Hard Times

17

Three months later

"Hi buddy!" Stacie said excitedly as she lifted Alexander into her arms. Glancing towards her mother and Karen who had shown up out of the blue. "I didn't know you guys were coming."

"We decided to surprise you." Angie said with a soft smile as she moved to hug her daughter.

Stacie instantly leaned into her mother before pulling away. "We're on break for a few days."

"That's why we came." Angie said, looking down at Alex. "He's missed you."

"I've missed him too." Stacie admitted softly, looking down at her son. The little boy had curled into her and had his head on her shoulder. "I wish he could stay."

"College is no place for a toddler." Angie said softly.

Sighing softly, Stacie looked up at her mother. "I know that, it's just... it's hard being away from him."

"I understand that." Angie said softly.

Shifting Alex slightly, Stacie looked back down to see he'd fallen asleep. "I wish you guys could move up here." She mumbled so quietly that Angie and Karen almost missed it.

"I'm going to go see Lucas." Karen said after a moment before leaving.

Moving further into her room, Stacie sat down on her bed and leaned back against the headboard with Alex.

"I'll give you some time alone." Angie said, heading for the door.

Stacie shifted down into a laying position, moving Alex to lay between her and the wall, with a pillow against the wall.

Alex was sucking his thumb as he slept.

Smiling softly, Stacie pulled the blanket up over them, watching him sleep. She didn't even look up when her dorm room door opened.

Hayley had come in. She was holding some papers from her notebook, having decided to spend her few days of no classes studying so that she didn't fall behind and had come to ask Stacie a question.

Finally looking away from her son, Stacie smiled softly. "Hi Hales."

Hayley looked up from the paper in her hands. Her eyes met Stacie's and then drifted towards the sleeping child beside Stacie. "Oh." She stepped back towards the door. "I thought you were alone." She murmured and looked down, trying not to think of the baby she could have had with Taylor.

"Mom and Karen showed up today and surprised me." Stacie explained softly, moving to sit up. "Did you need something?" She asked.

Hayley shook her head. "It doesn't matter, I can figure it out." She murmured, backing towards the door.

"No, come on, what is it?" Stacie asked softly, leaning back against the headboard.

"You should spend time with your son." Hayley said, shaking her head.

Stacie shook her head. "He's asleep, I can help you while he's sleeping."

Hayley swallowed, her eyes travelled towards the toddler on the bed. She hesitated. "We were talking about the baby I should have had with Taylor in therapy. It brought up some stuff..." she mumbled then shook her head, her eyes now trained on the floor.

"I'm sorry, how about I text you when my mom or even Lucas picks him up, then we can go over what you need help with." Stacie offered softly, glancing towards her sleeping son.

Hayley gripped the papers in her hands tightly. She didn't want Stacie to think that she didn't like Alex.

"I get it Hales, it's hard seeing a child that you should have." Stacie said softly, knowing that Hayley was hurting. "And I'm sorry you couldn't have that."