The Hook-up

Chapter 149

A few minutes later Bruno found himself near a walking trail in front of the hospital that students and community members used on a regular basis. He sat down on a bench that was facing the long busy street he had just returned from. He sighed leaning his head against the bench reaching for the pack of cigarettes he had grabbed before leaving the studio earlier that afternoon. He dug into his pocket reaching for his lighter lighting the cigarette taking a long drag with his eyes still closed and head leaning against the bench. What is happening? Every time I think I'm ready for this something happens and I just want it all to go away. When they get here am I going to look at them and just want to hand them back? Or am I just going to fall in love? I have no idea what is going to happen. His thoughts continued to wander as he heard his name being called by his father who was walking up behind him. He turned around motioning for his father to sit down next to him.

"What was it like when Eric was born?" He asked his father.

"It was scary, Bruno. I think I was more scared than you are right now." His father answered.

"No one can be as scared as I am right now." He said throwing the ashes from his cigarette to the ground stomping on them.

"I bet I can find at least one person within 100 yards of you right now that is as scared, if not more scared than you are." His father said.

"Who?" Bruno asked.

"Your wife." He said turning his head pointing to the floor that she was on.

"She's fine. She's not going to mess anything up." Bruno said.

"Have you told her that? That she's going to be a good mother?" Pete asked.

"Umm...maybe like once..." Bruno answered unsure of how to respond.

"Go back inside and tell her that she's going to be a good mother, Bruno." His father said plainly.

"What happens when they're born? What happens to my life? How do I even handle all of this?" he asked his father again.

"That's the miracle of kids, Brunz. You won't know the answer to any of those questions until they're in your arms, but somehow, the things you do will be the right things. You'll just know." Pete told him.

"But what if I don't want them when I see them?" Bruno asked a little scared.

Pete paused for a second unsure of how to answer the question. "I worried about the same thing with Eric, Peter. I wasn't sure what we were doing and I sure as hell wasn't sure if I was going to want to be a father once I had him in my arms. But, just like that. It just clicks. They're yours forever."

"I don't know if that helps but I'll try to think like that." Bruno answered. "They weren't where we were going,dad..."

"I know, son. I know." His father reassured him.

"But life has its own plan for you and Lauren." Pete paused trying to figure out what he was going to say. "It's not going to be easy, son. You're going to stay up late for the first few months and you're going to argue with each other about silly things. And you're going to have to change the way you do things. But it will all make sense the second the two of them are here."

Bruno nodded his head reaching for another cigarette. "If she knew she'd kill me." He said.

"Your mother already is going to." His father laughed standing up from the bench. "Come back inside when you're done with that. I think Lauren needs you." Bruno nodded his head agreeing to come back inside after his cigarette. "And have some gum, too, please." His father threw him a piece of gum and then turned the other way.

Please come back. I'm sorry I yelled. I'm tired and I need you to rub my feet.

Bruno looked at his texts laughing at his wife as he finished the last bit of his cigarette. He walked back to the car before he went back upstairs to grab a bottle of water and his cell phone charger. He put his hat back on to blend into the mass of people at the hospital unable to hide for long. He felt a cell phone go off near the elevator and then several whispers. As the whispers slowed down he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Excuse me?" a nurse asked.

"This really isn't a good time...I'm sorry..." Bruno said.

"I just wanted to know if this was yours?" the nurse asked handing him a parking ticket for the parking garage that he had dropped.

"Oh, thank you." He smiled catching a glimpse of a group of teenagers looking at him shocked.

"Good luck, Bruno!" one of the girls shouted as he entered the elevator to go find Lauren. Oh god. He thought. Now everyone is going to know. He walked back into Lauren's room to see her turned to the side trying to fall asleep. Rose stood up from the chair near the bed smiling at him.

"Go ahead..." she said knowing about the argument they had just had.

"Laur...." He reached over for her hand.

"Huh?" she asked turning to face him.

"Do you want me to rub your feet?" he asked with a smile.

"Would you? You're not mad at me?" she asked.

"No, Lauren. I'm not." He said moving the chair down a little to reach her perfectly manicured toes. He moved his hands around her feet trying to keep them warm. "Laur?" he asked looking up at her. "You're going to be an amazing mother."

"Aww. You're so sweet." She laughed at him.

"Do you need anything else?" Rose asked her daughter feeling as though they had resolved their past fight.

"No. But I don't think they're coming any time soon, so you can go home..." she told her mother, father-in-law and sister-in-laws that were sitting in the room with them.

"You're five centimeters, right?" Jamie asked. "You're not going anywhere." She laughed.

"Yeah. Five centimeters and like 30% effaced. I think it's going to take a while." She said.

"But call us if it moved faster, mama." Pete said leaning down to kiss Lauren on the forehead. "Good night, you two."

"Good night." They both said together as everyone walked out of the room.

"How are you?" Lauren asked bending down to touch Bruno's arm.

"I'm fine." He said flatly. "But, I'm more worried about you."

"I'm fine, too." She said with a smile. "And they're doing alright too." She pointed to the monitor.

"I can't wait to see them." Bruno said. "I don't know what I'm going to do when I see them, but I want to see them."

"I can't wait either." Lauren responded reaching for Bruno's hand placing it on her stomach. "I think they'll be here soon."