What We Seek

Part 15

Chapter Fifteen

The next few days went as follows: I slept with my sweet little girl in my arms, I held and played with Sophie as the Losers visited, or I talked with Eddie while one of us held Sophie for feeding soft fruits, vegetables, and other infant safe meals. It became common knowledge for us to be so happy that one day even had another elderly patient stop by to tell Eddie that she thought our family was beautiful.

Of course, word had finally spread that Richie 'Trashmouth' Tozier, the comedian who had suddenly disappeared about three weeks earlier, was gay, planning on marrying a man, and had an adopted daughter with that man. I decided to go ahead and share the truth using a social media account I had, sharing a photo of myself in the hospital, Eddie holding Sophie, our hands held with the ring, and then one of all three of us. The responses were crazy. I got hundreds of thousands of likes on my photo. There were some people who decided that we disgusted them and that we shouldn't be sharing such ideas with the world, but I ignored it. Eddie had asked me why I wouldn't block those people, but I simply told him they didn't have to buy a ticket to my next show if they felt that way.

By the ninth day of me being hospitalized, I was allowed to try a wheelchair out. I still had a broken leg, but my arm had healed most of the way in a crazy process that impressed my doctor. The ribs were sore, my breathing got weird sometimes, and my head constantly hurt, but I was allowed to leave after two weeks. I rolled out to a car that Ben and Bev had bought with Sophie in my lap and Eddie pushing me. Against his wishes, I brought my suicide note with me back to LA. I couldn't figure out why I wanted to keep it so badly, but somewhere deep down, I knew it was a big part of who I am.

Either way, life in one apartment as a family unit was hectic to say the least. Ben and Bev spent most days out working and then returned. Eddie worked from home but frequented the office the team behind the tours I did rented out, resuming the planning of my next tour with their help and my occasional input. Taking care of Sophie and writing jokes was my only two tasks for the next week as I continued to heal. However, raising a small child who is almost old enough to walk and talk and needs plenty of different assistance while being a cast and having crutches was not easy. However, not once did I let a single complaint leave my lips. She was bubbly, beautiful, and worth a little pain in my leg. I even managed to help Ben, Bev, and Eds make dinner most nights, which we all enjoyed around the new and larger coffee table that had been made by Ben.

Time started to pass before I realized it. Days turned into weeks when I lost my cast and was able to start doing my shows again and Bev told Ben she wanted to build a house and then start a family. Weeks turned into months as I finished my second tour, Bev and Ben moved out, Mike and Bill came forward as lovers, and Sophie was officially one year old, which we celebrated with all the Losers. Months turned into one year, after countless memories of watching her first steps, words, and how she grew. I also made so many more days of laughter and nights of pleasure pass with Eddie my love. Finally, I woke up to the light outside my window hitting my face harshly, but I smiled, because I knew what today would bring for my family.

It's the last day that anyone could use to claim Sophie has any relation or connection to them. We figure it won't happen, but we plan to be ready to sign the official adoption papers right at noon. I should wake Eddie up to let him know we need to get ready to go, but he looks so tranquil.

I managed to take my phone and cut it on without waking up Eddie, who had fallen asleep on my chest after our lively interactions the night before. I opened it to see that the others were all ready to enact my secret plan. It brought a smile to my face to know they support us so much as to help me make this happen.

"Richie..."

Eddie was looking up at me, his head resting on my chest.

"Good morning, Eds, how did you sleep?"