Smile Like You Mean It (One)

Chapter Thirty Four

"What are you doing here?" Bryony asked, seeing her parents step into the room. Sal held his arm around her protectively, as they stood at the end of the hospital bed.

"Your friend called us, Rachel, or whoever it was...we just wanted to check that everything went okay." Her mother answered sheepishly, letting her voice trail off. Bryony turned to Sal, wanting to see his take on the situation, as a small sigh passed his lips.

"So you kick me out, ignore me and my boyfriend, but expect to be welcomed back with open arms?" Bryony quizzed, seeing her parents exchange a glance between one another.

"Listen to your mother." Her father ordered, his voice strict and unnerving.

Sal could see that the conversation could lead to conflict, as he shrugged his shoulders, before standing from the bed, and made his way over to the bassinet. He turned back to her parents, attempting to make eye contact, before his nerves got the better of him.

"W-Would you like to meet him?" He asked anxiously, as Bryony's mother teared up, nodding her head.

Sal carefully pulled Dustin into his arms, ensuring that his blanket was wrapped tightly around the infant, as he turned to her parents. Bryony watched them, seeing all of the hatred and anger sat upon her father's face disappear – he couldn't stay mad at his first grandson – even if it was only for a split second. Sal walked over to where they were stood, passing Dustin over to her mother, as she let a tear roll down her cheek. She cradled the sleeping baby in her arms, rocking him gently, as she turned to her husband, smiling at him.

"He's beautiful." She expressed, turning her attention to Bryony and Sal. "He looks so much like you did as a baby, Angel."

"I think he looks more like his father." Bryony chuckled, witnessing the small smile pulling at Sal's lips.

"Poor kid." Her father commented, wanting to provoke Sal, as the boy looked up at the man, not allowing his words to affect him.

"Dad, don't be like that." Bryony frowned, yanking at Sal's hand, as she pulled the boy down to sit next to her on the bed. She let her head rest upon his shoulder, as Sal brought his free arm round to brush at her hair, turning to kiss at the top of her head.

"In my defence, Sir, I didn't want Dustin to look like me in the first place." Sal stood his ground, as her father glowered at him. "I know that I'm not the best looking, I know that I can be immature at times-"

"Yeah," The man laughed, as his wife warned him with her eyes. "That's pretty obvious."

"I'm trying to be civil with you for the sake of our son, your grandson, Sir."

"Lay off the boy a little, dear, at least he's trying." Bryony's mother told the man, as he reluctantly sat back, folding his arms.

Her mother pressed a gentle kiss to Dustin's head, as he started to fuss slightly. She passed him back over to Sal, as he shushed his son softly. He looked up, letting his gaze fall onto Bryony's father, as he remained distant.

"Would you like to hold him, S-Sir?" Sal asked, receiving a shake of the head in response.

"He needs his mother." He answered bluntly, as Sal nodded his head.

"Right..." Sal turned to Bryony, as she witnessed his face fall. He was trying to rebuild a connection with her parents, but her father remained stubborn, and was reluctant to make amends with the boy.

Bryony took Dustin from Sal, as he leant down to her, whispering in her ear. "I'll leave you to it."

Sal stepped over to the door, offering a smile to her parents as he passed them, before making his way out of the room. Out in the waiting room, he came to find only the boys sat there. They glanced up, seeing Sal, as they waved him over to join them.

"Hey, Buddy." James smiled, as Sal took a seat in the spare chair beside him.

"Hi..." Sal answered, the lack of enthusiasm in his voice evident.

"What's up? How's the baby?"

"Bryony's parents arrived...that's what is up, James." Sal shook his head, as he sighed deeply. "I've tried to make them like me, but her dad still hates me."

"I'm sure that he doesn't hate you." Joe commented, as Sal shot him a look.

"I asked him if he wanted to hold Dustin, and he just rejected the idea." Sal was defeated, the conflict of fatigue and upset taking its toll on him. He soon felt a hand being placed to his shoulder, as he turned to Brian.

"Then he's the one who misses out on his grandson. Let him get on with it, at least you're trying." He pointed out. Sal sniffled, stifling the tears, as he wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie. "Bryony knows that you're doing your best, Sal."

"I know..." He sighed. "It's just...what if-I don't know...what if they make her see that I'm not a good dad...what if she-"

"Sal, stop it. You're overthinking the whole thing. Bryony knows what her parents are like." James inputted, just as the girls came back from the hospital cafeteria. They each took a seat beside their respected partners, as all eyes fell on Sal.

"What's going on?" Bessy asked, as Sal looked amongst the group.

"Bryony's parents are here." Sal announced, witnessing the girls' faces fall.

"Oh..." Bessy winced. "I take it that they're still not pleased with the whole baby situation then?"

"Correct." Sal nodded.

"What's going to happen?" Rachel questioned. "I mean, they can't exactly take Dustin away from you, can they?"

Her question made something inside of Sal snap, as a scowl sprawled across his features, angering him. His fists clenched into a ball, as he shook his head, his gaze meeting with the floor.

"I hope not." He grumbled.

"They can't do that," Beth spoke up, as everyone turned to look at her. "They have no right to take your son away from you, Sal."

"I should get back to Bryony, and make sure that everything is okay." Sal declared, as he stood to his feet. He went to walk away, before turning back to the group. "Thanks, guys."

A call of good luck could be heard from the group, as Sal left the waiting room. He shuffled his way through the hospital corridors, coming to a stop outside of Bryony's hospital room. He hesitated slightly, his hand pressed to the surface of the door, when he heard a sniffle come from the other side of the door. Sal's eyebrows furrowed, as he pushed the door open, making his way into the room, coming to find Bryony in floods of tears, as her father held Dustin in his arms. Her mother was stood with her hospital bag packed, as Sal looked amongst the three of them, the perplexity written across his features.

"What the hell is going on?" He demanded an answer, his heart falling in his chest at the sounds of Bryony's cries.