Page 42 of Stay With Me (Griffin’s Den #2)
FORTY-ONE
Luna
The smile on Jess’s face as Kristen lets her help set up the farmers’ market table makes my heart feel like it’s beating out of my chest. She’s so excited to be helping run the booth today, and I don’t think anything will wipe the smile off her face.
Someone knocks my shoulder lightly, and I see Am standing beside me. “I got her a shirt that matches ours if you think she would want it.”
“I think she would love that. I know you said she was interested in everything at your farm, and Joe has talked about how she is even asking him questions about his farming operation.”
“I’m not shocked. I sometimes have to remind myself that she’s only ten with the questions she asks.”
“I know. I have to remind myself that she’s still so young.”
Before Am can respond, Jess looks up at us and says, “Does anything else need to be set up, Aunt Amelia?”
Am gasps next to me. “Did she just call me aunt?” she whispers.
“Yeah, it’s a new thing. It started after she spent the night with Sam. I don’t know how the topic came up, but everyone in the friend group is called aunt or uncle now,” I tell her softly.
Am clears her throat. “I think that’s everything, kiddo. Thank you for your help this morning. I have something for you if you want it.” Am gestures her over.
Jess walks over to us with Penny by her side as Kristen puts the extra baskets back into the van.
Am kneels in front of her and holds out the T-shirt.
“This is for me?” Jess brushes her fingers over the fabric.
“Yeah, you don’t have to wear it, but since you helped me so much today and at the farm when we hung out, I thought you would like this.” Am moves the shirt closer to her, prompting her to take it.
Jess unfolds the shirt, and her eyes go wide, likely realizing the shirt matches the one Am and Kristen wear. “I can wear this?” She darts her eyes from me to Am.
“Of course. You’re my little helper, and we couldn’t have done all this without you. You’re a part of the team,” Am says.
As soon as the words are out of her mouth, Jess throws herself into her arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would love to wear this! Can I please change my shirt, Luna?”
“Of course.” I look around to see if we can find a place for her to change her shirt.
“She’s short enough she could change in the back of the van. I’ll take her over there.” Am looks to me for permission.
I nod. “Okay. I’ll stay here with Penny and wait for you guys to come back just in case we have some early shoppers.”
“Perfect. We will be right back.” Am motions for Jess to follow her.
As she makes her way with Jess to the van, Abby and Pam walk toward the stand from the parking lot. I wave as they approach.
“Hey, ladies. I’m glad you could make it.”
“Sorry we’re late. I overslept, and if it wasn’t for Abs here blowing my phone up, I don’t know when I would have gotten here.”
“I’m shocked you overslept. Is everything okay?” I ask since normally she’s the one keeping us all on track.
She waves me off. “I just had a date last night that went longer than planned.”
Abby wiggles her eyebrows. “Ohhhh, that kind of date.”
I look between them, and it clicks. “Ohhhh, I get it.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Where’s my little niece? I need to win cool aunt because all we hear about is Sam,” Pam says, quickly changing the subject.
I can’t help but laugh. “She’s in the van changing into her cool new shirt for Am’s farm.”
“Ugh. Bribing her with stuff is cheating, Amelia Rose!” she yells and walks to the van.
Abby and I laugh as the van door opens and Jess walks out, so proud of her new shirt.
“Good luck getting her out of that shirt. She looks like she’s ready to live in it she’s so happy.”
“If it makes her smile like that, I’ll make sure she has one for every day.”
Feeling a soft vibration in my pocket, I pull my phone out and see a text from Noah. I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face.
Noah: I’m getting off work right after the market closes. I’ll meet you guys at home with burgers for dinner. Does that sound good?
This man makes it so that we don’t want for anything, but I wish he would let me contribute more. I know I don’t make as much as him, but I work hard for what I do earn.
“Your smile fell pretty quick. Is everything okay? Do I need to kick Noah’s ass?” Pam asks.
“No, everything is great. He’s just letting me know that he’s getting off around the same time as we will and that he’s picking up burgers on the way home,” I say, typing out a quick reply.
Me: Perfect. We’ll see you soon.
I return my phone to my pocket.
“So why the long face? That should be good news?” She pushes.
“I just hate that he doesn’t let me contribute more. Every time I offer to pay for something or to help with the bills, he tells me to save my money or save it for Jess. I hate that I don’t feel like I’m helping,” I respond with a frustrated huff.
“Have you told him it bothers you? I mean, if you just tell him okay or don’t voice your concerns, he won’t know,” Am adds as she walks up next to us.
“I mean, I feel ungrateful that it bothers me. He took both of us in with no questions. He’s giving me a life that I never thought was possible, and I’m mad he won’t let me buy dinner or pay part of the water bill,” I say, throwing my hands up.
Abby turns to me after she finishes with a customer. “I understand where you’re coming from. But to play devil’s advocate, you paying for Jess’s clothes is contributing, whether they’re for school coming up or because of a growth spurt.”
I don’t say anything for a minute as I take in what she said. We start to clean up since we sold out of most of the produce and the crowd has thinned.
I didn’t think about that. Clothing is expensive and her school list is over two pages long, and anything she needs if she wants to do sports would fall under that too.
I stop what I’m doing and look at them. “I guess I’ve just been on my own for so long that having someone take care of me and not letting me pay for housing was bothering me more than I thought. In The Family, women had nothing of their own, and the thought of that happening again scared me.”
“Yeah, I get that. I don’t know how I would react if a man just came in and started paying for everything for me. It’s an adjustment,” Pam adds.
“I think you should still talk to him about this. You can’t have a successful relationship without communication,” Am says.
“I agree with Ms. Therapy over here.” Pam points over her shoulder.
“I know, and I will. It’s just so hard to talk to him because he says he has it covered, and it’s frustrating.
” I peek over at Jess to make sure she’s not within earshot.
She’s with Penny, but I pause at the look on her face, her eyes wide as she starts to take a step back.
“Hey, Jess, you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick. ” I rush toward her.
She shakes her head like she’s shaking away cobwebs. “Um, yeah, I’m okay. I remembered I forgot to do my reading this morning, but I still have time to do it when I get home.”
My eyebrows pinch together, and I look around to see if something could have unnerved her. “Yeah, you can do it when you get home, but you’re sure you’re okay?”
She looks down at the ground and pets Penny. “Yeah, I just really like the book I’m reading.”
I look at the girls, but they’re looking in the direction Jess was. Am shakes her head when she looks back at me to confirm she doesn’t see anything either.
“Okay. Can you please help us tear down so we can head home soon?”
“Yeah, I’m sad the market is already over.”
“I know, but you can help as often as you want,” Am says, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“Really?” Jess asks and looks at me.
I shrug. “As long as we have nothing going on. Yeah, you can help.”
“Woooo.” She pumps her fist in the air and cheers.
I notice she glances across the parking lot, and I follow her line of sight, but I don’t see anything.
Together, we make quick of tearing down the booth and packing the van up. We say our goodbyes to Pam and Abs, and we help Am take everything back to the farm since Kristen?left a little early with all the help.
As we drop the van off and unload it, I file away what happened at the market with Jess to talk about with Noah.