That morning Derek Malone was at the White Memorial Medical Center in LA, looking forward to the results of diagnostic tests for the skin cancer that he suffered.
Sam had wanted to accompany his brother in this difficult time, and he was with Diane early in the hospital. Diane came ahead of Sam to meet his brother, while Sam parked the car.
They were also waiting for Samuel and Tracy, that came to Boston accompanying the grandfather, Patrick, who, when heard about the hard time by the was going his eldest son, also wanted to make an appearance along with the rest of the family. Derek was found supported in this circumstance for many more souls than he expected, but felt inside that merit was not his ,but the goodness of heart of his family.
Derek greeted warmly to Diane when he saw her to approach the hall of the hospital, and took advantage that Sam had not yet come to say her a few confidences :
- Diane want to tell you something that I don´t want to tell Sam,for don't worry more my brother. The truth of what happens to me is I have a melanoma in stage IB .
Diane worried asked:
- What does that mean? What is forecast?
- I have already made several tests to determine the stage in which the tumor is and its exact location is in the back . I also had a biopsy, today give me the results of those tests, but my doctor told me that today I will do ... something more routine, he said. It is the protocol.
The moment that Derek talked to Diane about his current situation, Sam appeared walking down the long hallway briskly to where they were. Sam did not have a smiling face.
-Hi Derek ! How are you? - greeted him somewhat aloof.
-Hi Sam! I appreciate you being here .
- It's nothing, -said Sam- excuse me, I want to talk alone with Diane .
- Of course. Also I think they are about to call me for more tests.
-Okay, we're here.
Diane took Sam's hand and they walked moving away from Derek.
- What the hell were you talking to him?... amazes me such proximity after so long, -said Sam visibly angry- .
-Come on Sam, nothing happens. He was telling me what they are doing, that's all.
- I don´t like that you talk to him so confidently. Not that I do not trust you, but I do not trust him.
- Honey, it's okay, calm down.-said Diane-.
Sam's voice rose and said with determination:
- I tell you I do not inspire me confidence, and neither should you! ... People do not change overnight, no matter how sick they are.
When they were in the middle of this confrontation Samuel and Tracy surprised them coming with Grandpa. Samuel was a bit surprised to see his father so angry.
-Hi everyone- said Samuel- We´re already here.
Sam and Diane left the discussion and they greeted their son and Tracy with a kiss, as well as Grandpa. Sam gave her a warm hug to his father.
-Hi Dad -said Sam- did you have a good trip?
- Yes, very well. You have a wonderful son, Sam. Truly lovely.
Sam filled him with pride to hear about your son. I knew of his virtues, but as a parent, he wasn´t tired of listen it.
- Hi Diane -Patrick said to his daughter in law.
- How are you? - Diane replied kissing him on the cheek.
It was evident to all that they hadn´t arrived at a good time. You could feel the tension in the air.
- Is everything okay? -Samuel asked, visibly worried.
-Yes -answered Diane and looking at her son she said: come you with me to the cafeteria?, I need a coffee.
Samuel realized that his mother wanted to talk to him alone and accompanied her, leaving Tracy with his father and grandfather.
- Ok, mom. If you will excuse us...
Samuel and Diane walked toward to the cafeteria. Arriving, he saw a free table and they sat down .
- Honey, I'm very happy to see you- Diane said to her son.
- I too, Mom, what do you want to take? .
- A coffee , thanks.
Samuel brought two coffees from the bar to the table where his mother was sitting . They were facing each other .
- Tell me... what about Tracy ? -Diane asked- .
- Well mom. She is very different from Jessie . But don´t try to change the subject.. why dad was so angry when we arrived?
- Nothing sweetheart... dad, he was a little jealous.
- Dad jealous?, Why?
-I was talking with Derek when he came and bothered.
- This is nonsense . I've never seen dad jealous . He loves you and you love him, right?
- Of course, my love ! . But you know that he doesn´t get along with your uncle. They competed continually. Derek also tried to date me many years ago ...
- What? -Samuel asked astonished .
- Yes , just before that your father an I began to be couple. Actually nothing happened. I wanted to be with your father. I've always loved him completely.
- I'll talk to dad about this ...
-No, Samuel- Diane contradicted him. Not important.
Diane stared at his son and said, smiling:
- How handsome you are! I love you so much and I miss you so much ...!
- I also to you, but that´s the way things are, -said Samuel smiling resignedly-...and let me to say you that you´re the most beautiful mother in the world...
- Ahh honey!... -then Diane continued saying: ... when you will have children you will realize that, however much time it spends, for parents, you are always our children. And you were such a nice boy!.
- Mom! ...
- It's true! When you were born, we were so excited ... We had waited so long to become a family and you made our dream come true. We've always been and we will be proud of you.
- Why not you had another child after me?.
- I do not know. We thought about it, of course. We would have loved. I never thought your father liked children so much before we married. It was something that surprised me...as many other things of your father...He always surprises me...- said laughing- ... with you, he always been crazy. And now remains. But it had spent much time for us, a frustrated wedding, six years lost , I suppose we focus on you, on us , we needed both enjoy each other ... In addition, for women immediately we passed the right time to be mothers, as we neglect a little.
- I wish had had a brother , but ... I´m happy with our family.
Diane got up from her chair and sat down beside him She kissed and embraced him stroking her hair. Then he added:
- Do not worry about dad, and don´t must judge wrong to him . He´s the most wonderful man in the world, and he knows that he hasn´t to be jealous of anyone. Few women are so in love with her husband as I am of him! .
Samuel smiled at her mother . Diane said:
-Let go with others. Dad must be quieter.
Samuel took his mother behind the shoulders, and they left the cafe walking slowly toward the elevators to go up to the floor and join the family.
Patrick Malone was always impulsive and passionate man. The waiting finished with his patience. When Diane and Samuel went down to the hospital cafeteria , Sam, Tracy and Patrick , were engaged in a prolonged and tense silence caused by the anguish that felt the old man for Derek . Finally was Patrick himself, who broke the cold silence:
-I hate this waiting ! I will talk with the doctors.
- Dad, don´t go!. It isn´t a good idea. Then the doctor will …
Sam kept the word in his mouth. Patrick had started walking ignoring to Sam. He went straight to his goal, and no one was going to stop him. Sam followed him a few steps trying to persuade him , but got nowhere.
When Sam turned back to Tracy , he saw the girl trying to hide her laughter , covering her mouth with one hand. Sam was amused that spontaneous attitude of Tracy.
- My father ignored me... -began to tell Sam - and for you it´s funny! . Ok ! That is comforting.
- It's not that , -said Tracy containing laugh - ...Only that was a bit pathetic ... the face you put, made me laugh ... It's been fun .
- But why do you say it was pathetic ? -Sam insisted .
-What would you say if saw a grown man as a toddler running around behind his old father ? -Tracy asked- .
-Pathetic !
They both laughed without pretense. Sam liked the nature of Tracy between shy and spontaneous, between wise and funny . Also impacted him her simple and natural beauty ... And especially her eyes. Yes, this time his son had chosen well.
-It's a shame . In all this time , we couldn´t talk much , but I confess that I like you. I hope that on this trip we get to know you -Sam confessed wiping away tears of laugh-.
-Yes, in fact I know a lot details of you ... !, and about Diane . Samuel loves and admires you two greatly. He talks much about you two.
-Oh yeah ! And what did he tell you about me? -asked Sam with his best smile-.
Sam unintentionally , had made a commitment question. Tracy thought the response a few seconds before answering.
-…Well ... for starters ... you are a sportsman. You were Red Sox player . Your first marriage lasted less than a sigh. You bought ' Cheers' when you were came out of a drinking problem . You are a great father and husband. You like kids , dogs , sports cars (especially your precious Chevrolett Red Corvette ) you likes DIY jobs , Chinese food and you're a fan of the Red Sox and Celtics.
-Oh boy ! Such a girl as beautiful as you, it all sounds amazing . What could I say now to impress you as much as you to me ?.
-Oh!... and you´re an unrepentant seducer -added Tracy
- I give in!- Sam said, smiling fun-... I expect know you soon so well as you with me.
Tracy answered with a smile. It was obvious it had good vibes between them. It had started well. Abusing a bit of the confidence, Sam dared more:
- Hey Tracy, can I ask you something?
-Sure! Tracy replied without thinking twice.
- Samuel was very young when she started dating Jessie.- Sam began to say- Now I can confess without fear of screw up which I never liked that girl . I knew it was not going to stop anywhere and although I tried to warn him, he ignored me and things ended badly. Samuel has had a hard time when he broke with Jessie…
-Yes, I know, -Tracy said.
-... What I would ask you is take care of Samuel. I do not want see him suffer more. And I am much mistaken, or I think you could make him happy. I usually judge people pretty well. I can trust you, right?
Tracy was excited by this demonstration of trust of her boyfriend´s father. It had been touched her in heart. Couldn´t help it and she hugged Sam.
- Thanks Sam for your confidence in me...-she said-
Then they continued talking about their stuff when Samuel and Diane arrived. Both noticed the great harmony which had arisen between Sam and Tracy. Samuel was really pleased. There was nothing in the world he wanted more than to see Tracy fit perfectly with his family.
It will continue…