*Thank-you for all the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much. = )
The next couple weeks with Zachary were gruesome as we tried to adjust to having a newborn in the house. It was a completely different type of life. I was no longer on my schedule but on his. I never would have thought it would be so much to have a baby. The days I was in the hospital I was filling out paperwork left and right. Filling out insurance papers, applying for a social security card and they made me take a mandatory parenting class. I felt so old everyone else was in their early 20's and they even had a couple teens and there I was the old maid at 32 just having my first baby. I was all right at being a mom but I wasn't great at it. I was still learning Zachary's cries and learning how to change a diaper without getting peed on. I had yet to be successful at it. And he ate more than any kid I have ever seen in my life. He gained about 2 pounds from the time we brought him home to his two week appointment. He was our chunky monkey.
The day we brought him home I was so nervous everything had to be perfect for him. I guess that was my OCD I don't know but I had to make sure Dave put the car seat in the car correctly and on the way home I told Dave to drive as slow as he could. I don't think I allowed him to even reach the speed limit on Zachary's first car ride home. I was scared to handle him so I was as gentle as could be especially while changing his diaper. We had him circumcised and I was scared I was going to hurt him every time I changed his diaper. I was scared I would hurt him in general if I was too rough with him. Dave would make fun of me for being so cautious. I didn't think it was funny. He told me I took too long dressing him because I moved slowly so I wouldn't break an arm or anything like that. It was like walking on eggshells. He was so tiny and fragile.
Even though I was exhausted from lack of sleep because Zachary was a night time baby. He would wake up at least every 2 hours at night to eat and to be changed. He was still the sweetest baby I had ever met. He always seemed so happy and sweet. He melted my heart that's for sure. He was my everything just like his daddy was to me. He gave my life so much more meaning the day he was born. Dave loved him just as much and for someone that wished and wished I had a little girl he was still a proud daddy of our son. He was amazing with Zachary and we were waiting on Max to finally be able to meet his baby brother but we had to wait till next month for him to meet him. He was super excited though because he would call everyday to see how his brother was doing and to tell us he loved him. I hoped that would stay true when he met him. I know how little kids can be when they get a baby brother or sister. They see it's not all about them anymore and start to get jealous. I didn't want that for Max and neither did Dave.
I had just put Zachary down for a nap after feeding him, grabbed the baby monitor and went downstairs to fold laundry. That's another thing that had changed since he was born our laundry. I felt like I was doing laundry all the time because Zachary could go through clothes like it was nothing. Whatever he started out in at the beginning of the day wasn't on him at the end of the day because of him spitting up all over them or sometimes from peeing on them when I was changing his diaper. It was a never ending a process but something I wouldn't change for the world. I walked into the living room surprised to see Dave had already folded the laundry for me. "Did you fold those for me?" I asked as I walked over to the couch to sit down with him.
"Yeah," he said. "I wanted to help you out." Dave had been a really big help with the baby. I was so glad he was home and wasn't working for WWE anymore. There was no way I could have done it all myself. I couldn't have asked for a better fiancé' he was cooking dinner, cleaning up around the house and helping me with Zachary when he saw I was too tired and needed some rest. He was great.
"Thank-you," I said with a smile before I kissed his lips.
"What was that for?" he asked with a smile.
"You're awesome you know that," I said.
"Thanks," he said. "You're pretty awesome too. Where's Zachary?"
"Taking a nap. He fell asleep while I was feeding him so I put him in the crib."
"He's got a sweet deal there. Eat till he falls asleep. Must be nice."
"He's living the life," I said with a smile. "The good life."
"Yeah he is," said Dave. "So did you call your parents yet?"
Dave had been bugging me to talk to my parents and tell them about Zachary. He felt they had the right to know they had a grandson. He felt that they may change their mind if they knew about him. I honestly didn't think anything would change their minds. My dad was a lawyer he didn't back down too often. In my whole life I had NEVER seen him back down and change his mind. There was no way he was going to change his mind about Zachary even if it was the first boy in the Montgomery family since he was born. I don't think that would make a difference. As for my mom I doubted she would change her mind. She was so closed minded there was no way she would and she was too fond of John to even care about my baby with Dave. They were missing out on Zachary and that was their decision. I didn't want to talk to them and I didn't want to tell them about him. I didn't think they deserved to know after everything that happened on Thanksgiving. "No," I said.
"Tess, come on. You need to talk to them. I know you have some hard feelings toward them after Thanksgiving but I think things should be right between you guys for Zachary's sake. Zachary has the right to know his maternal grandparents."
"You're right. He has the right to know them but they don't want to know him. They made up their minds, Dave. They aren't going to change their minds. I know them."
"You don't know them. Zachary is the most awesome baby. He's a great little guy. He can melt anyone's heart. Give them the chance to want to be there."
"I think I did give them the chance to be there and they didn't want to be," I said.
"That was months ago and even if they don't want to be there at least let them know they have a wonderful grandson out there. If they choose not to be there that's their loss but just let them know you had the baby. That's all you have to do, Tess," he said picking up the phone.
"Dave, I don't want to…"
"You're going to," he said handing me the phone, "here. Call your mom and tell her about the baby."
I knew I wasn't going to win this argument so I took the phone and said, "fine," and dialed the number. I took a deep breath as the phone rang.
"Hello," said my mom as she answered the phone. I panicked and didn't know what to say. "Hello," she repeated.
"M-m-om," I said with a shaky voice.
"Tessa?" she asked.
"Yes," I said.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine," I said. "I just wanted to tell you something."
"Tessa, before you do I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for acting the way I did. You're my daughter my ONLY daughter. My ONLY child and I was treating you unjustly. You're old enough to make your own decisions and I was just upset that you hurt John the way you did. He is really hurting, Tessa. I never thought you would do something like that. I was disappointed in you and I'm sorry. I just want you to be happy and if Dave is the person that makes you happy then I'm okay with it. I just wish things would have turned out differently for you and John."
"I know, Mom," I said. "I know I shouldn't have done what I did. I should have handled it differently but I didn't. I am happy, Mom. I'm really happy. Dave has given me happiness John never could. I wasn't happy with John obviously but I'm happy now. Dave makes me happy."
"Good," she said. "I'm glad he makes you happy. You deserve to be happy."
"Thanks," I said, "Mom, I wanted to tell you something."
"What's that?"
"I had the baby two weeks ago on Valentine's Day," I said.
"That's great, Tessa!" she said sounding genuinely happy for me. "A little girl?"
"No a little boy," I said with a smile.
"Your dad is going to go crazy when he hears this. You know how long this family has been waiting for a boy?"
"Yeah," I said, "a really long time."
"What's his name?"
"Zachary Ryder Montgomery-Batista," I said. "He was 8 lbs. 10oz and 20 inches long. He is so cute mom he is my entire life. He has blue eyes. At first they were bluish grey but they're turning blue. I think he's going to have my eyes. He has Dave's mouth for sure and his hair is brown. Well, the hair he does have because he doesn't have much. He is absolutely precious."
"Tess, I am so happy for you. I want to see pictures," she said.
"I will send you some. Believe me, I have taken so many pictures of him. I don't want to miss a thing."
"All new mothers are like that," she said.
"Yeah," I said. "He is going to be a heartbreaker."
"I bet," she said, "what else has been going on with you?"
"Well, other than the baby I got engaged on Valentine's Day."
"You're getting married?" she asked.
"Yep. Dave asked me to marry him and I really want to, Mom."
"Great. I'm starting to like Dave more and more," she said. "What else is going on in your life? How's Florida?"
"We don't live in Florida anymore," I said.
"Then where do you live?"
"New York," I said.
"What? Why did you move to New York?"
"Because I am a magazine editor for Cosmo," I said with a smile.
"Oh my gosh, Tessa, that is great. Congratulations. I don't know why I worried about you. You have gotten your life back together. I am so happy for you. Do you like it? New York and your job?"
"I love it. I love them both. New York is so wonderful. Much better than Florida. I Love it here and my job is amazing. It's what I always wanted to do and I love it. It's a lot of work but it's worth it. I honestly love it."
"That's great," she said, "so since you're in New York maybe you could come visit your dad and me. We would LOVE to meet Zachary and give Dave another chance. I want to redeem myself and give him a better welcoming after all he's going to be my son-in-law someday."
"That would be awesome," I said. "We could come up for a weekend in March or April. I would love to see you guys and I'm sure Dave would love to come visit as well," I said looking at him. He gave me a look and shrugged his shoulders.
"Great," she said, "we'll plan that out. I will let you go. You sound exhausted. Have a good day."
"You too," I said with a smile.
"I love you, Tessa."
"I love you too, Mom," I said with a smile, "bye."
"Bye," she said before she hung up the phone.
I felt great after talking to my mom. Everything was water under the bridge now. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulder. She was excited about Zachary and couldn't wait to meet him. She was also excited about what my life was becoming. I was excited too. It was the life I had always wanted. It was the life I deserved to have. Everything was definitely falling into place and I was so glad Dave forced me into talking to my mom. "So?" he asked. "How did it go?"
"Great. Everything is better now," I said. "She apologized and invited you, me and Zachary to come visit for a weekend. She wants to redeem herself and give you a proper welcome. She wants to get to know you, Dave."
"All right," he said with a smile. "I would love to meet the real Mrs. Montgomery. I'm looking forward to going to West Newbury and I bet Zachary is going to love it."
"You do know my dad will get Zachary his first Red Sox hat right?"
"Over my dead body," said Dave, "Zachary is a Yankees fan."
"He's two weeks old. The only thing he's a fan of is eating, sleeping and pooping."
"True," he said with a smile. "I love you, Tessa."
"I love you too," I said as Zachary woke up crying. "I guess I should go get him."
"No. You let me get him. You take a nap. I can handle Zachary for a little bit. You look so tired. Get some rest and everything will be okay."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"I'm sure," he said getting up. "Just lay down and go to sleep. Have a nice nap."
"Thanks," I said as he covered me with a blanket.
"You're welcome," he said before kissing my lips and heading upstairs. He was absolutely amazing. There was no doubt about that. I was glad my mom decided to give him another chance. He deserved it because he wasn't that bad guy everyone thought he was. I slowly closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep so I could rest up for another night of feedings and changings. The life of a Mommy; I absolutely loved it and wouldn't change it for anything.
*a/n: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.