Page 43 of Beyond our Forever

Ten little fingers and ten little toes. The same dark hair as his father and a button nose. My son was beautiful.

“You don’t have to,” Bruce replied.

“I feel like a woman from the last century, is it wrong for me to want to take care of him myself?”

We had already discussed the subject since I wouldn’t be able to attend classes following the doctor’s orders, and then there was the fact that the following fall we would go to live in Detroit, but we never thought that I would be a full-time mom. However, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head during all those months of waiting, but before the words could leave my mouth, he took my hand.

“Love,” he said, staring at me. “If you want to stay home with our son, that’s fine by me. If you want to put him in daycare so you can do whatever you want to, that’s also fine. It’s your decision, but I’m here for you, and we will work it out together.”

“Bruce, I need to find a job, we won’t have enough money for everything you planned.”

“There is plenty of time for that,” he assured me, daring even to smile, and those dimples, my God. “We have our whole life ahead of us. Let me worry about the money, I promise you will never need anything. I’m strong and healthy, Ilythia, I’m used to working hard, and for you I would do anything.”

“Thank you,” I said, before kissing him again, excited by all the changes to come.

I loved the idea that just the two of us would raise our baby, that we would be there every moment, doing everything our own way.

Maybe we had to learn a lot, but we would discover it at our own pace. We would walk that path together, holding hands.

However, that day in the hospital room, the course of our lives would take a new turn, one that we never expected, which would lead us dangerously close to the edge of the abyss, one that we couldn’t foresee, because no one warned us.

Nothing could stop that train without brakes heading toward disaster.

Chapter 13

Present

My head keeps spinning as I drive down the narrow road. I keep going over what happened today, not just about school, but also my relationship with Bruce.

However, when I arrive, hoping to find some calm in the lonely silence, something else is waiting for me. Or rather, someone else.

“Mikel,” I greet him, as I get out of my car.

“Hello, neighbor,” he replies brightly.

“Sorry if you’ve been waiting a long time, I had no idea you were coming.” I don’t know where to look, not sure why I feel so awkward.

“No, no, it’s fine,” he replies. “I was just hoping maybe we could have a couple of those delicious muffins from the other day and a cup of coffee.”

Whoa, this is a surprise.

Did he come over here just for my muffins?

I can just hear my brother’s voice… he’s not interested in your oven buns, Warren would say, more likely he’s after your personal buns.

“I’m afraid you’re a little late,” I tell him. “Maybe there’s one or two left, I don’t know, I’ve been a little busy.” Mikel just smiles, not fazed by my reply.

“How about coffee?”

What’s with his insistence, does he feel lonely and wants to talk?

He’s my new neighbor, I shouldn’t kick him out just because I have a lot on my mind. Plus he’s definitely great eye candy and there’s nothing wrong with looking.

“Sorry, I’m being rude,” I finally say. “Come into the kitchen, make yourself at home.”

Once there, I busy myself by grinding the beans and putting the coffeemaker on, and after a few minutes the aroma fills the space, cutting the tension.

“Are you settled in your new house?” I ask as I pour him a cup of the steaming beverage.

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