Add Romance and Mix

by Shannon M Harris

  Seeing the little person in the flesh in front of her was all too real. She watched, captivated, as Griffin’s chest rose and fell. This was happening. The woman she was in love with was going to raise another child. Briley wasn’t sure what she was supposed to feel, but at that moment, a surge of protection washed over her for the little person.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Leah said. “And it’s okay. I thought the same thing. Seeing her makes it all real.”

  “She’s so little and vulnerable. I’ll protect all of you as long as I can.”

  “We’ll protect you, too. Stronger together.”

  “You betcha.”

  They walked out onto the porch, where Kat and Evan were sitting on the steps side-by-side. Kat had one arm wrapped around his shoulders and they were staring into the yard. Briley and Leah sat down on the porch swing, watching them, but keeping quiet so as not to disturb them. It didn’t take Kat long to notice them.

  “Thanks, Kat.” Evan jumped up, and kissed Leah on the cheek. “I’m going to my room.”

  “All right. I’ll holler for you at dinner.”

  “Okay.”

  Kat stood and approached them then leaned back on the railing. “He’s a good kid. We talked, but I’m not going to tell you what we talked about, but Leah, I have a feeling he’s going to be okay.”

  “He’s been so quiet.”

  “I know. We all grieve in our own ways, and this is just his coping mechanism. Don’t push him and he’ll talk to you when he’s ready.”

  “Thank you.”

  Briley opened her mouth to say something when a wail broke the silence.

  “I’ll get her,” Leah said.

  “I take it, it went well?” Kat asked, when the front door shut behind Leah.

  “Yes, it did.”

  Kat slapped her on the shoulder. “I’m happy for you.”

  “I’m happy for me, too.”

  “That’s the Briley I know and love. This means no more moping, right?”

  “Yes.”

  Kat grinned. “Happy looks good on you.”

  Briley shook her hands out. “Let’s get in there and see if Leah needs any help.”

  “I think I’ve earned a cookie.” Kat smacked her lips.

  “I believe you have.”

  Leah was sitting on the couch, holding Griffin, who had calmed down. Kat sat in the chair by the fireplace and Briley sat down beside Leah.

  “As soon as I picked her up, she fell back to sleep,” Leah said.

  Briley lifted her hand and raked her fingers through Griffin’s soft black curls. If this was their start, she couldn’t wait to see how everything else played out.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Instead of going to the park as they’d planned, Briley and Kat helped Leah move the bed out of the guest room and set up Griffin’s things in there. With the four of them working together, they also moved Evan’s bed, dresser, and desk to the finished basement apartment. It was equipped with a separate entrance to allow him a bit of freedom.

  Evan had asked and Leah had agreed to allow him to move down there. He would be going to Garriety University in the next couple of years, and his plan was to still live in the apartment. Especially now that he had his little sister to think about.

  Three hours later, Kat flopped down on the couch. “Since I was put to work, am I getting fed?” She said, eyeing Leah and Briley. Evan snickered from beside her on the couch.

  Evan picked up a squealing Griffin and bounced her in the air. “We are hungry.”

  “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse,” Kat said, rubbing Griffin’s stomach, causing the child to giggle.

  “Well, what does everyone want?” Leah asked, rolling her eyes, and sitting on Briley’s lap.

  “I vote Chinese,” Evan said.

  Briley pulled Leah against her chest. “I second that.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Kat relieved Evan of Griffin and peppered her face with kisses.

  “I’ll order.” Leah walked into the kitchen to place their order.

  “So, Briley,” Evan said. “What are your intentions toward my mother?”

  Briley flipped Kat off, who was outright laughing. With the way Evan was regarding her, he may have phrased the question in an attempt at humor, but his face told another story.

  “I care for your mom very much, Evan. I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

  “Well, you do live next door.”

  “True. Let me clarify. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Your mom is special to me, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Griffin’s not something you signed up for.”

  “She’s not, but any relationship is about learning, growing, and compromise. I don’t run when things get hard, or when the unexpected pops up. I’m terrified, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Do I know where our relationship is headed? No, but I know where I want it to. Getting to know Griffin is an added bonus. I don’t really know you either, and I’ve never talked to Madison. It’s a curve ball, but I’m a fan of baseball.”

  He stared at her for a long minute. “Mom deserves only the best.”

  “I agree.” Briley kept her eyes on Evan, even though she could feel Leah’s eyes on them.

  “Mom said something about the Meerkats signing next Saturday,” he finally said. “Thanks for the goodies.”

  “You’re welcome.” Briley was glad for the change in subject. “Yes, Saturday. The team will be there and we can get your poster and jersey autographed, if you want.”

  “I love baseball, but have never been to a minor league game before.”

  “You’re in for a treat. I’m a season ticket holder and when it comes time for me to renew, I have the option to buy more season tickets. If you and your mom want, I’ll add you two onto my plan. I’m already adding Kat. Kids five and under get in for free.”

  “Yes, we want that.” Evan accepted Griffin back, who cuddled into his chest, clutching her meerkat in her tiny hand.

  “Evan,” Leah said, then turned to Briley. “That’s generous of you, but we can pay for our passes.” Briley shot her arm out and grabbed Leah’s hand, pulling her onto her lap and kissed her cheek.

  “My treat.” She buried her head in Leah’s neck.

  “Evan,” Kat said. “Get used to it. They do that all the time.”

  “I don’t mind. It’s actually pretty great.”

  “Yeah,” Kat conceded, “It is.”

  After dinner, Kat left to go home, Griffin was asleep in her new room, and Evan was downstairs.

  A quick glance at the clock above the fireplace confirmed it was only ten o’clock. Leah was asleep in her arms. She hated to wake her, but Leah would sleep better in her own bed.

  Leah blinked a few times, then stretched. “What time is it?”

  “Ten. I hated to wake you, but you’ll sleep better in your own bed.” Briley gave her a hand up.

  “I’m going to wash my face. Don’t leave. I’ll get a second wind.”

  “Okay.” Briley stepped into the kitchen, poured them each a glass of milk, and set out two chocolate chip cookies on the table.

  “Those look good,” Leah said. Before she sat down, she kissed Briley on the cheek. “You know,” she said, after taking a drink of milk, “you could have told me I looked like shit.”

  Briley coughed on the drink she just took. “What? You look great. Tired, but great.”

  “How diplomatic of you.”

  “Just eat.” Briley bit into her cookie. “Griffin still asleep?”

  “Sound. I will warn you. She didn’t always, but sometimes when she would wake up, she would crawl into bed with me. Evan said she used to do it with Kathy and Lilith.”

  “She’s tiny, like you. I think I can handle her.” Briley lifted her hands up.

  Leah rested her elbows on the table. “That same tiny person kicked Evan out of bed when he slept with me one night.” Leah pointed her fork at her.

  “Well, I think I’m ma
de of tougher stuff than Evan and I can handle you just fine.”

  “You can, can you?” Leah wiped her lips and pushed the plate away from her.

  Briley made a muscle with her arms. “I’m a certified tiny handler.”

  “You’re something all right.”

  “You like me.”

  “I don’t think there was any doubt about that.” They were both quiet while they finished their cookies. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this, darling. I never thought another child was in the cards for me.”

  Briley picked up Leah’s hand and ran her thumb over the knuckles. “I would be worried if you weren’t freaked out. I’m freaked out and she isn’t my kid, but you’re not alone. I’ll be here. I am here.”

  “Briley, I think we both know where this relationship is headed. If things work out for us, at some point, she will be your kid. More so than Evan and Madison.”

  She knew that, but hearing Leah say it made it real.

  “I scared you.”

  “No. Just thinking it and hearing you say it made it real.” She licked her lips. “I’m not sure I’m ready to be a mother, but I think that’s a role I could grow into.”

  “I think so, too. Do you think things are moving fast for us?”

  “On one hand, it may seem like that, but we’ve been dating for almost three months, and before that we lived next to each other for ten. I know those don’t really count, but it’s fact. Kathy and Lilith’s deaths were unexpected, and not something you can plan for. All relationships have bumps in the road.”

  “This is a bump?” She drew Briley’s hand to her chest.

  “I’m not trying to make light of their deaths.”

  “I know that.”

  “It’s just.” Briley sighed. “No one can plan for these things. I’m not about to throw away what we have because of the unexpected. I’m expecting a lot of unexpected for us and I’m ready.” Briley picked their trash up and threw it away. As she started to turn back to Leah, she noticed a Bose system, for the first time, in the corner of the kitchen. “Is this wired through the whole house?”

  “No, just the living room and kitchen. What are you up to?”

  Briley hooked her phone up and found the song she was looking for. Before hitting play, she stepped toward Leah and held out her hand. “May I have the honor of this dance?”

  A smile broke out on Leah’s face and she placed her hand in Briley’s just as the opening lines of Small World by Idina Menzel filtered through the speakers. Briley held Leah’s hand to her chest and slipped her other one around Leah’s waist. They swayed around the kitchen in complete sync with each other.

  Briley kissed Leah’s cheek, then loosened her hold and dipped her. Leah’s laughter cut through Briley’s soul and solidified the love she felt for this woman. Leah wrapped her arms around Briley’s neck and gazed into her eyes. Briley leaned forward and captured Leah’s lips as the final notes of the song played.

  “I’ve underestimated your pull over me, darling. Now that I know what it feels like in your arms, I don’t want to be anywhere else.” She closed her eyes. “I’m not sure I’m supposed to feel happy right now.”

  “There is nothing wrong with feeling happy.” Briley ran her hands down Leah’s arms and grasped her hands, taking a step back in the process.

  Leah opened her eyes. “I would love to take you to bed and make love to you, but with the threat of a little one walking in, sex can wait. Just holding you tonight while you sleep will be enough.” Briley shook her head. “I don’t take that for granted. I know how hard it is to let one’s guard down. You’ve allowed me this gift and I will cherish it. Sex with you is mind blowing, but allowing someone to see your tears, your anger, your sadness, your fears, is an intimacy all on its own.”

  “You take my breath away. Why couldn’t we have spoken when I first moved in?”

  “Things happen in their own time.”

  Leah walked back into Briley’s embrace. “You’re smooth.”

  “I only speak the truth.”

  “You’re too good to be true.”

  “Not the case. If you were to make a list of pros and cons about me, I would have plenty of cons. I tend to procrastinate. I’m impatient, stubborn. I really like sweets, but only exercise because it’s a tradeoff.”

  Leah silenced her with a kiss. “I wouldn’t write anything in the columns. Across the page, I would write, I could fall in love with her.”

  Briley’s heart started pounding and her stomach flip-flopped. “Well, ditto.” Leah chuckled against her cheek, then kissed her neck.

  “Your eyes give you away.” Leah smoothed the wrinkle between Briley’s brow. “That’s not a bad thing. It’s a reassurance. I still can’t believe you feel anything for me.”

  “Oh, Leah. I feel everything for you.” Briley glanced at the clock. “How about one more dance?”

  “One more dance.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  With a groan, Briley swatted at her nose. She kept her eyes tightly shut when a giggle reached her ears and she realized there was light pressure on her chest. She could feel Griffin’s hair tickling her face. It all came flooding back to her. Sometime in the middle of the night, the little one had climbed into bed with her and Leah.

  Leah had tried to apologize but Briley had only smiled and waved her words off. There was nothing to apologize for. Briley had lain on her side facing Leah, who was also lying on her side, and Griffin settled in between them. When Briley pictured her future, this wasn’t it. Not by a long shot, but being here, in this moment, she wouldn’t change a thing.

  She cracked one eye open and Griffin leaned in closer to her.

  “Hi.” Briley opened her eyes and noticed Leah was sound asleep. She placed a finger over Griffin’s lips then slid out of bed, and set Griffin on the floor. She led the girl out of the bedroom and toward her room. “Come on.” Griffin hesitated. “We’ve got this.”

  After changing Griffin’s diaper, and doing her business, Briley washed both of their faces, brushed her teeth, then helped Griffin with hers. She’d Googled everything she could think of so she wouldn’t screw this up. “Let’s go make breakfast.” Briley picked her up and carried her down the hallway. In the kitchen, she plopped her in her high chair then rummaged in the fridge and brought out the blueberries, then plucked a banana off the counter and held them toward Griffin.

  Griffin scrunched up her nose and bounced in her seat, making grabby motions to the banana. “Good choice.” She bopped her on the nose. “Plus, I’m thinking eggs, and…”

  “Sausage.”

  Briley turned to see Evan shuffling in, hair sticking up at odd angles. “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” he grunted.

  While Briley mixed the batter for the muffins, Evan poured all three of them some milk.

  “I miss talking to them.”

  Briley turned from sliding the muffins in the oven and sat down across from Evan. “You can still talk to them.”

  He shook his head. “That seems so—“

  “I know, but it helped me when my dad died.”

  “Kat told me.”

  “I still talk to my dad sometimes. It really does help.”

  “Maybe.” He downed the rest of his milk, then filled the glass back up.

  “Help me finish breakfast.”

  They worked side-by-side, scrambling the eggs and frying the sausage. “There is no right way to grieve,” Briley said.

  “It’s okay not to cry.” He sounded so sad.

  “Yes, it is. I cried all the time, but Kat didn’t. My mom shut herself away from us. It’s different for everybody and that’s not a bad thing.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Taking on Griffin is a huge responsibility.”

  “Your mom is on board with this. She really is. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have agreed to it in the first place.”

  Evan tilted his head toward the hallway. “Mom’s coming.”

  Just as the words le
ft his mouth, Leah walked into the room in her pajamas.

  “We made breakfast, Mom.”

  Leah kissed his cheek, then Griffin’s, then Briley’s. “Everything looks good.”

  After eating, Evan excused himself and took a protesting Griffin to get dressed.

  When the leftovers were put away and the dishes washed, Leah sat down in Briley’s lap.

  “Darling,” Leah said. “You did invite Kat to go to the park, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, but hand me my phone and I’ll send her a text.” Kat answered back shortly. “She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

  An hour later, everyone gathered in the living room. Kat had on her backpack and held Griffin in one arm, who looked colorful in a blue t-shirt and denim cover-alls that depicted a lion on the front. Briley had her backpack on and Evan had a firm grip on Griffin’s stroller. Briley had already made one trip to the Escalade to deposit the cooler.

  Briley lifted her phone and took several pictures, some with Kat, Griffin, and Evan making funny faces. “Everyone ready? I know I am.”

  “Let’s ride,” Evan said, leading the charge out the door.

  Before Leah could walk through, Briley wrapped her arm around her waist and pulled her away from the door. “You look beautiful,” she whispered in her ear. Even wearing something as simple as a pair of green capris and a black tank top, Leah never failed to take her breath away.

  Leah wrapped her arms around Briley’s neck. “You’re easy to please,” she said, giving her a coy smile.

  “Well, look at you. How can I not be?” Briley kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Seriously.” She ran her free hand down Leah’s arm. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Leah rose on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on Briley’s lips. “You do as well.”

  Briley took the opportunity to attach her lips to Leah’s neck and sucked at the spot right below her ear. Leah’s arms tightened around her neck and she moaned. With a final kiss to Leah’s lips, Briley pulled back. “They’re probably wondering where we are.”

  “Your sister is good at distracting them. But,” she let her hands slip to Briley’s shoulders, then down her arms, where she clasped their hands together. “This isn’t over yet.”