The Good Life

Chapter 89

So…I was thinking…and Marla has to be like 15 months pregnant or something if they could feel the babies in December…so…that sucks. I’m such a stickler for accuracy. Anyway. Please excuse my mistake and let’s carry on….

”Get in the car!” he exclaimed. ”Breathe Marley…it’ll be okay…”

”Bruno….it’s not like this is our first time…I think we have time to go home and call the doctor….” she told him.

”But Marla! Why are you so calm!” he asked her still nervous.

”Bruno…you acted like this with Rosie too…it’s going to be a long time, Brunz. We have time.” she reassured him as they drove closer to their house. When they got to the house she called the doctor, her mother and then some of Bruno’s family- all in between stronger contractions. ”Owwww…..” she exclaimed as she sat down at the kitchen table watching him hand her a blueberry bagel. ”What is this?” she asked him.

”You were eating this when your water broke with Rosie.” he told her smiling.

”The day your memory goes away is that day I just should give up.” she smiled taking a bite. ”This was exactly what I needed.” she told him watching him hold his hand out for her walking to the car. ”Bruno….are you nervous? This scares me. We woke up a family of three and we’re going to go to sleep a family of 5….like…holy shit.”

”Marla..I’ve been nervous since…well…forever.” he said taking her hand. ”But it will be okay.”

”Well, I know it will…but….oh my godddd….owwwww.” she squeezed his hand making them both cringe. ”Sorry.” she laughed after the contraction passed. ”I know it will be okay…I’m just like…it’s such a change and yes we’ve been preparing for it…but…it’s just…I’m scared. What if we mess up?”

”You’re asking me this?” he wondered out loud.

”Yes! You know all the answers!” she told him sweetly.

”Baby…I don’t know the answers…but I do know that everything will be amazing and you are beautiful and I love you…” he said turning off the car walking to her side of the car. ”Come on mama….let’s get you dome babies.” he smiled kissing her as he lifted her up and out of the car. She dug her nails into him as he lifted her up having a contraction at the same time.

”Shit. I could kill you if I keep doing that.” she smiled taking his hand as he led her into the hospital where they saw her mother and father.

”Ready for these babies, Nana?” Marla asked sitting down in the wheelchair being pushed by the nurse. They were led to a swanky private hospital room. ”Am I Beyonce?” she asked.

”You’re better.” Bruno laughed. ”But we only get one room.”

”What, not the whole floor?” she asked.

”Naw.” he said turning away avoiding the needle going in her back.

**

Bruno wiped Marla’s forehead with some ice looking into her determined eyes. ”You’re almost there.” he leaned down whispering in her ear.

”Shut up….just get them out…” she snapped at him.

”I think a few more pushes and we have one….” the doctor told them. Bruno smiled at her making her almost forget how much pain she was feeling.

”Owwwwww…..” she moaned as she pushed one more time.

”You’re almost there, baby.” Bruno told her again.

She pushed a few more times still mentally killing Bruno through her pushes finally feeling a sudden rush of pain. ”Guyssss….it’s a girl!” the doctor exclaimed pulling the baby out watching Bruno and Marla’s eyes move toward their daughter. Marla took his hand squeezing it.

”Oh my god….” she gasped watching them wrap her up.

”One more Marla…..we’ll get our little boy out….” the doctor said in a reassuring voice. She pushed several more times pushing through her tears and overwhelming amount of hormones.

Bruno bent down near her side talking her through it with a soft almost lullaby voice making her drift away from the florescent lights and beeping. She was pulled out of the bliss hearing two distinct cries coming near her.

”Marla….this is Esperanza….” Bruno told her handing her a small bundled baby with a mound of hair. ”And this is Angelo…” he said walking to the other side of her smiling as he placed the other small baby with even more hair and beautiful eyes in her arms.

**

Dear Marla,

This morning we woke up a family of three. Tonight there are 5 of us. They are the most beautiful babies in the world. Esperanza has your eyes. Angelo has your nose. Marla, I hope you remember today. You deserve to remember every single second of the day, because you told me it was tied for the best day of your life. I love you.

Bruno