Hearts on Broadway (Book 2)

Chapter 12 - Mamma's Love

Morgan sat in the living room, the soft sound of Jackson's breathing coming through the baby monitor beside him. It was late, but he couldn't sleep—his mind was too full, and his heart felt too heavy. He stared at the screen of his phone, debating whether or not to call his mom. He needed to talk to someone, and she'd always been the one he turned to when things got too tough.

With a deep breath, he dialed her number, the familiar ring on the other end bringing a small sense of comfort. When she picked up, her voice was warm, as if she could already sense that something was wrong.

"Morgan, honey, how are you?" she asked.

Morgan hesitated, unsure of how to begin. "Ma, I... I need to talk to you."

Her voice immediately softened with concern. "What's going on?"

Morgan took a deep breath, his words shaky. "It's Georgie... she's gone."

The silence on the other end of the line was thick, and then his mom spoke, her voice steady but filled with worry. "What do you mean she's gone?"

"She left, Ma," Morgan said, his voice cracking. "She's been struggling for a while—ever since Jackson was born. She didn't feel like she was good enough, like she was failing us, and... and she left. She said she needed space."

His mom sighed softly. "Oh, sweetheart. I didn't realize it had gotten this bad. I'm so sorry."

Morgan ran a hand over his face, the exhaustion weighing heavily on him. "I didn't see it either, not until it was too late. I thought we were getting through it, but she felt like she had to go."

There was a pause before his mom spoke again. "You've been doing this all on your own, haven't you?"

Morgan nodded, though she couldn't see him. "Yeah. It's been... it's been really hard. I don't know what to do, Ma."

"You don't have to do this alone, Morgan," his mom said firmly. "I'm coming over tomorrow. I'll help with Jackson, and we'll figure this out together. You don't have to carry all of this by yourself."

Morgan's throat tightened, a wave of relief washing over him. "Thanks, Ma. I don't know what I'd do without you."

The next morning, Morgan's mom arrived early, her face filled with love and concern. She hugged him tightly the moment she stepped through the door, holding on as if she could somehow take away all the pain.

"I'm so sorry you're going through this," she said softly as they sat in the living room, Jackson sleeping in his crib nearby. "But I'm here now, and we'll get through it together."

Morgan nodded, grateful for her presence. "It's just... I didn't expect this. I didn't think it would get this bad."

His mom looked at him with sympathy. "Sometimes people struggle in ways we can't see. Georgie's been carrying so much. But this isn't the end, Morgan. She's taking time to heal, and that's okay."

"I know," Morgan said quietly. "But it still hurts."

Later that evening, after Jackson had been fed and was fast asleep, Morgan found himself in his studio. His mom had insisted he take some time for himself, and the one place that had always given him clarity was his music.

He picked up his guitar, the familiar weight of it grounding him as he strummed a few chords. The emotions he'd been bottling up—his pain, his love for Georgie, his fears for their future—started to spill out, and before he knew it, he was writing a song.

Verse 1: I used to think we had it all, But now I'm standing here alone. You needed time to find yourself, But now it's me who's coming undone.

Chorus: Every day without you's like a storm I can't outrun, And I'm holding on to memories of what we could've done. But I'll wait here, I'll keep fighting, I'll be strong for you and me, 'Cause I know one day you'll come back to where we're meant to be.

Morgan paused after the first chorus, the weight of the words settling over him. The song was raw, but it was exactly what he needed to say. It was about hope, about the love he still had for Georgie, even if she wasn't ready to come back yet.

He strummed a few more chords, letting the music guide him as he moved into the second verse.

Verse 2: I see your face in every room, But the silence fills the space. Jackson smiles just like you do, And I can't wait for you to see his face.

Chorus: Every day without you's like a storm I can't outrun, And I'm holding on to memories of what we could've done. But I'll wait here, I'll keep fighting, I'll be strong for you and me, 'Cause I know one day you'll come back to where we're meant to be.

Tears welled up in Morgan's eyes as he finished the second chorus. It was overwhelming—the love he had for Georgie, the pain of missing her, the fear that she might never come back. But even through the tears, he felt a sense of release. The music was giving him a way to say all the things he couldn't put into words.

He let out a shaky breath, his fingers moving over the strings as he played the final verse.

Verse 3: I know you're hurting, and it's hard to find your way, But I'll keep the light on, waiting for that day. When you walk back through the door, I'll be here where you belong, With Jackson in your arms and my heart where it's been all along.

Chorus: Every day without you's like a storm I can't outrun, And I'm holding on to memories of what we could've done. But I'll wait here, I'll keep fighting, I'll be strong for you and me, 'Cause I know one day you'll come back to where we're meant to be.

The last chord rang out, and Morgan sat in the silence, his heart aching but also lighter than it had been in days. The song was everything he needed to say, and as he played it back in his head, he knew it wasn't just for him—it was for Georgie, too.

The next day, as Morgan fed Jackson and watched him babble happily, an idea came to him. Georgie wasn't here, but that didn't mean she had to miss everything. He could show her the little moments she was missing—the milestones, the smiles, the laughter. He could bring her closer, even if she wasn't ready to come back.

Morgan picked up his phone and started recording. He smiled softly as Jackson reached for the camera, his little hands waving in the air.

"Hey, Georgie," Morgan said, his voice low. "I thought I'd start sending you these videos so you can see how Jackson's doing. He misses you. We both do. But we're okay, and we'll be waiting for you whenever you're ready."

He filmed Jackson for a few minutes, capturing his babbles and giggles, and when the video ended, Morgan sent it to Georgie. He didn't expect a reply, but that was okay. He just wanted her to know that she was still part of their lives, even if she wasn't physically there.

Each day after that, Morgan made a new video. He captured Jackson's first attempts at crawling, his little laughs, and the way he smiled at everything. In each video, Morgan talked to Georgie, telling her about their days and letting her know that they were okay, but that they missed her.

He didn't know when—if—she would come back, but these videos, along with the song he'd written, gave him a sense of connection, a way to feel like Georgie was still with them in some small way.

And until she was ready to return, Morgan would keep waiting.