Page 31 of Griffin
“And let me guess, you’re not one to back down from a dare?”
“No. I also always wanted her approval. So I did anything she wanted me to. I got caught, though…”
“What happened?”
“I got five lashes and locked in the cupboard for three days.”
I feel the life leave my body. “What?” I nearly bark.
“I was a small kid; I fit fine.” She shrugs, like being abused was no big deal.
My eyes narrow. “Did that kind of thing happen a lot?”
“It always seemed to happen to me.” She blows out a breath.
“Your parents?”
“Yeah, and Pastor Greg. The wine wasn’t even real. It was grape juice. So disappointing. My sister laughed, though.”
“What was her discipline?” I ask, wondering what she got for orchestrating it all.
“Her discipline?” Savannah stops icing and looks at me, confused.
“Yeah, what were the ramifications for her for putting you up to the task?”
She pauses, thinking about it a small frown coming to her brow. “She lied. Told them she caught me and was trying to stop me. They saw that as her setting a good example and she got elevated to the leader of Girl’s Fellowship Group.” Like the facts are just resonating with her, she blinks a few times.
I don’t push, I don’t bite, but my anger swirls. I know what it’s like to grow up with people who didn’t have your best interests at heart. Looks like Savannah had the same experience. She rubs her belly, and a small wince comes to her face.
“Alright, let's go.” I drop the things on the counter and grab her arms gently and start to move her away from the counter.
“Griff? What, no, I need to finish.” She immediately resists, but I’m not having it.
“Savannah. You and the baby need to rest; otherwise, there will be no opening tomorrow. Remember what Hudson said.” She’s quiet then, and I feel her body soften in my hold as I walk her up the stairs.
“Okay, fine…” she relents. This is now the second time I’ve walked her to bed. And I swear this time, she’s almost asleep before I even get her there. Clearly, she overdid it these past few days while I was away.
I spot a bassinet over to the side that wasn’t here last time, along with a pile of children’s clothes. Not many items. But a few.
“I’ll lock up,” I tell her quietly as I lay her on her bed, ensuring she’s comfortable.
“Griffin…” she whispers.
I pull the blanket over her, taking in her pretty face. “Yeah, Savannah?”
Her eyes are closed, barely awake. “Don’t sleep on the floor tonight. It’s too hard… You can come up here…”
That offer makes my heart stutter. I stand here, looking down on her, her body already softening into the mattress, her breathing evening out.
“Sleep tight, sweetness,” I whisper as I turn and walk down the stairs, making myself useful by finishing the cupcakes, all one hundred of them, before cleaning the kitchen, needing to move, to push out my anxiety, my frustrations, my fears.
I remain focused, keep my head down, and put her things away and lock the back door. I then move to the front and wipe down the counter, filling the napkin holders and mopping the floors, even though they look sparkling already. I wipe the windows, then double-check the signage, doing anything and everything I can think of to get the front retail space ready for customers tomorrow. I shoot Tanner a text so he isn’t worried, and before I know it, it’s dark. I stand in her kitchen and look at the base of her stairs. The ones that lead to her.
She’s right. I’m not going home. I won't leave her. And I can’t sleep on the hard floor another night. Before I think too much about it, I flick off the light and take the stairs one at a time.
14
Savannah
