'Money'

Chapter 70 - alive and well

- My cubs, are my grand babies here too? Money asks me.

- Not all of them, just Corey, I say.

- I wanna see them right away, Money says.

I turn to a nurse.

- Can you let our children in, please? I say.

- Yes m'am, the nurse says and goes to open the door. You can come in now, children.

Cash is the first one to come in to the hospital room and sees his father.

- Dad, are you alright? He asks and walks towards his father's hospital bed.

- My boy, my first boy, come here and let me look at you, Money says and takes his son's hands in his. I'm alright, i'll be fine, ain't noting that can kill this old bull.

Money turns his head and sees our twins and Sarah on Ana's hip.

- My other boy and my girls, let me look at you three, Sarah, are you cozy on your sister's hip? Money asks.

- Mm, daddy, Sarah coos, holding out her hands to her father.

- Hey, girl, Money says. Can I hold her?

- Here you go, dad, Ana says, leaning forward, laying her sister down in her father's arms.

- Hey, my baby, Money says, cuddling with his baby daughter.

- And look who else is here to see you, dad, Cash says and holds out Corey.

- Grandpa Money, Corey coos, holding out his hands to his grandfather.

- Come here, Sarah, I say, picking up our daughter from her father's lap.

Cash puts Corey in Money's lap and Corey starts playing with his grandfather's tattoos.

- Grandpa not well? Corey asks, looking at the intravenous drip in his grandfather's arm while playing with his chest tattoo.

- I'll be alright, little man, don't you worry, Money says.

- Daddy worried, aunty Ana worried, uncle Nicky worried too and grandma worried, and Danny worried too, Corey tells his grandfather.

- Were you worried about me too, little man? Money asks.

- Mm...Corey says, nodding.

- You and your dad, uncle, aunt, grandma and great-uncle have nothing to worry about, little one, I'll be alright and soon I'll be home with grandma again, Money says.

- I know, grandpa, I know, Corey says, hugging his grandfather carefully before looking up at his father. Daddy, when can I get a taoo?

Money laughs and looks up at Cash.

- Yeah, Jakey, when can he get a tattoo? he asks his son.

- At 16, Cash says.

- Good luck with that, if he is anything like you and me, he will try to get you to let him get one at 14, Money says, amused. Just like you did with me and your mother.
- I'm sure I'll manage to keep him in line, he's my son, he's not me, and if I say that he won't be allowed to get a tattoo until he is 16, then he won't be allowed to get a tattoo until he is 16 and that's final, Cash says.
- Not fair! Corey says.
- Life's unfair, little man, it's better to learn that early, Cash says.