CHAPTER 72

      The sound of the power sawing machine could be heard clearly throughout the neighborhood. Her father's chicken project had come to a standstill over the last few weeks but it was now back on. Voices of the workers could be heard shouting over the noise as they went about their business. Carly had gotten back that morning after Dylan had gone to work. The truth was,she missed her son. They had been spending so many hours apart which had been a tough decision to make because honestly, she wanted to spend as much time with Dylan now that their relationship was in it's first stages of the second cycle. Her parents had offered to take turns to take care of him instead of going to the pharmacy together and that way,she would get the chance to catch up with Dylan. She couldn't ask for better parents. This ageing and them becoming closer had come as a blessing to all of them. Now what she was worried about was Teddy. He was doing really well and he was just his normal cheerful self especially now that he had his cousin Ravenna. He seemed happy but knowing him,she knew that his head was full of all kinds of thoughts. There was no time that little head of his rested and today,she had decided to approach him and try to know what he thought about the new change. Also, she missed spending time with her little champion. 

     She walked towards his room carrying a freshly made glass of smoothie. It was one of the instructions from the doctor, to make sure he took a blended glass of fruit salad daily,specifically the fruits rich in minerals to recover the ones lost during his surgery. She knocked once and got in,a huge smile pasted across her face.

            "Is anybody home?"

              "Mommy! When did you get back?"

               "Just this morning, are you happy to see me?"

             "Yes,I am happy. Where is Dylan?"

             "She went to work." She knew just how much Teddy had grown fond of Dylan and so she wasn't surprised when she noticed his disappointment. At times she thought that he wanted to be around Dylan more than he wanted to be with her. What they talked about, she had no idea but she didn't complain. It had been her prayer to see them get along because that way,she wouldn't be faced with a choice to make choosing one over the other. Of course her son would always come first but she had really hoped that it wouldn't come to that. It hadn't and she was glad. "She wanted to come by and see you before going to work but it was an emergency. She had to leave early. She told me to tell you that she would come by later in the evening though."

  Teddy smiled, "Okay."

              "Anyway, the rest of the day is about you and me. Is that okay,do you want that?"

             "Yes,I miss you a lot mommy."

             "I know baby. I am sorry that I haven't been spending much time with you." She cupped his little cheeks in her hands and looked at him. "So I want you to tell me the truth. Are you sad that I have been going a lot?"

             "Yes," he replied and she saw the honesty in his eyes. 

                "Are you angry with me?" she asked softly.

               "No mommy."

                  "Do you want me to stop going?"

He shook his head again,"No."

                    "Why?"

                "Because I want you to be happy. Dylan makes you happy and I don't want to be selfish. You can have us both,right?" 

  Okay,had her son just thought all that or had someone told him what to say? She however only wondered for a moment before replying. "Yes,I can."

                 "And that way,I can have you both," he went on. He said so innocently that instead of wondering, she just smiled. She could say that maybe all this was coming from him being around the grownups who always had something to say about her and Dylan and how they were right for each other but the truth was,her son was also intelligent. She had no doubt that someday he would become a great person. 

                "Come here," she opened up her hands for him and hugged him closely but careful not to press his stitches too hard. She breathed in his sweet baby smell and closed her eyes,"Thank you. I love you so much. "

                "I love you too mommy." 

They stayed like that for a moment then pulled apart. 

                "Now,what do you want to do today?" she asked and joined him in bed. Teddy smiled then pretended to think just like he used to even when he had the answer right at the tip of the tongue. She waited patiently.

             "I want to learn how to swim!" he announced excitedly. That was definitely not something she had thought would be his answer. She expected something like playing vedio or boardgames,watching cartoons even though that was his least favorite thing or go outdoors to the beach maybe and build sand castles. That had become his favorite activity whenever he went down there with his grandfather. Swimming however wasn't on the list,neither would she consider it. At least not at this point. Maybe some weeks to come.

              "Baby you know that's not an option. You are still healing from the surgery and swimming will require a lot of body energy. You might rip off the stitches and then it will be bad. You won't heal as quickly."

Teddy surprised her by laughing, "I know mom. I was just kidding. Dylan promised to teach me when I get completely well."

She nodded. So,that was one of the things they discussed when they were alone? Cool. 

           "Well,I'm thankful for that." She had just the perfect idea she knew he would really loved. It was something she herself had been planning to do but with everything that had happened over the weeks,she had put it on hold. Her friends probably thought she had forgotten about them. And then,there was the promise they had made to each other. She looked at Teddy.

             "I have been thinking, how about we Skype aunt Carol and Ella and you can talk to Allie."

Teddy smiled, "Yesss! I miss her. I want to tell her all about LA and maybe she will want to come and visit. Can she come?" he asked almost in a begging tone.

              "That depends on whether her aunts would want to come visit. Let's talk to them and find out?"

                  "Okay."

                      "I'll go get my laptop."