Page 10 of Fired Up By the Mountain Man
Erika
I sit on the park bench watching our two girls and Carter play. He chases them around with his boundless energy. Lifting up my youngest while she giggles and screams with joy. I am so filled with love. And I have learnt so much over the years.
It’s in these quiet moments that I think about my own mom and the feelings I carried with me for so long about her leaving. I don’t think I really came to terms with it until I had my first child. I had worried about not being able to handle it. But as soon as she was in my arms, I knew. I could never leave her.
I’m sure my mother had her reasons for leaving. Postpartum depression was as acknowledged back then as it is now. Maybe she didn’t have access to professional counseling that she may have needed. Maybe she didn’t have a supportive family. Maybe dad wasn’t the best husband.
But that was her journey. I’m on my own path now. Mother to two beautiful girls. And there will be a third if Carter has his way. I’m not embarrassed by my dad, he was a hard working man who did what he could to keep us afloat. I’m proud of him for that.
But I’m also proud of my fairy shop and that it is the place where all the little girls want to have their fairy parties. All thegirls except my youngest, she wants to be a firefighter like her dad. And that is fine. They can be whatever they want to be.
I watch as Carter’s brother joins us with his little kids. We are one big happy family with all the Carter brothers having fallen in love and gotten married. There is always some big town event on and of course, I’m always invited.
But the best thing in my life, after my girls, is Cater. Our love is so strong. We support each other, help each other, learn from each other. I am so glad that I moved back to Starfall Valley and that I got all fired up by my mountain man!
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