Voicemail // One-Shot
Renee let the phone ring as she sat with 'Junior' in her lap. The kitchen had been cleaned and the food was being kept warm while she waited for Scott to come home. Her free hand lightly played with his hair. The past few days, well past week or so, had been overwhelming. It was nothing short of an emotional roller-coaster. It was hard to get over the ectopic pregnancy. Renee had lost something before she even knew she had it. Loss just seemed to be a reoccurring theme in her life, and the pain never faded. She found ways to cope though, one of them being her mothers voicemail. Despite her not being particularly religious she found calling to leave a voicemail helpful. That's why she kept paying the bill all these years.
Of course the call went unanswered and her mothers familiar voice came through. "Hi! You've reached Joyce, but I can't get to the phone right now. Just leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can. Have a nice day!" Her voice was so full of life and warmth, as it had always been until she became ill. Renee smiled and looked down at Junior.
"Hey, Mom." she started in a hushed tone. "You'll never believe what's happened.. it-it's been a while, but a lot changed. I met this guy named Scott in the States." she paused to sniffle lightly. "He's from Chicago and he's a comedian. You would've loved him. You would've loved the engagement ring he picked out too..."
Junior began to stir and Renee began to rock him lightly. "I-uh... I got pregnant though and it was in the wrong place. It was really scary.. not because of the operation or anything, more 'cause of the loss. I just felt so tired of losing things." she continued before wiping away a few stray tears. "I didn't know what to do. I just sat on our bench swing in silence. When I got up though I just started cooking recipes you taught me. I think it was my stupid way of trying to be like... you were always so put together, and when I lost you I became everything but.."
Renee slowly stood up and headed towards the backyard. She carried Junior carefully and made sure not to wake him. He deserved the rest. "But.. but the other night when Scott proposed we were on the beach. When we got back to the car someone had left this little baby boy in my jeep." she spoke as she made her way to the swing and sat.
"He's the sweetest little thing, Mom.. he's got these dark brown eyes like yours. He always holds my fingers like I'm gonna leave him." The sun was setting and Renee glanced around as she fought back more tears. All her emotions had been bottled up, and now they were spilling out. "I'm not gonna though. Me and Scott are gonna make a family. I wish you could see it. I know you'd buy us a doormat with out last name on it... it's the Coltons by the way... or it's going to be. Man I wish you could...just pick out my wedding dress with me and tell me what I should do because.. sometimes I have no clue."
Wiping away her tears, she heard the front door open. "I-I have to go now. I love you, Mom.. and I miss you." Renee whispered before hanging up. She tucked her phone in her pocket and went inside to see Scott. All the things she needed to say had flowed out easily for that voicemail. It was therapeutic, just as it had always been. Although it could be argued that it was like talking to a wall, it was a way for her to get that mother figure back just for a moment. Sometimes all you needed was a moment.
