Page 8 of A Match Made In Fall

It’s strange sitting here with them. It’s a new city but the same comfortable feeling. This is the first Halloween I’ve spent with my family in years. Normally I’m somewhere else—working, traveling, planning every second of my life down to the hour. But now? I have no set plan.

I look down at Jude, who’s gripping my finger with his little hand while blinking up at me with sleepy eyes. This isn’t how I expected the year to end. But maybe…it won’t be so bad after all.

“So,” I say, pulling out my phone and opening my calendar app, “what activities does baby Jude have on his very busy social schedule? Auntie Isabella needs to add everything immediately. I refuse to miss a single moment while I’m here.”

Sammy laughs. “Oh he’s booked and busy.”

“Perfect,” I say. “That’s exactly how I like my days.”

She starts listing things off while I type them in—community festival and parade, pumpkin patch, family dinner, Halloween market, a baby music class, and then further out Thanksgiving plans, Christmas lights downtown.

One by one, I add things to my calendar. This feels right, more like me. I haven’t felt like this in weeks. Of course, I still haven’t decided when I’m leaving. Part of me keeps thinking I should go soon, get back to my real life and try to plan. But another part of me is considering staying through the holidays.

That thought should probably scare me more than it does.

“We should add some hockey games to the itinerary too,” Sammy says casually, interrupting my thoughts.

I shake my head. “You’re hilarious. Have you been listening to your husband?”

She gives me a knowing look. “Maybe. But we should go again. The game was a lot of fun. Dane wants to get season tickets.”

I nod. “It was fun. But I’m following Jude’s schedule as of now.”

She smiles. “I don’t blame you.”

“I just found the perfect costumes,” my mom exclaims. “We will be Danny and Sandy from Grease. It’s perfect, William already has a black leather jacket.”

“Sounds fun, Mom,” I tell her.

“It does, doesn’t it?”

Baby Jude starts to fuss, so Sammy gets up to prepare his bottle. I take him in my lap and start swaying back and forth. I can’t wait to be up and around on my feet again. And to dance with this sweet little baby.

I’m finally feeling hopeful again. Good things are happening—I can feel it.

Sammy returns with a bottle.

“I can feed him,” I tell her. “You deserve a break.”

She grins. “You’re the best auntie ever.”

“Yes I am.”

I can barely sit still. The nerves are taking over, and my palms are sweaty. I’m so worried about today, and I was restless all night. At one point I even had a dream that the crutches were attached to my body and I’d never be free of them.

“Isabella, it’ll be okay,” My mom assures me. Obviously, I’m doing a terrible job at hiding my feelings.

“What if it’s not healing?” I ask worriedly.

“It is. You’re young and healthy.”

I chew on my lower lip and nervously scroll through my phone, trying to distract myself. And then the nurse calls my name.

It’s go time—my appointment with Doctor Kemp, and hopefully he will tell me all is well and I can get on with my life and lose the crutches.

“Good luck,” Mom says.

I get up and move slowly through the door.