I spent Friday morning either crying at the drop of a hat or attempting to keep myself busy while I played with Alex or packed his overnight bag. It was now a little after 3, and Nick had just called to tell me he was on his way home and that Aj would be there soon to pick up Alex. I sighed as I sat in the living room watching Alex play with a puzzle on the floor. I knew my mom had shared custody with my dad until I was 14 years old, I wondered now if it had been this hard on her as it was on me. I looked up as Nick entered the living room.
�Hey babe,� He said grinning at me.
�Hey.� I said my voice showing my mood.
�It will be okay. I promise.� He said as he sat beside me on the couch.
�I know. How was work?�
�Singing, Singing and um more singing.� He said as he leaned back in the couch. I was envious of his calmness.
�Sounds like fun.�
�Yeah, so much fun. Kevin screaming at me in my headphones all day. I�m gonna hear him in my nightmares.� He said shivering dramatically. He could always make me laugh; no matter what was happening he could make me laugh. My laughter was short lived as the doorbell rang. �I�ll be back.� Nick said as he stood from the couch. I could hear him talking to someone at the door. I knew it wasn�t Aj and I was shocked to see a pleasant woman step into the living room in front of Nick.
�Liz, I want you to meet Denise, Aj�s mother.� Nick said as I stood from the couch.
�Hi, Ms. McLean.� I said. Her kindness shocked me as she pulled me to her and hugged me.
�Now where is he?� She said as she turned and looked down. She gasped as she saw him across the room.
�Alex.� When he turned, I knelt and called him to me, �Come here. There is someone I want you to meet.� He stood slowly and came toward me. I picked him and held him on my hip as I turned back to Denise. �Alex, this is your grandmother. Denise, this is Alexander Nickolas.�
�Oh my, Alex said he looked just like him. I didn�t dream he meant this much like him. He looks just like his daddy at this age.� I nodded and handed him to Denise. I fought back the tears as she held him.
A short while later Denise turned to me, �Are you okay with this?� She asked as she stood in the foyer with Alex in her arms.
I smiled weakly, �No, but it�s not fair to keep him from his father.�
�Now, if you get worried, you give me a call and I�ll let you know how he is. I�ll be staying with Alex for a little while. So you don�t worry about what time it is, you just give me a call okay?�
�Thank you Denise.�
�You are more than welcome Elizabeth.� She said as she hugged my neck again. I gave Alex a kiss on the forehead and handed her his overnight bag.
�Bye baby, you be a good boy. Mama loves you and she will see you soon.� I said as she walked through the door. Nick closed the door softly behind her. I stood there unable to turn my eyes away from the door.
�Come on. Let�s get something to eat.� He said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
�I�m not hungry.�
�You have to eat Liz, you haven�t really eaten in days.�
�I�m fine. I promise. I�m just not hungry.� I smiled up at him weakly.
�Okay.� He said and walked into the kitchen.