’re all used to compartmentalizing the kids as both students and the children of their friends. I bet they’d be glad to help ease the load for you,” Samantha says, giving me a pointed look.

“You’re probably right,” I admit.

“And you’ve got me. I may not be as muscular as Griffin, but I do think I’m funnier than he is. So I’ve got that going for me,” she says. “Seriously—if there’s ever a time you need to get away, or if you need to call and vent to someone who understands, I got you.”

“Thanks, Samantha,” I say.

“P.S., you really can call me Sam, if you want,” she adds.

“Is that your preference?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I honestly don’t care. Like I said the first day, I’ll respond to just about any variation of my name. I know Samantha is a mouthful. I don’t want my long name to inconvenience people.”

“I like it, though,” I say, smiling. “So as long as you genuinely like it, I’ll stick with Samantha.”

“Mr. Griffin wants to talk to you now, Mom,” Jason says, holding the phone out to me. Samantha catches my eye and motions me upstairs.

“You showed Griff, but I want to see all the other presents you got today,” Samantha says to Jason, pulling his attention away. I quickly sneak upstairs to my room.

“Hi,” I say as I fall back against the pillows on my bed.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Griffin replies. “How long has he been calling you ‘Mom?’”

“First time,” I reply, getting misty-eyed again.

“Wow. I feel privileged that I got to hear it,” he says. “I only wish I would have been sitting right next to you when it happened.”

“Me too,” I say. “But thanks for sending Samantha over. For changing her schedule when you can’t change yours. For picking such a meaningful gift and even having Samantha go to a meaningful store to buy the books. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

Griffin gives me a soft smile. “You’re welcome. I wish I could do more, but I’m always going to do the most that I can. I promise.”

Rolling to my side, I stare into Griffin’s gray eyes on the screen. “I really wish I could kiss you right now.”

“That makes two of us.”

Chapter thirty

Griffin

ME

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