Only You

Chapter 8

It had been a split-second decision to visit her daughter-in-law rather than giving her a quick call. Natalie was due back to work tomorrow and more than anything else Helen just wanted to see how she was coping. She knew that Nat was bound to be feeling a little guilty about going back to work and leaving him again, especially when her son had only been out of hospital a little over a week, but work would be good for her, and Helen wanted to reassure her that getting back to normal would be good for all of them.

The sooner the better ideally, so that Helen could stop reliving the moment Owen started seizing in front of her. Maybe she should have listened to Natalie and allowed her to stay at home, but then, he would have seized anyway, just with Natalie there. Would it really have changed anything?

So, with reassuring her daughter-in-law, in mind (and seeing her adorable grandson again), Helen decided to pay the pair a visit.

As she pulled into the parking lot of Natalie's apartment building and parked up beside Natalie's car she saw a young couple crossing the street. The woman was pushing an empty stroller and laughing at something her partner, who was carrying a sleeping toddler, had said. It looked so wonderful and Helen was in half a mind to stop them on her way in and tell them what a beautiful family they made, when the woman looked up and she recognised her as Natalie. A second look at the man next to her allowed her to identify the red-headed doctor she had met on the day Owen was born, and her chest tightened at the way Owen was sleeping comfortably in his arms.

That should have been Jeff.

She had known that Will had spent a lot of time with Natalie by Owen's side in the hospital and she was grateful because she would never have been able to cope with seeing her baby grandson so sick, but it should have been Jeff who was by Natalie's side, and Jeff who carried Owen home from family outings and Jeff who cared for his son when he was sick. She watched, clutching her steering wheel and fighting tears, as they went into the apartment building together, half hoping that Will would just put Owen back in the stroller and leave.

Ten minutes had passed, Will hadn't left, and Helen was beginning to feel a little bit ridiculous. Hadn't she encouraged Natalie to see more of Will in the hopes it would get her to stay in Chicago? Wasn't this what she had wanted?

Yes, for Natalie, a voice in her mind said, but you didn't really think about where Owen fit in did you? She shook her head and steeled herself for action. This is ridiculous. Go and see your grandson.

The walk up to the building seemed to take seconds and hours all at once. She tried to fight the nervousness she was feeling but it wouldn't budge. She keyed in the passcode for the security door and crossed the entry way to Natalie's door. As usual, she knocked twice before trying the door and, as usual when it was unlocked, let herself in. Knowing that Owen was asleep, she didn't call out and instead made her way to the living room, where she found Natalie.

And Will.

They clearly hadn't heard her knock. They were stood in the centre of the room, Natalie had her back to her, her arms wrapped around Will's neck and his hands toying with the hem Natalie's top, their lips were fused and the pair were completely oblivious to her watching them. Helen had no idea what to do, what to say, she was half tempted to leave and knock the door again, this time a little harder, to get their attention. Fumbling in her mind for an answer, she couldn't stop the delayed, shocked "oh" that escaped her.

Natalie whipped around in an instant, heat flooding her face, her heart thundering in her chest. Will's cheeks had flushed scarlet and he trained his eyes directly on his feet, unable to meet her gaze.

"Helen, I, I um, didn't realise you were coming over today." Natalie smoothed the fabric of her tee and nervously tucked her hair behind her ears. "We um, we're just back from the park, Owen's just taking a nap."