Page 56 of Single Mom's Secret Diary
“I want to be a part of his life. Just as badly as I want to be a part of yours.” I say it into her hair, and her arms finally unravel from around herself to close around me instead.
I forgive her as she hugs me back.
We stand like that for a while, and I rock her on her feet until her trembling stops.
Somehow, I feel more complete than I have in years. In my entire life.
A nurse is carting Charlie back into his room when Avery finally pulls away. Dominick returns with a few snacks and a nod as if to say,Good, I see you’ve made up.
The nurse waves us away as she gets Charlie settled, and a doctor follows with a file in his hands, a middle-aged man in good shape, his hair thinning on top.
“Are you the parents?”
“Yes,” Avery says, and a new pang of longing and belonging hits my heart.
The doctor simply nods. He doesn’t know the life-changing few moments I’ve just had. The world has shifted, and I’m a father. A parent. I’m responsible for the boy in that hospital room.
“His X-rays look good. It was a clean fracture, and the medics on site did a good job setting it. Honestly, I couldn’t have done much better, and their quick thinking is going to save him a lot of pain.”
She sighs and nods. “Good. That’s good.”
The doctor’s smile is warm. “We’ve got him in a more permanent cast. You’ll want to take him to his regular physician in six weeks to see if it’s ready to come off, which it should be. I suggest paying them a visit in the next week if you can afford it. Just to check in.”
“We can do that,” I say, as if I know who his regular physician is. Either way, I will ensure he has anything he needs. The reaction is so strong that it surprises me again.
“He’ll have to take the stay off the ice for the rest of the season, but he should be just fine. I’ll start the paperwork to release him. Just let the nurse know where to have his prescriptions sent, and we’ll get you on your way home. To rest.” He points at us as if to ensure we’ve heard him.
We nod, and Avery turns to offer her dad a small smile.
Dominick sits and sips his coffee. I imagine he would usually be right behind her, ready to insist he needs to check on his grandson, but he’s letting me take that role, take his spot.
I shake my head at how surreal this is.
As the doctor wanders off, the nurse comes out to let us into Charlie’s room. He’s smiling and holding up the cast on his arm—covering him from wrist to elbow on the left. He looks so small on that bed.
“Look at that. And it’s orange. Everyone’s going to see you coming a mile away.”
Charlie grins wider. “I know, right? Jenny’s going to have to watch out. This thing is hard. I wonder if it will hurt if I whack her with it.”
Avery laughs and brushes his hair from his face. “I think it will hurt you more than it will hurt your cousin. So, no whacking.”
He pouts, but only mildly.
Avery settles herself on the side of his bed and reaches out for me, pulling me further into the room.
“Baby. I want you to meet someone.” That soft, motherly tone is back, and I’m in awe of how easily she’s able to slip into it after the turmoil I witnessed her go through just minutes ago.
“But I met him at the game.”
“No, honey… That’s not what I mean.”
Charlie looks at me for a long moment. It’s the same kind of scrutiny he gave me before, the same kind of analysis I’d done when I first saw him and had that familiar tug in the back of my mind before Isawthe resemblance.
I watch as the understanding dawns on him. His eyes go wide, glittering with something new.
Charlie turns back to his mom. “He looks like me. Is he my dad?”
Her hand smooths out his hair again, and she nods. “He is.”
