Page 14 of Back to Willow

With a resigning sigh, I nod.

“I know you’re a strong woman, baby, but you’re not Wonder Woman.” She chuckles, patting my knee.

She’s right, but she has done so much for me already. Dylan can be a handful sometimes, even if he behaves better with her than with me. He tends to test my limits while he’s nothing but respectful and abiding with her. I don’t know what she does, though. Maybe she bribes him…Who knows?. It makes sense sometimes, the knowing smile she gives him, leaving me out of the loop.

“Lo?” she calls me, apparently not for the first time by the look on her face.

“Yes, Nana?”

Her hand covers mine, squeezing it. “I know things can be hard, and sometimes, it feels like nothing will ever fall into place. Especially in a new place where you barely know anyone.”

With a knowing smile, I nod. When this opportunity arose, Nana didn’t even think twice about putting her home up for sale back in Évora, a small city in the south of the country, and buying one here to move in with Dylan and me. Truth be told, I don’t know where I would be if it weren’t for her. She stood by me when no one else did, and for that, I am forever indebted to her.

“But just know that if I believe there’s anyone that will make it, it’s you. I am so proud of you.”

Her recognition is everything to me. She became my mother when my own parents didn’t care to help me during the time I needed them the most. I will be forever grateful to her. Grateful for helping me fight and helping me keep my sanity so I can start a new chapter and make my dreams come true.

“You’ve managed to raise him on your own, and look how well he is turning out. Such a loving kid.”

Unaware of the meaning of our words, Dylan waves at us with the biggest grin before focusing back on a running Abby. Many have told me I’d regret having a kid at sixteen—an unplanned kid that is.

I can’t deny it was a shock, knowing a baby was growing inside me at such a young age. The pressure to get rid of him was real, from my parents first, and when that didn’t work, my doctor did as well.

For a moment, I almost gave in. My parent’s approval had always been everything, but in the end, how could the baby be the one to be punished when he didn’t even ask to be made?

It’s not that I fault those who do it. I think every woman has the right to do as they decide with their own body. Just as I did. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. Harming my baby was out of the question. It wasn’t his fault; it isn’t, and I couldn’t do it.

It didn’t make it any easier. The moment my parents knew that an abortion was out of the question, everything changed. That day, I cried myself to sleep on my brother’s lap. He was the only one on my side, besides Nana, and even though he is a little crazy, he’s the best uncle.

Many regrets are eating away inside my heart, weakening my soul with each passing day. But there is one thing I can’t regret, and that was having my boy. Amid chaos and pain, he brought me joy, love, and strength.

My world shifted, and now everything revolves around him.

“Thank you,” I whisper with a shaky voice.

A knot settles in my throat, not letting me speak further, but the pat on my knee lets me know no more words are needed.

As if sensing the shift in my mood, Dylan looks at us and beckons Abby to follow him before running towards me. He runs, not even slowing down, and like the impulsive brat he can be sometimes, he throws himself onto me, bringing us both down.

I groan in discomfort when my back hits the floor due to impact. “Ouch. You’re too big to keep doing this.”

Instead of letting me go, his arms squeeze around my neck as he mumbles against my hair, “Thank you for today, Mummy.”

“We’ll come back next weekend. Is that alright?” He nods eagerly, just as Abby sits down next to us. “You must be hungry. You’ve been running non-stop since we arrived.”

Nana passes me the basket, and I take the food out, laying it in front of us. They both end up eating the most, preferring the sandwiches and chops, while Nana and I snack on some crackers, chorizo, and fruit.

Watching them both makes me thankful for the habit of packing more food than needed. Not so much because of Abby but more because as time goes by, Dylan’s hunger increases greatly. But then again with the amount of energy he has, no wonder.

A little after the food and some relaxing time under the sun, Dylan has finally had enough of staying still. “Will you play with us this time around, Mum?”

With a grin, I ask, “Football?”

His answer is a barely visible nod, followed by him jumping on his feet and picking the ball up.

“Can I stay here a little longer?” Abby intervenes, with her head close to Nana’s lap and half-closed eyes. “I am still a little bit tired.”

“Of course!” I smile at her before getting up, too.

---