BooksBarbecue
Back Before Anyone Else
Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three
  57. Chapter Fifty-Four
  58. Chapter Fifty-Five
  59. Chapter Fifty-Six
  60. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  61. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  62. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  63. Chapter Sixty
  64. Chapter Sixty-One
  65. Chapter Sixty-Two
  66. Acknowledgments

Griffin greeted me at the door with a glass of wine. During the last few weeks, I had almost grown accustomed to my sober surroundings. I had also gotten to know young Hank and it calmed my soul and my nervousness about Griffin’s condo.

“I’ve been working on something I want to try out on you.” Before Henry could introduce his creation, little Hank asked, “Are you going to make them the fig and arugula pizza, Daddy?” Hearing a three-year-old utter the words “fig and arugula pizza” made me chuckle, but it also made me proud. The next generation of chefs was already starting.

Great chefs never stopped learning or trying things that sounded peculiar to the rest of us. I had long stopped challenging Henry’s ideas. My motto for his or Elliott’s creation was “bring it on.” With the right amount of fig, prosciutto, Gorgonzola, arugula, and extra virgin olive oil, it was incredible. My men were happy, but I was nervous, hoping I had transformed Griffin’s condo into something he would like to call home. Would he share it with Alex?

The workmen were finished the morning of Christmas Eve. I’d told them there was a Christmas bonus in it for them if they were to finish before noon. I was lucky that they were eager to get some extra Christmas money. The three of us headed over to Griffin’s that evening. Nighttime was beginning to throw her starry cape over the city. I made the boys stand outside while I did a quick walk-through, turning on lights, fluffing pillows, and straightening the new mono-grammed towels in Griffin’s bathroom.

I opened the door and announced, “Welcome home, Griffin!” Henry and Griffin barely made it into the living room before they started exchanging conspiratorial looks. “What?” It made me anxious.

“Oh my God, Bae. I don’t even know what to say,” Griffin said.

If I didn’t know any better, I would swear that Griffin was near tears. Even Henry looked impressed. “Do you like it?” As my first home-decorating gig, I was desperate to know. “You are my guinea pig, before anyone else, Griffin.” He was having a hard time taking it all in, especially with the giant Christmas tree standing at attention in the corner of the living room.

“You did all this with the budget I gave you? I love the painting above the fireplace. And the rug.” He put his arm around my shoulder and left it there before bestowing a gentle kiss, forgetting Henry was there. I kissed him back. Not out of habit but because I was so happy.