“Oh, honey—those are the same thing in different hats. He’s terrified. I’d bet my life on it.” Her voice was gentle but firm. “That doesn’t excuse how he treated you. But fear makes people do stupid things. Makes them push away the very thing they want most.”
I wiped my eyes. “What am I supposed to do?”
“You come home to Holly Creek.” No hesitation. “You let him sit with what he’s lost. And you focus on taking care of yourself and that baby.”
“But what if?—”
“What if nothing, Jessa Marie. Trust me. You can’t fix him. You can’t make him ready to be the man you need him to be. That’s work he has to do on his own.” She paused. “And if he doesn’t? Then you build a life without him. You’re strong enough to do that. You have always been stronger than you think.”
My throat constricted, too tight to answer. After a minute I said, “I don’t know about that.”
“You left him last night, didn’t you? You chose yourself and your baby over a man who couldn’t see what was right in front of him. That’s strength, sweetie.”
A tear slipped down my cheek.
“I think… I love him. I love him so much it’s killing me.” I sobbed.
“Love yourself more, Jess. That’s how you’ll teach your baby what genuine love looks like.”
“I hear you, but it hurts like hell.”
“I know. When are you coming home?”
“Soon.” I looked around Sophie’s apartment. At the packed suitcase by the door. “I need to say goodbye to Theo first. He deserves that much.”
“He’s a lucky boy to have had you in his life. Even if his daddy’s too blind to see it.”
We talked for a few more minutes before hanging up. My coffee had gone cold, but I grew steadier by the minute, because she was right. I couldn’t fix Griffin and make him want this.
All I could do was choose myself.
Didn’t make the pain go away though.
My phone buzzed againan hour later.
Griffin: Theo home by 3pm. Come see him then.
I stared at the text, formal and distant, like I was just another item on his to-do list.
My fingers hovered over the text, debating the response. Part of me wanted to tell him to go to hell. My heart knew I couldn’t walk away without saying goodbye.
Jessa: I’ll be there.
I set the phone down and pressed my palms to my forehead.
Three hours until I had to face that penthouse again, and look Theo in the eye and explain why I was leaving. I hoped above all that he’d want to be a part of the baby’s life.
If Griffin wanted to have a part of it, he’d have to make the next move.
I tried to pass the time thinking about things and sketching, but turned out heartbreak proved a tough topic to write about as a children’s book concept.
Sophie came home around noon with bagels and an expression that said she was ready for battle.
“How are you holding up?” She dropped the bag onto the counter.
“Better. I called Aunt Patty.”
“Good. What did she say?”
