New Beginnings ✅

23. Meeting the Past

"Mommy" Liam shouts as he jumps up and down on my bed repeatedly. "Mommy. Mommy. Mommy" he yelps. I open my eyes and find my son above me with a smile on his face.

"What's up buddy?" I ask curiously, looking up at my rambunctious son.

"It's your birthday" he exclaims making me chuckle. I swear my son was the only five year old who remembered his mother's birthday.

"Yea? How old is your mama today?" I ask as he settles onto the bed beside me.

"Thirty-two" he replies. I quirk an eyebrow at him.

"Thirty-two?" I question. "Baby boy you're such a goof" I laugh as I ruffle his hair. "Mommy is twenty-five today."

"Oh" he replies making me chuckle. "I was kinda close."

"Kinda" I concede. "How close were you?" I ask him. He sits there and holds up his hands. He seemingly thinks over the equation in head adding and subtracting his fingers as he tries to find the answer.

"Seven" he says brightly making me smile in pride as I nod.

"Good job kiddo" I say sweetly as my phone rings on the nightstand. I reach over and find Josh's name lighting up the screen.

"Is it Josh?" he asks as he leans over to try and look at my cell phone. "He should come over today. He can't miss your birthday" he says matter of factly.

"You think so?" I ask as I answer the call and bring my phone to my ear. "Hey baby."

"Morning birthday girl" he replies. "How's it feel to be another year older?"

"I'm still younger than you" I tease. "You're practically an old man. What are you now? Like thirty?"

"Haha" he laughs dryly. "What are you doing today?" he asks curiously.

"Well" I smile as I look over at my son. "I was just planning on spending the day with Liam but he insists that you need to come over today."

"Did he?" he asks playfully. "Are you sure you aren't just saying that? Maybe you misunderstood."

"Don't think so" I reply, "ask him yourself" I insist as I pull the phone away from my ear and hold it out to Liam. "You wanna talk to Josh?"

"Yea" he nods as he takes the phone from my hand and brings it to his ear. "Hi Josh" he exclaims. I smile as the two of them talk back and forth animatedly. "Yes I did" he laughs, "I told mommy she needs to see you today cause it's her birthday." He pauses before another laugh tumbles from his lips. "No she's only twenty-five. How old are you?"

"Alright give mama her phone back kiddo" I laugh as I reach for my cell.

"You're older than mama? My dad was the same age as her. I miss him. Did you ever meet my dad?"

"Liam" I cut him off as I grab the phone. "I'm sorry" I apologize immediately.

"No big deal gorgeous. I'll see you in a little bit okay?"

"Sounds perfect. Love you."

"You too baby" he replies before we hang up and I turn my attention back to my son.

"You want something for breakfast?" I ask as I climb out of bed.

"Waffles" he exclaims causing me to wrinkle my nose. I wasn't the biggest fan of waffles, I'd much rather have pancakes.

"What about pancakes?" I ask hopefully.

"But I want waffles" he pouts as we file into the kitchen. I sigh as I open the cupboard and pull out the pancake batter.