Chapter 4

"Do you mind if I go and pick David up without you?" Bosco asked around a mouthful of eggs. Him and Faith were sitting around the kitchen table enjoying the breakfast Faith had prepared after their shower.

"I don't guess I mind. Is there a specific reason you don't want me there?" Faith asked.

"I want to be able to explain to him what's going on, and I think it would be best if it were just me," he replied while inhaling more eggs.

"God Bosco. I forgot how disgusting you are while eating," Faith screeched while crinkling her face in disgust.

"That's one of the many reasons you love me," he replied while sending her a wink. "Is it ok with you if I tell him by myself?"

"Of course. You know what's best when it comes to him Boz." She dropped her head with the statement and Bosco noticed a tear making its way down her cheek.

"Don't cry Faith. Everything will be ok," he stated while taking her hand in his.

"What about Charlie, Bosco? He'll probably hate me." The tears were coming more rapid with each passing second.

"I honestly don't know what his reaction will be Faith but I know he could never hate you. I will be there with you; you won't have to face him alone. I was planning on calling him before he came over tonight to give him some kind of warning. I think it would be wrong for him to show up and you are here unexpected. Don't cry Faith. You know I can't stand to see you cry." He reached up with his free hand and brushed the tears from her cheek.

"I know Boz. I guess I am ready to get this over with and see what happens," she hiccupped around her tears.

With that Bosco released her hand and made his way to the phone and made the arrangements to pick up David. Twenty minutes after that he was standing in the doorway of his apartment ready to head out on what was sure to be a life altering day.

"I'll be back in about an hour or so. Ma just lives fifteen minutes away. Are you ready for this?" he stated while pulling her into his arms.

"As ready as I will ever be," she replied while returning the embrace. He gave her a slow kiss and walked out the door.

Bosco walked out of the apartment building and began to make the short journey to his mom's house. He hadn't wanted to tell Faith but he was probably just as nervous about how David and especially Charlie were going to take the news of her arrival back in New York. He was pretty sure David would be ok but Charlie was a different story. When Faith left Charlie was hurt and angry. He had just lost his sister and then he had to deal with his mother abandoning him without as much as a goodbye. Him and Charlie's bound grew stronger after she left because he was the only one Charlie could turn to for help. Bosco had treated him just like his own child and when Charlie had asked to move in Bosco happily agreed. Charlie was doing well and he hated to tell Faith but she was probably becoming a distant memory to Charlie. He hoped Charlie would be able to forgive her and accept her back into his life.

"Hello."

"Hey Charlie. What are you up to?"

"Nothing Dad. Just hanging out and getting ready to head over to the house for our dinner in a little bit. Is something wrong? You seem nervous."

"Charlie, there is something I need to tell you and I hope you will listen without hanging up," he stated; half demanding, half pleading.

"What's up Dad? You sound like the world is coming to an end," Charlie chuckled over the phone. He knew his dad could blow anything out of proportion.

"Your mom is back, Charlie."

The silence seemed to last forever before Charlie cut through it. "What?" whispered Charlie.

"Your mom is back and she is at the apartment and would like to be there this evening to see you."

"You don't expect me to welcome her back with open arms, do you Dad?"

"No, Charlie I don't. I told her I wouldn't know how you would react and I wasn't going to try and force you to do anything you weren't ready for. But I do expect you to give her enough courtesy to allow her the chance to explain herself Charlie. She is your mother and she loves you more than you could ever know."

"You mean the kind of courtesy she gave us when she walked out," he sneered.

"Charlie, I know you are angry but all I am asking is for you to give her a chance. She really wants to be a part of our life again and I know she misses you."

"I missed her too Dad but that wasn't enough to make her come back."

"Charlie, come on. I'm right there with you when it comes to being pissed, but I let her explain to me the reasons behind why she left and that helped me to able to forgive her. You might feel the same way if you would try. I'll be there with you. Don't worry."

"I'll be there at six," he solemnly avowed.

"Good. Love you," Bosco aired to a dial tone. He had hung up without a goodbye but at least he was going to be there.

Bosco slid the phone back into his jacket pocket as he reached the door to Rose's apartment building. He pressed the button and waited for her to buzz him up. One kid down, one to go, Bosco thought as he marched up the stairs and knocked on the door.

Bosco knocked a couple of times and waited patiently for the door to be answered. He could here his mom making her way to the door with David, no doubt following her because his voice was getting louder as he was asking her the whole way if that was his daddy at the door.

"Maurice?"

"It's me ma."

As soon as the door opened he was bombarded with two little arms making their way around his legs.

"Hey Daddy! Guess what?" David asked with no signs of letting go of his dad's legs.

"Hey buddy. What is it?" Bosco replied while loosening the vice grip around his legs and hoisting David up into his arms.

"I drew you a picture but you have to let me down so I can get it."

"Go get it." With that statement Bosco let him down and watched him scamper away to his room.

"Have you talked to her? Told her that you and David don't need this in your lives and that you two are doing fine without her?" Rose questioned.

"Ma, we talked. I didn't tell her that because we decided to try and work on things and be a family and I was hoping to tell David before I took him home," Bosco stated while cutting his mom a warning glance.

"Just make sure this is what you want and that it is what's best for David, Maurice. That's all I am asking. I love you two and I had to watch what you went through after she left and I don't want to see that happen again, especially now that David is old enough to miss her if she left."

"I know Ma. You should know everything I do is centered around whether or not it's best for David."

He was cut off from the speech he was preparing to make by David's arrival back into the living room carrying a piece of paper and a grin stretched from ear to ear.

"Look." David demanded while he thrust the picture into Bosco's open hand. "It's a picture of you with your uniform on Daddy."

"It looks great buddy. David come here and sit down. I want to talk to you," he said, turning and making his way to the couch.

"What Daddy?" David climbed up on the couch and sat down beside Bosco.

"You know that everybody has a mommy right?"

"Everybody but me. I know," David stated matter of fact while looking at him expectantly to tell him something he didn't already know.

Bosco sighed and continued. "That's not true David. You have a mom too. Just like everybody else."

"Like James and Tyler," David said in awe, mentioning some of his friends from daycare.

"Yep. Just like them. I want to show you something." Bosco reached into his back pocket and took out his wallet and produced a picture of him, Faith, and David. It was the same Christmas picture that Faith had carried with her for 3 and half years. He handed the picture to David and waited for a response.

"Daddy, that's your friend from this morning. That's not my mommy." David handed the picture back to him unabashed.

"David. That is your mommy. She left when you were little because she was sick and now she is better so she wants to be your mommy again. Is that ok?"

"That's cool Daddy. Do you think she can cook better than you can?"

Bosco laughed and ruffled David's hair. "I sure hope so buddy. You ready to head home and meet her?"

"Yep. Let me tell Nana bye." David made his way down off the couch and hurried into the kitchen to tell her goodbye.

"I hear David has a mom now," Rose stated breaking the silence.

"Ma. I know what I am doing. It will be ok. You ready buddy?" Bosco asked David as he made his way into the living room carrying his backpack.

"Yep. Bye Nana, love you."

"Trust me ok. I love you," Bosco said as him and David made their way out the door.

"I love you two," Rose shouted after them. I just hope it all goes like he plans she thought to herself as she watched them walk away and closed the door.