Free Love Comes Home by Terri Reed

won’t be necessary.” She didn’t want to rely on anyone, especially Josh, for anything.
    He gave her a pointed look. “Yes, it is.”
    Annoyance arced though her. Their promise to Mom G. didn’t include his services as chauffeur.
    He set his jaw and grated out a warning, “Rachel.”
    From across the room, Rod called out Josh’s name.
    Rachel turned her attention to Griff. “So who’s your favorite baseball team?”
    â€œThe Mariners.”
    â€œSeattle fan, huh?” She nodded sagely. “I’m a Cubs fan myself.”
    â€œThey’re in Chicago.”
    Rachel laughed softly. “That’s right, they are.”
    Josh placed a hand on Griff’s shoulder. “Come on, Griff. Let’s give Rachel some space. Let’s go find Grandpa.”
    Griff gestured with his thumb. “He’s over there.”
    â€œI know he’s over there, son. I need you to come with me. We’ll come back and take Rachel home when she’s ready.”
    Rachel ground her teeth, but didn’t say anything. She wouldn’t argue with Josh in front of his son.
    â€œAw, Dad. I wanna stay here and talk to her.”
    â€œHe can hang with me.” Rachel blinked up at Josh, half expecting him to say no way.
    â€œOkay. Then we’ll take you home,” he said firmly.
    Their promise didn’t give him a license to try to control her, but she didn’t have the energy to point that out to him. “Fine.”
    Josh nodded and moved away, sapping the air of its heat and leaving her chilled.
    â€œI have a baseball card collection.”
    Rachel turned her attention back to Griff. “You do?” An unfamiliar yearning crowded her senses. She supposed she was drawn to him because this boy was so like his father.
    â€œIt used to be Dad’s, but he gave it to me. Now I collect them.”
    â€œHow old are you, Griff?”
    â€œI’m eight.”
    Rachel absorbed that information with a bit of shock. Josh and Andrea had waited before having a child. She’d expected them to start a family right away because that was what he’d wanted. “You look like your dad.”
    Griff grinned. “Everybody says that.”
    â€œI see your mother in you, too.” His hair was more the color of Andrea’s and the shape of his nose favored her, as well.
    â€œYou knew my mom?”
    Rachel smiled compassionately. “We all went to high school together.”
    â€œWhat was she like?”
    She blinked. “Don’t you remember her?”
    He shook his head. “She died in a car accident when I was a baby.”
    This news carried the weight of a punch to the solar plexus. Andrea had died nearly eight years ago. Rachel had assumed because Josh was still grieving that she’d died fairly recently.
    Griff had grown up without a mother. Josh had raised his son from infancy all by himself. She had no doubts that Rod helped, but that Josh took on the responsibility made her admire him in a way she hadn’t before. And made her ache for both Josh and his son. Ached for what they’d lost.
    â€œWhy are you crying?”
    Rachel wiped at the tear coursing down her cheek and gave a shaky laugh. “I…don’t know.”
    â€œAre you sad because Mrs. G. died?”
    She nodded, surprised and relieved he understood that Mom G. was gone. She’d underestimated the child.
    â€œShe’s in a better place now, where there’s no pain.”
    â€œDid your daddy tell you that?”
    â€œYes. Mrs. G.’s in heaven with my mom.”
    Rachel hurt for this little boy, for what he’d miss. She hurt for herself, for the hole Mom G. left in her life. She hurt for Josh.
    In an unfamiliar moment of need, Rachel hugged the boy. He smelled clean, like sunshine and fresh air. And when his little arms wrapped around her neck, she couldn’t stop the sob that broke free.
    â€œShh, its okay,” Griff