Wrong Injection

Chapter 58

Liam's cries had been echoing through the room for what felt like an eternity, and I was at a loss for how to soothe him. I continued to cuddle him, trying to think of a solution. The pain of Veronica's passing still lingered, and the added weight of her father's rejection of Liam was crushing. He had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with his grandson, and that Liam should never know about him. It was unfathomable to me that someone could be so cold and detached from their own flesh and blood.

"Shh... stop crying, champ," I whispered, gently rocking Liam back and forth. Just then, Mom walked in with his baby formula.

"Oh Liam, my boy," she cooed, taking him from me and feeding him right away. As soon as he was radiantly full, he began to babble away in happy baby talk.

"Fathers mustn't complain about their children, especially when they're so young," Mom teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I huffed and shook my head, knowing she was right. Parenting was a learning curve, and I was still navigating its twists and turns.

"But Liam's doing too much; he needs to man up," I said, pacing back and forth in frustration.

Mom raised an eyebrow, her expression amused. "Oh, look who's saying Liam's doing too much," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. I stopped pacing, and she continued, "You did more of what Liam's doing, trust me. There was a time I had to take you into the bathroom with me just to get a shower because you wouldn't let me put you down. You were glued to me, Sultan King West."

I stared at her in mock horror. "Please tell me you're lying?" I asked, and we both burst out laughing. I couldn't believe I had put Mom through so much when I was little.

"I'm dead serious," she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "But I never told you to man up. So, you'd better not say that to Liam." She said and I let out a sheepish "Uh" and gripped my hair, looking at Liam with newfound empathy.

"Don't mind your father my boy," Mom cooed, gently rocking Liam to sleep.

I watched as she carefully placed him in his crib once his eyes finally drifted closed. "Finally," I breathed a sigh of relief and Mom shot me a gentle warning with her eyes.

"Shh, let's go out," she whispered, grasping my arm as we tiptoed out of Liam's room and into mine. Once we were alone, Mom's expression turned serious. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you, and I think this is the right time," she said, her voice low and measured.

"What is it?" I asked and she hesitated before speaking.

"Liam doesn't look like you, and he doesn't look like Veronica either. Isn't that strange?" I nodded thoughtfully; I had noticed the same thing but hadn't given it much thought.

"Yes, it is. But it's okay if he doesn't look like any of us," I said with a shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. Mom nodded, her eyes locked on mine.

"Alright, but I want to say something, and please don't say no to me," she pleaded, her eyes locking onto mine with a deep intensity.

"Alright, go ahead," I said, my voice laced with a mixture of anticipation and caution.

"Liam needs to be breastfed at least occasionally; he can't drink baby formula all the time," she said, echoing my own concerns. I'd been thinking about that too.

"You're right, but where do I get breast milk for him?" I asked, raking my hand through my hair in frustration.

"Milani," she said, her voice low, and my eyes widened in surprise.