The Good Life

Chapter 86

February 2017

A week after Bruno won 5 Grammys for Come Back to Me he woke up with Marla stretched out in the bed pushing him to the corner of the bed. He hugged her tightly rolling her off of him with her not even moving a muscle he got out of the bed putting on a shirt walking past piles of new baby things stopping to see Rosie stretched out in her bed the same way Marla slept. He smiled at her deciding not to wake her up walking to the kitchen looking at the small note Marla had left him on the fridge. It’s been more than 5 years. Can you believe that? ”Not even a bit, baby.” he said to the note pulling out the ingredients for chocolate pancakes that he was going to make with Rosie later in the morning- something that had become a tradition on the day of her birthday parties. He felt a hand touch his waist lightly feeling Marla’s stomach against him. He laughed at her turning around to kiss her. ”Good morning mama.” he said handing her a few things to put on the counter.

”Good morning, Bruno.” she sat down at the kitchen table watching him. ”Why didn’t you wake her up?” she asked him.

”Same reason I didn’t wake you up. You’re both grouchy when someone wakes you up.” he told her honestly. She started to open her mouth with him starting to talk for her ”and don’t even tell me it’s the babies because you’re like that pregnant or not.”

”Damn. You’re right.” she said defeated hearing foot steps behind her and Bruno’s eyes lighting up.

”Good morning, Rosalia.” he told her holding out his arms. ”Are you ready for pancakes?” he asked her.

”The chocolate ones?” she asked him.

”Yes!” he told her moving the chair over to the counter for her to help him.

”Dad…can mom help this time?” Rosie asked.

”Why don’t you ask her, baby doll?” Bruno asked her.

”Mommmaaa…..” Rosie whined turning around seeing Marla watch them. ”Come help me…and then the babies can help toooo.” she said with a bright smile.

”Okay…but you have to teach me how to do it…you have three years on me.” Marla said mixing things with them.

**

Later that afternoon Bruno saw Marla contemplating how to bring out a large stack of party favors and food in the house. He walked up to her staring at the items the same way she was. ”Well…aren’t you gonna help me or are you going to use your Bruno Mars powers to make them magically move to the backyard?” she asked him.

”I’ll go with the second one.” he said walking away from her.

”Hey!” she yelled half upset and half sarcastic. She turned around seeing him laughing at her. ”Quit being a dick and help me. God.” she moaned pointing to the things she couldn’t handle. She walked out the door not saying anything to him. She put the things down seeing him talking to Eric. She could only imagine the conversation they were having. She’s being such a bitch. I cannot wait for her to not be pregnant anymore. Now I know why I was on tour the last time she was pregnant. When can we leave? She imagined the thoughts starting to cry. She started moving things around for the party wiping her tears as people came up talking to her about Rosie and how excited they were to have the other babies in a few months. After everything started she sat down next to Bruno at a table looking at him still angry at what he had said earlier. He smiled at her taking her hand squeezing it. She held in everything that she wanted to say to him knowing that she would embarrass herself if she told him exactly what she was thinking at that very moment. After the party she cleaned up feeling like this was a lot like two years ago, even if she couldn’t remember the day well enough to pinpoint exactly what she was feeling. She said good bye to her brother and his family as they were the last ones to leave. She held onto some plates washing them as Bruno started to put together one of Rosie’s new toys. She smiled at him still upset at the way he acted earlier. She saw him push Rosie toward her bedroom. She watched him walk toward her taking the plates out of her hand.

”Go sit down…” he said to her putting the plates back in the sick taking her hand leading her to the couch and a pile of pillows he had made for her feet.

She looked at him almost about to cry. ”If you don’t want to be here you can go to the studio…or you can go to your brother’s…or..wherever…”

”I’m not even going to answer that statement, Marla Hernandez.” he told her kissing her walking away hearing her cry into a pillow.

”Oh god. I’m soooo sorrrryyyy.” she whined. ”You were just being sarcastic…..I couldn’t tell. I’m horribleeee.” she cried even more. Bruno put down the dishes he was washing walking over to her lifting up her feet sitting underneath them

”Marla….stop. I know you’re up and down but babyyy…I’m not upset at you or frustrated or anything. I’m more in love with you today than I was yesterday. And I’ll love you even more tomorrow…if that’s possible.”

”Shut up. I’m going to start calling you Cheese. You get cheesier every damn day, Bruno Hernandez.” she smiled through her tears wiping her face.

”Well….if I’m Cheese you get to be Maple because you’re sappy!” he laughed at her.

”Oh dang. Bruno! That was good. I’ll be Maple but you have to agree to respond to Cheese until the babies get here.” she told him sitting up looking at him.

”Baby….” he stopped being silly suddenly becoming serious.

”What?” she asked him.

”Do we get to have sex today?” he asked her still in a serious tone. She raised her eyebrow at him shrugging her shoulders.

”I don’t know.” she smiled at him saying it the same way Rosie did when she knew she was in trouble.

”Oh god. Marla.” he laughed seeing Rosie walking toward them in a big Barbie dress and a tiara with the dog behind her wrapped in a pink boa.

”Mommaa…come dress up with me.” she asked.

”Help me get up, Bruno…we gotta go get dressed up.” Marla said as Bruno lifted her up dramatically. Marla watched her daughter pull clothes out for her. Mala leaned her head down trying to put on the clothes. ”Rosie..I think I’m too big for these.”

”No, mama. You’re amazing just the way you are. Now stand next to the Prince.” she moved her mother over to Bruno picking up the camera taking a picture of them.

Bruno picked Rosie up tickling her throwing her on her bed. ”Let’s get you ready for bed Princess.” She lifted her arms up letting him take off the dress tucking her into the bed in her pajamas. Marla watched Bruno take care of all of this realizing that he did a lot of it when she was sick. Wow. He’s amazing. She leaned her head back on the wall daydreaming trying to remember past birthdays. Their anniversary and Rosie’s birthday were the only days she could continue to remember small details of. She could never figure out why she didn’t remember Christmas or either of their birthdays or other holidays. Their anniversary, June 18 2014 and Rosie’s birthday..whatever day they ended up celebrating it were always the most vivid memories she recalled. She drifted to sleep feeling herself land on their fluffy mattress second later.

”Brunnnoooo…” she called out.

”What mama?” he asked nearing the door.

”I don’t think we’re gonna have sex tonight.” she yawned stretching out in the bed.

”It’s okay, Maple. I’ll let it slide this time. But you’ve gotta make it up to me next year.” he winked turning off the light to their bedroom sitting down at the piano with his notebook. He moved his fingers along the piano playing something she had never heard before making her fall asleep.

**

Dear Marla,

Today we celebrated Rosie’s 5th birthday. Five years and 8 days ago you were yelling at me and telling me that you hate me. Too bad I put a ring on it because you’re mine forever- no matter how hormonal or sick you are. You’re mine forever! See…it would be better if you could hear me laughing after writing that. After you and Rosie went to sleep I wrote a song. I think you’ll like it. But you can’t hear it yet. It’s not finished. And don’t even think about telling Rosie to ask me to sing it to her. It’s not happening, Maple. I love you Mar.

Cheese (or Bruno whichever)