don’t think that can happen. Grandma will be here with you.”
Alex sighs in defeat and rests his head on his hand, slumped over at the kitchen table.
“Honey, I’m sorry. I don’t see how it can happen.”
“But Dad wants to get to know me and hang out. It’s a good idea.”
I put my spoon down and look at my son. He’s normally happy and energetic, but my answers have deflated him.
“I’m only trying to protect you. One day, you’ll see that.”
“From what?” He doesn’t look at me. Instead, he plays with his dinner with his spoon. “Dad’s Captain America. I trust him.”
“Alex,” I let out a sigh and mentally count to ten before I say anything. “Alex, I know you’re upset with me, and I’m sorry to disappoint you. One day you’ll understand.”
“Okay.”
We spend the rest of the night without saying anything. After dinner, Alex goes to his bedroom to get ready for a shower. I stand by the bathroom door, waiting for him, when I hear him talking.
“What?” I walk down the hall and open the door slightly to see him on the phone.
“Mom said you can’t sleep over.”
Pause.
“I don’t know, Dad. I tried. I’m sorry you can’t spend the night. I want to spend more time with you. Maybe you can talk to her?”
Pause.
“I miss you, Dad. I hope I can see you soon.”
Pause.
“I love you too.”
Placing the phone down, he sits on his bed and hangs his head. My heart breaks, and I feel like I’m the bad guy because I’m trying to do what’s right in my heart and take things slow. I’m his mother, and mothers know best.
Am I doing the right thing?
When Alex falls asleep, I head to the living room and straighten up. A knock on the door gets my attention, and then I see Gina walking in.
“What are you doing here?”
She smiles, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a bag from the grocery store in the other hand. “Well, when my best friend texts me asking if she’s a good mom, I take that as my cue to get over as soon as I’m done with work with wine and snacks so we can veg on the couch and watch SWAT.”
I sigh and walk over to her, giving her a hug and taking the bag of snacks. “Thanks for doing this. Didn’t you pull a double today?”
Gina’s a NICU nurse. The department has been short-staffed for a few months, so she’s working extra hours, and with her brother’s daughter in the NICU, it’s starting to get to her.
“How’s Marcy doing?”
Gina’s face beams at the sound of her niece’s name. “Better. They don’t think she’ll go home tomorrow, but my brother’s hopeful. His job is letting him take as much time away from the office so that’s a plus.”
“Any word on her?”
Gina freezes when I bring her up, and I regret asking. Marcy’s mom, Jen, left the hospital after giving birth, and she hasn’t been seen since. Grant, Gina’s brother, tried looking for her. He’s coming up short and isn’t sure where else she would be. They had their problems, but I didn’t think it was bad enough for her to leave him and their daughter.
“Nope, and I don’t care. Thank goodness he never asked her to marry him. I hate that bitch. Who the hell leaves their daughter? Marcy’s finally doing better, but it took almost a month. That little girl’s been fighting for her fucking life, and her birth giver’s out there somewhere. Just pisses me off. It’s people like Jen that give women a bad name. Do you know how many families are out there trying to have a baby? They’re going through hell and back, but you have women like Jen who’ll have a baby then leave without turning back. It makes me sick to my stomach.”
I place my arm on Gina’s shoulders and tug her to my side so she can rest her head on my shoulder. “I know. You’re an amazing aunt. Marcy will always know what love is between you, Grant, and your parents.”
“Just sucks. We see so much shit in the NICU, and you see the tiny humans with cancer fighting for their lives. Why are we even nurses? Like seriously. What’s the damn point?”
“Because we want to take care of people. We want to help those in need and give comfort. We’re the voices for these tiny humans, and we need to be strong.”
“I know.” She sighs and lifts her head, reaching