“Hi Sal, it’s Veda, I have great news!” I said drumming my fingers across the kitchen table. “I’m going to open up to Ron and tell him that I want to try to have kids again.” There was a pause on the line before Sal answered.
“What spurred this sudden change, Veda?” said Sal.
“Well,” I said, “I think I realized that Jayden doesn’t have to stop Ron and I from having kids. We can start trying again.”
“Do you think that’s the best option for your family?”
I scrunched my eyebrows, flustered by Sal’s question. How rude, I thought. “Of course it’s the best option for us! Why would you say it isn’t?”
“Veda,” Sal said with a gentler tone, “I’m not saying it is or isn’t the best option. I just want you to know for sure whether it is or not. That’s what I’m here for. Just think about it for a moment. What is truly the key thing here?”
I stopped and looked over at Jayden’s cupcake on the table. “Jayden…” I mumbled.
“What’s that?” Sal said.
“Oh, nothing. I have to go Sal, thank you for taking my call.” I hung up the phone and fondly picked up the cupcake for a moment. “Maybe if I want to be a mother, then I should start being one.” I set the cupcake down and smiled, imagining how excited Jayden would be, and then ran outside to blow up several pool floaties.
***
I already had my swimsuit on under my clothes when Ron pulled into the driveway. I ran outside and went to get Jayden out of his car seat before Ron could even got out of the car.
“What are you up to?” Ron said, noticing a smirk on my face.
“Oh, you’ll see,” I said, picking Jayden up and kissing his cheek. Ron raised his eyebrows and laughed.
“That’s the girl I fell in love with,” he said leaning over to give both Jayden and I a kiss each.
“Go wait out by the pool,” I said trying to hide my excitement, “Jayden and I will meet you in a minute.”
I hurried inside with Jayden and set him down on his bed to find his swim diapers in his dresser.
“I want to teach you my favorite thing to do in the summer,” I said kneeling down to him and holding out a turquoise swim diaper. Jayden looked at me swinging his legs back and forth, the biggest smile on his face. I felt a tear slide down my cheek.
“Mommy, why are you sad?” he said patting my cheek.
“I’m not sad,” I said, scooping him up into my arms, “I’m just sorry I’ve been so angry at you.”
“It’s okay,” he wrapped his arms around my neck, “I love you, Mommy.
I smiled and kissed the top of his head, “Let’s go swimming, sweet pea.”
Related articles
- Excerpt #1, from my short story, Mommy (amandareimer.wordpress.com)
- Excerpt #2, from my short story, Mommy (amandareimer.wordpress.com)
- Excerpt #3, from my short story, Mommy (amandareimer.wordpress.com)
- Excerpt # 4, from my short story, Mommy (amandareimer.wordpress.com)
Amanda Reimer 