“Mom, I can’t pick you up. I’ve got errands for Isabella, and people are coming over.
We’ll plan another time for you to meet the baby,” Mark said over the phone. Evelyn paused, disappointment prickling her chest.
Seeing her grandson for the first time wasn’t something she could reschedule in her heart.
No bus ran to Ethan’s distant home, and a taxi was out of the question.
So, with her walker, her purse, and a bag of gifts, Evelyn decided to walk. For five grueling hours, she trudged through pain and exhaustion, driven by love and longing.
Finally, she rang Ethan’s doorbell, her heart pounding with joy. The door swung open — and there stood her son, furious.
Grabbing her arm, he hissed, “What are you doing here?”
“Surprise!” she said, breathless but hopeful. “I walked all this way to see my grandson!”
Ethan’s voice cut like ice: “I don’t care. Leave. Now.”
Evelyn’s smile faltered, her breath hitching as the weight of his words sank in. She steadied herself with her walker, her fingers trembling. “Ethan,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I’m your mother. I just wanted to meet my grandson.”
Ethan glanced over his shoulder, as if worried someone might see. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him. “You can’t just show up uninvited,” he said, his tone sharp but quieter now. “Isabella doesn’t want you here.”
Evelyn’s heart ached. “Isabella doesn’t… Why? What have I done to her?”
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She thinks you’ll judge her parenting or make her feel… inadequate. You’ve always had a way of making people feel small, Mom.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears. “I never meant to make anyone feel that way. I just wanted to see my grandson. I brought gifts for him, for both of you.” She gestured weakly to the bag hanging from her walker.
Ethan stared at the bag, his expression softening for a moment before hardening again. “Look, I don’t have time for this. You should’ve called first.”
“I did call,” Evelyn said, her voice rising with frustration. “And you brushed me off. I walked five hours to be here, Ethan. Five hours! I’m not leaving without meeting him.”
Ethan hesitated, his jaw clenching. Before he could reply, the door opened slightly, and a soft voice called out, “Ethan? Who’s at the door?”
It was Isabella, holding the baby in her arms. Her eyes widened when she saw Evelyn standing there, frail and exhausted but determined. “Is that your mom?” she asked.
“Yes, but she’s leaving,” Ethan said quickly, turning to block Evelyn’s view of the baby.
“No,” Isabella said firmly. “She’s not.”
Both Ethan and Evelyn looked at her in surprise. Isabella stepped outside, shifting the baby in her arms. “Mrs. Palmer, I… I didn’t know you were coming. Please, come inside. You look like you need to sit down.”
“Isabella, no,” Ethan protested. “We talked about this—”
“Ethan,” Isabella cut him off, her tone gentle but resolute. “She’s your mother. She walked here. With a walker. To meet her grandson. How can we turn her away?”
Ethan looked conflicted, but Isabella wasn’t waiting for his approval. She opened the door wider and reached for Evelyn’s arm. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”
Tears streamed down Evelyn’s face as she shuffled into the house, clutching Isabella’s arm for support. Once inside, Isabella led her to the couch and handed her a glass of water. Evelyn’s hands trembled as she took the glass, her eyes never leaving the baby in Isabella’s arms.
“Would you like to hold him?” Isabella asked softly.
Evelyn nodded, unable to speak. Isabella gently placed the baby in her arms, and Evelyn felt her heart swell as she looked into his tiny face. “He’s beautiful,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Absolutely perfect.”
Ethan stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. Isabella shot him a pointed look before sitting beside Evelyn. “Mrs. Palmer, I’m sorry if I’ve been distant. I guess I was nervous about meeting you. I thought… well, I thought you wouldn’t approve of me.”
Evelyn shook her head, still gazing at the baby. “Approve of you? Isabella, you’ve given me the most precious gift I could ever imagine—my grandson. How could I not adore you for that?”
Isabella smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. Ethan sighed heavily and finally walked over, sitting on the armrest of the couch. “Mom,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I just… I thought this would turn into a big argument.”
Evelyn looked up at him, her eyes filled with love despite the pain he had caused. “Ethan, all I’ve ever wanted is to be part of your life. And now, part of his life too.”
Ethan nodded, his expression softening. “Okay, Mom. Let’s start fresh.”
As Evelyn sat there, holding her grandson and surrounded by her son and daughter-in-law, the pain of the long journey faded. For the first time in a long time, she felt hope—a chance to mend what had been broken and to build something beautiful with the family she loved.
