I shrugged. “I don’t actually know if I want to have kids. Although they’re sure cute, but they seem like a lot of work.”
“Oh, they are a shit-ton of work.” Tish nodded firmly. With a glance at her watch, she added,” I should rustle Griffin up.”
“Always good to see you, Tish.”
Tish wasn’t technically my boss. She didn’t have much to do with the running of the restaurant, but she did sign my paychecks as the admin person in HR.
“You should come out for card night. You keep not coming,” she said.
“What do you mean?” I hedged.
“Just that. I’ve invited you three times, and three times you vague-boop your way out of it.”
“Tish!” I exclaimed, trying to ignore the prick of defensiveness inside.
“It’s at Holly’s place next week.” Her smile was warm.
“Text me the details. I’ll come.”
She texted me on the spot, just as Griffin appeared at her side. Her husband was one of the Cannon family who owned Fireweed Industries. It was the biggest business in Alaska, and it even made the news here and there since it was an international corporation. It still surprised me that Griffin had been a hotshot firefighter—and still did that on occasion—even though he also worked for the family business. They had money. Lots of it. I suppose when you were one of six siblings, maybe you wanted to strike out on your own.
“Sweetheart,” he murmured, sliding an arm around Tish’s waist.
She blushed a little when he pressed a kiss to her cheek, and my heart twisted sharply in my chest with an old pain. I was always happy for anyone who was happily in love, but it still felt like something impossible for me. It was safe to say trust was hard to come by for me.
“I gotta run,” I said, offering a quick smile between them. “Have a good night. Good to see you, Griffin,” I called as I spun and hurried away.
When I got home, Bella was sound asleep, so deaf that she didn’t hear me until I got right up to her. The vet had told me she probably felt the vibration of my footsteps on the floor.
She wagged her little tail, looking a little tired, as she lumbered up to her feet. I wanted her to live forever. She was still mostly healthy and had a strong heart, but I didn’t know how much longer I’d have her.
Between the divorce party group tonight and that little pinch of seeing the way Griffin looked at Tish, Bella reminded me of what was pure and true—a dog’s love. No strings. No mess. No complications. No lies. I could always trust in that.
Chapter Five
Tori
I stood at the counter in Firehouse Café. It was quiet and early, so there weren’t many people here yet. Casey was busy filling the display case with fresh baked goods. Luna had peered out from the kitchen in the back to say good morning. She and I had actually gone to elementary school together, but she’d left before my family imploded.
Sometimes I wondered just how much the implosion had been felt by anyone else. In a small town, gossip could burn hot and fast. It had been quite the bomb dropped for everyone to learn that my father, a beloved police officer, had been having a long-time affair. For over a decade. With my mom’s best friend.
My mom hadn’t known. I hadn’t known. Until I walked in on them. That was so not fun.
The aftermath was a mess. To this day, I still carried lingering anger with my father. The trust rupture for my mom had been massive. My dad and Shelly had left town. He took a job in Anchorage. Of course, he had another affair later. Now, Shelly was busy trying to make it up to my mom, and my mom was busy ignoring her. After all of it, I was proud of my mom. She was still here. She was the reason I’d moved back.
“Well, hello, Tori,” Janet James said.
My eyes lifted to see Janet, the heart of Firehouse Café and maybe the whole town. “Hey!” I exclaimed.
Her eyes twinkled. “What can I get you?”
“Coffee and a raspberry scone. Also, a hug.”
Janet’s smile was wide as she rounded the counter to pull me into one of her comforting hugs.
After that, she put a scone in the warmer and began to prep my coffee. “I haven’t seen you here when I’ve been in yet. What gives?” I asked.
“I still own the café, but Luna manages it now. You know that, right?”
