For Our Son: A BWWM Parenting Romance For Adults (26 page)

At that last part, Griffin’s head snapped upwards and tears glittered his
eyes. “But how do I fix it? Can you guys help me?”

Smiling, Rhonda walked over to Griffin and took his face gently in her
hands. "I’m afraid not. You're gonna have to do this one on your own.
Erica’s stubborn, you’ve got that right, but she’s also loyal. You need to put
aside your insecurities and accept her life for what it is. She's worked very
hard for her career, as I’m sure you have for yours. It’s not fair for you to
make her choose."

Releasing Griffin’s face, Rhonda walked back over to her husband’s side
and took his hand. "Love can be trying sometimes, but it's also wonderful.
Don’t let the small things ruin it." Looking all of a sudden smug, she
carried on, "I happen to know that Erica’s plane touches down on Friday at
8:00 p.m. I was supposed to pick her up, but…"

Springing from his chair, Griffin ran over to the couple and embraced
them both. “I’ll get her. Thanks for the advice."

With that, Griffin ran to the door and bounded out of the house. He felt
renewed after talking to Erica’s parents. Though they might not have known it,
they’d given him his first glimmer of hope in days.

Epilogue

Erica grabbed her suitcase from the baggage carousel and wheeled it
through the crowded airport. As she neared in on the exit, her eyes scanned
through the mob of travelers in search of her mother. However, she skidded to a
halt when she saw Griffin walking up to her with a look of determination on his
face.

Erica’s nostrils flared as Griffin explained that he was her ride home,
and she inwardly seethed and started to walk off in the opposite direction in
search of a taxi. She wasn’t ready to talk to Griffin just yet, but he’d
obviously spoken to her mother behind her back. Thus, she was fuming.

Griffin caught up with Erica outside and prevented her from sidestepping
him by blocking her path and grabbing hold of her arm.

"Erica, please..."

"Please nothing, Griffin. Let go of me,” Erica said as she tried in
vain to disengage her arm from Griffin’s grip.

"Fine, but I'm not leaving. I'm your ride home whether you like it
or not.”

Deciding that she didn’t want to make a scene, Erica complied and
followed Griffin out to the short-term parking lot. Once they were on the
highway, he tried to talk to her again.

"Er…"

"Don’t,” Erica whispered. “I have nothing to say to you." In an
attempt at ignoring him, she looked out her window and tried to mentally block
him out.

Unperturbed, Griffin looked over at her and then returned his eyes to the
road. "Where were you?" he asked softly.

"D.C.,” Erica stated irritably. “I was visiting Jade.”

The only reason she answered at all was because she knew he wouldn't stop
pestering her until she did. Fifteen minutes later, he pulled to a stop in
front of her house and cut the engine.

Erica smirked at his arrogance.
He sure is confident,
she thought,
what makes him think I'm going to invite him in?

At this point, Erica was so ready for a fight that if Griffin so much as
looked at her the wrong way she was sure she’d fly off the handle at him. After
grabbing her suitcase from the trunk, she marched ahead of him at a clipped
pace in an attempt at outrunning him. Of course, it came as no surprise that he
was having none of that.

As soon as Erica unlocked her front door, Griffin grabbed her suitcase
and shoved his way inside her foyer. Outraged, Erica slammed the door and
rounded in on him.

"How dare you," Erica seethed. "Where do you get off just
barraging in here? You have no right!"

"Too bad, because I have to talk to you." Griffin raised his
voice to match Erica’s.

"Talk all you want, I’m not listening." With that, Erica took
her suitcase and marched into her bedroom. Once there, she began to furiously
unpack.

Griffin followed silently behind her. "Erica, come on. This is
ridiculous. I love you, and I’m really sorry if I made you doubt that. I guess
I just I felt like I wasn’t good enough for you."

Spinning around, Erica threw a shirt at Griffin’s chest.

"Griffin, when have I
ever
asked you to be someone you’re
not? I could care less if you made two dollars a week! I want you for
you
.
That’s all I’ve ever wanted!" Erica tossed her arms in the air in
exasperation. "I wouldn't care of we lived in a four by four shack if it
meant I was with you, you stupid idiot!"

With that, she turned back around and removed the remaining articles of
clothing from her suitcase.

"Erica, I’m sorry,” Griffin tried again. “I guess I just…I couldn't
wrap my head around why you wanted me. I mean, look at you. You're successful,
smart, ambitious...and you're wonderful with Avery. You care more about her
than her biological mother ever did. And me? Well I'm just the guy who let you
go after our baby died. That's all I'll ever be."

Without turning, Erica shook her head and sat down at the foot of her
bed. "Griffin, how can you not see that you're so much more than that to
me?" she asked as she gazed up at him through her tears. “I mean…do you
even know why I love you so much?”

Erica paused to regain her composure. Once she was levelheaded, she
continued, “Because you’re a good man, Griffin. That’s why. Sure, you might
have let me down in the past, but that’s done and over with now. Our daughter
is in heaven, and we…we've been given a second chance. Through Avery. That's if
you're still willing to share her with me…”

Erica’s eyes were misty, and her expression was somber as she stared at
the man she so loved.

Rushing to Erica’s side, Griffin knelt down in front of her and took her
small hands in his. “Of course I do,” he said as he looked deep into her eyes.
“Please forgive me. I don’t care about your job, or the people you work with,
or anything else. I can’t stand the thought of spending even one more day
without you by my side."

Still unsmiling, Erica looked at Griffin long and hard before responding.
"Don’t hurt me again,” she warned. “I don’t know if my heart could take
it."

"I won’t,” Griffin vowed as he kissed her. Once they separated, he
held up a small velvet jewelry box and flipped it open to reveal a beautiful
diamond ring that twinkled in the light.

"What's this?" Erica was so taken aback that she was nearly
speechless. Her hand flew up to her mouth, and she could hardly think straight
as she tried to wrap her head around what was happening.

"Erica, you’re amazing,” Griffin proclaimed. “Be my wife."
Slowing nodding, Erica whispered a quiet ‘yes’ and allowed him to pull her into
a hug. Once he had her tightly in his embrace, he proceeded to shower her with
kisses. "I love you,” he purred as he clung to her. “I always have…”

Letting out a joyous laugh through her tears, Erica rested her head on
Griffin’s chest and took a moment to revel in the soft thump of his heartbeat.
She was more than just content. For the first time in years, she could honestly
say that she was entirely at peace.

THE END.