I can’t talk. I’m shocked. Eyes watering, my throat feels thick with emotion. I knew it wouldn’t take him long, but this is amazing. I hold on to the old counter, feeling slightly dizzy. Overwhelmed. Completely taken aback. I’m sure Tanner is paying him well, but no one has ever helped me out so much.
“I… I don’t know what to say.” My words come out breathy, and he gives me a curious look.
“There’re also a few new cupboards required in here, too. That spot over there, I thought I could build you some shelves for your flour and whatnot.” He points to the area I had reserved for the baby. My heart skips a beat. He wants to build me shelves?
“Oh, that needs to stay empty.”
Bringing his gaze back to me, he seems curious. He hasn’t looked at my belly once, and I know I hide it well in these flowing dresses, especially as the doctor didn’t even see it. But Griffin has been here for the past two days and hasn’t mentioned anything, so I assume he either knows and doesn't care or has no idea.
“Empty?” he asks.
“I have some other plans for that area.” I should tell him. But I’m hesitant. Within weeks, a new little baby will arrive and my life will change again. But right now, I like feeling like me. The girl who finally stepped out from under her family’s rules, who chose this baby and this life. I’m scared that once everything changes again, I’ll lose the parts of myself I only just found.
“How long have you been a builder?” I ask to change the subject. His work is good. Clean, thorough, high quality. My grandpa would be impressed.
“All my life.”
I wonder exactly how long that may be. He’s older than me, that’s for sure. By at least a decade or two. He has thick dark hair, but there’s a small sprinkle of gray at his temples. Not much, but up close, I see them. He also looks like a man with experience.
“Makes sense.” I nod to myself.
“What does?” His eyes hold mine. He’s a little guarded, almost like he wants to connect with me but can’t for some reason.
“You did all this in less than a day. I’ve been building for about… a minute, and it would’ve taken me at least a week.” I roll my lips, trying to lighten the mood, and I think I succeed when I see his lips quirk at the sides. It was small. A millimeter at most, but it happened.
“Who taught you to build?” He’s humoring me, so I go with it. I’m enjoying talking with someone other than myself for a change. Being here on my own can be a little lonely sometimes.
“My grandpa. Every Sunday after church, I’d go to my grandparents’ house. He taught me to hammer a nail, chop wood, change the oil in my car…”
“Sounds like a solid guy.” Griffin nods in approval.
“Afterward, I’d go inside, and my grandma would teach me how to bake.”
He nods slowly in understanding. “Betty?”
I smile. “Yeah. I named the bakery after her.”
“It’s a good name. Is she coming to see it?”
My smile falters. “No. They died. About a year ago now.” The memory burns my eyes. They were the only ones ever in my corner. I was never the black sheep of the family, but I certainly wasn’t the favorite. I had great grades throughout school, and I always did every chore and everything that was asked of me at home.
But I asked too many questions. I was always inquisitive, wanting to know why things were the way they were. Why the people coming to the church food pantry were not blessed by God with more? Why were girls and boys not treated the same? I loved books, often reading outside of the approved books which opened even more questions for me. I was seen as troublesome. As not being submissive enough. Throughout the years it was almost like all the love my parents had went into my older sister since she toed the line so well. So much so, there wasn’t any left for me. My grandparents were the only ones to show me any kindness. No wonder I spent most weekends with them.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too.” I take a breath and shake off the emotion. “So where do you travel to?”
“This week, I’m heading to Sundown Valley over near Sonoma.”
My eyebrows rise. “Sonoma? Wow, that sounds amazing. I haven’t traveled much. I hardly ever left my small hometown.”
“It’s a beautiful part of the country. You should go sometime.”
I sigh. “Yeah. It'll be a dream,” I say absentmindedly. Because traveling is on my bucket list, but with my life now laid out for me, with a new business and a new baby, travel isn’t going to happen for a long time.
Checking the time, he grabs his toolbelt off the counter. “I need to go. I fly out later tonight.”
“Oh… oh, of course…” I pull myself together. He has a life, Savannah. One that doesn’t involve talking to you.
