Mason took a few steps toward us, his hand out to Griffin. “Mason Arrington. Nice to meet you.”
“Griffin Locke, this is my nephew, Declan.”
Mason shook Declan’s hand before pointing out his son on one of the chairs. “This is my son, Everett.”
“You can let your dog off the lead. It’s fenced.” Mason gestured at the yard.
Declan unclipped the leash. Potter took off, only pausing to sniff their dog. The boys followed the dogs into the yard.
“Does your dog play fetch?” Everett asked Declan as he picked up a tennis ball to throw it.
“He does,” Declan said.
I was grateful to Everett for talking to him when he was three years older.
Mason’s gaze settled on me. “I’m glad you reached out.”
“Really?”
“My schedule used to be busy between deployments, parenting, but I’m retired now. My priorities are different. I never thought I’d have the house and the white picket fence, but here I am.” His tone was light. “But seriously, I’d like to see you more often, maybe take Mia and Everett to Annapolis, show them the Naval Academy.”
Relief poured through me that he’d addressed the issue so I wouldn’t have to. “I’d like that. Are you close to Mom and Dad now that you live here?”
I kept my voice light.
Mason shook his head. “No. They’re not the sort of people you can get close to. I’m grateful they watched Everett while I was deployed, but I try not to depend on them too much. They’ve disappointed Everett one too many times.”
“They disappointed you too.” It was nice to have the person who grew up in the same household as you agree.
Griffin touched my shoulder before joining the boys, leaving Mason and me alone.
Mason sighed. “They did. I didn’t think what they did affected me, but Mia helped me see that it did.”
I didn’t want to bring it up if it caused him pain, but they sent him away when he acted up. “I lived in fear they’d do the same to me.”
Mason swallowed hard. “I hoped they treated you differently.”
“They might have a little. They didn’t send me away, but I wasn’t a priority for them. I was alone a lot. I couldn’t live up to their expectations. I want to make sure that Declan and any child I have grows up differently than we did.”
“Do you have plans to see them while you’re here?”
“I thought we should since we’re here, but it sounded like they were pretty busy.”
“My advice is to make the effort, but don’t get upset if they don’t have time.”
“That’s good advice.” It was indescribable to connect with someone who’d grown up in the same household as me, who understood what it was like. He may have moved out at a younger age but his experiences were similar.
“I’m really glad you reached out. I like to think I would have eventually.”
“I’m sure you would. You seem different than how I remember you.”
“I am.” Mason smiled as Mia approached, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “It was all because of this woman. She helped me see what was important in life, family, loved ones.”
“She’s a smart woman.”
“Have a seat. Dinner will be ready soon.” Mason turned back to the grill while we sat at the table on the deck.
I sensed Mason wasn’t used to talking about personal matters, that he needed a moment to decompress.
Mia moved to me, placing an arm around my shoulders. “I’m so glad you could come. I think it’s great you and Mason are reconnecting. It’s just what he needs.”
“I needed it too.”
Mia and I sat at the table.
Griffin and the boys walked up the steps to the deck, sitting next to each other.
Griffin leaned over to whisper in my ear, “I told you not to worry.”
I squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
My thanks was for coming into my life, for introducing me to Declan, for loving me. He’d given me a family, supported me while I reunited with my brother. If I’d been afraid, if I’d held back, I never would have experienced this.
The rest of the evening we ate and got to know each other as the sun went down, the lights on the deck twinkled. Despite their difference in age, the boys got along between their love of dogs and Legos.
A deep sense of belonging settled in my bones. All of my life I’d run from the idea of family, commitment, and love when in the end, it was what my soul wanted.
Epilogue
Griffin
It was exactly one year from the night I met Avery at the Kids Speak fundraiser. The night I realized she was someone I wanted to get to know. I told her I wanted to spend the day in Annapolis. I’d planned it so we could be alone. Declan was in school.
We’d eaten breakfast, walked through town exploring the shops. We took the same boat tour we took with Declan. I wanted the day to feel nostalgic and romantic, surprising her with a proposal.
When we disembarked from the boat, I found an empty bench by the water, and pulled her to sit next to me.
“This reminds me of when we met. How we toured different parts of Annapolis each weekend.” Avery smiled, her eyes reminiscing.
“Hopefully, they’re all good memories.”
“They’re the best. I enjoyed exploring my new home with you and Declan. It was the beginning of us.” Avery looked out over the water before returning her attention to me.
I saw it in her eyes, the recognition she’d been lonely when we met, and in her smile, her happiness we were together now.
That was my cue. I slid off the bench to one knee.
Avery’s eyes widened. “Griffin, what are you doing?”
It had crossed my mind a million times that Avery would say no. We never discussed marriage. I anticipated she might not want to, but I had to try. Our relationship was giving her the desires she’d buried deep, refusing to acknowledge until I pushed her. So far, I’d given her love, a family, and now I wanted to offer her a future with us.
“Avery Arrington, the best thing that ever happened to me was signing your firm’s lease. I’m grateful for the error that brought us together. Even when we argued on the phone, I knew there was something about you that was different, something I was drawn to.”
Her hand cupped my cheek, her expression soft. “I thought so too. I dreamed of your voice even when you annoyed me.”
My heart ached with the truth. “I’m not sure we would have run into each other if it hadn’t been for that error in the lease, for that moment of weakness when I received the letter from the insurance company.”
“I’d like to think we would have,” Avery said softly.
I moved the hand she’d held to my cheek, cradling it between both of mine on her knee. “Getting to know you was so much better because you didn’t make it easy. You made me work for everything. In the end, everything we went through led us here, to the best thing I’ve ever known, love, acceptance, understanding, and the most important thing, a family.”
Avery’s fingers tightened around mine. She wasn’t running. She was here, watching me, her eyes filled with hope.