A Mother's Resolve

As Ashley pulled up to the school gate, she could see Jackson standing by himself, his eyes fixed on something in the distance. He was stimming, a behavior she had grown accustomed to over the years, but it still broke her heart every time she saw it. His small hands were flapping wildly, and his eyes were darting back and forth, a clear indication that he had had a long and hard day. Ashley's heart swelled with love and concern as she quickly got out of the car and rushed over to her son. "Jackson, baby, I'm here," she said softly, trying to calm him down. She gently wrapped her arms around him, trying to still his flapping hands. Jackson slowly turned to face her, his eyes unfocused. For a moment, he just stared at her, and Ashley worried that he hadn't recognized her. But then, his face lit up with a small smile, and he whispered, "Mommy." Ashley's heart melted at the sound of his voice. She pulled him closer, holding him tightly. "I'm here, baby," she repeated. "I'm not going anywhere." As she held him, Ashley couldn't help but think about the conversation she had with Karen earlier. She had promised herself that she was going to be strong, for Jackson's sake. She was going to fight for him, for her new baby, and for their family. She took a deep breath and gently guided Jackson towards the car. "Let's get out of here, okay?" she said softly. "We can go get some dinner, and then go home." Jackson nodded, still a bit out of it. Ashley helped him into the car and started the engine. As they drove away from the school, she glanced in the rearview mirror, watching her son's reflection. He was still a bit spaced out, but she could see the tension in his body begin to ease. She reached back and gently stroked his hair, trying to comfort him. "It's okay, baby," she whispered. "Mommy's here. I'm not going anywhere." As they drove, Ashley's mind wandered back to her conversation with Karen. She had been so sure that she was going to lose Jackson, that CPS was going to take him away from her. But now, holding her son in her arms, she felt a surge of determination. She was going to prove to everyone that she was a good mom, that she deserved to keep her children. The drive home seemed to take forever, but eventually, they pulled into the driveway. Ashley helped Jackson out of the car, and they walked into the house together. As they entered, Ashley was hit with the familiar smell of cooking dinner. She smiled, grateful that she had made something for Jackson's favorite meal. She guided Jackson to the table, and they sat down to eat together. As they ate, Ashley talked to Jackson about his day, trying to get him to open up. He was quiet at first, but as they ate, he began to tell her about his day, about the things he had done in class, and the friends he had played with. Ashley listened intently, smiling and nodding along. She was so grateful to have her son back, to be able to spend time with him, to care for him. As they finished dinner, Ashley felt a sense of peace wash over her. She was going to be okay, she was going to get through this. She was going to keep her children safe, and she was going to prove it to everyone.