Hearts on Broadway (Book 2)

Chapter 22 - Home Again

Georgie sat in the car for a few moments longer than necessary, her hands resting on the steering wheel. The house in front of her felt both familiar and foreign—like a place that held so many memories, but also a place she hadn't quite earned her way back into. Moving back in felt like the right step, but it wasn't without its challenges. She had spent months healing, but some days, it still felt like she hadn't made any progress at all.

With a deep breath, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. The familiar creak of the hinges filled the air, and before she could take another step, she heard the front door open. Morgan stood on the porch, giving her a small, encouraging smile.

"You ready?" he asked, his voice gentle but steady.

Georgie nodded, though her stomach churned with nerves. She wasn't entirely sure if she was ready, but staying away wasn't an option anymore. "Yeah. I'm ready."

Morgan walked down the steps to meet her, taking the bags from her hands. "It's good to have you back," he said quietly, his eyes warm.

She managed a small smile. "It's good to be back."

As they walked into the house together, the familiar sights and smells hit her all at once. The toys scattered on the living room floor, the soft scent of coffee lingering in the air—it was as though time had stood still here, while she had been drifting somewhere else. But things weren't the same. The distance she had created between herself and this life had changed something, and now that she was back, she wasn't sure how to slip back into it.

Jackson was napping in his crib, giving Georgie a little more time to settle in before facing him. She was grateful for the moment of quiet, though the silence also made room for her thoughts to spiral. What if she couldn't do this? What if she wasn't ready to be the mother Jackson needed her to be?

Morgan must have sensed her hesitation because he gave her a reassuring look. "Take your time, Georgie. No rush."

She nodded, trying to ground herself in the moment. Her medication had been helping with the worst of her anxiety, but it didn't erase the nagging doubt in her mind. She had come back because she wanted to try—to reconnect with Jackson, to rebuild her life with Morgan—but that didn't mean it would be easy.

The first few days back were harder than Georgie had anticipated. She had imagined that coming home would be a relief, that she'd ease back into her role as Jackson's mother and everything would start to feel normal again. But the reality was far more complicated. Each time she picked Jackson up, her hands trembled, her breath catching in her throat as the weight of responsibility pressed down on her.

Simple tasks like changing his diaper or feeding him became overwhelming. The anxious thoughts would creep in—What if I'm doing this wrong? What if he doesn't feel connected to me anymore? What if I can't be the mother he needs?

One afternoon, while Morgan was in the kitchen making lunch, Georgie sat on the floor with Jackson. He was playing with his blocks, stacking them clumsily into a crooked tower. She tried to focus on the moment, to be present with him, but her hands shook as she reached for a block. Jackson noticed, his little eyes watching her movements curiously.

"Hey," Morgan's voice came from the doorway, soft but aware. He had noticed too. "You okay?"

Georgie froze for a moment, her fingers trembling around the block. She had gotten used to hiding her anxiety, but here, with Morgan, she didn't have to. He had always been patient with her, even when she felt like she didn't deserve it.

"I'm anxious," she admitted quietly, her voice shaking as much as her hands. "I don't know why, but I can't... I feel like I can't do this."

Morgan didn't move to take over. Instead, he walked over and sat beside her, close but not overwhelming. "It's okay," he said softly. "We'll do it together."

Georgie took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic in her chest. Jackson, unaware of the tension in the room, giggled and reached for another block. His small hands gripped the bright red cube and offered it to her, his face full of innocence.

Morgan smiled at the simple gesture, gently placing his hand over Georgie's. "He wants you to play with him. Just take it one block at a time."

Georgie nodded, the simple encouragement enough to steady her. She reached for the block, her hand still shaking but more controlled now. Jackson giggled again as she placed the block on top of the tower he was building.

"There you go," Morgan said quietly, his voice full of reassurance. "You're doing great."

Georgie wasn't sure if "great" was the word she'd use, but in that moment, the fact that she was doing it at all felt like enough. They sat there for a while, the three of them, building the tower together. Each time her anxiety flared, Morgan would gently remind her to take it slow, to focus on the moment. And slowly, the tension began to ease.

That evening, after Jackson had been put to bed, Georgie sat on the couch, her hands still trembling slightly from the day's events. Morgan sat beside her, silent for a moment before speaking.

"I see you," he said softly, his eyes searching hers. "I see you trying. I see you fighting through this. You don't have to do it alone, you know."

Georgie's throat tightened, her emotions bubbling up. "It just feels like... I'm failing. Like I should be better at this by now."

Morgan reached for her hand, his touch steady and grounding. "You're not failing. You're healing. And healing takes time."

Tears welled up in her eyes, the weight of his words sinking in. "But it's hard. I'm so scared that I'll never be enough for Jackson. That I'll never be the mom he deserves."

"You are enough," Morgan said firmly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Jackson doesn't need you to be perfect. He needs you to be here. And you are. That's what matters."

Georgie let out a shaky breath, her heart heavy but a little lighter now that the words had been said out loud. She hadn't realized how much she had been holding inside until now, but the release felt like a small step toward healing.

Over the next few days, Georgie continued to open up to Morgan about her struggles. Whenever the anxiety would hit, she'd tell him, and instead of taking over, he'd guide her through it. They soothed Jackson together, with Morgan by her side but never in a way that made her feel like she was being replaced.

Jackson, still young and unaware of the complexities around him, reacted to her presence with a mix of joy and confusion. There were times when he would cling to her, wanting her to hold him close, and those moments gave Georgie a glimpse of hope. But there were other times when he'd reach for Morgan instead, especially when Georgie's anxiety got the better of her. She didn't take it personally—at least, she tried not to—but the guilt still gnawed at her.

One afternoon, Georgie was sitting on the floor with Jackson again, watching him play. Her hands weren't shaking as much today, and she felt a little more in control. But as the hours went on, the familiar wave of anxiety began to rise again.

She glanced over at Morgan, who was sitting on the couch, keeping a quiet watch over them. "I'm feeling anxious again," she admitted, her voice soft.

Morgan didn't hesitate. He slid off the couch and sat beside her, his presence steadying. "Let's take it slow. You're not in this alone."

Together, they played with Jackson, their hands moving in tandem as they built another tower of blocks. Jackson giggled as the blocks tumbled down, oblivious to the silent struggle his mother was facing. But to Georgie, this moment felt like progress. She was still here, still trying, and that had to count for something.

Later that evening, after Jackson was in bed, Georgie found herself standing in front of the window, staring out at the quiet night. Morgan joined her, his presence comforting as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice low.

Georgie leaned into him, letting herself relax for the first time that day. "Better. It's still hard, but... I think I'm getting there."

Morgan pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You are. And I'm right here with you."

For the first time in a long time, Georgie believed him. She wasn't fully healed, and there was still a long road ahead, but she wasn't walking it alone. And that made all the difference.