I looked down at him standing there, playing quietly on his iPad, and I ruffled his hair. “Thanks, Mom, that means a lot, I’m definitely a lucky mama.”
And of course, right at that moment, he decided he was done with the iPad and dropped it to the floor. Thank God for protective foam cases. He walked over to the door and looked out.
“Calum, you need to stay in here, buddy.”
He looked back with that evil-monster glint in his eye and dashed out. I took off after him, but it was too late. The poor nurse didn’t see him coming, and she tripped trying to avoid him at the last second. She was carrying a box of what looked like bandages, and they went flying in the air. She screamed, and Calum stopped dead in his tracks.
“Calum, get over here, right now.” He walked over, knowing he was in trouble.
I took him back to my mom’s room quickly and put him in the stroller, strapping him in. “Mom, I need to help the nurse. I’ll be right back.” Walking outside there were little packages everywhere. I started to help the nurse up. “I’m so sorry, are you all right?”
She stood up smiling. “No problem. He’s just a little boy; he didn’t know better.”
I rolled my eyes without her seeing. What was it with everyone thinking kids shouldn’t know better? I told him not to leave the room. The little booger knew exactly what he was doing. I didn’t voice my opinion; I just started to clean up.
“Thank you for your help.”
Walking back in the room, Calum was still in his stroller but struggling to get out. “Let him out, Jules. He can’t sit in there the whole time.” Was she for real?
“Mom, he just tripped an older nurse out there. You think he should be let out?” I came across a little harsh, but there was no excuse for his behavior.
“Close the door then. He’ll be fine when he can’t get out. He’s a toddler. He needs to expend his energy.”
I could tell this was going to be a short visit. This wasn’t a playground for him, but I wasn’t about to argue with my mother while she was in a hospital bed. I walked over to close the door just as Susan walked in.
“There’s that beautiful little boy. Why are you strapped in that stroller?” She gave me a firm look.
Seriously?
“I was just telling her the same thing, Susan. She needs to let the boy run around. Poor thing all cooped up in that stroller.”
I bit my tongue and closed the door before letting Calum out. Calum immediately walked over to the door, testing it.
“Nice try, come here, buddy.”
He came over and sat on my lap.
“So, let's check your vitals, Stephanie. How are you feeling?”
My mom smiled. “Now that my grandson is here, I’m feeling much better.”
I looked over at Susan, who gave me a sad smile. My mom was full of shit, but I let it slide. Today was not the day, and knowing my mom, she wouldn’t talk about it anyways.
“You guys enjoy your visit, and I’ll stop by later,” Susan said before leaving us alone.
Calum jumped off my lap and started to explore the room. My mom and I continued our conversation while I kept an eye on him. He was looking up at the flowers on the table beside my mom.
“Why don’t you pick him up, Jules, and let him smell the flowers?”
I walked over and picked him up so he could see them. He made an exaggerated sniffing noise with each one. He ran his fingers along the petals and then out of nowhere grabbed the vase by the rim and tipped it, causing it to smash to bits on the floor.
“Calum! Why would you do that?” I was on the verge of losing my shit. This was not the place for Calum at all. I was sure being a toddler in a room where he can’t touch anything was far from fun.
“Jules, that wasn’t his fault. It was an accident.” I looked over at my mom, who was smiling from ear to ear.
“Seriously, Mom?” I was exasperated.
I put Calum back in his stroller and rushed out to the nurses’ station to get something to clean it up. They assured me someone from housekeeping would be up shortly and not to worry. I swear the people around here didn’t stress about anything.
Back in the room, Calum was sitting quietly in his stroller like nothing happened.
“Calum, do you want to come sit with Grandma and watch a movie?”
“Atom,” he said, indicating he wanted to watch Real Steel. He loved that movie.
I picked him up and got him situated beside my mom and propped the iPad up so they could both see it without having to hold it.
“I’m going to answer some emails while you watch the movie if you don’t mind.”
She smiled at me. “Of course, sweetie. I’m going to snuggle with my grandson.”
Just then someone came in and cleaned up the mess Calum made. That was quick.
Checking my emails, I realized that I’d been spending too much time away from my work. I needed to get my ass in gear and wrap up a few clients. Fifty-four emails later, I looked up to my mom sleeping and Calum wiggling his way down as his favorite part was about to come on. He loved when the boy danced with the robot. He mimicked every dance move. Watching him do this was one of my favorite things in the whole world. It was absolutely adorable.
When Calum was done with his dance, he decided he was finished with the movie. I picked up the iPad and brought him to sit on my lap. We played some funny YouTube videos, letting my mom sleep for a bit. My phone alerted me to a text.
Bestie: Hey, girl, just wanted to check in on you and see how you’re doing.
Me: Hey! Yeah, I’m doing okay. I’m at Mercy with Calum. Mama’s sleeping. I’ll wait until she wakes before I leave.
Calum got down off my lap when another text came in.
Bestie: Oh, that’s nice that she got to visit with him. Has Calum set the room on fire yet? HAHA
Me: STFU. He’s only tripped a nurse and smashed a vase.
Bestie: He’s just bored.
Another text came through, but I didn’t get a chance to read it before a bell started to sound, I looked up to see Calum had pulled the emergency cord. Shit! I jumped up and grabbed him just as three nurses and Bradley came running in the door. My mom was wide-eyed in the bed, trying to figure out what was going on in her sleepy haze. Everyone rushed to her bedside.
“What’s going on?” One of the nurses said in a panic.
“I’m sorry, Calum pulled the cord. I didn’t have time to turn it off before y’all came in.”
Everyone stopped and looked at Calum who was sitting on my hip, looking around at the commotion. The nurses all came and hovered around us, cooing over how adorable he was. Unbelievable! I was beyond irritated; my son just caused a huge commotion, and these people think he’s cute. This was ridiculous. They’re mental. How was this okay?
Bradley was the only one staying back. He was hanging around my mom, checking her out to make sure she was fine. He had looked over at me a few times and smiled, but it looked forced. Maybe he wasn’t into kids, who knows?
“Jules, honey, come here.” My mom reached out her hand.
“Excuse me, ladies.” They stepped back, and I walked over to my mom to take her hand.
She looked up with a sad smile on her face. “It’s not a big deal, baby girl. He’s only two. He doesn’t know any better.”
I squeezed her hand. “I know, Mama, but it’s not all right. This is the third thing he’s done, and I’m a little stressed.” I was trying to lower my voice, so I didn’t sound so angry, but I was beyond annoyed. Not so much with Calum, just with the situation, this wasn’t an environment for a toddler and I really should take him back to the house.
“Why don’t you take Calum home. I’m sure it’s approaching lunch, and I bet he’s getting hungry.” She smiled and reached for Calum. “Let me squeeze you one last time, handsome boy.”
I put him down on the bed so he could cuddle with my mom for a second.
“So, this is the cute little monster all the nurses are buzzing about?” Brad
ley smiled.
I was sure my face was beet red. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble, Dr. Naughton.”
He smirked. “So, we’re back to Dr. Naughton? So formal.”
I smiled shyly.
Bradley looked down at Calum with a smile, but you could tell he was a little wary. “You be good for Mama, okay?”
I picked Calum up and kissed my mom on the forehead.
“Take my precious boy home.”
I rolled my eyes internally at my mother’s use of the word precious. Right now, I felt he was the complete opposite after the last couple hours, but I still loved him to bits.
“Nice to meet you, little buddy,” Bradley said to Calum. He was smiling like a loon. Maybe he wasn’t anti-child like I’d thought.
“Can you say bye, Calum?” I poked Calum in the side.
He hid in my neck but said, “Bye.”
Bradley laughed.
“All right, we better get going. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
On our way home, we swung by McDonald’s drive-thru. Calum was really tired and threw his food all over the car. He was crying, and nothing helped, I was way past aggravated at this point.
We were just around the corner, when he stopped. I looked back to find him passed out in his car seat. He must’ve worn himself out with all the crying. Taking a couple trips around the block seemed like the best idea to make sure he was really down for the count before we got home.
After pulling into the driveway, I put the car in park. Everything that happened today, mixed with all that was going on right now, had my emotions all over the place. I put my head on the steering wheel and let myself cry.
Between my mom being sick, coming home, Hunter, and today with Calum, I was overly exhausted.
13
Jules
I was startled by a tap on the window. I looked up to see an older woman, maybe in her mid-fifties. Smiling at her, I wiped my eyes and nose, before getting out of the car.
“Hi there, sweetie. You must be Stephanie’s daughter, Julianne? My name is Margaret. I live next door. I’m a good friend of your mother’s.”
This lady must think I was a lunatic, crying in the car with my baby in the back seat.
“Oh, yes. It’s nice to finally meet you. Please call me Jules. My mother has told me so much about you. I was just about to put my little guy in bed. Would you like to come in for tea?”
“Sure, that would be lovely. Let me get the door for you. I have a key. You get your son.”
I got Calum out of his seat and took him straight to bed. He could’ve used a diaper change, but after this morning, he needed to sleep more than anything.
Margaret was already in the kitchen boiling the water when I came back downstairs.
“Bless you,” I said as I walked into the kitchen and got two teacups from the cupboard.
Once the tea was made, we sat down on the sofa. She reached out and touched my hand. That simple touch had the tears slipping again.
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually this emotional. I just have so much going on, and this morning I took Calum to see Mama. He got into everything, even pulled the emergency call string. I think it all just hit me at once, and I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”
“Honey, you’re entitled to cry. You have a lot on your plate. I’m sure your mother enjoyed having Calum, but a medical facility is no place for a toddler.”
“I agree. Mom just wanted to see him.”
“I know that this may seem a little forward, but I’d love to watch him for you. My daughter and granddaughter moved to New York a few years back and I don’t get to see them much.”
“That’s so nice of you. Calum is quite a handful. He also doesn’t do well with strangers. I wouldn’t want to put that on you.”
“Trust me; I can handle it. How about we set up a playdate at my house tomorrow and see how things go? If he’s all right, I could watch him while you visit your mama. And occasionally, we can both go to Mercy and visit your mom so she can see Calum. Then I can bring him back with me, and you can get your visit in without him being bored at the hospital.”
I sighed in relief, thinking about how much easier that would be.
“Thank you, Margaret. You’re like a godsend.”
She smiled sweetly. “So, how’s your mother doing? I haven’t seen her since Thursday; any update on her condition?”
“I was supposed to get an update from them today, but in all the chaos, we didn’t get to talk. I’ll have to make it a point to ask them tomorrow.”
My phone rang in my purse with an unknown number. “Excuse me, I have to get this.”
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby, how’s my grandson?” My mom sounded overly chipper.
“He’s asleep. He must’ve been exhausted.”
“That’s good, he needs his rest for all the fun I’m sure you two have together. Listen, I was calling to let you know that I will be in and out tomorrow for tests, so it may be a good day for you to take a day off and relax.”
“Is everything all right? What kind of tests?” I was instantly anxious.
“Nothing to worry about. Just routine.” She was keeping something from me, but I decided not to push.
“That works out, actually. Margaret is here right now, and we’re having tea. She offered to watch Calum for me when I need it. We’re going to have a playdate tomorrow to introduce them.”
“That’s perfect. Margaret is amazing with children, and she misses her granddaughter. It will be good for her.”
I smiled at Margaret.
“Well, I will let you get back to your tea. Please let Margaret know I say hello.”
“I will, Mama. I’ll see you in a couple of days. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Kiss my boy for me.” She hung up before I could respond.
“My mom says hi.”
She smiled up at me.
“She has a few tests tomorrow and thinks I should take the day off from visiting.”
“That’s probably a good idea. A day of rest is never a bad thing, sweetie.”
We talked for a while before Margaret had to go meet a friend. I agreed to bring Calum over in the morning after breakfast so they could get to know each other.
Grabbing my laptop, I decided I needed to get a couple mocks done for two of my biggest clients. It didn’t take me long, I was able to get them done and emailed out before Calum even woke up.
He’d be hungry, so I made a snack of grapes, cheese cubes, crackers, and yogurt for us. Since he skipped lunch, I wanted to give him something I knew he would eat. I opened his door to find him wide awake in bed, he gave me a huge smile.
“Hi, handsome. How was your nap?” I picked him up and cuddled him close. “Let’s change this squishy diaper and get you something to eat. You want a snack, buddy?”
He shook his head.
I laughed. “Didn’t think so.”
We took the plate of snacks out front and sat on the porch swing. We spent the afternoon lounging by the pool, playing games, coloring, and just enjoying time together. When bedtime rolled around, we were already snuggled in our PJs. We set up a movie in my room, put on the sleep timer, and fell asleep in my bed.
14
Jules
Calum woke me up with a smack on my cheek. “Up, Mama.”
I opened my eyes just in time to see his little hand coming toward my face again. I moved my head to avoid another slap. “Morning, you little booger. Don’t hit Mama. That’s not nice.” I pretended to cry, and he came to my aid by kissing my boo boo.
“We are going to go play with Margaret today. How does that sound?”
Calum didn’t respond, just continued his slobbery kisses all over me. I flipped him over and started to blow raspberries on his belly while he laughed uncontrollably. Calum was usually a happy boy in the morning, unlike the monster that comes out at bedtime.
We got up, got ready, and grabbed some breakfast before heading next door to Margaret’s
house. She assured me we didn’t have to bring anything, and when we were given a tour of her house, I saw why.
“Wow, Margaret. You weren’t joking when you said I didn’t need to bring anything. Your house is a child’s dream.”
Margaret had the ultimate child’s playroom. “I had a blast creating this room for my granddaughter. Since they lived with me, I have a bedroom Calum can sleep in, which I’ll show you next.”
“It’s amazing. You have everything in here.” The walls had murals painted in a jungle theme. Vines hung from the ceiling with animals on them. There was a 3D tree in the corner, stations of all sorts everywhere for sensory, art, and whatever else he could possibly imagine. “Well, that is one lucky girl.”
Calum was in awe, I thought he might be a little overwhelmed, to be honest. He was looking all around, taking everything in.
“I don’t think Calum is going to want to go, but right across the hall is the bedroom. He’ll be able to nap in there. Take a look.”
I walked across the hall and found a bedroom decked out in an ocean theme, more murals, fake seaweed and fish hung all over the ceiling. I walked back into the playroom.
“I wish I had something like this as a kid.”
She smiled and walked over to Calum and bent down to his height. “Hey, Calum, do you want to play?”
He looked at her and took her hand.
“Water.” He took her over to the table that had water and boats in it.
“I think I made a new friend,” she said as she played boats with Calum.
“Looks like it.” I was so glad this worked out. The big man upstairs must’ve been looking out for me.
“If you have some work to do or errands to run, Jules, you can go do that. We’ll be fine.” She gave me a reassuring smile.
I really could do some more work. I noticed thirty-three emails this morning that I was certain I needed to answer. “Are you sure?”
Wrecked by Her (Like a Hurricane Duet Book 1) Page 8