Chapter 216 - One Of Those Days

Lance 

"My baby,'' Mom pulls me into her arms in a very suffocating hug. I groan out loud because this is how it always is. I am a grown-ass man and she still treats me like the sixteen-year-old child I was. 

"Hello mother,'' I call her as she pulls away from me slowly. Her eyes are bright and shiny, the happiness is obvious in them. "Why isn't John here?'' I ask her. He was supposed to come over with her. That was the plan. I don't want Ford to come back and not see him. 

Their relationship has been going so well but there are times where he gets confused and forgets, right now, he is in a good place. We are in a good place. "He should be here in a couple of hours, he had some work stuff to do,'' she tells me entering the house with her bags. 

It has been a while since we had them over and I thought this was a good time, since Arlo is here. She has been crying to meet him all week. 

"Where is my grandson?'' she walks further into the room. It is Saturday and Ford took him out for ice cream and a movie. I kind of wanted him to bond with Arlo because I have been the one spending the most time with him. Arlo is still in his shell but as each day passes, he loosens up a little bit. I know that we are not at that place where he is comfortable with us but I know we will get there. 

The kid is just confused and scared. I don't even think he fully understands what is happening. 

Ford took him out for ice cream,'' I tell her and she claps her hands together.

"What? When is he getting here?'' she asks me and I turn to look at the door because I hear the sound of footsteps.

"He is here," I tell her with a smile and she turns around to look at the door. 

Ford walks in with Arlo in his arms. Arlo is holding an ice cream cone and his eyes are wide. He is looking around in awe and I can see that he is taking everything in. I think he is terrified but he seems to like it. Ford is smiling and talking to him gently. I can tell he is trying to get him comfortable. 

"Arlo,'' Mom smiles at him and walks to him. He looks down at his shoes and hides his face in Ford's shirt. "It's okay,'' she tells him and Ford puts him down on the floor. Arlo takes a few steps backward and looks around for a place to hide. 

"It's okay, he is just scared. Give him some time,'' Ford tells her and she nods.

"Hi, Arlo. I am your grandma. You can call me Marybelle if you want to,'' she tells him and he looks up at her. He is still tense and a little scared but I think he is slowly getting used to her. 

I walk up to him and crouch down. "Hey buddy,'' I smile at him and he looks up at me and I watch him as he stretches his arms to me. These are the little things that make my heartbeat. He doesn't show affection, he barely talks but when I take him in my arms, I know that he feels safe. 

know that he feels loved. 

"I think he wants you,'' Ford chuckles and I smile at him. I pull Arlo into my arms and he cuddles into me immediately. Mom smiles and I look at her "he is going to need to get used to you before he opens up,'' I explain because that is how it was with me, and it is still not perfect now but we are getting there. 

It is slow progress.

"I understand,'' she tells me and I smile at her. "I am not going anywhere; I am going to be here until he gets comfortable with me.'' she winks. 

"where is dad?'' Ford asks immediately, his eyes searching around. 

They are just here until Sunday. Ford has been looking forward to this. 

"He had something to do, he is going to be here later,'' Mom tells him and I look at Ford. He is not happy. He doesn't like that John is not here. Sometimes, I cannot tell what is going on in his head. Most times, he is able to handle his emotions. Right now, he is on new meds, so I am kind of wary about how I act around him. It's been about a month since he got on them and so far, it has been good for him. 

He isn't getting angry as much and he is not going into his shell. "Is this another one of his hold-ups, is he actually going to come?'' he asks. 

I am watching him because I need to know when to change this conversation or drag him away from the situation. Mom is also very good at diffusing situations with him. 

"Let me get him on the phone, we were supposed to drive together but I was too impatient to see my grandkid," she explains grabbing her phone from her purse. 

I hold onto Arlo as I walk over to him.

"He will be here,'' I assure him, to diffuse whatever thoughts are roaming around his mind. 

Mom ends her conversation and smiles at us "He is on his way, just a bit of traffic,'' she tells us. "Can I have him?'' she asks me, her eyes fixed on Arlo, who is clinging unto me as if his life depends on it. 

"Sure,'' I tell her, as she goes over to his face and my back "Can I hold you?'' she asks him calmly. I can't see his face but I can feel him clinging. "Just a second,'' she pleads. I smile because I love this so much. The relationship I have with my mother. The joy in her eyes right now, for having the opportunity to share this with us. 

Slowly, I feel him loosen up in my arms and I feel her lift him off me "There we go, come to grandma." she smiles at him and he burrows his face in her chest. 

"You are my sweet boy,'' she whispers to him.  I smile to myself as I watch them. It is the first time I have seen my mother like this. I am sure that when she was younger, she was like this too.  I remember when I was younger, I would wake up from a nightmare and run to her and she would hug me and I would feel safe in her arms. 

I look over to Ford and he is staring at them too. "I think this is a good start,'' I whisper to him and he smiles. "I think so too.'' 

I watch them for a while and I feel Ford's hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?" I ask him because I can tell he isn't.

"Just feeling a little weird,'' he answers honestly. 

It's okay, you are doing a great job." I tell him and I mean that. He has been doing so much better. 

We watch them for a little while longer and then I grab his hand in mine "Do you want to go lie down for a bit?'' 

He nods immediately and I watch him as he walks to the direction of the stairs. 

"Is he okay?'' Mom asks. 

I nod because this is just one of those days. 

"He will be fine."