Knox dishes out another punch, and Griffin acts like he’s going to punch Knox back. But Knox widens his eyes and tilts his head toward Noah. Griffin makes a frustrated noise.
He’s going to have a nasty bruise later.
Griffin keeps trying. “That’s okay, bud. I didn’t have a best friend either. Do you know why?”
Noah shakes his head.
“No one liked me.” Griffin shrugs a shoulder.
Noah’s eyes widen. “What? But you’re so cool!” His disbelief is adorable.
Griffin’s smile is small but full of affection. “Thanks. But my family was different. Knox and I were made fun of a lot.”
“You didn’t have a best friend either?”
Knox shakes his head.
“No way,” Noah says to himself. I can see the thoughts flying through his brain. “How was your family different?”
Griffin clears his throat. “Well, our mom wasn’t around. And?—”
“Like she worked a lot?” Noah interrupts.
Guilt wraps itself around my heart and squeezes. I feel bad that I can’t give him what every other child has. If it were possible, I wouldn’t work at all. I’ve already missed so much of his life. I don’t want to miss anymore. But life costs money, and money isn’t free.
“No. Our mom decided she didn’t want to be a mom anymore, and she left.”
Noah takes a minute to digest the new information. “My mom would never do that to me. But I’m sorry your mom left.”
Knox and Griffin both wear a sad smile. Noah’s innocence has them both charmed.
“Thank you, Noah. And you’re right.” Griffin’s eyes meet mine. “Your mom would never do that.”
His confidence in me bolsters my dwindling belief that I’m not messing this all up. He thinks I’m a good mom. He believes in me.
“So, because your family was different, kids were mean to you,” Noah deduces.
“That’s right,” Griffin confirms.
“I don’t like that,” Noah states.
Griffin nods his head. “I didn’t like it then either. I had to defend myself a lot. Bullies aren’t actually all that tough. They’ll leave you alone if you stand up to them.”
Noah sits back, staring at his mostly empty plate. “May I be excused?” Noah asks me.
I nod. “Clear your plate, then brush your teeth and head for bed, please.”
Pushing out his chair, Noah stands with his plate in hand. “Love you, Mom,” he says as he walks by and gives me a small kiss on the cheek.
It’s like I suddenly turned into a damn fountain because, for the millionth time today, tears gather in my eyes. “Thank you,” I whisper to Knox and Griffin.
Knox repeats his statement from earlier, “You’re not alone.”
There’s a knock at the door, and both men jump to their feet. Knox nods to Griffin and exits the kitchen, heading for the front door.
I stand to go with him, but Griffin keeps me back. “Let him answer the door, Sunshine.”
“But it’s my front door,” I argue.
