Turning Point (A Reaching Out Novel)

One Hundred Four

"Harry." Allana said
"What?"
"You know how three days ago I resolved-ish my issues?"
"Uh-huh."
It's Saturday, and it was raining hard so we decided to just stay in our rooms, watch a bit of telly or not watch it, just chill.
Zach was asleep, so that gave us a bit of time for ourselves.
"You know how I still can't carry that much weight right?" She said
"Yes, love. Why?"
"Apparently, the world is mummy shaming me."
"What is mummy shaming?" I said
"It's when some internet mums think they're the good mums."
"Okay?" I don't really get it.
She was reading some article on her iPad.
"Can I see it?" I said
She handed me the iPad.
"Tell me that doesn't make sense."
"After I read it."
The Duchess of Sussex did what?! Was the title of the article.
"What kind of title is this?" I said
"Just read on." She said
It started with a photo of me, Allana and Zach wearing the matching maroon hoodies.
"Is wearing matching pieces of clothing bad now? I thought it was the thing." I said
Allana didn't respond, well she did tell me to read on.
I was holding the paper carriers from Gap, Allana had Zach on her baby carrier. We looked like a normal family. I don't really see what's wrong.
Well, Zach was facing Allana, we didn't want him to be bothered by people and in case there were photographers who followed us, they couldn't take pictures of his face with flashes.
I studied the photo more.
I looked like well, me. I wore Raybans, the sun was shining but I didn't want to be squinting all the time.
Allana looked well, she wore Raybans too, a bit of make up but not fully made up, I was there when she did it, and her hair was in a messy bun.
Zach wasn't facing in the photo, and Allana put his hood up, a bit of sunlight was good for him but it was still cold. 
"Are you still looking at the photos?" Allana said
"Yeah, I'm studying why are you being mummy shamed." I said
"Right, I didn't think I was doing something wrong."
"I think it had something to do with our outfits. I shouldn't have insisted on buying and wearing the same clothes at the same time. And in public." I said
"No, it's not the hoodies. They loved that. That maroon hooded jacket got sold out the moment the world saw that photo."
"Maybe the Raybans?"
"No, those got sold out also. Just keep on reading." She said
I didn't read, I scanned through.
And I came across the phrase "-put a four and a half old infant in a baby carrier."
"I think I found it." I said
"Found what?"
"That you put a four and a half month old infant in a baby carrier." I said
I looked at her.
"And suddenly the internet has an idea what motherhood is like." She said
"But we did check with the pediatrician. Zach can be put in a baby carrier." I said
"Well, those people chose to see one side of the coin. " she said
I scanned through again.
"-the infant's spine and neck is not that well developed to support himself-"
"Oh,wow." I whispered
"My son can walk if he wants to, he just chooses not to, yet." Allana said
"Apparently this mum knows infant anatomy." I said
"And I don't, I don't know infant anatomy, human anatomy, and I don't even know how babies work." She said, with a hint of sarcastic tone.
"You know how people are. They think they know but they really do not."
"It would be bad when Zach grows up and he walks with his legs squatting but I don't think that's not gonna happen. Plus, he really prefers to sit now. People." She said
"It's gonna be fine, a lot of articles are posted just to spite us, to make us look bad, it's nothing."
"But if Zach comes of age and decides to Google us, this article might come out."
"And he's gonna know that his mum is a good mum. And plus, I'm going to tell him not to believe any articles posted online unless stated otherwise."
I handed her back the iPad.
"Plus, this is one of many articles that is gonna be written about you. Don't worry about it."
She hit my arm.
"What did I tell you before we got married? Way even before the time I told the world that you were my girlfriend?"
"That they will hate me."
"They will, some of them will love you but most of them would hate you. They'd write things about you that are nowhere near true, like this article."
She nodded.
"They have no idea what it's like to be shot by your sister,  the moment you take your newborn son home the first time. They have no idea what it's like to nurse your son with only one hand. They have no idea what it's like to have your son sleep on top of you, while still latched, while your arm is on a sling. You're a superwoman. You're Zach's super mum. My super wife. And mine." I said
"Too cheesy."
"What, what I'm saying is true."
She nodded.
I kissed her shoulder.
"I just realised something." She said
And then I started to trail up kisses up to her neck.
"What?" I said
"I have scars all over me." She said
"So?" I said
"I started to have scars all over me when I met you." She said
"Love-"
"Although I am not blaming you. Don't worry about it." She said
"Then why did you mention it?" I asked
"Because." She shrugged
"If you're feeling insecure about those scars, I swear to-"
"I'm not feeling insecure about these."
"Then-"
"I'm just sad that you didn't get to see it without all of these-"
And then I kissed her.
"Scars or not, you're still the same Allana that I know."  I said
"Eh-"
"The same Allana that I met and loved." I said, kissing her jaw.
"The same-" I stopped when she kissed me.
I think this is the first time in so long that she's let me touch her like this.