“So talk.” I crossed my arms in front of me, and tried to ignore the scent of his expensive cologne lingering in the air, a ghost of every minute we’d spent here pretending we were a normal family.
He gestured toward the kitchen. I followed, striding past him with every nerve on edge.
There was a folder on the island. The sight of it made my skin crawl. Nothing good came in a folder since I stepped foot in Manhattan.
Griffin leaned against the counter, fingering his neckline. “I’ve been thinking about what you said last night.” His voice was measured. Controlled. “And you’re right. Plans change. So I’m adapting.”
He slid the folder toward me, not meeting my eyes.
I stared at it. Didn’t touch it. “What is this?”
“Security for you… and the baby.” He opened the cover, revealing typed documents. “This is a lease I signed for a three-bedroom apartment, just a few floors down from here. Closeenough that I can be there if you need me, but you’d still have your own space.”
Just when I thought my heart couldn’t ache more…
“This will be your allowance, well, technically annual salary.” He flipped to the next page, and pointed at highlighted numbers that blurred my vision. “If you need more, just say so, but my lawyers did the math and figured this was plenty to cover everything you and the baby could ever need or want and then some. Healthcare, groceries, childcare when you’re ready to work again. Not that youhaveto work. I’ll provide more than enough.”
For a long moment, I couldn’t speak or breathe.
This was what he thought I wanted? What he thought would fix this?
“You’re paying me off,” I said, voice flat.
“No.” He straightened. “I’m taking care of you and the baby.”
“You think this is what I want?” I shoved the folder back across the marble a little too hard. Papers scattered everywhere. “An apartment and a monthly deposit like I’m some mistress you’re keeping hidden?”
“That’s not what this is.” Heat crept into his voice. “This is me making sure you and the baby have everything you need. You’d never want for anything again.”
My laugh came out sharp. Bitter.
“Never want for anything? Griffin, I don’t care about your money.” My voice cracked. “I came to New York foryou.I stayed foryou and Theo, too.I hoped our baby would have a father, not a landlord.”
“I’ll be involved,” he insisted, gripping the edges of the counter. “As much or as little as you want. This gives you freedom to make that choice.”
“What I want is to be your partner!” The words exploded out of me. “Not your employee. Not your obligation or someproblem to solve.” I sucked in a breath, begging to hold it together.
He faced me, locking eyes as his mask slipped. For one second, pain flashed through them, but then it was gone. Buried under layers of control.
“I’m trying to do the right thing here,” he said quietly, shoving a few steps away from the counter.
“The right thing would be to admit you’re scared.” Tears burned in my eyes, threatening to fall, but I blinked them away. “Or how about letting me in instead of throwing money at the problem like you do with everything else?”
“I don’t—“ He stopped. Ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how to give you what you want.”
“Then learn,” I broke. “Because this baby deserves a father who tries.”
The silence stretched between us.
Griffin scowled at the scattered papers. At the numbers and clauses he thought would be enough, but could never be. He marched back and gathered them into a neat pile, back into the folder. He slid it to me, his fingertips pointed on the top of it.
“I can’t give you everything you want. I’ve been there before. Marriage didn’t work for me. That’s all.”
My breath shattered, along with my heart, from his final blow.
Stunned, I pulled an envelope from my purse and set it on the counter. “Then give this to Theo. Tell him I love him. Tell him none of this is his fault.”
“Jessa, wait. Let’s negotiate—” his voice cracked.
