Happy Birthday Jacob, my first son

7 years ago today I was a scared single woman, living with a man who, 9 months earlier, had cheated on me with his ex-girlfriend. Blunt, I know, but I've been dilluting the facts for so long, it feels good to get them out full strength. We were at my future mother-in-law's apartment, eating breakfast and waiting for a phone call from Nora. She'd called Nick the night before, letting him know that he was going to the hospital. He'd only seen her once during her entire pregnancy, and she didn't want him with her during delivery.
Rose called the hospital and was transferred to the room. Nora herself answered, she'd delivered just a half-hour earlier. A little boy. Nick & Rose headed off to the hospital and I was left alone with my thoughts. I hadn't even told my parents yet. I was really hoping that after the paternity testing, everything would clear up. This little boy wouldn't be Nick's after all, and I could go back to my real life, the life that was waiting to happen for me.
That didn't happen of course. This little boy, whom they would name Jacob Nickolas, would become my life, forcing me to become his surrogate mother when his mother was unable to, making me love him when I tried so hard to resist.
And so you are my first son, born 7 years ago today. You call me Mom, though it hurts Nora when you do it. She's admitted to me that it means so much to her that I was there for you when she couldn't be. I'm still here for you, my little boy.