Imperfect Perfection (Sequel to The Light in the Dark)

Moment in Time

"You need to tell me what happened Holly." Zach whispers after he set me down on the couch.

         "I was called to the hospital in Atlanta Georgia and I get there and it's Abby. She's dying. Lying in a hospital bed seizing in pain. Her literal last wish was for me to take her new born son and I couldn't decline that. I didn't want my best friend's sons life to be spent in an orphanage like I did. Then I couldn't get a plane back to California so I just came here." I say quietly but quickly.

       "What his name?" Zach asks quietly.

        "Tyler."

         "Are you keeping him?" Zach asks with- was that hope-in his eyes?

        "I don't know what else to do. I've never wanted kids but I guess I'm the type of person to destroy their life for little adorable babies." I sigh.

         "Of course you can stay here." Zach says in a gentle voice.

        "Thanks." I say pulling Tyler off my shoulder and into my lap. "I think maybe he's tired." I whisper.

"Where should he sleep?" Zach asks.

"I have this cheap crib." I say handing Tyler to Zach then standing up and digging through my suit case and pull out the fold up crib. I unfold it and attach the feet on it.

"Here come here." I whisper grabbing Tyler. "Your all dirty let me change your onesie." I say sitting him down and pulling out a blue onesie that's soft and comfy to sleep in.

"Do you need help?" Zach asks.

"No I think I've got him." I say while laying Tyler in the crib. "Today has been just— so hard." I whisper.

       "I know." Zach replies knowingly. I sit beside of him on the couch and straighten out my black jacket. "You should get some sleep."

          "I need to shower." I groan and shrink down into the cushions on the couch like I could just disappear that easily. I stand up and say, " if he cries can you get him? He's been good so far but I don't know." I shrug.

      "Yeah." Zach nods sadly. I don't know what he's thinking though.

Zach's POV

"Yeah." I say and nod.

        Holly leaves to go shower and it gives me time to think. Why can't she just stay? If she's going to keep Tyler I could help. I think and walk over to Tyler's crib. He hadn't fallen asleep yet so I didn't feel guilty when I picked him up and sat down on the couch with him.

"You know." I start. "A lot of things have went wrong but a lot of things have went good." Tyler laughs and tries to grab his feet while curling into a ball. "You need to sleep or you'll be grumpy then you'll start crying." I say not knowing who I'm talking to. I sit Tyler back down in the crib and sit on the couch as soon as Holly comes out of the bathroom.

         "He's cute isn't he?" Holly asks and sits back down.

Hollys POV

"Beautiful." Zach agrees.

       "I don't know if I can do it." I whisper.

       "Of course you can." Zach tells me wrapping one arm around me. It feels familiar and just perfect but today is anything but perfect.

         "But I don't want to. I don't know if that selfish but I don't want my life to revolve around a little baby." I shake my head and focus on breathing for a few seconds.

         "Why not put him up for adoption?" Zach asks.

        "Abby wouldn't have wanted that. I don't even want that for him." I sigh. "I hated my life as a kid. A lot. I don't remember a time I liked it before I met you."

         "Oh." Is all Zach says. "We both need to sleep come on."

        "Okay." I say reluctantly. I go into the room and half of the covers are folded over from where Zach got up to get the door. I find myself being swooped off the floor and I realize I'm in Zach's arms. "Having fun?" I tease.

          "Yes." Zach agrees smiling. I loved everything about this moment. Neither of us made it awkward about our difficult break up but I wasn't sure what we were at this moment in time.

        Zach lays me down in the bed with him beside of me.

        "Good night beautiful." He whispers.
 
        "Good night." I mutter into his shirt.