Round Here

Chapter Thirty Seven

November '87

Sonny's POV

It's been a long and hard past few months. My wife was still sick but home. She has been doing a bit better. We never did find out what was wrong with her. She got home in August from the hospital. Things since then have been much different. Sophia has grown and been getting more and more like her mother each day. She helps Santina out with the kids now. Even though she has a course load of work. I was content with it. San doesn't mind the help. She loves it. She and Sophia have been bonding very well. Another good thing was Atticus turned one back in September. He's so smart just like his parents. We were happy little grandparents. 

Today was a cold day. San and I were just laying in the living room. She was having a good day today. I was happy with that. "Sonny can you rub my back?" "Yeah just a minute." She sat up a bit. Tom came in with Sophia. "Why aren't you in school?" San asked. "I'm not feeling good. My stomach really hurts." "Maybe your baby is coming early." San teased as she sat up fully. "Mama you're not funny. Also Vinny's home too. He's just downstairs now. Leo's with him." "How come?" "I don't know. He was having a bad day and wanted to come home too, so Uncle Tom said he could come home too." "Tell him to come see us." I said as I got up. She then left the room. Tom came over to me. "Come into the kitchen for a minute I wanna talk to you." "Okay, San I'll come back in a few minutes okay." "Yeah no worries. I'm just gonna relax here. I'm waiting for dad to come take me to the store." Since she's gotten better she's been going out more often. I was proud of her. She seemed to be getting better with going outside. Her dad takes her out every other day to do something. Sometimes we went out together. She was just getting so much better. I was very grateful. I finally went out to the kitchen with Tom. 

We got to the kitchen and I sat back on the counter. "So what's up?" He took a deep breath. "I love her." "I know. Is that all?" He looked at me. He pulled out something from his pocket. "I want to give this to her as a promise to me." I smiled a bit as he opened the box. It was beautiful. "Wow, this is beautiful. Is this your way of telling me of you wanna marry her?" "It is. Sonny I wanna marry her. I really love her." He took a deep breath. "Okay, I think it's okay. You can marry her." "Really?" I saw him look away for a moment. "Yeah really." "I thought I was gonna have to convince you or something more." "No, I know you love her." "Dad, can you come here?" Tom sighed. "Thanks Sonny." He said as he left the room. I nodded as he did. Sophia came in. "What's going on?" "My tummy hurts. Something isn't right." "Just breathe babe. Daddy can help you." She came over to me. "Oh..." She looked down and saw her tights getting wet. "Dad what's happening?" "Don't worry honey. I think your baby is coming." She started to cry. "No dad. I don't want to have it." I grabbed her hand. "I know love. Let's go upstairs. Mama is gone out with grandpa so I have to help you." "I want Uncle Tom too." "We'll go get him love." She just held onto me as I went over to the phone. "Dad come!" She said as she went to the door way. "Okay I'm coming." I followed her. She yelled for Tom. He came out of the bathroom. "What?" "Our baby is coming." He looked a bit nervous. I wondered why she had said it that way. I was curious but needed to get her upstairs. "Dad it hurts." "I know. We're gonna go up to our room." "Okay dad." She followed Tom and I. 

We got up there and put some towels on the bed. Tom went to call the doctor. "Sophia honey can you take your tights off?" She was struggling. "Dad it's hard. Can you help me?" She laid back against all the pillows. I came up on the bed. "Relax your legs honey." She did that for me. I pushed her dress up a bit. She surprised me when she took it off. She threw it to the side. "Daddy can you take my underwear off too?" "I was planning on it." I then took her bottoms off. She only had an undershirt on now. Tom came back in. "How's my girl?" "It hurts. Tom come here." I was surprised to hear her just call him Tom. He went over to her. "Okay Auntie Connie isn't home and neither is Grandma. So dad and I are just gonna have to do this babe." He said as he kissed her cheek. I was on the receiving end. It didn't look so pretty. "Dad it hurts." She said as she began to push. She was taking a few deep breaths. "I know sweetie. Just breathe and keep pushing. The baby will be here soon."  She screamed a bit. She was so strong. "Daddy make it stop." I then watched as Tom kissed her neck a bit. She seemed to like that. I looked at him. "She's supposed to be giving birth not making love." I said as she continued pushing. "Daddy it hurts." "I'm trying. I see the head. You gotta keep pushing princess." She looked a Tom. "Our baby is coming." He smiled at her. "Yes love, our baby us coming." She pushed a bit more. "Is this your kid?" I asked him as she pushed once more. He looked at me. "Um, don't be mad." I sighed. "I'm not mad Tom. Just glad it ain't that fuckers kid." "Me too. I didn't wanna tell you at first. I was scared Sonny." I smiled at him. "Tom it's alright. Just relax. The baby is almost out." Sophia pushed once more and then the baby was out. The doctor walked in at the perfect time. Sophia looked exhausted. I mean I would be too. "Daddy, what do I have?" Santina then walked in with her father. "Oh jeez, sweetie are you alright?" "Mama I had my baby." Was all she said before she cuddled up next to Tom. "Oh love, what did you have?" I saw she was kissing Tom's neck. He tried to push her off a bit. "You had a..." I looked at the little guy. I saw I had another grandson. "You have a baby boy. Now stop kissing him." Sonny and Santina sat down on the bed. "What is she doing?" He asked as the doctor did his thing. I watched as she continued. "Sophia stop." I said. She looked at me. "Sorry I'm just really, well, you know." I just shook my head. She was my kid that's for sure. San cradled the little guy before giving him to Sophia.