Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
C hristopher waited for the right time to talk to Maggie. His mother had been so busy with her own struggles, as well as preparing for the Christmas festivities with the rest of the family.
Becca’s pregnancy, although progressing without issue, had brought a whirlwind of emotions that Christopher wasn’t prepared for.
“Mom, do you have a minute?” Christopher asked, finding his mother in her office, going over Millie’s balance sheet.
Maggie looked up, “Of course, honey. Come in. What’s on your mind?”
He took a deep breath, leaning against the door. “It’s Becca. She’s…well, she’s struggling.”
“Chris, come over here and sit down,” Maggie insisted.
“Promise me you’re not going to make a pot of tea before you talk to me,” he pleaded.
“Don’t be silly. It’s almost Christmas. I should be making hot chocolate,” she teased. “I’m sorry, tell me what’s wrong.”
“I know pregnancy can be hard, but it’s more than that. She’s always crying, and I mean always. Anything can set her off. And she seems so…depressed. I wouldn’t be as worried if she wasn’t so tired all the time. She’s got these dark circles under her eyes, like she’s not sleeping at all. I’ve asked her about it, but she says it’s just being overtired from school and work.”
“And you think it’s more than that?”
He nodded. “Yes, I do.”
Maggie sat back in her chair. “Pregnancy takes a toll, especially when you’re juggling so much. Becca’s in her third year of medical school, that alone is a massive amount of stress.”
“It’s too much. The doctor said she’s fine, but she shouldn’t push herself too hard. How can she not push hard? It’s impossible for a medical student to take it easy. But, Mom, she’s not just tired, she’s exhausted, and I don’t know how to help her.”
Maggie sighed, her heart aching for both her son and her daughter-in-law.
“Oh, honey, it’s not easy. You’re right, medical school is demanding and adding a pregnancy…well, it’s bound to wear her down. The emotional swings, the exhaustion, it’s all part of it. But it sounds like Becca is really struggling.”
“I just feel so helpless. I try to be there for her, but it never feels like enough. She’s always apologizing for crying or being tired, and I keep telling her it’s okay, but she won’t listen. And then there’s this fear in her eyes, like she’s terrified of not being able to handle everything.”
Maggie placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s not about you fixing everything, Chris. Sometimes all you can do is be there, listen, and offer what support you can. But you also need to make sure Becca isn’t pushing herself too hard. Maybe it’s time to talk to her about taking a step back, even if just a little. Medical school is important, but so is her health, and the baby’s.”
He ran his hand through his hair, and then sat back in his chair, clearly frustrated.
“I’ve tried to talk to her about slowing down, but she won’t hear of it. She’s determined to keep up with her studies, no matter what. I’m scared she’s going to burn herself out.”
“Becca has always been driven, and that’s a good thing, but it can also be her downfall if she doesn’t recognize her limits. Maybe she needs to hear it from someone else too. What about her professors? Could they offer her some leniency?”
“I’ve thought about that,” he said, “but Becca’s too proud to ask for any special treatment. She doesn’t want to be seen as weak or incapable, especially not now when everything feels so critical for her career. This is the year for rotations, and she’s been doing really well, although it’s difficult to be on her feet for so many hours.”
“What about Crawford? Maybe her father can talk some sense into her. She listens to him.”
Christopher nodded. “She does. I thought I’d talk to you first, but I’m going to ask him his opinion. The other thing is that I want her to take these ten days and relax. I want her to talk about her feelings, but I also want her to chill, without any expectations. We’re going to hang out at the beach tomorrow. I think that will help.”
“Becca was born and raised on this island. The water always soothes her. And Chris, remember Becca isn’t the only one struggling. Don’t dismiss your anxieties. You need to rest too, okay?”
He nodded. “I will, Mom. I just want her and the baby to be okay.”
“They will be, Chis,” Maggie assured him. “You’re a good husband, and you’re doing everything right. Just keep being there for her and keep talking to her. She needs to know she’s not alone in this, even if it feels overwhelming right now.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, bending down to hug her. “Love you.”
Maggie squeezed his arm. “Love you, too, honey. Just remember, worrying is part of being a parent. But you’re strong, and so is Becca. You’ll get through this together.”
Sarah sat in the living room, waiting for Trevor to come home. She’d been trying to find the right time to talk to her husband about her decision. Initially seething over Trevor’s actions, she’d since calmed down and was ready to have a productive conversation. With so much going on with her mother and the preparations for Christmas, she’d put her feelings aside to keep the peace within her family. The result was more time to think about what was bothering her. When she finally figured it out, she decided she couldn’t delay their talk any longer.
“Hey, babe,” Trevor said as he kicked off his sneakers and pulled his t-shirt over his head.
“How was your run?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
“Great. It wasn’t as hot as yesterday’s run. We may not have a white Christmas, but I think Captiva might see temps in the sixties. I’ve got to get in the shower.”
Sarah wanted to stop him but thought it might be better to wait. She needed a few more minutes to collect her thoughts. When he returned to the living room after his shower, dressed in comfortable shorts and a fresh t-shirt, Sarah made her move.
“Trevor, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure, let me get a bottle of water. Do you want one?”
“No, thanks,” she answered, her voice steady, though her heart began to race.
He joined her in the living room, sitting across from her, his expression curious but not yet concerned.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the last few days. I have to admit, if we were having this talk last Friday, we’d probably have had a fight.”
“Uh-oh, what did I do?” he asked, a half-smile on his face, though there was an edge of worry in his tone.
“Do? You remember when I asked you not to talk to Steven about your idea until I had a chance to talk to Ciara about it?”
She could tell he immediately understood where she was going with this discussion.
“Oh man, right, my bad. I’m sorry. You know how excited I’ve been about this; it completely slipped my mind. How did you know I’d talked to him?”
“He called Ciara to ask her when he might meet with her boss. Naturally, Ciara called me asking about it. I was going to talk to you about this right after he called. I asked him to hold off until after the holidays, because there is just too much going on.”
“What did he say?” Trevor asked.
“He was cool about it, said he understood and looked forward to seeing us at Christmas.”
Trevor rubbed his chin and sighed. “Honey, I’m so sorry, I really blew it.”
Sarah rolled her eyes but smiled at the same time.
“As I said, I was upset initially, and now I’m glad we had this experience, because it got me thinking about my part in this whole thing.”
“What are you talking about? You and Ciara are crucial to this project.”
Sarah laughed, though it was tinged with frustration.
“First of all, Trevor, it’s not a project yet. I know in your mind it is, but it’s only an idea at this point. What I was upset about was that you didn’t respect me enough to hold off and wait until I gave you the go-ahead. You ran with it, and my opinion wasn’t a consideration. If you thought I was so crucial to this going forward, you make it hard to believe that’s the case.”
“It won’t happen again,” he responded quickly, almost automatically.
“No, it won’t but not for the reason you think. I’m out,” she said, as emphatically as she could.
“What? What do you mean, you’re out?”
“I mean, I don’t want to get involved with your work. Other than to support you, I don’t want to be an integral part of this potential project. I’m not saying the Outreach Center and Thompson Green Developments shouldn’t collaborate on this. You can work with Ciara, and I can support it from a distance. I don’t want to be involved in meetings or marketing or anything else you deem necessary. I’ve said this before: this is your dream, and it’s a noble one, it’s just not mine.”
Trevor took a moment to process her words, looking at her with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
“You’ve always been my sounding board, my partner in this.”
Sarah nodded, understanding his confusion. “I’ve supported you, Trevor, because I believe in you and your vision. But my passion is at the Outreach Center. I love working at the domestic violence shelter, and the food pantry is one of my favorite places to be. I see the difference we’re making in people’s lives every day. And as much as I love that work, I also love that it’s part-time. It allows me to be there for our children, to be present in their lives. That’s where I do my best work and where I’m most needed.”
Trevor’s expression softened as he listened to her. “I didn’t realize you felt this way.”
She smiled. “Because I didn’t tell you,” she admitted, her voice gentle now. “I’ve been so focused on supporting you that I didn’t take the time to consider what I really want. And what I want is to be the best mother I can be. I’m lucky to have had a great mom, and I want the same for our children. Working part-time at the Outreach Center gives me the balance I need. I feel fulfilled, and I’m making a difference, but I’m not overwhelmed. I’m not willing to give that up.”
Trevor leaned back in his chair. “I guess I’ve been so caught up in the excitement of this project that I didn’t stop to think about how it might affect you.”
“I love that you have this incredible vision. But we need to find a way for me to support you without losing myself in the process. I’m happy that we’ve finally found what works for us.”
He nodded. “I love that you’re happy at the Outreach Center. That place holds a special spot in my heart too. Don’t forget, it’s where we met.”
She smiled and walked to him. Sitting on his lap, she placed one hand on his chest and weaved her fingers in his hair with the other. “I’ve never forgotten and I never will,” she said, leaning down to kiss him.”
Sarah loved her husband and felt blessed to have a man who put their family above all else. She expected there would be challenges to their relationship in the future, but she didn’t worry about their ability to weather any storm.
More than once, they’d faced difficult times, and their marriage was stronger than ever because of them. Proof that almost anything could be accomplished with commitment, communication and an open heart.