Page 8 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

I tell myself that a lot, to stop myself from delving too deep in the past or worrying too much about the future, and it helps. Actually, it helps a lot that I have something that absolutely needs me to be in the present. My beautiful little boy, Thomas.

The love of my life, my gorgeous baby who has been surrounded by love from the very first moment that he was born. I love him so much that he doesn’t even need anyone else. It’s not the easiest life, but we find a way to make it work for us. We find a way to be happy.

We don’t need any other family members, Thomas and me. We have each other. We’ve carved out our own little family anyway. Daniel, my boss and his wife, Sandra. They’re the closest thing to a family that we’ve had for the last three years.

Ever since I ran away from home and they saved me from the worst time of my whole life.

Not that I want to think about that right now. Or ever again, given half the chance. I’ve moved past that now and I’m in a better place.

“Thomas, baby boy,” I whisper to my son as I shake him awake. I really don’t like to disturb him so early, but we need to get going. I have to get to the clinic on time, to check in before we go to the nursery just around the corner. “It’s time to get up and get dressed, okay?”

“Okay, Mommy.” His face lights up the moment his eyes open, and he smiles widely, making me grin as well.

It’s at times like this when everything that happened in the past melts to nothingness.

None of that matters anymore because we are here, and my life is finally perfect. “Can I get myself dressed today? Sandra liked my super hero t-shirt yesterday.”

I clutch my hand to my chest while the emotions get to me. At almost three years old, his independence is growing by the day, and it’s hard for me to see. But it also makes me very proud and like the luckiest mom alive.

“Of course you can, sweetheart.” I lean down and kiss him on the head. “I’ll go and make breakfast while you do.”

It’ll take longer for him to dress himself, which doesn’t help me if I’m in a hurry, but I also don’t want to get in the way of his independence.

Instead, I use the time wisely by taking a quick shower, getting dressed, and organizing breakfast. I also make sure that Thomas has everything that he needs for his day at nursery, including his lunch. All the while, Thomas gets himself dressed. His t-shirt might be inside out and his joggers definitely don’t match, but it doesn’t matter.

“Thank you for this breakfast, Mommy.” He takes his seat and feeds himself quickly. “It looks delicious. I like apple slices.”

As he starts to eat, I begin to get messages on my cell phone from Daniel asking if it’s possible for me to come in even earlier because we’re having an animal related emergency with a really important client. That only amps up the pressure even more.

I really need to get my ass out of this door and into the car as soon as I possibly can. Work is screaming out for me.

“Can you speed up a little bit, Thomas?” I rub his hair playfully, trying not to stress him out as well. “So we can go?”

“Daniel wants you now?” He understands a lot. Too much, I sometimes worry. “Okay, I’ll bring this with me.”

I part my lips, about to argue that he can finish his food at the table, but he leaps up anyway, and to be honest, I really do need to get a move on, so I agree it’s a good idea.

We get in the car, it’s a very short drive, just about within walking distance, but it used to kill me hauling Thomas up there with me before I got this small life saving vehicle. It gives me the gift of time, which equals more sleep and less stress, it also means that Thomas can eat his breakfast in the car as we drive.

Moments later, I pull up in the parking lot and Thomas and I run inside the building.

Sandra, who often works the reception desk, immediately jumps up to greet my son. She always looks after him during times like this to make it easier for me, until it’s time to take him to nursery. I honestly think Sandra is an angel. At the least, she’s the best woman I’ve ever met.

“You better go,” she whispers to me. “Daniel’s already in the operating room, and he needs you. A poisoning, I think.”

Since I know important people are waiting, I race off fast.

Daniel is easily the best vet around, and everyone knows it, which is why the wealthy always bring their much loved animals to him. It makes me proud to work alongside Daniel. To be a part of something incredible and know that we’re making a differencein the world. He makes my passion to work with animals that much more fulfilling.

“Ah, my savior is here,” Daniel jokes with arms stretched wide as soon as he spots me. “This is the sort of operation that I’m too old to do alone. I need my angel to come here with all of her energy to save the day, as always. What’d I do without you?”

I chuckle at his compliment and get to work rapidly, knowing that with potential poisoning, speed is of the essence. It’s also something I’ve done before, so I can work on autopilot and be successful. While I work, I think about how Daniel is the real savior here. Him and his wife. They’re the ones who’ve kept me from losing my life, not the other way around. Everything I do is just making up for them saving my life. That’s why I give Daniel all of my energy when he needs it.

I don’t like thinking about the last three years. It’s far more pleasant to remain in the present, but my brain goes there anyway. Daniel’s comments about me being his angel sends me flying all the way to the past. Back to when it was just me, with a pregnant belly, needing to get away before my uncle killed me.

Because I really did believe that if he found out he’d kill me.

I didn’t even say goodbye. Not even to Abby.

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