Nick would also always look at the two-bedroom houses surrounding thepark.
“I’d like to buy one,” he said one day.
“You could buy a much bigger house after a couple more seasons,” I pointed out tohim.
He shook his head no. “You see this view,” he’d held his arms up looking at the playground with the sun setting in the background. “It’s perfect. I can just imagine it with snow everywhere too. It’d be gorgeous. You think Sav would like it here?”
I felt pulled to this place now… maybe to feel closer to him… maybe to finally share it with Savannah.
As soon as we pulled up to the parking lot, Savannah was already looking around, taking in how pretty it was.
She pointed out a couple of kids messing around with sticks and a ball in the parkinglot.
“Reminds me of us,” she laughed.
I led her to a park bench, and we sat there for a while watching the sun rise– her head leaning on my shoulder, my arm around her, holding her close to brace thecold.
And Nick was right… This park was even more beautiful with the snow.
After the cold finally got to us, we started heading back to the car… and that’s when I let her in on the real reason why we came here…
“What do you think about that one?” I asked quietly while pointing to a blue house with white trim and a cute porch on the front that was recently shoveled off, making it look quaint.
“What?” she asked, looking at me skeptically.
“What do you think of it?”
She stopped walking. “It’s very nice, but…”
I started down its narrow sidewalk that led to the frontdoor.
“Griff!” she yelled at me. “Are you crazy? What are you doing?” she laughed.
I swiftly opened up the door with my new key, then turned to where she stood, still rooted to her spot on the sidewalk.
“Well, c’mon in,” I told her.
“What’s going on, Griff?” Her eyes were darting from me to the house.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t buy it… yet,” I cocked my head to the side. “I’m renting it for a bit. Might put in an offer soon though.”
She put her hand to her mouth. “For real?”
I nodded at her and ushered her into the house again. “Secured my spot on Toledo’s roster. Figured it’s only an hour commute from here…and I’ll be close to ya then.”
She touched her stomach, and her lip quivered.
“The stupid hormones are making me cry. I usually wouldn’t cry!” she squeaked out, then she ran up the sidewalk and hugged me.
42. Sav
He held me in a tight hug on the doorstep of his new house, and I was comforted by his usual pine tree scent.
“I wasn’t looking forward to saying goodbye to you,” I told him. He said he didn’t want to leave, but after watching his excellent first game over the weekend, I thought it was only a matter of time before he moved in with Duke and a few of the other bachelor players in downtown Toledo.
I knew I’d have to figure things out soon enough. My head was practically spinning with all the things I needed to get done before the baby came– I needed a car seat, a changing table, a stroller… I’d have to put together a whole nursery on my own. I knew I could do it… but I wasn’t looking forward to losing Griff’s strong and stable presence. Now that I knew he’d only be about a half-hour away, I breathed a little easier.
“You don’t have to do it all alone. I want to help,” he said eagerly, pretty much speaking to my thoughts. “And, I have a lil something for ya inside, Callahan.”
