As I sat in my room watching reruns of America's Next Top Model I thought about Augustus. It has been a three months since Augustus had died, four since Amsterdam. I thought about where he was now and what the capital-S was like. I logged in to my computer and checked my emails, nothing new except Victoria’s Secret coupons.
I called for my mom and like always she was waiting right there at my beck and call. Since Augustus had died she has been more overprotective. “Theres is lasagna on the table honey.” “I’m not hungry.” She gave me the guilt look so I got up, hooked up Phillip and walked to the kitchen. I ate her lasagna and got up and grabbed the keys. “Where are you going?” asked Dad. “Just for a ride.” “Okay, well be safe.” I packed up my car with all of the supplies and equipment and I called Isaac and told him to be ready in five minutes. He knew exactly what we were going to do and he was just as prepared.
As soon as I pulled into Isaac’s driveway he was waiting for me at the door. I left the car idling and went up and got him. His mom waved and told us to be safe and have fun but I doubt that either one of us would have fun tonight. Tonight was the night before Augustus died. Isaac and I were going to camp out at Funky Bones, Augustus’s favorite sculpture. We both had agreed that this would be better than the cemetery because we just want to be with Augustus not other people as well.
We parked across the street and walked over to the sculpture. Once we sat down I reached into my bag and got out a bottle of champagne to celebrate his life. We talked for hours about everything you could think of. I looked at my phone, it was 11:46. “Its late, lets try to get some sleep.” I was screaming in pain. Isaac fumbled around for my phone and handed it to me. “CALL YOUR MOM!” he shouted. “No, I am okay I don’t need them!” I shouted back. I laid back down and woke up with a bright light in my face. I was in the hospital. Somehow Isaac had managed to call an ambulance and the hospital called my parents. I heard my mom’s voice, “Honey, how are you?” “I’m fine.” “Honey we have to tell you something.” I could only imagine what they had to say. “Hazel, your pregnant.”
How could I be pregnant I thought? But then it hit me…we had condom issues back in Amsterdam. Oh my God, how could I be so stupid? “Its okay, we aren’t mad at you Hazel.” my Mom said. Mr. and Mrs. Waters came to my bedside and told me that they weren’t made either. I was relieved and overwhelmed at the same time.
6 Months Later
“MOM!” I screamed! “What's wrong?” As I was about to answer but then I felt this liquid running down my leg. I look down to see that my water had broken. In the labor and delivery prep class that Mom made me take they told us about this. I was 9 months pregnant so I was full term. Mom called for Dad to start the car and put my bags in it. She helped me to the car and we were off to the hospital. 7 hours later I delivered a baby boy.
I was conflicted about the name because my favorite boy name was Augustus but I didn’t want the baby to be a Jr. and Augustus to be a Sr. Then it hit me, Gus Lancaster Waters, that was his name. A few days later we went home. Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Isaac, my parents, Gus, and I were gathered in the kitchen for a welcome home meal. Isaac, Gus and I went into his nursery and I let Isaac hold him for the first time. “Isaac you're doing great for your first time, you’ll need the practice since you're the godfather.” His face lit up, “Well it would be a pleasure to be his godfather. I just wish that I could actually see him.”
“Well you can.” “How?” he asked. “Well let me describe him, he looks just like Augustus except in baby form.” “We’ll explain more.” he said. “He has Augustus’s big blue eyes, his hair and when he gets upset you can see Augustus’s cheek bones. “Thats better, thank you Hazel.” “Your welcome.” As I watched Gus sleep I remembered how Augustus looked when he slept. It was the in the hotel room after we went to his room. He looked so peaceful, like he did when I saw him in his casket. But thinking this made me burst into tears because I saw Gus’s big blue eyes and it reminded me that I would never see Augustus’s big blue eyes.
