Tuesday, January 25 2011

"Thank you!"

She shouted as the glass door slammed shut. Her heels tapped the concrete floor as she struggled to walk in a fast pace down the road. Her phone squashed between her cheek and shoulder.

"Okay, I just went and brought loads of baby stuff! I'll come round tonight and show you some! Okay, bye mom love you!"

She said down the phone in a soft, loving, babyish tone. And continued rushing. Caroline was a delicate woman; soft pale skin, hazel eyes and mousey brown hair. Late 20s, a loving wife and soon to be mom. She was a successful Broadway actress and co-director staring in many musicals such as Rent, Hairspray and Legally Blonde, bestselling author, and was now working in New York City as a director for a TV show. She was lucky; she'd achieved a lot in 28 years and was proud of that.

She carried on struggling down the road, her arms filled with baby bits; boxes of nappies, toys, clothes and other stuff. It was her lunch break, she had no choice but to go out and shop, she had to find things for her baby (that was due in 5 weeks) sometime. Somewhere in her busy schedule.

Her phone began to ring, she stopped got it from her purse and secured it once again between her cheek and shoulder and continued walking.

"Hey, where are you honey? Maria wants to know where you are; she's moaning... Again!"

"Hey Lea, tell her I'm just on my way. I had to pop to the store to get some baby bits; times running out I had no choice! I don't know how I'm gonna handle everything!" just as she said that her phone slipped from under her cheek, Caroline went to grab the falling mobile and let go of all her things. In that moment she thought to herself, how am I supposed to handle all these things and a baby? Caroline, the bags of baby stuff and the phone all fell to the floor.

"Caroline? Carrie? Honey what just happened? I'm worried! Where are you?" Lea rushed trying to get an answer from Carrie.

Caroline picked up the phone and answered

"Oh Lea, what am I supposed to do? I can't raise a baby; you're the marriage material, motherly one! Not me, what was I thinking when I got knocked up?"

All the thoughts of her being a bad mom, and not being able to cope rushed through her head. She started to cry.

"No, Carrie you're wrong! You're gonna be an amazing mom, I know it! You and Peter are gonna be amazing parents, you need to stop doubting yourself! You've got everyone to help you Caroline. I want you to know, you're not alone! And where are you? Because I'm coming to get you, then you need to rest up so I'm taking you home. I'll handle Maria".

Lea was right.

Carrie did need the rest.

She was going to be an amazing parent.

And she wasn't alone in all this.

She felt like it sometimes but her mom only lived a couple blocks away. And Lea only lived a 5 minute walk away. Besides so many moms manage to juggle work and a baby, it's a struggle but they manage!

Lea could understand why Caroline felt alone, having such a big family house to herself. She must feel lonely.

Peter is Caroline's husband, he is an Army officer. He's often away in Afghanistan, serving his country. Caroline was proud of him, for fighting but feared something would happen. Every night she'd kiss his photo on her nightstand, and tell him what had happened in her day. Where she'd been, who she'd seen, if she'd felt the baby kick or move. She knew he wouldn't reply but she felt like he was there, in Afghanistan he was listening and replying.