Baby Kenny

Chapter 12

Rob sat down on the couch next to his wife. Martha sat down on the coffee  table in front of them.  She took each of their hands in hers and gently squeezed. Rob looked at his wife and he could see the hurt in her eyes.  Bella saw the same pain in her husband’s eyes. Martha squeezed again, they both turned to face her. Tears rolling down their faces. Piet and Mable moved to sit on either side of Rob and Bella. Piet put his arm around his friends shoulder, Mable did the same to Bella. Martha said “I know that you are angry with Eric right now and in shock by his behavior. You must remember he is still your son, a son who whatever he does still needs your love. I understand now why he was so curious about Kenny. He wasn’t being disrespectful, he was just jealous because although he didn’t want to admit it to himself that he wanted to be in our son’s position. What’s more is that he feels even more embarrassed at being caught in the crib and dressed up like Kenny.

He probably thought you would make he feel like he is a failure, like he is not worthy of your love.  Right now he is also angry because he was right about how you would react. The reason he lashed out at me just now was just another cry for help.  Bella couldn’t bear it anymore as she realized Martha was right. She got up and went upstairs to the nursery, to her son who needed his mommy. She quietly opened the nursery door and poked her head inside and saw Eric sitting in Willems lap sobbing into his chest. She felt her heart wanting to break into a thousand pieces for her son. Willem saw her and gently shook his head. Bella backed out the door and quietly closed the door. She walked back to the lounge, she leaned her back against the wall and slid down onto her haunches. She hung her head down, silently sobbing. Mable came up the stairs and saw Bella. Mable lifted her up, wrapped her arms around her friend.

“Oh honey, please don’t do this to yourself. It’s going to be alright.”

“My son is sobbing his heart out in Willems arms because of what we did to him. I am a terrible mother.” Bella sobbed. “ I am his mother, I am supposed to protect him, not hurt him.” The fact that you are hurting right now is because you made a mistake, and it shows that you are only human.” Mable whispered to her friend. “What matters now is how you fix your mistake. When Eric comes out you must just let him know that he is wrong to feel that you don’t love him. Let him know he does matter to you.” He needs your understanding and support.”

Downstairs Rob was also having a breakdown. His son Steven held his dad in his arms as his dad shook violently with each sob. Rob lifted his head and looked into his son’s eyes and said, “ I beat him son, I have never beaten him like that before. He is never going to forgive me for how I have treated him this past week. “ Steven replied “ Of course he will, deep down he knows you and mom love him. I am also to blame as I just thought he was pulling another one of his antics. I should of seen that he was crying out for help.”

Rob blew his nose into his hanky, then straightened up and said, “I broke his trust in me. I must fix this.” He was about to get up when his wife and Mable joined them again. Rob took his wife into his arms. “My love I am so sorry, I will fix this.” He whispered into his wife’s ear.

Willem came down the stairs with Eric on his hip. Eric was sucking his pacifier furiously. Willem gently rubbed Eric’s back, Eric calmed down. Rob let his wife go and came toward Eric. Eric hid his face in Willem’s neck when he saw his father approach. Rob saw his son’s reaction and his heart wanted to break again, to see the fear in his son’s eyes was too much for him to take. The tears began rolling down his cheeks. He reached out and put his hand on Eric’s shoulder. He felt Eric tense up when he felt his father’s touch.

“Eric, daddy is so sorry for being so horrible to you, and I am very sorry for beating his baby boy. Please can you forgive your daddy. Rob added “ Mommy and daddy loves our baby boy so much, please we are ready to listen to you now. We now realize that you were trying to reach out to us and we didn’t even try to understand what you were going through. We are really sorry.”