North Country Mom

Daddy. The two of them are a family.

She stood there, watching father and daughter bond, deeply touched by their precious reuniting. Her part had been small, but a tiny thrill coursed through Alicia that she’d been able to help bring them together, to re-create the bond that joined them.

If only she had someone to cling to, someone to love. As she watched Giselle and Jack, the ache in her heart grew. Because of him she had no family. Because of him she was missing everything about her son. He’d ruined her life.

Though a silent prayer helped suppress her pain, it didn’t stop her heart from constricting or her throat from closing with emotion. All she could think about was escaping before they noticed and she spoiled their reunion.

“I have to go,” she said, and wheeled toward the door.

“Alicia?” Giselle called. Alicia half turned to face her. “Thank you very much for helping my dad with this. I appreciate it a lot.” Her thin arms wrapped around Alicia’s neck, enveloping her in another hug.

“Welcome to Churchill. I think you and your father are going to love it here.” For a moment Alicia hugged her back. Then she eased herself free and hurried away. She thought she heard Jack call her name, but she ignored it and kept walking, desperate to be alone, to get away from the cloying constriction of emotions that returned whenever she remembered that day and all she’d lost.

Once in her apartment, Alicia sat in front of her electric fireplace, craving the heat it gave off. Though it had felt warm outside earlier, her soul was icy cold, her spirit crushed, her heart broken.

It was his fault Alicia hadn’t realized the implications that would follow from giving her child to another. Never to hear Mom, never to be hugged, never to know the soft touch of a child’s lips against her skin. Giselle’s embrace forced her to realize she’d given all that away.

Alicia had been trying to do the right thing, but somehow, until now, she’d never fully appreciated all that Mr. Parcet’s actions had cost her. Not until she’d seen Jack and Giselle strengthening the bonds that held their family together.

I’m so alone, her heart whispered. There’s no one to love me, to care for me. She thought of her son, growing up, changing, learning to love.