Page 95 of Burden to Bear

My son.

The reason my whole life had changed for the better. He was just a week and a half old, and I was already wondering how I ever lived without him. I could just barely remember what life was like before he came along.

My parents had been here from the day he was born, lending a hand and helping me with this transition into motherhood. I was beyond grateful for their help, because they made it possible for me to focus my effort on my son without needing to worry about anything else. They took care of meals and house maintenance. They were around in the middle of the day when Brock was at work, so if I needed to use the bathroom or take a shower, I didn’t have to worry about Milo being alone. They were a tremendous help.

Albert had also come for a visit. He arrived in Charter Oak a few hours after Milo was born, and much to my surprise and delight, he brought his new girlfriend with him. He and Elena had stayed in town for four days before they needed to head back home, but they promised they’d be back for another visit soon. My brother was such a proud uncle.

And now, the grandparents were getting ready to head back home. Brock had just called a few minutes ago to ask me if I needed him to pick anything up on his way back from work, and since I didn’t, we knew he’d be arriving at any minute.

“I hope you’re right. I just want to be a good mom,” I told them.

As my mom swayed from side to side with her grandson in her arms, she didn’t hesitate to tell me precisely how she felt. “You are already the best mom. Milo is the luckiest boy in the world.”

Tears filled my eyes. “I feel like I’m the lucky one.”

They nodded their agreement. “That’s true, too.”

No sooner had they gotten the words out, the front door opened. Brock stepped into the room a moment later, and a wave of contentment washed over me. He offered a quick hello to everyone, but he came right to me and kissed me. “How was your day?”

“It was good. And yours?”

He sent a small smile my way. “I missed you.”

My heart. He’d been doing this for days, and I still hadn’t gotten used to it. Brock was the best.

This man meant the world to me. He had stepped up in the biggest way long before Milo was born, and he hadn’t stopped stepping up after my son arrived. Months ago, I’d attempted to envision what my life would be like as a single mom. I’d had so many thoughts about how things would be for me, and I was slightly terrified about facing this all on my own.

Sure, I knew my parents were going to be here at the beginning, but I was also well aware that time would come to an end. My thoughts for months had been focused on what my life would be like once they returned home.

And even though they were just now getting ready to leave, I didn’t doubt that everything I believed would be the case for my life as a mom would be wrong.

Because I had Brock. He was a man who would walk through the front door after work, come straight to me, kiss me, and tell me he missed me.

Then, as I’d seen him do every day since I’d been home from the hospital, Brock sought out Milo. He found him in my mother’s arms, kissed the top of his head, and gently placed his hand over it. “Hello, little man,” he whispered before kissing him once more.

Milo was sleeping and didn’t move a muscle.

Brock finally turned his attention to my parents. “Everything all good?”

My father gave him a nod and said, “I got everything packed up for us, but we didn’t intend to leave until after you got home.”

It was true.

My parents were leaving to head back home today, which was why they’d given me the pep talk only moments ago. And while I understood they had stayed until Brock returned because they didn’t like the thought of me being on my own, the reality was that he’d have to wake up tomorrow and head to work when my parents were back at home. But I guess it made it easier for them to leave knowing he was here.

“Will you be staying for dinner tonight?”

“No,” my mom said. “We really should get on the road, since the traffic can get a little chaotic. I wish we could stay forever with this little guy, though.”

“Let me give him a cuddle quickly before I get the bags in the car,” my dad said.

It was obvious my mom didn’t want to let her grandson go, but she begrudgingly handed him over. Despite being passed between my parents, Milo didn’t wake.

Brock moved back to stand beside me again, and after my parents loved on Milo for a bit longer and my dad had carried their bags out to the car, my mom ultimately handed my son back to me.

“I miss him already,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.

“Thank you for being here for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you two,” I rasped.

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