Chapter 44: LOVERS MEET AGAIN

Alex was now in a completely naughty mood with the other children playing in the park running here and there.
Daniel was spying on them on the behest of Leo and was relaying all the information he could receive from his so-called intelligent sources.
"Rachel isn't married and is a single mom to a son. She has some great friends and a great career," Daniel informed.
"Even if she's single, I can't assume what"s going on in her life, or that her emotions are the same as mine for the love we shared," Leo answered.
Of course, he didn't know if she was single or dating someone. But he wanted to take a chance because he had only loved her. Moreover, he was quite optimistic that Alex was his secret baby.
"I figured what the heck. If we're meant to be together again then we will be," Leo said, who was now on the way to the park to get answers to the questions that rattled his mind, from Rachel.
In the park, Alex was all about and around with his new found friends.
"Alex is hellbent on giving me a heart attack before I turn 30. I know it ! It's his super secret mission and, so far, he's well on his way," Rachel panted while running as she saw Alex standing on the slide.
As Audrey and Rachel approached the slide, they overheard a group of moms talking about their toddlers' falls and bruises.
For the first time Audrey felt like listening to their experiences as she had just become a mom of a toddler last evening.
Seeing her curiosity, Rachel played with Alex near the slide where the group of moms were chatting, to let Audrey overhear and enjoy the conversation.
"Seriously, kids get hurt. They're tiny little thrill-seekers with no concept of gravity or consequences or even immense, physical pain. They're going to try things and, most of the time, those things are going to end in scrapes and bruises," a mom of a little girl said.
"I considered myself to be somewhat prepared for my kid's arrival. I mean, as prepared as one could be. I had read the books and asked the questions and had the go-bag and the route to the hospital mapped out and my birth plan somewhat solidified. I knew what to do when I brought my baby home for the first time, how to handle sleepless nights, and how to breastfeed," said a mom of a child playing with Alex. "What I didn't prepare for, in any capacity, was the inevitability of my kid experiencing pain," she added.
These thoughts are of every mom when her kids get hurt; unrelenting, unfair, somewhat ridiculous, definitely scary and intense thoughts that no amount of reading or research can possibly prepare you for. Motherhood can be extremely unforgiving sometimes.
"Of course ! It's hard to see your kid in pain, even though you know that it's inevitable and necessary and part of growing up," added another mom.
"As a mom, I've to be honest with you, I see danger everywhere. Before I had a kid I was so carefree and rarely worried about, well, anything. Now, even things most people would consider harmless (like walking) pose a potential danger, as my son is far from coordinated," said a mom who ran to catch her son jumping from a swing.
"It's not like I want to put my kid in a bubble or forbid him from leaving the house or keep him from being brave and adventurous and care-free. Those are all amazing things that I encourage in my son," shared a little matured mom.
"It's just, you know, they usually end in a pretty nasty fall and a few scrapes and bruises and tears. I've since been able to somewhat handle those moments and concluded that any crying that may or may not occur doesn't last for very long," she added from her experience.
"I agree ! My pediatrician's receptionist knows me by name. Yes, they are very annoyed that I call far too frequently. But, I don't care," said the mom of a pretty girl.
"Look, that's what they're there for, right ? I would rather get some peace of mind that I definitely can't find from Google. The internet is terrifying to sit around. It lets imagination run wild with possible health problems. As I'm not a doctor, so for my mental health I prefer to make one quick phone call which isn't all that bad," that mom added.
"Whenever my son falls or gets hurt, he gets a full body scan courtesy of my eyes and harnessed detective skills I have definitely learned from watching too many detective shows," a young mom said about her expertise on the matter.
"I'll observe his head, picking through individual strands of hair like a chimpanzee looks for fleas. I've to make sure there are no deep cuts or bad bruises or any gushing wounds," she further shared.
"For the most part, anytime my kid falls down, I'm the one who gets hurt. He usually dusts himself off, continues playing and adds to the already extensive collection of bruises on his knees that I'm sure he's not even aware of," shared a mom.
"I'm convinced wine was made for mothers with toddlers who don't understand that what goes up, must come down. Cheers, mom !" exclaimed a mom to twin boys.
Suddenly while coming down the slide, Alex lost his balance and fell off to the ground crying !
Seeing Alex excessively bleeding from his wound, Rachel and Audrey picked him up and ran towards the car, which happened to be of Daniel, asking for a lift to the city hospital.
Daniel helped Alex to sit in the car and drove to the hospital. He dropped them near the emergency entrance and told the attendants to help them as he went to park his car.
In the meantime, Daniel called Leo and narrated the whole incident and details of the hospital as he went inside the emergency ward.
As the doctors attended to Alex, Rachel sobbed in the arms of Audrey.
"When I see Alex hurt, I quickly ask myself what in the hell did I do ? Why did we go to the park ? Why did I let him play on the slide ?" Rachel cried in guilt.
"It's not your fault ! Rachel you should realize that you don't have and can't possibly have absolute control over every situation. Accidents happen in spite of taking all the care and precautions. So stop blaming yourself," Audrey urged her to calm down.
"I needed to be more alert. I'm not a good mom," Rachel said as she panicked.
"I can tell you right now, Alex getting hurt isn't indicative of your parenting abilities. It will happen. Once. Twice. A million times. Make it a teaching moment and maybe it won't happen as much, but no matter what you do, kids will get hurt," Audrey said as she comforted a disturbed Rachel.
"Still, my rationality has gone out of the window when I'm seeing Alex crying and asking for me and I can't do anything. I can't deal, kid. I just can't," Rachel cried.
"There must be minor scrapes and bruises, don't worry," Audrey comforted.
But that didn't keep Rachel from letting her mind drag her through possible scenarios where the outcome could be far, far worse. She could handle a cut or a bruise but what if it was something serious ?
Two souls once again touched at a pinpoint moment in time and space.
Now, Leo was there and talking to Daniel. Soon, Rachel's sharp mind connected the dots that Daniel happens to be Leo's secretary whom she had met at the project bidding conference. No wonder he appeared to be a known face !
"I wonder what he's up to ? Will he come to know about his secret baby, Alex ?" Rachel nervously whispered to Audrey.
Whether it was a project bidding conference, a club, a grocery store, a fundraising event or today this hospital, fate was just trying to bring them back together.
As they were all reeling in their thoughts, the pediatrician came and called out for Alex's guardians to talk about something urgent.
"See, we're running some tests on the child as his bleeding is not stopping," the pediatrician informed. "Also, we want to know if there is any inherited blood disorder in the family."
"Yes, his paternal grandma has May-Hegglin Anomaly," Rachel involuntarily blurted out in front of Leo in panic.
"We suspected the same disease. He might need a blood transfusion also. So, any idea whose blood group is the same as a child's," Doctor questioned.
"Yes ! His father's," said Rachel while pointing towards Leo.
Leo was shell shocked and happy at the same time. He had found the love of his life and his son ! He smiled looking at Rachel as he went to the blood bank with the hospital attendant and Daniel at the tow.
In the meantime, Audrey comforted Rachel, who was now dead worried about Alex's health and also about Leo who might take away her son from her.
Later, during the day the pediatrician came out and informed them that now Alex was doing perfectly fine and there was nothing to worry about.
They all took turns to meet Alex who was quite excited to meet his grocery store friend, Leo !
Leo, requested Audrey to take Rachel to the hospital's cafeteria where she could have something to eat and drink while he attended Alex.
Audrey and Rachel engaged in their conversation about the way forward after Leo had come to know about Alex while having coffee and some snacks.
"LOOK DMITRI !" Rachel exclaimed in a quite a loud voice as she went out to meet Alex while Audrey stayed in the cafeteria drinking her coffee.
Audrey and Dmitri looked at each other in amazement and sheer shock.