Take the Hope for a Good Life

Nineteen

LA, USA
November 23rd
Miley's POV

I felt someone jumping on my bed when I was just waking up.

"Mommy mommy happy birthday!" River yells in my ear.

"Ugh, can't I sleep in on my birthday?" I ask him.

"No." Then I laugh and sit up.

"What shall we do today, River?"

"I don't know."

"Well how about we call daddy?" I suggest.

"Yeah! Please mommy?"

"Oh, okay." Then I yawn, get up, grab my phone, then walk out and sit on the couch. Then I help River up on the couch next to me and try to video chat with Liam. When he answered River smiled.

"Hey birthday girl." Liam says.

"No, don't say that." I demand.

"Why?"

"I'm twenty-nine for crying out loud." I whine.

"I'm gonna be thirty-two." Liam says.

"Let's not make this a competition. The point is...I'm getting old."

"Well if you're old what does that make me?"

"Sexy." I reply.

"Wrong answer." Then I laugh.

"River, say hi to daddy." I tell River.

"Hi daddy!" River says excitedly into the phone.

"Hi little buddy. Are you keeping mommy company?" Liam replies to River.

"Yes."

"Good." Liam says. "Is he?" Liam asks me.

"Yeah, he is. Sometimes he won't even leave me alone long enough so I can go to the bathroom." I reply. "Reminds me of you."

"Me?"

"Yes you. Liam, you hardly like to leave my side when you're here. You're attached to me." Then Liam laughs.

"So, can we talk about names?" Liam asks.

"Yes, actually I was gonna ask you that. What names do you like?"

"Let's see...I like Stella and Rydel. You?"

"Um...I like Michelle and Ashley. River picked out a name too."

"Really?" Liam asks.

"Yeah!" River says excitedly.

"Go ahead and tell daddy." I say.

"Jade." River says.

"Aw, cute." Liam says.

"River, I thought you liked Ray." I say confused.

"I like Jade now." He responds.

"Fine." I say, then Liam laughs.

"I want the baby to get here already." River complains.

"Trust me, kid. So do I." I say with a small laugh.

"Too bad the baby can't just wait until I'm back." Liam says, upset.

"Liam, I told you. I'll make sure you see it one way or another."

"The baby needs to come."

"I know River, we gotta be patient though." Liam says to River.

"Can't you have it now mommy?" River asks me.

"Well I could, but the baby wouldn't survive being outside of my belly." I explain.

"Why?"

"I'm only twenty-nine weeks pregnant. The baby isn't strong enough to handle being outside of me yet."

"Oh, okay. Well the baby needs to be strong." Then Liam and I laugh.

"Hey, I gotta go." Liam says.

"Aw no daddy stay."

"No, daddy has to go work." I tell River.

"No."

"Yes, River. I gotta go buddy. I'll talk to you guys later." Then he smiles.

"Love you." I say.

"Love you more." Liam says, then we end the chat.

"Mommy why can't daddy come home?" River asks me.

"He's busy working right now. He'll come home soon though."

"I have to wait for the baby, now I gotta wait for daddy too?" River asks, upset.

"I'm sorry baby."

"It's okay. I just miss my daddy." Then I tear up.

"I know, I miss him too, baby."

"Why you crying mommy? Did I do something?"

"No, I just miss your dad a lot too."

"Are you sure?" River asks. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, River." Then I wipe my tears.

"Are you better now? Don't cry on your birthday. It's not allowed."

"Thanks River, I love you." Then I kiss his cheek.

"I love you too mommy. Can I go play now mommy?"

"You don't wanna spend time with me?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"Well you don't have to." I say. "But it's my birthday I thought we could do something."

"I know it's your birthday."

"Well then do you wanna do something?"

"Okay. But what?" River replies.

"I don't know, wanna just go out to lunch?"

"Okay."

"Do you want to?" I ask.

"Sure!" Then I smile.

"Well let me go get dressed then I'll help you, okay?"

"Okay." Then he goes to his room and I go into mine to get dressed.

When I got dressed I helped River get dressed, then we went out to eat lunch. When we got done, we decided to go to the park for a little bit. A little while later River was feeling tired so we figured we should go home. When we got home, there was a package on the front step.

"Here, River go inside so I can bring this in." I say, then open the door. Then he runs inside and I pick up the package. I got inside and sat on the couch to open it. It was a bigger package, but it didn't weigh a lot. I opened it, and almost cried.

"What is it mommy?" River asks, coming closer to me. "Don't cry."

"It's a little baby blanket." It was just like River's except it was purple, yellow, and blue ish green."

"It kinda looks like mine." River says.

"Yeah it does, doesn't it?"

"Who was it from?"

"Your dad." I say with a smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Cool!" Then I laugh. "Mommy I'm tired."

"Let's get you into take a little nap then." I say, then put the box and blanket down and walk into River's room with him. I got him comfortable and then into bed. I let him sleep for a while before it was dinner time, then made dinner. After a while of just hanging out it was time for him to go to bed, so I tucked him in and decided I should talk to Liam for a bit. I thought the names we all picked out were awesome. Stella, Rydel, Michelle, Ashley, and Jade...