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“No, not at all,” I replied, taking a deep breath before I told her the news. “I have a lot to tell you, Mom, but I don’t think I can make it to the funeral today. I have much more pressing concerns right now.”
“More pressing than family?”
“It is family, Mom. I found out last night that I have a son.”
There was silence as my mother took in the news.
“You have a son?”
“Yes, with Grace. I had no idea, I just found out and he’s in the hospital.”
“He’s sick?”
“He was born with kidney issues, and the one good kidney he has is failing. I’m waiting to find out if I’m a match and will be taken into surgery right away if I am.”
“Wow… that’s a lot to take in.”
“Tell me about it. My head is still spinning. I hope you can understand why I can’t be there.”
I waited to be guilt tripped, but instead, my mom asked me, “Can I meet him?”
I looked in the room and found Grace awake, standing at Ollie’s side now. I motioned for her to come out into the hallway and waited until she was standing beside me before I made my request.
“My mom would like to meet Ollie. Would that be possible?”
“Of course,” Grace said. “Especially since we don’t know–”
“Shh, we have plenty of time.”
“Still, it might be better sooner rather than later, Alex. Just in case.” Her eyes were filled with tears, and it killed me to see her in so much pain. Just thinking about anything happening to Ollie was like a kick in the gut, all the air leaving my lungs.
No, he has to be okay, I told myself. I will get to know my son.
“Thank you, Grace,” I said.
She nodded and slipped back into the room as I got back on the phone with my mother.
“Yes, you can meet your grandson.”
“Can I come by today?”
“But what about the funeral?”
“I will still make it. My grandson is more important anyway. And if you’re not a match, they can test me as well.”
“Thank you, Mom.” All these years, I had felt like I couldn’t count on her, but maybe I had been wrong.
“I will stop by on my way to the funeral, and of course it’s okay if you can’t be there. This is more important. I’ll be okay, but you need to spend this time with your son.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
* * *
“Oh, look how tiny he is…” my mom looked almost afraid to touch Ollie. She stayed near the end of his bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “He looks just like you did at that age. There’s no denying you’re the father.”
“I never had any doubt about that.”
I looked over at Grace who smiled.
