Slugger (Sequel to 'The Jet') Benny Rodriguez

Chapter 39

You arose later than usual, very happy that your baby boy let you sleep in a little on account of your sickness. You felt the tiniest bit better now since you weren't exhausted, so when you heard the landline ringing in the kitchen, you scurried out of bed to get it.

You paid no attention to the fact that the door of the girl's bedroom flung open, and following after you came a sleepy Evita, rubbing her eyes as she slowly made her way down the hall in her footie pajamas.

"Hello?" You answered, yawning the end of the word and feeling bad for the person in the other end.

"Good morning, my love. Did I wake you up?"

"Not really, I needed to get up anyway." You replied, waving him off even though he couldn't see you. You had turned and caught Vivi out of the corner of your eye, which caused you to smile as you leaned down to scoop her up with your other arm.

"Is it daddy?" She whispered quietly, her sleepy smile still very prominent.

"Benny, I got someone here that wants to say hi." You said, holding the phone up to the toddler in your arms. She grabbed the phone before you could even hand it to her.

"Hi," she dragged out the word, seeming like she didn't know what else to say.

"Hey babygirl, I miss you so much." He said, and you saw your daughter's face light up just at his words.

"I miss you too." You could tell just by her eyes how happy she was to talk to her daddy on the phone. Usually when he was out of town on away games, she was too sleepy to call him at night or in the morning. Now she was awake, and it was perfect for her.

"I love you, baby. Can you give the phone back to Mama?" He asked, and she was more than hapoy to tranafer over the line. She held out the phone and in her most bug gurl voice she could muster, she mimicked something she once saw you do.

"It's for you." She rolled her eyes as the finishing touch. To hell if this wasn't Benny's kid. She was so animated and energetic like him.

"Thank you very much, little miss." You put her down and held the phone up to your ear again. "Alright I'm back."

"So am I. I'll be home in about twenty minutes or so." He said happily, a pure smile in his voice.

"Yes! Okay this is perfect. The other two kids are still asleep, I need to run to the doctor's office really quick to get my test results from yesterday. I'm going to pick up my prescription and then you should be here by the time I get back."

"Sounds good to me, love. Are you feeling any better than yesterday?" He was concerned last night when you called him with a cough, but having not heard it yet he was hoping you got better.

"A little. I still have the cough but my body doesn't ache as bad. I'm not sure if I'm breathing any better though."

"Well once I'm home I can help take care if you and the kids for a while. I've been missing you guys real bad." You could tell he was so excited to see his family. He loved his job, he did... but he'd risk it all for what was waiting for him every time he came home.

"I missed you, too. You know Eva's been counting down the days. She says she wants to show you her new T-ball set we got this week."

He chuckled at the sweet mention of his little Evangeline. His first born child and female replica.

"I'll be home soon. I'm gonna let you go, my cab just pulled up."

"Alright, I'll see ya later. Bye." You set the phone down carefully onto the ringer and went to tend to your only awakened child. She had found herself a firetruck toy in the living room, and seemed to be content to keep on with it, so you scooped her up, taking the toy with you down the hall and into your room.

"Daddy's gonna be home soon, okay? I have to leave, so don't wake uo your sister and brother until he gets here." You told her as you got ready to go. She nodded rapidly, though you weren't quite sure she paid any attention. Her firetruck had extended the ladder, and she was fascinated with how it worked.

After lacing up your shoes, you reached for the flannel you'd wrapped up in last night to keep warm. It wasn't cold outside, but you got cold easier when you were sick.

You kissed you daughter on the head and left the room, going to grab your keys and hurry outside before another coughing spell kicked in. You made sure the door was shut and locked before you made you way to the car.

-

Benny got home just five minutes after you left. He could have sworn he even saw your car pass by, but he couldn't be sure. He didn't see the license plate that said 'SWING' on it.

He lugged his suitcase inside the house, kneeling down to pet Ruthie as she came to greet him after all the days away. She jumped her front paes on his legs and tried to lick his face, but Benny tried his best to keep her at a safe distance. He failed, obviously.

At the sound of someone being home, Evita ran down the hall from yours and Benny's room, where she'd been playing since you left.

"Daddy!" She ran up to him, jumping into his arms as he lifted her up and spun her around. She used her little arms to wrap tightly around his neck, and he chuckled at her antics.

"Hey babygirl, I missed you so much." He said, kissing her cheek. He moved her so she was slung on his back, and continued down the hall. "Let's go wake up your siblings."

She laughed so loudly, and it echoed off the walls. He thought that the sound alone would have the other two kids wide awake, but when he went into Eva's room first, she was sound asleep.

Benny took the time to admire his beautiful daughter, who had grown so much since he'd first held her in his arms.

"Eva, wake up!" Evita yelled, her tone was annoyed, as if she just wanted the sleeping child to be up on her feet already.

Benny laughed, watching as Evangeline's eyes opened slowly before widening all at once.

"Daddy, you're home!" She squealed. It was the same everytime he would leave. He always looked forward to the warm welcome he always received, especially from you, but you wouldn't be back for a while.

He sat with his girls and talked with them for a while, hearing about all the exciting things they did this week. Eva even dragged him outside to show him her new T-ball set. She hit one of the tiny wiffle balls off the stand and it went straight across the yard.

"That went so far!" He said, cheering her on as she ran after the ball.

She eventually busied herself eith playing catch with Evita, and as they did so, Benny heard the cry of his youngest from inside the house.

He made sure the other two were situated before he went inside to tend to the baby. He loved all of his kids at all stages of life, but there was jist something different about cradling an infant in his arms to soothe it's cries, to make it feel safe and loved.

It was so important to him that he was present in each and every one of their lives, participating in everything they did, just to show them how much he loved them. He was never one to skip out on something because he could make uo an excuse of obligation. His own father left his mother when she got pregnant with an excuse of outside obligation. Benny grew up without knowing what it was like to have fatherly love. He made sure his children would never have to go through the same thing he did.

After he'd changed the baby, he settled  down in the rocking chair by the crib, feeding little Ben with the bottle that was left on the counter by you.

"I know you can't talk yet, but I'm sure you had fun this week, too. I'm sorry I can't be here all the time, but I love you." He cooed to the small baby peering up at him. His eyes were just the same as looking in a mirror, and ir made Benny's heart swelled with pride knowing he had babies that resembled him. He did however long for a child that looked like you. Hopefully number four would be the spitting image of his wife, whom he thought to be the most beautiful person this earth ever held.

Speak of the devil, as he was setting little Ben back into his crib, he heard the door open and shut. He smiled, stepping out into the hallway, ready to hold you tightly, only to be passed by as you trudged past him into your room and slammed the door.

A/n: and so it begins 😌💅