Ginny
2001, Fort Lauderdale
I was putting the groceries away when Denise dropped Jason back at home. While I worked, I’d been pondering the events of the last twenty-four hours.
Seeing Grizz at the church had been a shock, but I had to admit to myself that I knew he’d show himself eventually. I hadn’t believed he’d leave after what I’d told Carter to relay to him. The fact that he’d showed up at my grocery store earlier this morning had unnerved me more than I cared to admit, and I found a bit of smug satisfaction in knowing I’d been right that he wouldn’t stay away.
I was also still a little stunned by Alec’s admission last night. We’d met for dinner prior to going to hear the same band we’d heard the previous weekend, and I told him what Jason had said about Caleb thinking we’d make a good family. I asked his opinion on how we could still be friends but dissuade our children from the notion that we might one day be a couple.
“Would that be so bad?” he’d shyly asked me.
I’d looked at Alec then. Really looked at him. And noticed something in his expression I hadn’t seen, or hadn’t allowed myself to see before. Attraction.
Then of course came the awkwardness of trying to figure out how I could stay friends with a man I wasn’t interested in romantically. I knew Alec would make any woman a wonderful partner, and even though I wasn’t having those feelings for him now, I couldn’t help but wonder if someday I might. Was I shooting myself in the foot? Would I be burning a bridge behind me?
I wouldn’t answer his question. I skirted around it and let myself enjoy his company for the rest of the night. Thankfully, he made no attempt at anything intimate, not even hand holding.
At one point, I was a little surprised when Alec asked specifically about Sarah Jo. He wanted to know if we’d resumed what he perceived as a close friendship since she and Stan decided to stay in the States. I answered him honestly, told him Sarah Jo was there for me in the tragic weeks following Tommy’s death, but like most people, she’d settled back into her busy life. I hadn’t seen her that much if at all.
As I put a box of cereal on the shelf, I thought about Sarah Jo, about why we seemed to be drifting apart. Was it just the craziness of life, or something more?
My reverie was interrupted by an “I’m hungry” from Jason as he made his way into the kitchen.
“Not even a ‘Hi, Mom, how are you’?” I asked as I placed a kiss on top of his head.
He gave me a wide smile and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Hi, Mom! How are you? I’m hungry.”
“I just bought lunchmeat. Make yourself a sandwich,” I told him.
“Awww, can you make it for me?”
“Sure,” I said as I started to carry some canned goods into the pantry. “I was going to clean Spooky’s litter box, which you were supposed to do before you went to Max’s, but I’ll make you a sandwich instead, and you can clean the box.”
He followed me into the pantry and looked up at me with wide eyes.
“Sorry, Mom. I forgot.”
“I know you did, Jason. I’m not upset with you. I’ve been forgetting a lot of things too lately, especially since we’re all trying to get used to doing Dad’s chores.” I wasn’t referring to Spooky’s litter box but other household chores that had been Tommy’s.
Twenty minutes later, the cat box was clean and Jason had finished his sandwich. I looked at the clock, and it occurred to me that Christy should’ve had Mimi home by now. I reached for my purse and realized my phone wasn’t in it. When I thought about it, I hadn’t had my phone with me all morning. I bet it was still charging on my nightstand.
I peeked in Tommy’s office. Jason was sitting at the desk working on homework. It was his new favorite place to study.
I was heading upstairs to get my phone and see if Mimi had texted or called when the front door opened. I turned around and had to catch myself from gasping out loud.
Mimi came in the front door—followed by Grizz.
An intense anger hit me like a punch to the gut, followed by mild curiosity. I stood there, waiting for someone to say something. Anything.
“You don’t keep your front door locked when you’re home?” Grizz asked in his low, deep voice.
Typical Grizz.
Jason could see them through the French doors of Tommy’s office, and he came out now, his curiosity aroused.
The four of us now stood in the foyer, just staring. Mimi broke the silence.
“I ran into an old friend of yours and Dad’s at the Bears’. He offered to bring me home. He just heard about Dad and wanted to offer his condolences. You remember James Kirkland, don’t you, Mom?”
Of course, she was lying, and the hundreds of things that wanted to come out of my mouth had to stay where they were because of Jason. The first, of course, was how had they run into each other? I certainly hadn’t seen Mimi with him at the grocery store.
I looked at my son, who just stared at the mountain of a man who engulfed our entire foyer. His jaw was slightly agape as he slowly scanned Grizz from head to toe. Jason approached him and put his hand out, like his father had taught him.
“I’m Jason. You knew my dad?”
Grizz looked down and smiled at my son. A smile that had melted my heart in days gone by and was starting to have the same effect now. Stop it, Ginny. This is a horrible and dangerous violation of your family. He has no right to be here.
I don’t remember the small snippets of conversation that were exchanged. There was a loud thrumming in my head, like a freight train was blasting through it. I do know Grizz said something that made Jason laugh. I hadn’t invited him any further into the house, and I had no intention of doing so.
After a few minutes, I blurted out, “It’s nice to see you again, James. Thank you for coming by. I’ll walk you to your car.”
I gave Mimi a look that told her I’d be having a private conversation with her as soon as I made my way back into the house.
“Can he come back for dinner?” Jason asked. I could tell that he was captivated by Grizz.
“I’m sure he has plans for dinner.” I looked at Grizz and saw understanding in his eyes.
“Maybe some other time, Jason,” he said quietly.
Mimi jumped in before Jason could object. “C’mon, squirt, you still have to try and beat me at that new video game you just got.”
If there was one other benefit besides the obvious that had made me happy since re-bonding with my daughter, it was how seamlessly and lovingly she’d inserted herself back into her little brother’s life. He started to follow her as she headed for the den, but stopped to turn around and address Grizz.
“I hope you’ll come back, Mr. Kirkland.” Then, with half a wave, he chased his sister into the den.
I wordlessly followed Grizz to his car.
“You owe me an explanation,” I said in a low voice as I stood with arms crossed and looked down into the driver’s side of his car.
He reached into the ashtray and took out a business card. It was for Anthony’s landscaping service. He grabbed a pen out of the console and wrote something on the back.
“I’m not calling you if that’s what you think,” I said, my fingernails digging into my upper arms.
Without looking up at me, he said, “Good, because I don’t have a phone.” He handed me the card. “That’s my address on the back. You want an explanation, you come see me. I get home from work every night at six.”
“You want me to come to you?” I hissed.
“You can’t have it all your way, Ginny. You obviously weren’t happy to see me in your church classroom. You don’t like that I shop at your grocery store. You don’t want me in your home, and you already made it clear you wouldn’t call me even if I did have a phone. If you don’t get the explanation that you’re looking for from Mimi, you know where to find me.”
I glared at him.
He started his car then, and shifted it into reverse.
“I won’t bother you again, Ginny. I’ll stay away. You have my word on that.”
I stood there and watched him pull away, rolling my eyes at his last statement. Grizz would never stay away. He wouldn’t know how to. He obviously wanted to immerse himself back in my life. And like the bully he’d always been, he would do it one way or another.
I was certain I would be seeing him again.
My neck prickled, and I turned, immediately aware of my surroundings again. Slowly I scanned my neighborhood. I wanted to be sure nobody had seen him. I needed to know he hadn’t been spotted. But as I walked back to my house, I was struck with the sudden realization that I didn’t need to worry about that. I was overthinking. Grizz was never stupid, and he wouldn’t have let himself have any contact with Mimi, let alone drive her home, if there was even a hint of suspicion or danger.
Nobody cared about the dead biker who’d wreaked havoc on South Florida all those years ago. Apparently, nobody but me.