Chapter 44

"Come on, Charlie. Open up for mummy"Alice said, making swooping noises as she guided a small spoon of mashed banana towards her son's mouth.

Charlie, now eight months old, giggled and clapped his chubby hands, his big blue eyes - so much like Carson's - twinkling with delight. He opened his mouth wide, accepting the spoonful of banana with a happy smile.

"That's my good boy," Alice smiled, wiping a bit of banana from Charlie's chin. "You're getting so big!"

Baby toys were scattered across the floor, and a pile of job applications littered on the coffee table. It wasn't much, but it was alot.

Alice glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. She had a busy day ahead - looking at daycares, job hunting, and somehow managing to keep Charlie fed, changed, and happy through it all. Being a single mom wasn't easy, but looking at Charlie's smiling face, she knew it was worth every challenge.

"Alright, little man," Alice said, lifting Charlie out of his high chair. "Let's get you cleaned up