14. Tish

Chapter Fourteen

Tish

Over a year later

"Buh-buh, ga-ga…"

"Hi, my baby boy." I gave my son a smacking kiss on the cheek. At five months old, his babbling repertoire was increasing by the day.

He giggled and my heart almost ached with love. When I had decided to have a baby, I'd been unprepared for how it would feel. Even though I felt overwhelmed literally all the time and as if I was flying blind through being a single mom, I didn't regret my choice, not even for a second.

With Teddy, who I'd named after my father Theodore, just past five months, I was ramping up to go back to work full-time. I'd already been working part-time from home for the last two months. I didn't have to work, but I found it difficult not to. It gave me a little structure and I needed that. Rhys had been incredibly accommodating with my schedule, but I was more than ready to go back to a regular work schedule.

Although I was going to miss being with Teddy all the time, I wanted to work. I missed it. I especially missed talking to adults more often.

I gave Teddy another kiss and began to get everything ready to drop him off for his first full day at daycare. Having a baby meant I was always carrying what felt like all the things.

I was forever grateful to my friend Phoebe, who had given me many pointers about trimming down what I needed to carry when I went out and about. I'd met Phoebe through Rhys's cousin, Archer. She and Archer were happily married and had been a huge help to me when I moved to Willow Brook.

A few minutes later as I was walking out of the small house I rented, my neighbor Madison happened to be walking over from their house. She and her husband lived next door, just through a small cluster of trees.

She stopped to wait for me in the driveway. As soon as I reached her side, she gave Teddy a kiss. "Want me to get him in the car seat for you?"

"As if I'd say no," I teased.

Madison chuckled as she smoothly shifted him from my arms into hers. In addition to help from Phoebe and Archer, Rhys's brother Chase and his wife Hallie had also been incredibly helpful. Maybe it would've worked out anyway, but during a completely overwhelming time in my life, I was beyond grateful for the support.

I'd met Madison and Graham through my new connections since Graham was a firefighter on the crew Chase used to work on. Graham had kept the home he lived in before he and Madison married, and when the previous tenants moved out, Madison had let me know. The price was affordable and I loved it.

"Thank you so much," I said as she buckled Teddy into his car seat while he babbled at her.

"Babies are the best," she said as she gave Teddy another kiss and smoothed her hand over his downy soft hair.

Graham appeared along the trail through the trees that led from my house over to theirs just as Madison was closing the back door to my car.

"I thought you must've walked over here," he said, his eyes twinkling.

Madison smiled up at her husband as he stopped beside her. He was a strapping hotshot firefighter, handsome and completely besotted with Madison. With her glossy black hair and striking green eyes paired with a kind and generous personality, it was no wonder Graham adored Madison.

Graham leaned down and brushed a kiss on her cheek, and I almost felt as if I was interrupting them by the intensity in his eyes.

"Oh, Dad, get a room!" Allie's voice reached us. Allie was Graham's college-aged daughter and Teddy's favorite babysitter. She babysat for me and took care of Madison and Graham's toddler son whenever they needed help.

Graham straightened, glancing over to his daughter and chuckling. "I just kissed her on the cheek."

Allie rolled her eyes dramatically. "I know, but the PDA is much sometimes." Pausing beside my car, she reached for the handle on the door. "Can I give Teddy a kiss?"

"Of course," I said with a smile. Teddy adored Allie.

She opened the door, and Teddy giggled and gurgled, kicking his feet against the bottom of his car seat. When she closed the door a moment later, I glanced at the three of them, tears stinging at the back of my eyes. My life had felt flipped upside down before I moved here. It was sometimes beyond overwhelming, and yet they, along with other new friends who had welcomed me into their world, had made it much smoother than I could've anticipated.

Allie slid her hand through my elbow and squeezed. "When do I get to babysit again?"

"Anytime," I said.

"I'm working today," she said.

"He's going to daycare," I explained. Allie's brow furrowed with worry. "He's been doing three hours at a time there already. He's going to be fine," I said, more for myself than her.

"Meet me for coffee?" Madison asked before I climbed into my car.

"When?"

"After you drop Teddy off. You're going to need it before you go into work."

I smiled. "I'm still nursing, so no more than a cup a day for me, but I'd love to." I waved to them as I drove away.

A short while later, I dropped Teddy off at daycare and managed not to cry. Even though I wanted to be at work, it was still hard to know he was going to be there for a full eight hours. I drove the short distance from his daycare down Main Street to Firehouse Café, smiling when I saw Madison's car in the parking area. When I pushed through the door into the café, Madison was waiting in line with two other friends, Phoebe and Tiffany.

"Hey again," Madison said.

Her gaze encompassed Phoebe, Tiffany, and me. "Tish just dropped Teddy off for his first full day of daycare."

Phoebe gave me an understanding smile. "That's a big day."

"I'm ready. I miss working full-time, and I can't believe I'm saying that. I'm going to miss being with him all the time, but…"

"Hey, you're talking to me. I can't even—" Phoebe paused and shook her head. "Full-time mom-ming is just not for me. I am not the homemaker type."

"Well, you used to be a firefighter," Tiffany said. "Although, I can't imagine the full-time mom thing either. It's harder than work."

I burst out laughing. Madison said something just as the door to the café opened. I didn't know how I knew, but my body knew that Griffin Cannon had just walked in. A shiver of awareness skated over my skin. It can't be him .

I heard another man's voice and let out a silent sigh of relief. It wasn't Griffin. But when I glanced over my shoulder, Griffin was walking beside Beck Steele. My radar for Griffin was accurate. Beck was holding his wife's hand. Maisie had also become a friend. Her dark curls were bouncing around her shoulders as she laughed at something Beck said.

My breath seized in my lungs when they stopped beside our group. Beck gestured amongst us. "This is Griffin Cannon. He's on the crew from Fireweed Harbor that's being relocated here."

Voices piped up with introductions, while I was trying to remind my lungs how to work again. I'd known Griffin might show up in town. Aside from the fact I worked for his family's corporation here, he had a cousin and a brother who lived in Willow Brook.

Yet, I'd put him so far out of my mind. Denial was maybe not a healthy coping skill, but it worked.

Griffin's eyes locked with mine, and I felt the heat flash into my cheeks. "Hi, Tish," he said in that voice I'd never forgotten.

"Hi!" I squeaked.

"Oh, you two know each other?" Beck prompted, glancing between us.

Griffin was more together than I felt. "Of course. Tish works for Fireweed Industries. She used to be my brother's assistant before she moved to Willow Brook."

"Uh-huh." My barely audible reply came out sounding strangled.

Maisie caught my eye. While there's no way she could've known just what Griffin represented to me, she seemed to know I needed someone to rescue me from this moment.

"Oh, another firefighter. Like we're short on them around here," she said dryly.

Griffin glanced her way, his lips curling with a quick smile. "Surely you can always use another."

At that moment, Amelia Masters approached with her husband, Cade. Amelia was another friend I'd made since moving here. Amelia sort of intimidated me. She was tall, leggy, beautiful, and tough. She ran a construction company with her best friend. She seemed like the kind of woman who had it together in every way that I didn't.

"You must be Griffin," she said when she stopped beside Maisie.

Griffin glanced to her. "I am, but how did you guess?"

Cade chimed in, "Beck texted us he was taking you here for coffee."

Madison grinned at Beck. "You should know that Beck is the gossip around the fire station."

"I am not a gossip," Beck said, lifting his chin. "I share pertinent information."

Maisie burst out laughing, nudging him with her elbow. When I got to the counter, Janet James was smiling across at me.

"Hi there," she said warmly.

Janet had been so welcoming when I moved to town. She tended to mother-hen, and I'd needed that kind of comfort and support.

"Hi, Janet. I'll take my usual please," I said.

I felt Griffin's presence at my side. It felt as if a wall of heat blasted my side. I glanced at him briefly, willing the blush to dissipate from my cheeks as I gestured from him to Janet. "Janet, this is Griffin Cannon. He's one of the new firefighters in town. I know him from Fireweed Harbor."

Janet's eyes twinkled as she smiled at Griffin. "I heard about that crew being moved here." She flicked her braid off her shoulder. Janet was soft and round with a weathered face with an ageless quality to her. Her hair was dark and streaked with more salt than pepper. "I do hope you'll enjoy Willow Brook."

"I love it here," he replied. "My brother Chase lives here, along with my cousin Archer."

Archer appeared as if on cue. "Hey, hey!" He gave Griffin a quick hug.

Stepping back, Griffin replied, "Good to see you."

"You came here before you stopped by our house," Archer teased.

"I just got into town. I told Beck I'd stop by the station and he brought me here."

I was relieved when Griffin got drawn into conversation with several of the firefighters. I got my coffee and slipped away to sit at a table with Madison, Phoebe, Tiffany and Amelia. Maisie said her goodbyes as the rest of the group filtered out.

I had taken a few sips of coffee when Madison asked, "So, what is the deal with you and Griffin Cannon?"

I almost spit my coffee out on the table. Amelia patted me between my shoulder blades. "Are you okay?"

I cleared my throat and took the napkin Phoebe offered me from my side. After a moment, I glanced around the table, wondering how to get out of this conversation.

Madison narrowed her eyes. "Don't even try with me."

"Try what?" I countered, keeping my tone light.

Phoebe's grin was sly. "Something happened with you and Griffin."

I let out a sigh. "Griffin and I almost dated. And, we kissed once," I finally said.

"That must've been one hell of a kiss," Amelia said, waggling her brows.

I bit my lip, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. "At the time, I was his oldest brother's assistant. I was worried about the work thing. I kissed Griffin maybe a week before I figured out I was pregnant. I wasn't seeing Teddy's father by then." I rolled my eyes. I still felt embarrassed and ashamed about what had happened. "I hadn't seen him for over two months by the time that kiss happened with Griffin."

I still felt a little sick every time I thought about it. "Teddy's father is an asshole. I got pregnant because he took his condom off. I didn't know it had a name, but it's called stealthing. I thought he was a nice guy, but he wasn't. It's not like I thought it was going to be forever, but…" I shrugged. "I confronted him and he left town."

Madison had heard this story before and the warmth in her eyes helped me through the moment.

"You decided to have a baby, obviously," Phoebe said practically.

"I did, which kind of surprised me. I don't doubt it, or regret it for a second. I've never even heard from the guy again. I texted him about it, and he never replied. Pretty sure he blocked me completely," I explained.

"So, you kissed Griffin, found out you were pregnant, and…?" Madison circled her hand in the air.

"You never lose the thread," I teased. "I found out about this job and asked Rhys if I could take this position. I would've been interested anyway. The pay is better and it's a management position."

"Totally makes sense," Phoebe said. "Archer is thrilled you're here." Archer was one of the executives for Fireweed Industries in Willow Brook.

"Does Griffin work for Fireweed Industries?" Madison asked.

"He could, but he says he likes being a firefighter," Phoebe chimed in. "He says he wants to do that until he's too old for the work."

"What are you going to do about Griffin? Because that man totally has a thing for you," Madison said.

"I don't think he has a thing for me. It's been almost a year and a half since I've seen him."

"Oh, he totally has a thing for you," Amelia offered wryly.

"Seriously?" Although I was acutely aware of my hormones' happy reaction to Griffin, it was hard to believe he'd still be into me.

"He could hardly keep his eyes off of you," Madison said.

Although my little heart had other ideas, I tried to stay practical. "I'm a single mom and I can't do a relationship. I doubt he even knows I have a baby."

"Of course he knows," Phoebe said. "You've been on maternity leave. Do you think his brother wouldn't mention it?"

"Well, I guess I was hoping there was no need to talk about me," I mumbled before taking a sip of coffee.

Amelia chuckled at my side. "This will be fun. We haven't had this kind of gossip around town in a while."

I looked over at her. "I refuse to be the subject of town gossip."

"You already are," Madison said with a sly grin.

When I got in my car to leave a few minutes later, my phone vibrated with a text.

Griffin: I understand congratulations are in order. I'd love to see you.