Page 15 of Small Town Frenzy
I want fun and laughter with Jacob, heartfelt conversations,and to create memories worth retelling one day. I want to see the light in his eyes as he grows instead of him witnessing the stress in mine. I want him to get nights at home with his mom rather than wondering where I am.
After trying to use my core to get up, I relax back when I realize that’s not going to work. He’s grown so much that I just might be trapped on the couch for the night. I grin, trying not to laugh. But then one thought wipes it free from my face.
Griffin Greene.
Damn him.
I kiss my son on the head, aware that Jacob inherited many of his traits from his dad. I mean, I already knew, since I spent a night with the man with nothing hidden between us . . . except our names and where we came from.
His tall frame and broad shoulders were the first things that drew me to him. After clubbing the night away with my friends, we danced onto the streets, and there he was. He had me in a chokehold the moment I laid eyes on him, those blue eyes piercing right through my walls that night.So annoying.
That’s what I get for trying to pretend I was someone else.
Unlikehiseyes, Jacob’s are so full of love when he looks into mine. I kiss his head again and linger there. I can still smell the soft scent of bubble bath from earlier on his hair. Closing my eyes, I relish the feeling of just the two of us. Tomorrow is another day, and in light of it, I’ll have to start considering the steps I take, or am willing to take, in this situation with Griffin.
The worst plays out in my mind like a stab to the heart. I’m not about to give up my son to some random guy to take away from me, not even fifty-fifty. I’ll fight for him. Whateverit takes. However much it costs. No matter how long it takes, I’ll fight for full custody. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.
I’m jumping to conclusions. From what I’ve seen of Greene, he won’t care to step into Jacob’s life or want to deal with me. I can only hope. I’m not going to solve anything tonight, though, so I leverage the back of my legs against the front of the couch and put my core back to work, lifting to my feet. Carrying this sleepy toddler down the hall, I stay steady like I have his whole life. I whisper, “I’ll always be here for you.”
I enter his bedroom and kiss him once more before settling him into his small bed in the corner. The threat of his father’s sudden presence in our lives causes my throat to tighten and my heart to hurt. It shouldn’t be like this, but I don’t know this man from a serial killer, so I have no idea what battle is ahead. Maybe he’ll just fall off the map like he’s done for years, from what Savvy says, and disappear again. That’s a whole other set of worries. I can’t let Jacob get attached to someone who won’t stay for him. Ugh. My brain hurts from running through the scenarios.
I’m getting worked up for nothing. I have no idea how he’ll react or what he’ll do, so I just need to hope for the best. But do it tomorrow, Cricket.
Stay calm. Act cool. Always appear collected. It’s the only way to show strength in the face of potential danger.
Closing the door behind me, I smile once more, seeing him sleeping so peacefully. I take pride in the fact that he has a few traits of mine as well, mainly his tenacity. So whethertheyshare traits or not, he’s my son, and I’ll do what I need to protect him.
“I needto know how to address your absence, Dad. Mom and Will have their trip as an excuse, but what’s yours? TheGazettewill be there for photo ops and to write up a story for the weekend edition. So help me out. You don’t know if you’re going or don’t want to go?” I stand at the corner edge of a large, intricately carved wooden desk that’s too elaborate for my taste, but to him, it reeks of money. He loves that. I’m not that showy. Or try not to be anymore. We all have our journeys.
“You’re asking me to drop everything I’m doing to go to a high school fundraiser, Buggy.”
I hate that nickname.Cute at five. Not so cute at thirty-one. “I’m not asking you to do anything. If you don’t want to be there, that’s fine. I’ll tell everyone that you had prior commitments. I can hand out the checks. I was only wondering if you wanted to come out to support the teams and event.”
Glaring at me with his hand over a landline phone, he seems to catch his irritation and releases a heavy breath. “This is something you can handle,” he says in a lowered voice.
“I know I can handle it.” I don’t bother saying anything more because he’s already putting the phone to his ear and a fake smile on his face as if the caller can see him.
“Richard, it’s been too long, old buddy.”
I walk out of his office, still respectful enough to shut the door quietly after exiting despite the anger building inside me. I’m not sure why I can’t learn the lesson and stop the expectations. He’s never going to change.
“Have a great day, Cricket,” his assistant, Sarah, says from behind a large filing cabinet. Just like my dad, this office is run like we’re still in the past. I had to beg for more duties after I shamed him by getting pregnant out ofwedlock. So old-fashioned. I’m the family disappointment. It took me a long time, but I finally realized it didn’t matter what I did or do now. He needs to place his own discontent in life somewhere, and it’s never been on my brother, so it falls on me instead.
“Have a good day.”
Pushing through the door, I enter the main corridor that leads to the winery’s great room. The soft carpet deadens my heels as I make my way toward the exit to the executive suites on this side of the building. My heels clack against the Spanish tile of the great hall that greets the winery guests when they arrive on the property for tours, tastings, and events. It’s a beautiful room overlooking the magnificent view of the rolling hills lined with endless rows of grapevines. Framed by my hands, it looks like Italy when I squint and not the harsher landscape of Texas.
I cross through the room and tug open the far door to enter the other corridor of offices, including mine and Savvy’s. My back hits the door as soon as I enter, releasing an exhaustive sigh from the gut as if the room itself gives relief. My shoulders slump the moment I know I can relax.
“You okay?” Savvy asks, spinning in her chair to face me.
“I’m good.” I push off the door and head for my desk inside this little pocket of safety from the world. “Tired.”
“Didn’t sleep well?”
“Tired of—” I cut myself off because someone in my position doesn’t have a right to complain. No one cares if a rich girl’s dad doesn’t give her the time of day. “Yeah,” I reply, hoping that slips by her as I busy myself by logging into my computer.
I scroll through emails, noting that the presentation check needs to be picked up by the end of the day, and add it to my never-ending to-do list for this event.
