Joy looked at the baby in her arms. Immediately, she was flooded with memories. She recalled how scared she'd been toward the end of her pregnancy. She had only been fifteen at the time, and definitely not ready to be a mother. So she'd given her only child up for adoption. It was the right thing to do. She'd never second-guessed that decision. But it was years later before she realized she'd been running from any kind of commitment or attachment.
In order to satisfy her "needs," Joy began seeing younger men. But these encounters always left her feeling empty. She was beyond grateful that she had girlfriends. Melanie and Victoria had stuck with her through thick and thin. And of course there was also Elka, but the state of their relationship usually depended on the day, and just how cranky the old woman was feeling.
Just when Joy was lost in her thoughts, Wilbur smiled. Her tough exterior totally gave way, and she fell in love with the infant all over again. She detested the term "grandmother," so she usually just thought of Wilbur as Owen's son. At first, she'd resisted becoming attached to him. After all, the last time she attempted to get close to a baby, she'd had her heart ripped out. But that was all in the past now.
When Joy first found Owen (or rather, when he'd found her), she had pictured a tearful reunion. The sort of scene which seemed to happen over and over again in Victoria's dozens of Lifetime Original Movies. But the reality had been far less heartwarming. In fact, she'd accidentally shot her son in the leg. But once things calmed down, Joy was able to start to form a bond with the boy she gave up so long ago.
And now, that bond had led to this. Some women were born mothers. Melanie, for example. Ever since Wilbur had appeared on the doorstep, she had been in baby heaven. Joy had found it all rather sickening. Babies weren't all cute and cuddly. They also tended to cry a lot, and need frequent diaper changes. Elka hadn't helped matters with her constant comments to Joy about keeping her "man hands" off the poor child. Victoria, on the other hand, handed out a lot of worthless advice based on Honor St. Raven's various children. It was sad to think that a soap opera character was probably a better mother than Victoria herself was.
At the moment, Melanie was out running errands, Victoria was auditioning for a movie role, and Elka was...somewhere. And since Owen was at work, this meant Joy was currently in charge of Wilbur. She wondered if the baby could tell that they were related. As she looked into his eyes, she suddenly began to think of the future. She saw herself on Christmas morning, watching as Wilbur tore open his presents. He then turned and ran towards her, nearly knocking her over in a hug. The thought made Joy tear up, and she did not cry easily.
Suddenly, Wilbur began to yawn. Joy got up and carried him over to the bassinet. The moment he was placed inside, he drifted off. Joy could not resist caressing his cheek with her finger. Before she could stop herself, she whispered, "Goodnight, Wilbur. I love you." Joy smiled to herself. If this was what grandmotherhood was, maybe it wasn't so bad. Maybe she could be a good parent. Maybe all she really needed was a second chance.
The End