Page 108 of Griffin
“My gran always used to tell me that she was making cookies one day and that she mixed the sugar and flour just right, and instead of cookies, I popped out. She always used to say that I was the sweetest treat she ever had.”
I swallow, because that’s exactly what she feels like to me.
“You are my sweetness. My everything.”
As soon as the pie hits my tongue, I’m taken back. My last birthday with my mother, my brother running around and playing nearby. The apple still warm, the cream melting a little.
“So? Is it okay?” Savannah looks at me expectantly, eyes searching mine.
“It’s exactly how my mom used to make.”
And although my shoulder is sore, my heart is full. My family is whole, and I am now home.
Epilogue - Griffin
The laughter from outside grows quieter as I walk into the house, my arms full of dirty cups and plates, the kids doing a fantastic job of making a complete mess.
“Oh, good. Tidy up as we go,” Savannah says without looking at me. Instead, she’s concentrating on putting the finishing touches on the cake.
“That looks amazing!” I’m honest, it does. If I didn’t already know how talented my wife is, this birthday cake for Tommy is outstanding.
“You like it?” I look at my son’s birthday cake in awe. It’s a large cupcake. One that would feed over fifty people. Given there are about that many outside on the lawn, I’m glad she made a big one.
“Like it? I can’t wait to eat it!” I tell her, as I step forward and curse.
“Motherfu—” I pause and hold my breath, and Savannah looks at me.
“What’s the pain out of ten?” she watches me carefully as I lean over, picking up the little green army man from the floor.
“Seven.” I grimace as I grab another two I spot across the kitchen floor, waiting to dig into my bare feet.
To say my house is now a family home would be an understatement. Not only is my kitchen a complete baker’s delight, with ingredients, pans, recipe books, and food everywhere, but the rest of the house has toys scattered from one end to the other. And I couldn’t be happier.
Right now, kids are everywhere outside, and along with a juggling clown, a jumping castle, and a small carousel, Tommy’s giggling his little heart out as a new two-year-old.
We’ve come a long way, my little family and me. When we got through all our past family issues, I took Tommy and Savannah away. We all needed a break. A circuit breaker from the life we had, we needed to regroup, spend quality time without the heaviness of our past. So we spent a month at my house in Hawaii, where we picked fresh pineapples and Tommy splashed at the beach and ate sand almost every day. He’s a water baby, for sure, and now the highlight of my day is an early morning swim with him here at the house when it’s warm enough.
After that trip, we came home and got back to work. Savannah had help over the months from all the girls, but Debbie has been our saving grace. Annabelle introduced us to her months ago. Debbie was her boys’ babysitter and she’s known by every one of our friends who all vouched for her. She started coming into the bakery and watching Tommy in the kitchen while Savannah worked.
We then progressed to her taking him upstairs to the apartment while she worked, reading him books, singing him songs, feeding him, and putting him down for naptime. Now she’s with Tommy almost every day while Savannah builds the bakery business and looking at a possible expansion.
“You know, they wouldn’t be a problem if you didn’t buy them.” My wife gives me that look. The one that says I told you so. I grin. It’s true. When I took Tommy into the local toy store a few months ago and saw the bag of green army men, I knew I had to buy them for Tommy. The way they’re scattered around the house makes me feel good. Although my bare feet can barely take it.
“Okay, so the cake table is ready.” Lacy and Victoria walk into the kitchen with arms full of dirty dishes, while the rest of our friends are outside watching the kids, eating all my food, and probably taking a bet on how long the clown will last in the heat.
“Wow. That’s amazing!” Lacy sees the cake, her eyes widening.
“I need a photo of this.” Victoria quickly grabs her cell and snaps a picture.
To say these girls have been a godsend is an understatement. They’ve been by Savannah’s side for everything, becoming the true sisters she needed. I dart my eyes then, spotting the photo wall down the hall, now covered with framed photos of us, of Savannah, Tommy and me. And there, in the middle, is my brother. The toothy smile photo I kept locked away for years is now on full display. He would’ve loved to be here today. He would’ve been lined up for the first piece of this cake, that’s for sure.
“You alright?” Savannah’s voice is quieter as the girls clatter around in the kitchen behind us.
“Better than alright.” I reach out for her, and she comes to me, fitting into my side like she always has.
“Can you believe our boy is two already?”
“No. I can’t. He’s growing so fast.” She hugs me tight.
