Chapter Thirty-Two
Ellis
Eventually, everyone starts to leave. I’m tired and Liam wants me to get some rest. Jack goes with Aiden for a sleepover because it was the only way we could get him to leave. My little guy wants to make sure I’m okay, and I love him for it, but there just isn’t enough room for all four of us to sleep in here. Charlotte has a cot next to me and Liam is hunkering down on the sofa in the corner.
When the room has cleared, it means we have to do something I am not too excited for. FaceTiming Liam’s parents. I don’t know why I am dreading it. Tracy Ruinsky has checked in a lot over the past few months but now that the baby is here what if that changes? They might decide that now that my job is done they can push me aside, convince Liam that it would be better to raise Charlotte alone, kicking me and Jack to the kerb. In my heart I know he wouldn’t agree, he would never do that to Jack and me, but there is niggling anxiety I can’t shake.
“You ready?” If I told him right now I couldn’t do this he would send them a text and we would be done until the morning, but putting it off isn’t going to make this easier. So I cuddle up further into his side and nod as he pulls his phone out.
The three seconds that it takes before the Ruinskys appear on the screen feels both too long and not long enough. Some loop of never-ending anxiety and a yearning for them to be asleep and miss the call altogether. They do answer though, and are both smiling widely.
“Oh Ellis! You look amazing! I looked terrible after Liam was born!” Tracy laughs and Alek rolls his eyes at her, still smiling.
“You’re sweet.” I laugh, hoisting Charlotte up on my chest so they can see her. They “ooh” and “ah” at her for a moment before Alek turns his eyes on me.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice still has a hint of an accent from growing up in Russia. If you didn’t know to listen for it you would miss it.
“Charlotte is great, she is so beautiful,” I assure him with a smile.
“I’m sure she is, but are you okay?” he asks again and I freeze. I didn’t expect them to want to know about me. I just gave birth to their granddaughter, I assumed she would be their priority. The Ruinsky men keep shocking me.
“Oh. Oh, yeah I’m–I’m good, thanks for asking.” I stumble through my words. I am good. I have Liam keeping me warm and fed and a beautiful baby who has made my heart grow three sizes.
We talk for a while, they ask about the birth and Liam tells them everything with a reverence I don’t expect. It makes me melt. If I didn’t already love him I think I would swoon right here. He looks at us as though I am the moon and Charlotte is made up of stars. Alek’s eyes sparkle the same shade as his son’s as he watches with pride as Liam waxes poetic about how amazing I did.
“Can you send me some pictures to show to my golf guys?” Alek asks Liam and as soon as the words come through the phone Liam bursts into laughter, confusing me.
“You’re playing golf? You always said it was an old man sport.” His parents roll their eyes at him. Seeing how much love is between the three of them makes me smile.
“It is an old man sport, I am an old man. I’m a grandpa now, remember.” Alek deadpans, clearly bored with his son’s antics, which just makes Liam laugh more. “Anyway, there isn’t much else I can do around here and if I’m at home your mom finds jobs for me.” I join in their laughter then as Tracy glares at her husband.
“We will send some over for both of you.” That makes Liam’s mum’s face split into a smile again and we both have to hold back our laughter at their antics.
When Liam and I grow old I want us to be like his parents. They obviously love each other but they are also their own people. I don’t want to be like my mum, throwing myself so deep into a relationship that it drowns me. I don’t want to be Liam’s housewife, barefoot and pregnant. I want to be his partner. His confidant. I want us to be there for each other and our family the way his parents are. The type of love that spans time zones and generations.
“So, I have had an idea but if you hate it then we can pretend I never mentioned it.” Tracy is biting her lip now. I side-eye Liam to find him looking back at me just as confused.
“What is it, Mom?” he asks finally, apprehension is clear as he tightens his arm around my shoulders.
“Well, I think it might do good for your dad and I to come up for a few weeks, be there for anything you need.” She takes a deep breath giving us a second to process before she speaks again, “We can do the housework and take Jack to school so Ellis can heal and you can both bond with Charlotte.”
“Oh. Well, I…” I stumble over my words. I feel like I have to say yes. She is their granddaughter after all but I haven’t seen them in person in over ten years. Spending real time with them might be terrible, we might clash about everything. I don’t know if I can cope with that post-partum.
“Look don’t answer me now, talk it through and get back to me.” She takes the heat off. “Either way, I want to come up for a visit so it’s just if I am coming for a few days or a few weeks to take a load off, okay? Now go get some sleep Ellis, you deserve to rest.”
We say our goodbyes then, promising updates and more pictures to come. I have had a hectic yet fulfilling day, but I don’t think I will be able to sleep right now. Tracy’s offer is a really sweet one but my mind can’t help but think of every way it could go wrong.
“We can tell her no,” Liam says after a beat of silence. He is still sat next to me on the small hospital bed and I don’t chance looking up at him yet.
“I don’t know what I want to say,” I whisper, looking down at the bundle in my arms.
“What’s scaring you?” he asks, turning me slightly so we are looking at each other.
“Everything,” I tell him honestly. Having a new baby is scary. Bringing new people around is even scarier.
“Okay, but what’s scaring you most?” he tries again and I let out a deep sigh. His eyes are locked on mine and there is nowhere to hide from him or my anxieties.
“What if they come here and think I’m a terrible mum? They don’t approve of me at all?” My arms tighten around my baby as if she is going to be snatched from me. My voice is shaky and I see emotions flit across Liam’s face too quickly to pinpoint.
“You are an amazing mother already, Sunshine. I would never say yes to them if I thought for a second they wouldn’t love you as much as me.” He hooks his fingers around the back of my neck as he speaks, his thumb sliding up and down in a calming rhythm, pushing away some of the tension.
“I’m not used to having help.” I laugh lightly. It’s a humourless laugh but the smile Liam gives me is anything but. His eyes dance with mischief as he raises a single brow at me.
“You’re getting used to it.” He grins, squeezing the back of my neck again.
“What do you mean?” I ask, tiredness sweeping through my body as I relax under the touch of his hands.
“Ellis, you have me,” he tells me, taking Charlotte from my arms and putting her into the cot next to us. “Jack is staying with one of my teammates tonight. Your room was filled with people who are here to help an hour ago, so what’s a few more?”
“I’ve never had a village before.” I know he knows this but I am too tired to come up with anything more profound. It’s strange how big my life has become.
“You do now.” He places a light kiss on my hairline to comfort me. “Look, if they come and step a toe out of line, I will put them on the first flight back to Florida. I would never let them disrespect you in your own home.”
“Okay then, let’s do it,” I agree. I have already let so many people help I would be remiss to deny more help now. Having a new born is hard and no one can ever be completely prepared.
“Yeah?” Liam smiles widely at me. Clearly excited to have his parents here. I can’t be selfish, I can’t hide away from everyone because it is different to when I had Jack. Different can be good. Hell, it can be amazing, Liam is proof of that. We are a partnership. We have a village. A big village that I think will only get better as it grows.
It really is the more the merrier for us. A year ago I had a son and a really good friend, but that was my whole circle. My bubble has expanded so vastly in such a short amount of time and it has brought nothing but joy. Plus, I believe Liam when he tells me he will keep them in line if they push on our boundaries. He will keep me and our family safe even if that means keeping us safe from his parents. I just have to remember that there are people who care about us, who want us to be happy. Time isn’t repeating itself.