“You’re a good mom.”
I smile again, looking down at Thomas. “Thanks.”
We’re silent for a few minutes before my brother speaks up. “I’ve been thinking about us moving out of this apartment.”
I nod, remembering that he said that before. “Okay. Where were you thinking about moving?”
My brother shrugs. “I’m not sure, but we can’t live here.”
I nod, taking a seat beside him on the couch. “Okay.”
We’re silent again for a few moments before my brother continues. “I think we should move away. We’re going to need a bigger place, and I need a bigger job to pay for all this. I know that moving might be hard for you, but—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupt. I shrug, looking down at my baby. “I’ll go where you take me.”
“Okay.” He pauses for a moment. “We’re going to move to California.” He smiles when he sees my look. “There’s more jobs in California, and we’ll be able to get a bigger house for you and Thomas.” He smiles as he looks down at Thomas.
I nod, looking at Thomas too. “Okay,” I agree.
We move two months later and get a bigger apartment. My brother gets a job as a manager at a store, so he works more hours, but he still helps me with Thomas. I watch as they play together on the floor and smile as I see their bond grow. I know I did something wrong, but I’m glad it led to this.
“Hey, Cait.” My brother calls my name from the living room. I put down the laundry I was washing and walk into the living room. “I have to go to work early today, so can you take care of Thomas on your own?”
I nod. “Sure.” I’m surprised that he’s asking me because he usually never asks me. “Why do you need to go early?”
He shrugs, sitting down in his usual chair. “They need extra help at work, so they asked me to come in earlier than usual. It’s okay if you don’t want to take care of Thomas though. I could call a babysitter.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. I’ll take care of him.”
He smiles as he stands up. “Thanks, Cait. I owe you one.”
I shake my head as he walks out of the living room. “You don’t owe me anything.”
He stops in the doorway and turns to me with a smile again. “I always will, Cait.”
He pauses as he sees Thomas on the floor. “He’s such a good boy.”
I nod as I walk to where Thomas is sitting. “Yeah.” I smile as I watch him play with a car. “He really is.”
My brother nods. “Take care of him, Cait.” I turn to him as he turns to leave, but he stops again. “And take care of yourself too.”
I nod. “Thank you.” I watch as he leaves, feeling grateful towards him. I still don’t like him very much, but I know he’s changed since Thomas was born.
I pick up Thomas a few minutes later and cradle him in my arms. “Hi, baby,” I coo. “How was your day?” He giggles in response and hugs my neck. I smile, holding him tighter. “I love you too,” I whisper against his hair.
He smiles as he snuggles into my chest. I smile back at him as I rock him back and forth gently. I’m glad I got to experience this moment. I regret what I did, but it led me to Thomas, and I can’t imagine life without him.
I hear the door close a few minutes later and turn to see my brother leaving with a bag. “Where are you going?” I ask, walking over to the door.
He turns back to me and smiles. “I told you. I need to get to work.”
I frown, looking at the bag. “Work?” I know that the store doesn’t need him to wear a suit to work. “Did they change the dress code?”
He chuckles. “No. I have a meeting with one of the bigger stores today, and they want me to look nice.” He shrugs, turning towards the door again. “Bye, Cait.” He walks out of the door, closing it behind him.
I walk to the window and open the curtains, looking out into the street. I see my brother walking towards his car. I wave to him, but he doesn’t see me. He gets in his car and drives away.
I smile as I walk back to where Thomas is still sitting on the floor with his toys. I pick up his favorite toy car and hand it to him, watching as he smiles at me.
“Hi, Mommy,” he says.
“Hi, baby,” I reply. “How was your morning?”
He grins, holding his toy car up. “Good! Daddy let me play with this.”
I nod and smile. “Oh. Yeah. Daddy likes to play with you.” I sit down beside him and pick up one of the other cars. “Want to race?”
He nods enthusiastically as he picks up a car of his own. “Ready, set, go!”
We spend the next two hours playing, laughing, and smiling. I’m grateful that I got this chance to be a mother. I wouldn’t have regretted it. Even though I made a mistake, it was worth it. I have my baby.
I hold Thomas up later as my brother comes back through the door. “Hi,” I smile.
He smiles back, looking down at the ground. “Hi.”
I walk over to him and hand Thomas to him. He holds him tighter than me, and my baby just laughs as he hugs his neck.
“I’m glad you’re home,” I say.
He doesn’t respond as he walks to the couch and sits down, holding Thomas against his chest.