The Good Life

Chapter 96

"Rosalia! Come on! I'm gonna take you to school...." Bruno yelled early in the next morning. She bounced out of the room with her curly hair braided down her back wearing a green neon shirt with a matvhing neon pink skirt with black high tops. "Good morning, sunshine!" he said sweetly kissing her on the cheek looking up at Marla who was holding Esperanza.

"Dad...Hope rolled over....and Jello can't do it. It's funny..." Rosie said grabbing her small backpack. They had started calling Esperanza Hope because Rosie wasn't the only one who had a hard time saying her name. It was just easier.

"I'm sorry I missed it." Bruno said kissing Marla. "I'll be back. "

"Okay...have a good day at school, mama..." Marla kissed Rosie on the head as they walked out the door. She held onto Hope walking back to get her brother holding them both tightly then placing them on a blanket to play with them waiting for Bruno. She looked into their bright brown eyes seeing Bruno in both of them. She thought back to looking at baby pictures with Bruno's mother the winter she was pregnant with Rosie and all the silly stories she had for all her kids. Marla thought of all the similar stories she had with Rosie knowing that she was a female version of Bruno....down to the way she woke up in the morning. She looked at the now 3 month old babies trying to figure out which traits of each of them they were going to get. Hope was thoughtful and quiet at times like she was, but she could already tell she was going to have Bruno's infectious smile. Angelo was a spitting image of Marla as a baby. He was chubby and had dark green eyes, but had Bruno's skin and his smile. It's a good thing they got his smile. That's my favorite. She thought to herself still playing with the babies. But who is going to be the loud and obnoxious one? She asked herself. "It's gonna be you, isn't it Angelo?" she said picking him up kissing his cheek as she started to feed him placing one hand on Hope keeping her quiet watching her fall asleep. She switched babies feeding Hope walking slowly hearing Bruno come in the door humming some new song. "Bruno?" she asked.

"I'm right here..." he said smiling at her leaning in to kiss her. "Where's Angelo?"

"He's asleep. My mom should be here in a few minutes. I told her I was sick of driving over there and that it was a hassle...so she said she'd come over. " Marla handed him the baby watching him place her next to her brother. Marla wrapped her arms around Bruno hugging him from behind reaching up to kiss his ear. "Bruno...everything is going to be okay." she said quietly. He turned around now hugging her looking into her eyes.

"Mar...it just scares me to think that I would be leaving you...never seeing these beautiful babies ever again...not being there for first dances, first games, first performances, first dates, last dates, weddings, babies...." he looked down upset at his feelings.

She lifted up his head looking into his eyes. "We'll be okay."

"But, Mar...I want to be here. I never want to leave...."

"You'll be here. No matter what."she said very metaphorically.

He leaned in to kiss her lightly feeling a tear fall from her cheek. "Please don't cry, Mar. Please."

"I'm trying." she said hearing the back door open. "Oh...she's here..and you have a half an hour to get to your appointment.

They said good bye to Sylvia going to the car. Unlike the last doctor's appointment they talked about their children laughing at the things Rosie was doing and gushing over how big the twins were getting. It was like nothing was wrong, at all. And then he turned into the big medical building. "Oh shit." she gasped.

"Marley....I;m scared too." he said quietly walking with her to the office. This time he filled out the paperwork sitting down taking her hand playing with her fingers lingering on her wedding ring. "I love you." he whispered hanging on her ring even longer. Amber suddenly burst into the room like a ray of sunshine.

"Mr. Hernandez?" she asked. They both stuood up walking back with her. She gave him some instructions and then left them alone. Marla could clearly see his nerves. It wasn't like before a concert or even before the babies were born. This was a type of nerves she saw him get when she was sick. The face she suddenly remembered waking up to all those nights in the hospital. He was afraid he was going to die.

The doctor came him reiterating the instructions trying to calm them both down. Marla cringed at all the talk of genitalia but hung in there for Bruno. She squeezed his hand watching the screen and then looking back at Bruno. She turned her attention to Dr. Collins' face as he paused in a certain section of the screen.

"Right there...." he pointed to a white spot on the ultra sound. "That's it. "

"What happens next?" Marla jumped in feeling Bruno's hands start to sweat.

"A biopsy." Dr. Collins answered. "We need to schedule the biopsy. Get fixed up and we'll sit down in my office." he said turning off the machines. "You two take your time." he said leaving the room. Bruno put on his pants looking at Marla trying not to freak out but failing. She saw tears come down his cheek and his voice start to shake.

"What....what....Marla....what do we do?" he asked her. She lifted her hand up wiping the tears off his cheek then quickly wiping them off her cheek moving her finger to his lips the same way he did when she freaked out.

"Just breathe, Bru. Just breathe." she took his hand walking to the office with an open door.

"Sit down..." he indicated holding a manila folder. "So....looking at the blood work...there are markers."

"The AFP?" Marla asked.

"Yes, Mrs. Hernandez. And the HCG...." he said holding out the paperwork explaining the increased hormone levels to them. I read this....Marla thought to herself. This isn't good. "The levels are somewhat low indicating that the cancer is very localized. So, that's why I'm suggesting the biopsy to ensure that we save as much of....."

"My balls." Bruno finally got out.

"Yes." Dr. Collins answered.

**

Bru,

Thank you for writing to me every singlenight since my seizure. You don't understand how much it means to me. The memories, the words, the countless I love yous. I will cherish them and hold them in my heart forever. Today, though, you need one. You need an I love you. You need a I care for you. You need everything in the world right now because I know you're scared. But, Bruno....remember everything we have read says that you will be okay. Everything will be okay. It will be hard to get through it, but hard is something that we're used to. I love you. You are amazing. We will make it and you will see every single first and every single last.

Mar