Page 41 of Embers in Our Past

“He’s fine, Ma. I promise. Can I come inside? It’s cold out here,” I say, tucking my beanie over my ears for added effect.

“Yeah, hun, come on in.” She opens the door farther, ushering me in.

I move inside my childhood home and take off a layer of my clothing.

“What’s going on?” she asks as I follow her inside to the kitchen, where she pours me a cup of coffee.

I take a seat at the table and accept the cup of the steaming hot liquid.

“Can’t a son come hang out with his favorite mom?” I say, giving her my best smile.

“You’re full of shit, much like your brother.” She laughs and pulls out her chair.

“You and I both know River is way worse than me.” I give her a look, and she throws her head back and laughs again.

“Kennedy is a godsend for dealing with him.” She chuckles. “But seriously, what’s up?”

The way my mom looks over at me, I feel like it blankets me in so much love, all my worries feel protected with her.

“Abby’s pregnant,” I blurt out.

My mom was bringing her cup of coffee up to meet her lips but stops. She looks over at me and then brings her mug back down, staring at me until I finish.

“It’s mine, by the way. You’re going to be a grandma. Congratulations.”

I don’t know if that was the best way to go about it, but now that I told her, I feel a lot better. She looks to be in shock, so I start to wave a hand in front of her face.

“Ma, you okay?” Her stunned expression is worrying me.

She sits there, still quietly staring at me, then finally snaps out of it.

“I’m sorry, I think I’m having a stroke. Did you say you got your ex-wife pregnant?” She looks at me, and I’m not sure if she’s mad, sad, or excited.

“Yes.” There’s no point in beating around the bush.

“I’m going to be a grandmother?”

I smile. “Yes.”

She smiles. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Ma, I’m sure. We went to the doctor this morning.”

Tears well up in her eyes, and she pulls me into a hug. She whispers into my ear, “Your father is looking down on you and shining all his love onto that baby. I just know it, Clay. Just be ready for River to spoil that little one, though, and to force them to call him Dada.”

That brings a laugh out of me. I know my brother will definitely push hard for that.

“So, you’re not mad?” I ask her.

“Why in the world would I be mad?” She pulls back.

“Because it’s Abby. I know how upset you were when she left.”

“I wasn’t upset at Abby though, son,” she says.

“What do you mean? You seemed pretty upset when she left Boston.” I remember quite vividly when I called my mom, letting her know Abby had packed up and left me. My mom was pretty torn up about it.

“Clay, you’re my son. Seeing you upset left me quite angry in general. You are always going to be my priority. Abby was like a daughter to me, so of course I was upset. But once you explained everything that had happened, I grew a soft spot for what she had experienced.

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