Page 98 of Burden to Bear

“It sounds crazy, doesn’t it?” I asked her as I began untying the bow at the top of the cellophane wrapped package.

Milo didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the noise the wrapping made and continued sleeping.

I got the bow off, pulled down the wrapping, and revealed what was inside. Brock hadn’t been kidding. Looks were deceiving, because I was staring at a basket filled with everything I could have ever possibly wanted right now. There was everything there to pamper myself with a spa day, snacks, fuzzy socks, an oversized blanket, books, two DVDs, and a small white box. I picked up the white box, opened it, and found a velvet jewelry box inside. I was already emotional about the gift basket, and when I saw the necklace which had a bar with Milo’s name engraved on it with his birthstone, I was crying all over again.

“Do you like it?” Izzy asked.

“I love it, sweetheart.”

Brock had shifted Milo into one arm and draped his other around the back of the couch, so his hand could settle on my opposite shoulder. He gave me a squeeze. “I want you to treat yourself today. You’ve been working so hard to take care of Milo, and you deserve a little break. Izzy and I will hold down the fort here while you go help yourself to a nice long bath and some pampering.”

I dropped my head back into the crook of his arm. “You’re so good to me. I love you.”

Brock kissed my forehead. “I love you, too. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, go and enjoy some peace and quiet for a bit.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked.

“If I did, I wouldn’t have gotten you what I did. Izzy and I have got this covered. Whenever you’re done, I’ll make peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, we’ll have some cake for dessert, and if you’re up for it, Izzy was thinking we could do some coloring.”

My heart melted. It was the simplest things that Brock did that meant the world. He was giving me time to rest and recharge. He’d given me a necklace that had the most beautiful meaning. And he was going to make peanut butter sandwiches for all of us before we colored. It wasn’t anything fancy, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Knowing my son was in great hands, I leaned toward Brock and gave him a kiss. Then I reached out to give Izzy a big hug. “Thank you so much for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. You’ll keep a close watch on Milo for me, right?”

She nodded furiously. “I’m going to be a babysitter when I grow up.”

I laughed and stood. “I think this will be great practice for that.”

With one final look at the man who’d stolen my heart and given me the world, I turned and climbed the stairs with nothing but joy and an abundance of love for my new life and the people in it.

I didn’t think it could ever get better than this.

EPILOGUE

Brock

Two months, one week later

Life was wild.

But it was perfect.

I was sitting on the corner cushion of the couch, one leg running along the length of the cushions, my other foot planted on the floor.

Mia was sitting between my legs, her back pressed against my chest.

She’d just nursed Milo and put him down for the night. Granted, he wouldn’t likely sleep all night, but he was certainly doing much better going for longer periods of time and had worked up to six hours straight over the last week or so.

It had been a bittersweet moment for Mia, just like so many things had been these last three months. Milo would hit a milestone, and Mia would be both happy and sad about it. I couldn’t say I didn’t understand. There was a lot for her to feel emotional about.

Todd hadn’t come around.

Mia tried not to let it show how much it bothered her, but I could see it. And it didn’t bother me that she had the feelings she did. I knew she didn’t have romantic feelings for her ex. She merely wanted her child’s father to want to take an active role in his life.

The boy was three months old now, and Todd had only seen him twice. On the bright side, his family helped to ease that pain for Mia. Susie and her parents both visited rather frequently, and they didn’t hide how much they hated Todd’s behavior.

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