Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
BLAKE
Amigraine the size of the sun reverberates through my head as I walk through the door to my small apartment.
Mrs. Mitchell sits in her usual place while Oscar is splayed out on the floor, an Optimus Prime figurine in one hand and a Bumblebee figurine in the other.
I smile for the first time tonight as I watch him, his attention glued to an episode of Transformers on the TV.
Since meeting Theo, it's all he’s watched, going from an avid Marvel fan to non-stop alien cars.
“Mom,” he exclaims when he sees me, then jumps and races over.
I drop my bag on the floor and kneel to embrace him. After everything from the last few hours, I hold him just that little bit tighter, knowing our lives are about to change dramatically. I’m just not sure whether it's for the better.
Drawing back, I cup his cheeks, taking him in. He’s so much like his father that it takes my breath away for a moment, not only in looks but in personality as well. If it weren’t for the fact that I carried him for nine months and then pushed him out, I’d wonder if he was actually my child.
“Did you guys have a good time?” I ask, standing up and shrugging my jacket off.
“We did. Mrs. Mitchell let me stay up to finish this episode,” he gushes , bouncing around on the balls of his feet. “Wait, I thought you had to work late?” he says, his face pinching in confusion.
“I did, but we managed to finish earlier than I thought, so I came right home.”
Mrs. Mitchell stands up and tucks her knitting into her bag. “He’s been an absolute pleasure as always,” she says, placing a hand on my arm. Then she stops and takes a closer look at me. “Are you alright? You’ve been crying.”
Unable to hide anything from Mrs. Mitchell, I chuckle. She’s a very astute woman who sees more than she lets on. “I’m fine. A rough evening.” I lower my tone as I walk her to the door. “Oscar’s dad knows about him, so things are going to change slightly going forward.”
When I first moved here and Mrs. Mitchell offered to help, I told her my life’s story.
I don’t know if it was because she’s a mother herself, but I found myself opening up to her more than I’d ever opened up to anyone other than Theo.
I didn’t tell her who his father was though.
That was a secret just for me… until now.
But maybe, just maybe, Theo and I can start healing. Start rebuilding those bridges that were so severely damaged and restoring the trust neither of us seems to have in the other. I want that for us, but more importantly, for Oscar.
“How do you feel about it?” she asks gently, looking over her shoulder to make sure Oscar can’t hear.
“I’m not sure yet. We spoke a lot tonight and got a lot off our chests, but there’s still a long way to go before I can answer that.”
“I’m always here if you need to talk. Lord knows my daughter takes me up on that offer often enough.” She chuckles, but there’s love clearly shining through her eyes as she speaks.
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” I reply.
Closing the door, I turn to my son. “Right, I’m going to have a quick shower and get changed; then it's bedtime for you, mister.”
“Okay, Momma,” he says, not bothering to take his eyes off the TV.
I huff out a laugh and ruffle his hair as I walk past. Climbing into the shower, I’m hit with a wave of exhaustion.
I’ve been a single mom for so long; I’m not sure how I’m going to handle letting Theo into our lives.
Into my life. Can I trust him to not walk away again?
Trust him to not destroy me, and this time, our son as well?
So many reasons why this is a bad idea engulf me, but ultimately, I don’t have a choice.
Oscar deserves a relationship with his father, and Theo deserves a relationship with his son.
Having Oscar healed me in a way I never thought it could, so maybe it can help him?
Toweling off, I leave my hair to air dry and go in search of Oscar.
Stepping into the living room, I see him lying on the floor, asleep.
Smiling to myself, I pick him up—no easy feat, ten-year-olds are heavy—and take him into his bedroom to tuck him in.
Stroking his hair gently, I lean down to kiss his forehead.
I’m scared for what the future will bring, but we all owe it to ourselves to see where this could lead.