Page 56 of Keeping His Babygirl

He comes running from his room, practically bumping into walls as he rushes to see his grandparents. He doesn’t stop until he’s crashing into my mother’s arms. She picks him up and hugs him close.

“Look how big you are!” she coos at him. “I’ve missed you so much.”

She peppers his face with kisses and squeezes him tight.

“Don’t suffocate the boy,” my dad tells her.

“Oh, hush. It’s been over six months. I have a lot of hugs to make up for.” She gives me a dirty look over Henry’s shoulder because it’s my fault she’s not seen him. Everything is always my fault these days.

“Hey, dad.”

“Hey, kiddo.”

I’m taken off-guard when he pulls me into a fatherly hug. My dad is not a huggy type. In fact, I can count on two hands how many times he’s hugged me since I became an adult. I don’t question it though because I need the hug.

“You look tired,” he says.

I shrug. “Mom life.”

He shakes his head as if he doesn’t believe me but doesn’t press. Thank God. The last thing I need is to burst into tears over breaking up with my maybe-boyfriend.

Henry wriggles out of my mother’s hold and tugs her toward his bedroom. Probably to show off his trains. Dad and I follow after them. Henry is shoving train after train in his grandma’s hands and she oohs and ahhs over all of them. For what it’s worth, she’s a wonderful grandma to him. She might be shitty towards me right now, but she loves him dearly.

“Pop Pop, look!” Henry says, tugging my dad further into the room so he can look at all his trains too.

I lean on the doorjamb, watching as he excitedly runs around his room, showing them everything he owns.

“You sure have a lot of toys,” my mom says. “Your mom must spoil you. You’ll be rotten in no time.”

She gives me another disapproving look.

“Donna, leave it,” my dad scolds. “You said you’d mind your manners.”

“I’m just saying,” she argues back.

“It’s okay, dad,” I say, trying to defuse the situation. The last thing I want is for my parents to fight over my choices.

He just shakes his head but drops it. My phone dings in my pocket, and I pull it out to check the message. I expect it to be Pelar giving me a pep talk over my parents being here, but it’s not her. It’s Axel.

Hey, doll. I know you won’t respond, but I just wanted to remind you not to let your mom get you down. You’re a great mom.

Tears flood my eyes, and I stagger toward the bathroom before anyone can notice. I turn on the sink to hide the sounds of my tears. I can’t believe he remembered that my parents were coming and that he reached out to support me. My heart aches at the loss of what could have been.

I splash water on my face and dry my tears. Now isn’t the time to break down. My mom will latch onto that like a dog with a bone. I touch up my makeup and take a deep, steadying breath before joining my family back in Henry’s room.

My dad studies me for a moment, and I know he knows I’m not okay. He sees right through the mask I’m wearing. I smile all the brighter, trying to convince him without words that I’m fine.

They stay well past Henry’s bedtime, and by the time they are getting ready to leave, Henry is a little grouch monster and throws a temper tantrum that they are going.

“You’ll see them again in the morning, buddy,” I say, trying to calm him down.

“Why don’t you let him come stay with us tonight. It’ll make him happy,” my mom says.

I shake my head. “No, he needs to sleep in his own bed.”

“You’re just being difficult. Look how upset you’re making him,” she says, raising her voice.

“He’s upset because it’s past his bedtime, and it’s been a big, exciting day for him.”

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