“Why don’t you stay here and help me?” I suggested gently. “I could really use your help with Lucas.”
Guilt had always followed me when it came to my son. The restaurant consumed so much of my time that some days I picked him up from school and brought him straight there, and other days I left him with a neighbour until late at night, sometimes past his bedtime.
When Geeta accepted the offer, her relief was immediate. Still, a small part of me remained cautious.
The next afternoon, I decided to test things.
After dropping Lucas at home, I stayed in the driveway and watched through the security cameras on my phone. Geeta greeted him warmly, helped him with his homework, and prepared a snack while Oreo hovered nearby like a furry bodyguard. Lucas laughed easily in her presence, and slowly, the tension inside me began to ease.
From that day forward, Geeta waited for Lucas after school. Each afternoon, I checked the cameras, and each day Itrusted her a little more, until eventually I realized something unexpected.
Geeta was not just helping me.
She was becoming part of our lives.
Every night before going to bed, I counted my blessings—Lucas, Baby Emma, Elle and her family, Jack and Maureen, the restaurant, and, whether I wanted to admit it or not, Caleb.
As the weekspassed and my due date crept closer, Jack became a blessing in my life.
He never made a big show of helping. Instead, he quietly stepped in whenever he sensed I was becoming overwhelmed. Some days, he picked Lucas up from school. Other days, he insisted I take breaks when I was pushing myself too hard at the restaurant.He even reminded me about my doctor’s appointments.
I had never known my real father.Yet the way Jack looked out for me felt similar to what I imagined a father might do for his daughter.
In my heart, I silently thanked him for stepping into that role.
Nighttime, however, remained the hardest part of the day.
When the house grew quiet and Lucas had fallen asleep, my mind refused to rest. Restless energy crawled through my body like electricity while my thoughts spiralled endlessly.
What would my life look like once the baby arrived?Would I be able to manage everything?The house.Lucas.A newborn.And the restaurant.Would I be able to give both of my children the attention they deserved?Would Lucas feel forgotten once the baby arrived?
As I lay in bed stroking my belly, I wondered if my daughter was alright inside me.Would she look like Caleb?Would she inherit his mannerisms, his expressions, the quiet intensity in his eyes?
Then my thoughts drifted to the birth itself.
What if something went wrong? What if she was not positioned properly? What if the cord wrapped around her neck?So many things had already gone wrong in my life.I did not want to take good outcomes for granted.
Eventually, a silent prayer calmed my racing mind just enough for me to drift into a few hours of restless sleep.
The grand openingof the restaurant finally arrived.
Of course, not without one final problem.
The POS system stopped working.
Marcus and I spent most of the day on the phone with IT, trying to solve the issue before the doors opened.
Finally, with Marcus, Delia, the renovation crew, and the entire restaurant staff gathered outside, Jack and I stood together holding a large pair of scissors.
We cut the red ribbon.
Applause and cheers erupted around us.
The new restaurant sign hung proudly above the entrance: a cheerful black-and-white cow holding a frothy beer mug.
The Tipsy Cow was officially open.
Then I noticed him.
