by Anne Stone
Alejandro turned to her, “Hey, honey. Get all of your errands run?”
“Yeah, where were you just now?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I came in, you didn’t hear me.”
“I was thinking.”
“About what?”
“Lots of things… But it doesn’t matter. Do you need any help?”
“No.” She sat down beside him. Turning towards him, she placed her hand on his thigh. “What’s bothering you?”
“Honey, I don’t want to talk about it now. So how was your day?”
“Alejandro, don’t shut me out.”
“I’m not. I just need to think things through on my own.”
“Alejandro?”
“Enough!” Alejandro burst. “Sometimes after an intense week, I like to sit alone and just let my mind wander, and this is the perfect time of day to do it. I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Alejandro had lost track of time. He’d been rehashing the conversation he’d had with his parents, and he was having doubts about the adoption. He wanted more time with just Angelina. And yes, he was thinking about Tammy and Michael and how their deaths impacted his life.
Angelina wasn’t too sure what was going on with him. She told herself not to worry, but she did.
They went to dinner but ate mostly in silence. She was placing their leftovers in a box when his phone rang. It was his brother, Alec.
“What’s up, Alec?”
“I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Yep.” He was pretty sure where the conversation was headed, so he asked his brother something trivial to change the subject. Alec was cognizant of what he was doing, though.
“I guess you can’t talk right now.”
“That’s right.”
“Call me later.”
“Sounds great. How about we meet for lunch tomorrow?”
“One?”
“See you then.”
Angelina had been watching Alejandro. “What did Alec want?”
“Not sure. I told him I’d meet him for lunch tomorrow. Now, I just want to go home and go to bed.”
They drove home in silence. Alejandro headed off to bed while Angelina put the finishing touches on her lesson plans—she’d just returned to school at the beginning of the week. She was concerned about him. If he didn’t open up soon, she would have to confront him. She loved him and didn’t want the adoption to come between them.
Monday morning Alejandro got up, dressed, and headed off to the hospital with barely a word spoken to Angelina. She was lost and wasn’t sure what was going on. She wandered into school just as the bell was sounding. She spent her whole day trying to get on track. She fumbled through her lessons, and actually lost her cool with her students’ right before lunch. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. Actually, she did, but didn’t want to admit it. She and Alejandro were having problems. Thankfully, she had two free periods that afternoon where she could just sit and think.
Alec and Alejandro met for lunch at the deli across the street from the hospital. It was their normal stomping grounds when they met for lunch.
“What’s up Alec?”
“I could say the same to you, but I know what’s up. Is it true? Are you going to adopt Matthew?”
“Looks like it.”
“And?”
“It’s something Angelina is hell-bent on.”
“What about you?”
“I know adoption is the only way we’re going to be able to have a family, but I’m not sure Matthew is the answer.”
“But you care for him, don’t you?”
“Sure, I do.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Alejandro looked at his brother. What was his problem? He loved Matthew. He knew he’d make a terrific son. So what was it?
“Alejandro?”
“You’re right. What is the problem? Thanks, Alec.”
“For what?”
“For making me see the forest from the trees. I’ve gotta go.” Alejandro jumped up from the table and raced out of the deli.
Angelina was sitting in her classroom, staring out the window. She was oblivious to the door opening and closing. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw him standing beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Alejandro?”
“I was wrong. I’m sorry for not believing in us being a family. I love you, and I love him. We can make it work. I know we can.”
Angelina stared at her husband, flabbergasted.
Alejandro squatted down beside her. He placed his hand on her cheek. “I love you, Angelina.”
“I was scared… So scared that you didn’t want a family with me. I thought you were regretting us.”
“Why would you think that? You’re the best thing that’s happened to me. I’m sorry I withdrew. Withdrawing is how I deal with my problems. Now that I have you in my life, I have to share my feelings with you and not take them into myself. I know I still have problems with my past, Tammy and Michael’s deaths… But I realize that I can’t shut you out either. Sometimes the grief rears its ugly head and takes over, but with you in my life, the grief has lessened. Give me some time. With you by my side, I have no qualms that I’ll be able to finally face their deaths head on.” He drew her into his arms. “Please be with me. Stay by my side.”
“Always.”
Alejandro stood and Angelina stood with him, “I’ve got to go pick up my class.”
Smiling, he told her he had to return to the hospital. “I rushed over here when I realized you were free. I had to talk to you before…”
“You chickened out.” She smiled at him, teasing.
“No, that’s not it. I wanted to… Oh, you.” He kissed her and walked from the room. “See you tonight.”
After he left, she felt like the weight of the world that she’d been carrying all day had been lifted. He was still dealing with Tammy and Michael’s deaths. Even though he had vowed to love, honor, and cherish her, he still grieved. She needed to be cognizant of that.
Alejandro came home from work whistling.
“You’re in a good mood. What’s up?”
“Matthew’s coming home.”
“What? When?” Angelina said, her had going to her throat.
“Take a deep breath, will you? Matthew has improved slightly. We’ve decided to send him home. It’s the best for him all around.”
“Oh my gosh! We’re not ready. We have to get—”
“Slow down! I’ve arranged to go to his house and pick up his stuff. That way he will have the things that are familiar to him.”
“How? When?”
“Alec and Joe are coming by in a few minutes. My mom is coming by to help you. She’ll be here—”
The doorbell rang and his entire family walked in.
Gabriella and Maria helped transform one of their spare bedrooms into a room fit for a boy. Alejandro, along with his brothers and father, brought Matthew’s furniture and toys from his old room. He also located a picture of Matthew with his parents that he placed on Matthew’s dresser. Matthew was surrounded by everything he knew and loved from his home—everything except for his parents. By nine they’d finished converting the bedroom into a child’s room.
“I can’t believe he’s coming home. Here… To our home.”
“Believe it. By this time tomorrow, Matthew will be living with us.”
In all of her haste, Angelina forgot to contact Mary about Matthew’s homecoming. “What time will he be released? I forgot to call Mary and tell her I won’t be at school tomorrow.”
“Go to school. He’ll be ready whenever you get here.”
She walked into his arms, thanking him. She couldn’t believe that tomorrow she’d be caring for Matthew.
Both of them had trouble sleeping. Alejandro got out of bed around two in the morning and sat outside amongst the stars. She woke shortly thereafter. She put her robe on and found him sitting in an Adirondack chair in the middl
e of the backyard. She grabbed two bottles of juice and joined him.
“Here,” she said.
Looking up, he smiled at her and took her offering. He patted his leg and she sat down on his lap. She wrapped her arm around his neck. “I’m anxious, too.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
“I couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to wake you. I was just remembering when we brought Michael home from the hospital. How excited we were. And you know what?”
“What?”
“I feel that same excitement. I’m excited about tomorrow and Matthew joining our family. I’ve missed having a little one around. You know we have to get him into school.”
“Is he okay for that?”
“Sure is. He won’t be able to go full-time at first. He’s going to need to get his strength up after being in the hospital for so long.”
“We have to enroll him.”
“I’ll call tomorrow. You’ll be too busy at school. We’ll see if he can start next week. By then we should have sorted out a schedule. Sound okay with you?”
“You’re amazing. I’m the teacher and totally forgot about school. Thanks!”
“Not a big deal. We’re both going to have a lot of adjustments to make.”
“I realize that.”
“But with you by my side, I know we’re going to get through this as a stronger unit. I love you. Never ever dismiss that.”
They sat under the stars, both dozing off just before four o’clock. The loud chirping of the birds startled Alejandro awake. It was near six o’clock and both of them were running late. He brushed a soft kiss on her lips, waking her. “Time to get up… You’re going to be late.”
Stretching, she removed herself from his lap. Hand-in-hand, they strolled into the house. It was going to be a glorious day.
Angelina left for school while Alejandro finished showering. He wasn’t on service, so he decided to contact the school that Matthew would attend. He spoke with the principal and made an appointment to see him at ten.
Alejandro was a few minutes late as he received a call from the hospital concerning Jessica. It had taken him longer than expected to deal with her latest crisis. He promised the nurse he’d be in to see her shortly.
He arrived at the school and apologized profusely for being late. He’d called on his way informing the principal of his tardiness. “I received a call from the hospital just as I was walking out the door. Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem. What exactly do you do?”
Alejandro explained that he was a surgeon and that Angelina was a teacher at a nearby school. Alejandro went through Matthew’s personal history—his parents’ recent deaths, his physical condition, and his hospital stay. He also discussed Matthew’s need for a transplant and lastly that he and Angelina were going to eventually adopt him.
The principal called Matthew’s teacher in to meet him. Alejandro introduced himself and re-explained Matthew’s predicament. Everyone was on board with his needs. He would start school the following week. It would be part-time for the first week or so to see how his strength progressed. They would take it one day at a time, but Alejandro was assured that they’d work with him to make sure Matthew’s transition back to school was a smooth one.
Alejandro arrived at the hospital and checked on Jessica. She was improving and hopefully would be released soon. She kept getting infections that he couldn’t seem to get a handle on. He hoped that this was the last hospital stay for her. She was so sweet and he hated to see her go through the physical traumas that she’d endured over the last six months.
Alejandro then made sure his schedule was open for the next two weeks. Thankfully, he was scheduled off and he could take Matthew back and forth to school. Hopefully by the time he returned to service, Matthew would be strong enough to attend school full-time.
Alejandro was paged over the hospital intercom. He answered the call to discover that his father wanted to have lunch with him and Matthew prior to being released. Alejandro was excited that his father was taking such an interest in Matthew. Not only did his father join him and Matthew, but his mother surprised him as well.
“Matthew, we want you to call us whatever you want.”
Matthew looked back and forth between Alejandro’s parents and then said, “How about Grandma and Grandpa?”
In unison, they both agreed. They were thankful to have another grandson. They also missed Michael, but now they had a chance to make special memories with Matthew.
They hadn’t even completed lunch when the door flew open and Angelina walked in.
“What’re you doing here so early?” Alejandro asked as he placed a kiss on her cheek.
“Mary was so excited to hear about Matthew that she told me to leave after lunch. My aide, Jennifer, is going to substitute the rest of the week. It was Mary’s idea, and she told me that if I needed to take more time, not to hesitate—just take it. I think I’ll take Monday off for sure, and we can take Matthew to school together. How does that sound?”
“Great!” Matthew said as he finished his lunch.
They left the hospital around four. They’d barely gotten Matthew settled at the house when the doorbell rang. Angelina’s entire family filed into the house. Her mother had prepared dinner and had invited Alejandro’s entire family. Alejandro feared that all of the activity would overwhelm Matthew, but he took it in stride. He met all of his future aunts and uncles, along with Angelina’s parents.
He’d been so excited that he practically drifted off to sleep mid-sentence. Alejandro picked him up and carried him to his bedroom. A pain seared through his chest as this action brought back many of the same memories that he had with Michael. He suppressed them. Michael was gone. He could never be replaced but, in time, he’d be able to call Matthew his son.
Matthew settled in and adjusted to his new life. They both took him to school that first day. Angelina met his teacher and seemed to bond with her immediately. “I know he has to be behind. If you let me know where he needs additional help, I’ll tutor him.”
When they went to leave, Matthew hugged them. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Alejandro asked.
“For wanting me… I love you both.”
“We love you, too.” Angelina had tears in her eyes as they returned to the principal’s office. She met with the principal to make sure they were in agreement with Matthew’s schedule and his special needs. Angelina was concerned but the principal told them that if Matthew seemed to tire, they would call them immediately. Hand-in-hand they left school.
“Alejandro…”
“He’ll be fine. Stop worrying.”
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
Matthew adjusted to school more quickly than either of them ever imagined. The night before Angelina was scheduled to return to work, she went to help Matthew prepare for bed. She stood in the doorway, watching him. He was looking at the picture of his parents that Alejandro had placed on his dresser. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking when he looked up and caught her watching him.
“Angelina,” he said and then walked towards her. When he reached her, he stopped, smiled up at her, and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“What’s this all about,” she asked as she knelt before him.
“Thank you,” he said and then squeezed his arms more tightly about her waist.
“Why are you thanking me?”
“For taking me home. For wanting me.”
“Of course I want you. I love you.”
Matthew smiled up at her.
Just then, Alejandro walked in and joined them. Matthew hugged him as well.
“Everything okay here?” asked Alejandro. “How’s school?”
Matthew lit up when he started to talk about his friends in school. “I love it! And I actually have friends.”
“I’m glad. Anything else bothering you?”
Matthew thought for a second. He looked up at both Angelina a
nd Alejandro and a huge smile crossed his face. They both realized then that everything was going to work out. Matthew seemed happy living with them and he was adjusting well to his new school.
Angelina returned to work mid-week while Alejandro stayed home and took Matthew to and from school. Angelina was impressed that Matthew wasn’t behind in school. In all actuality, he was reading above grade level and his math skills were right on. Socially, he got along with all of the children and made some good friends. Physically, he was doing as well as could be expected. He still waited for his kidney transplant and underwent dialysis twice a week.
There were days that Angelina was ecstatic, and other days that threw her for a loop. Generally her down days coincided with Matthew’s dialysis—she hated to see him suffer. Often, Alejandro was the one that took him for his treatment. Matthew thought it was neat that his “father” was able to do that.
Alejandro had become concerned as of late. He hadn’t told Angelina, but she could see it in his eyes. Angelina was off one day and wanted to take Matthew to his dialysis. It had been agreed upon earlier in the week, but at the last minute, Alejandro argued with her that he needed to take him. She thought it strange that he insisted on doing so. Ultimately she’d won their dispute, but during his treatment she caught Alejandro reviewing Matthew’s file. She confronted him in the hallway, but he stalled their conversation as he was paged to the OR.
Nervously, she waited for him that night. Alejandro was late and she’d already put Matthew to bed. He was fast asleep when Alejandro finally walked through the door.
Something was up. He looked like he’d been hit by a train. She watched him as he came into the room, hidden in the shadows. He brushed his hands across his eyes and dropped down onto the couch. He closed his eyes and threw his head back. She walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders, slowly massaging them.