starts 4 months before the baby is born...
Running past the usual places was getting boring so Tony peeled off down a road he had not taken before. Houses, trees, empty lot, more houses. It was hotter than hell and he was quickly getting tired, but still far from his house. More houses went by and then a church. St. Joseph's. It was Catholic. That was familiar enough because he grew up catholic, and it would be cool inside. He stopped running and walked to the door. The vestibule was cool. He went into the church. Cool and quiet. Perfect. Out of old habit he blessed himself with holy water and went to sit down in a pew. He looked around at all the old familiar things from his own church growing up in Chicago. Crucifix, Tabernacle, stations, etc. Tony didn't practice his faith anymore, but his sister and mother did. College sort a took it out of him and the military didn't help. He sat for a while until he felt ready to face the heat again and got up to leave.
For the next few days he took a different route. Running was his therapy. It was his outlet and soon enough it became his delight. He stayed fit and healthy (which Michelle was happy about). He could sweat out his fear or anger, etc. Air rushing past him, the rhythmic sound of his feet hitting the ground, and the physical exertion were what Tony came to love. Michelle worked very hard to keep Tony from the darkness. Tony in his turn fought hard to trust in the man that she knew he was, the man that had never disappeared in the first place. On a mid day run he took the turn back down the street that St. Joseph's church was on and decided to repeat the pleasant experience; a break in a cool, dark, familiar place. The next day Tony did it again and soon it became his little custom. A brief, cool retreat every day.
After a few times of sitting in the empty church, something happened. Tony was sitting there thinking about Michelle, the baby, and how life would be. Then, suddenly, his wandering thoughts faded. Inside him was something else. There were no thoughts at all. He didn't hear a voice, he felt no comfort, but in his heart there was a stillness. He had been dying for this! Was it the place? Or just the moment? Peace. Tony Almeida felt some peace. It wasn't happiness or fireworks, just a stillness that felt so good. He stayed there enjoying the new experience until he looked at his watch. It was time to get back. Tony ran back home in record time, feeling refreshed. Usually after a run, he felt motivated to be a good husband, to live his life, to overcome his past. This was the first time Tony felt as though he'd been given a cool glass of water to sustain that fight.
The next day on his run he knew he had to go back there. Tony wanted that peace so badly. Something, He didn't know what it was, but he didn't think he could live without it now. Day after day he went to sit in the stillness that comforted his broken soul. He would run to St. Joseph's and spend a long time doing nothing but sitting there in the cool silence. For the first time since before he went to prison Tony could close his eyes and nothing would move behind them. It was safe inside his mind again.
Toward the end of the 3rd week since the stillness began Tony began to feel something inside the empty space. It was strange, but he felt it in his heart. A new thought then came into his brain. He didn't believe anymore. Did he? He hadn't even considered it since he was in his early 20's. So, that day, Tony sat there for a long long time. Silent questions and silent answers. Michelle asked him what had taken him so long. He said he had been sitting and thinking. That was true. Why didn't he tell her where he went? Tony didn't know, but it was totally innocent so he didn't lose sleep over it. He knew he would tell her about it, but for now, it was just his.
After the day the faith question arose, Tony stopped going there for a while. However, he could not stay away too long. Soon, he was back again sitting, this time, in the first pew. On this occasion something disturbing happened to him. His heart began to ache inside him, like when Michelle would visit him in prison. It was longing. He wanted something, something he had long ago but no more. His heart was pulling towards it. Abruptly Tony got up and left. Every day after that he went back and his mind returned to the usual uneventful silence that was now his companion.
Happiness had sprouted out of the ashes of Tony and Michelle's life. It had been struggle and survival for so many months and the two of them had grown accustomed to it. Amidst that struggle the true nature of their relationship became clear. There was so much love, so much giving, and so much trust. The happiness each of them felt and the affection they shared felt like such a phenomenal gift to them now. They had passed the test and life began anew. The baby was on the way and despite Tony's prior fears, he was elated. He was a father and soon enough he would meet his hidden child. His wife was a mother! The mother of his baby! Michelle was the most beautiful pregnant woman in the universe and he told her. Every day. Multiple times. Sometimes she would get annoyed because she felt like a whale and then she would cry. Tony couldn't help but laugh when she cried over ridiculous things. Though it seemed heartless to laugh at her expense, she always ended up in his arms, dissolved in tearful laughter. "You're crazy." He would always tell her. "It's your fault." She would always respond. True enough.
They were very indecisive about whether they wanted to know the baby's sex. On some days Tony wanted to know so badly and the next he wanted a surprise. One minute Michelle wanted to know and then the next minute she didn't. Picking a name for a boy was very easy. Michelle had always loved the name Thomas and Tony wanted to use his late father's name; Jose. They were agreed, so Jose Thomas Almeida was set for their first born son, if they had one. The catalyst that decided to find out was that they had become so annoyed with being unable to agree on a girl's name they both liked that it compelled them to find out the sex of the baby. That way they could either not worry about it anymore or be forced to decide on a girl's name.
Husband and wife were lying in bed the night after learning that their baby was their baby boy. Michelle and Tony had ceases speaking some minutes ago when out of the blue Tony began singing at the top of his lungs into the darkness to the tune of the national anthem. "Joo-oh-se, can you seeeeeee? By the dawn's early light! That your moooother is so so so bea-u-ti-ful! She makes me so happy!..."
Michelle thought she would go into labor from the surprise since she was just beginning to doze, but then began laughing and laughing. Tony's inability to contain his happiness was one of her favorite things about him. When she said yes to his marriage proposal on the beach, he ran into the ocean and then came back out, picked Michelle up and threw her in with him. She would have told him she changed her mind, but she was too busy laughing and screaming.
Tony continued his song. "When you are born we will be so glad and I know you can here my song nooooow!"
"Thanks, Tony. Now he's kicking. You totally just woke him up."
Tony propped himself up and whispered to Michelle's stomach "Jose, your mom is a party pooper."
Michelle lightly punched Tony's arm and then spoke the her unborn son. "And daddy likes to scream in bed for no reason."
Tony started laughing and fell onto his back. His laughter soon faded and he became quiet.
Michelle, knowing him as well as she did, could sense his sudden reflective mood. "What are you thinking about?" She asked him.
Tony sighed. "I wish I could give him a life without a traitor for a father."
Michelle spoke quietly. "He and I are here because you are a so called traitor."
Tony sighed. "I know." Then he smiled to himself. Despite it all, he would not take it back. He took her hand. "It was all worth it." Michelle leaned over and kissed him.
One afternoon Tony was sitting in the church, looking around, closing his eyes, just enjoying the peace and quiet, when he began to feel uncomfortable. Thoughts began to flood into his head and memories of his life and things he had done and not done, what he had been through and what he had put others through. He felt guilt. He felt need. He felt broken. He knew he'd been through a lot, but he wanted to be whole! This was different. Right there in that church he felt a wash of something he didn't have, something not right. He wanted it! He wanted to put it right!
That night, it took him forever to fall asleep. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to go back to what he had grown up with. It was apart of his identity and made his family who they were. Tony wanted to be grounded in his roots again, wanted a source for motivation, love, peace and wanted to give something significant to his son. He felt as though he was about to leap off an edge, but felt was sure that he would fly. What did he have to lose from it anyway? It's not as though he couldn't abandon it all if it turned out to be nothing for him.
Michelle was already asleep, but he couldn't help himself.
"Michelle."
"Hm?"
"I'm done coping."
"What?"
"I mean I don't just want to survive. I want to be fully alive."
"Sounds good to me." came a sleepy reply.
He laughed. "Seriously."
"I'm serious." She mumbled.
"I'll talk about it tomorrow" he said and threw a pillow on her head.
She didn't remove it.
"I love you too." He said to his slumbering wife.
He didn't understand what he wanted, but was not concerned. It was unfolding.
The next morning Tony wanted to get to the earliest mass, and see the priest after. He left a note for Michelle saying he wanted to go for a long run early and that he'd be back. He hoped she wouldn't find that weird or reason to worry. He ran as fast as he could to St. Joseph's and was early for the 6:30 am mass. He sat in the back and felt awkward. Every time he'd come here, the church was empty, but now he felt like just a sweaty stranger in the back which he was, but not unwelcome. After mass the priest went into the confessional. The old ladies began the rosary just like they did at his church when Tony was a kid. He watched a few people line up for confession and wanted to wait and go last. The rosary ended and the last person went to confession around the same time. Although no one was watching him, Tony felt very self conscious as he headed for the confessional. Entering the little dark room, he shut the door behind him and knelt down.
He could hear the priest on the other side of the screen speak the sign of the cross.
Tony hesitated.
"Father, I don't remember what to do." He felt like a fool.
The priests voice was kind. "There is so much joy at those words." Tony was surprised by this comment and felt slightly at ease because of it.
"When was your last confession?" The priest asked. Tony could hear a slightly Mexican accent.
Tony told him it was in college and then priest asked him what he wanted to confess. It started awkwardly, but then the thoughts began to flow freely. He confessed everything he could think of and bore his soul. All that he did and didn't do in college and after. His days in the military, the hate and anger that burned in his so many times. He talked about his relationship with Nina, the times he lied and did things for the sake of the job. He told the priest everything that happened in prison, what had happened since. Everything between him and his wife, his drinking, his desire to drink. When he had finished the priest said it had been a good confession and asked him "Do you remember the act of contrition?"
"No."
"Ok. Repeat after me."
Tony spoke each phrase of the prayer as the priest did. His penance was to say 1 sincere "Our Father". The priest gave him absolution and Tony bowed his head when the sign of the cross was made in secret over him. His heart was bursting and he felt so light that he couldn't wipe a smile off of his face.
Before he got up to leave the priest asked if Tony would stay and talk to him in the church for a little while. He agreed. He was flying high. So Tony went and said his prayer. He spoke to the God for what felt like the first time.
"Thank you." He whispered as tears fell from his eyes. He was so happy.
The priest came out of the confessional shortly after and sat down next to Tony. He put out his hand. "Father Justin Reyes."
"Tony Almeida." He said, shaking his hand. The man couldn't be more than 30. It was very clear, now that Tony could see him, that the priest was definitely Mexican. Brown skin, brown eyes, black hair and not very tall.
He wanted instruct and challenge Tony on entering a new life as man of God and what that meant for him. He asked if his wife, Michelle, was religious and Tony said no. They talked a long time. Fr. Justin told Tony if he ever needed anything he would be happy to talk to him. He would gladly be a spiritual advisor for him, even a friend. Tony liked that very much and accepted the offer. He asked Tony if he had any more questions. There were a few, but one that worried him most. He told him that he and Michelle were expecting and Father, Justin congratulated him.
"Father, do you know men who've become fathers after...?"
"After they were assaulted?" The priest asked kindly.
"Yeah." Tony whispered.
He nodded. "Sure, Tony, and they are great dads."
Tony nodded pensively.
"You were prepared to be a good father at some point before you went to prison, right?" Fr. Justin asked.
Tony nodded.
"The only thing different now, is that you have doubt because you experienced a trauma. But that's just a feeling. Everything is as it was. You, her, your future together."
Tony was quiet for a moment.
"She was pregnant before I went to prison, but..." He looked down at the kneeler. "She miscarried the night I was convicted. We've never told anyone... just talked about it in letters a few times and when she visited me in jail." Tony closed his eyes. "That was all such a nightmare."
"I'm sorry, Tony."
"It's not your fault..."
"I'll pray for you both."
"Thank you, Father."
"Thank you for coming, Tony. It's a gift for you to come back like this. For all of us. You were led here when the time was right."
"Yeah."
Tony then took out his phone. 5 texts from Michelle. Quickly he texted: "I'm coming now. Sorry."
"I have to go. She's worried."
Father Justin smiled. "With your track record, she's justified."
"Yeah." He said as he stood up. They shook hands and Tony thanked him again. The priest embraced Tony and said "Welcome back, brother." Deeply moved, Tony returned the hug.
As he made to leave, father asked "Will I see you at mass tomorrow?"
"Yes." Tony said. "If it's lifeblood like you say, I need all I can get."
Father Justin smiled. "You've got it already. Goodbye, Tony."
Tony sprinted all the way home. Partially from urgency to assure Michelle and partially that he could not contain himself. For the first time in a long time Tony felt his heart floating in grace.
Stumbling in though the front door he yelled with what breath he had "I'm here! I'm sorry! I'm here!"
She came into the hall to meet him. She had been working at the computer.
"Hi! Sorry!" he said, smiling hugely. He came up and hugged her. "I love you so much!" He kissed her. "You're beautiful and I love you!"
She was laughing. "Where were you?" But he just kept hugging her and kissing her and making her laugh.
"I'm so happy!" He said. "So happy!" and he picked her up and spun around.
"Tony!" She screamed laughingly. "You've lost it!"
"No!" He said, putting her down and taking her face in his hands. "I've gained it! I have everything!"
"Tony. What happened?"
A sheepishness flooded his expression and he went into the kitchen. She followed him. "Tony. That's weird. What?"
He got a glass of water. "Gimme a minute." He said and gulped the whole thing down. Leading her to the kitchen table they both sat down.
"So." He said. "I. Well, so I. hmmm."
She laughed despite her confusion and curiosity. "Spit it out, Tony."
"Ok. Sorry. ...So I went running about 2 months ago and it was really hot out. I went down a new route and there was a church there. I was melting so I went in to get away from the heat. You know, catholic church, my childhood, whatever. It was cool and dark so I sat for a while. But I kept going back. I couldn't seem to stay away. I started feeling safe there and peaceful. I didn't feel ashamed, I didn't feel anything, Michelle!"
She was silent as she listened to his animated explanation. She hadn't seen him so free.
"I wanted that so much! So I kept going and sitting for a while every time I ran. Then yesterday I felt something was wrong and I had to fix it. So I went to the early morning mass today and the priest heard my confession afterwards and uh... I'm gonna be catholic again."
"Ok."
He searched her face. "That's ok with you?"
"Of course, Tony. I mean I would have liked you to tell me what's been going on, but if this is making you happy then it's ok with me."
"Great!"
"Tony, this is unfamiliar to me. You know religion has never been part of my life. So if this changes anything, you better explain."
"Sure. Sure. Of course!"
She smiled. He was like an excited child. He jumped up. "I knew I married you for a reason! I'm going to shower." He kissed her and bounced out of the room.
This was so random to her, but she wasn't upset about it in the least. At least this time Tony's interior secret was a good one.
The next morning Tony ran to the 6:30am mass. Father Justin had a book he wanted to lend him afterwards. As the days went by Tony explained to Michelle a little more of what this meant to his life. It all sounded pretty good to her. The spiritual stuff she didn't question or worry about. If it was helping him, she was all for it. On Sunday he went to mass. Michelle did not join him. He didn't mind. This was new and it was his experience anyway. He would push nothing on her and he knew that her full support was behind him.
Jack was sitting with his head back on the easy chair in Tony's living room. Tony was laying on the couch. It was late and Michelle was already asleep in bed down the hall. Jack had come over for dinner (cooked by Tony) and had been working on business plans with them. The two men had just been watching soccer, but eventually turned off the tv and were now talking.
Tony had told him about his recent reentrance into religion. Jack was not a religious person and could not really relate, but supported Tony completely. In fact, he was happy for him.
"I never thought I'd hear you tell me you were going to be a religious man, Tony."
"Yeah, well I never thought anything that's happened since the day I met you would have happened. Life is... madness."
Jack closed his eyes. "Yeah. It is." He knew it all too well.
They fell silent for a few minutes.
Jack suddlenly remembered something.
"Kim is pregnant!" He said with a big smile.
"Alright!" Tony grinned. "Grampa Jack!"
"I'm a Grampa already." Jack clarified. "An adoptive grandpa. Now I get to be a biological grandpa too."
Tony laughed. "Well then congratulations, biological Grandpa Jack."
"There ya go." Jack said as he closed his eyes again.
Tony chewed a thought for a moment and then shared it with Jack.
"Jack."
"What?" He answered, eyes still closed.
"Now that you're not at CTU anymore and you've sorted things out, have you thought about calling Kate?"
Jack's eyes opened and he looked up at the ceiling. He nodded. "I have."
"...and?" Tony probed.
"I don't know."
"Fair enough." Tony said. "But, your life is not what it was before. Those obstacles and dangers aren't in the picture now."
"I know."
"Think about it."
"I will." Then he changed the subject. "Tony, will Michelle think it's weird if I sleep here all night? I'm too tired to get out of this chair."
"We can find out in the morning. I'm not getting up either."
"So Michelle gets to wake up and find 2 hobos in the living room."
"Yep." Tony mumbled. He was already falling asleep.
"Goodnight."
Jack received an incoherent mumble in response. Tony was sleeping in the next morning.
Tony began seeing Father Justin a few times during the week after morning mass. He usually celebrated the 6:30am mass, but once in a while it was one of the other 2 priests at St. Josephs. Once a week Tony and Fr. Justin would meet up and talk for a long time. Their friendship quickly progressed. Justin Juan Reyes was Mexican American, born and raised in LA. He had 4 brothers, all of them older than him. He was ordained a priest only 2 years ago. Tony soon learned that the priest was a runner as well and they agreed to run together some time. Father Justin typically ran at night. That's when he had time. Tony told him he'd make plans to have him over for dinner some evening so he could meet Michelle. Tony really enjoyed starting his days so early, with excercise and a peaceful time of prayer. He would usually be back by the time Michelle was just waking up and sometimes even before. Especially these days, sleeping in was her m.o. When he got home, he would make coffee and breakfast. He loved starting almost everyday like this and Michelle (especially right now) loved breakfast. It was a perfect arrangement.
One warm morning after the 6:30am, Father Justin invited Tony for coffee on the porch of the rectory. They talked about everything; where they were from, their lives leading up to where they were now. Tony did not understand why it was so easy to talk with this man he barely knew, but Fr. Justin Reyes may have been the most approachable person Tony ever met. Their subject turned to family and the baby and fatherhood.
"Tony, remember how I told you I knew men who became great dads after they'd been assaulted like you were?"
"Of course." Tony said, putting his coffee mug down.
"One of them is my older brother, Andres."
Tony looked at him. "Your brother?"
He nodded. It happened when he was 25, a grown man. He was married at the time too and she was pregnant with their first child. He left his wife for 4 months before he got it together. He wanted to kill himself."
"How did it happen?" Tony asked quietly.
Just as quietly, Fr. Justin responded. "He was driving through Nevada in the middle of the night, trying to get back from a friend's funeral in Denver. Let's just say that truck stops in the middle of nowhere Nevada at 3AM aren't the safest or most populated areas. Especially when you're a young hispanic man surrounded by a gang of drunk redneck thugs."
Tony nodded solemnly.
"How did you find out?"
"My brother and I are close." he said. "He stayed with me & I didn't leave him alone when he separated from my sister in law. He left as soon as he got out of the hospital. All of us thought he had just been mugged and beaten savagely and that was all true, but I finally got the rest out of him. The part that made him feel like he couldn't be a husband and father anymore."
"How many kids does he have now?" Tony asked.
"3 boys, 3 girls. He's 41 now. He and my sister-in-law are very happy. Their youngest is named after me and he's my godson." He said this last part with a proud smile.
"Thank you for telling me that, Father."
"I'm only telling you for your sake. That's not for anyone else."
"I understand." Tony said.
"Thank you."
Tonight Michelle was not home. She and an old friend from district were out for dinner. So Jack & Tony were living it up doing nothing. Their favorite. They ordered pizza which was something neither one of them had done in a long time. Michelle had never been much of a pizza fan, but Tony was from Chicago. So they got everything on it. They ate and and watched whatever sporting event they could find on tv. This particular night it happened to be fishing. As boring as it was neither one of them found the motivation to change the channel. It was strangely fascinating. Neither Tony or Jack disliked fishing, but watching other people fish on tv was an entirely different thing. Eventually they turned it off. When it seemed as though sleep would soon come to the man in the chair and the man on the couch, Tony spoke to the silent room.
"My conviction killed my first child."
"What?" Jack said opening his eyes and looking over at his friend.
"Michelle was pregnant. 1 month along. She miscarried the night of my conviction."
"I'm sorry, Tony."
"It's not your fault. I didn't find out until she came to visit me the second time. She couldn't tell me on her first visit."
Tony closed his eyes, but when they opened again, he smiled faintly. "We get a second chance... At everything."
Both men fell silent again. Tony, because he had nothing else to say, and Jack, because he thought his voice had just sunk in the ocean. He breathed words into the air that were buried so deep under the sludge beneath his heart that it was agony for them to be unearthed, Yet Tony's words had done just that. Tony had never known about this one.
"Teri..." Jack said, but choked on his words.
Tony's eyes shot to Jack. He never talked about Teri.
Jack tried again. "She-". Again he choked on his words, but vomited them back out in sobs.
Tony did not move, but let Jack clear out his soul for a few minutes. He had never seen Jack break down like this. Jack brought his knees up to his chest, covered his head with his hands and let it all out. It took him a while for his sobs to turn to sputtering coughs and those to turn to steady breathing. Finally, Tony ventured very softly. "Do you want to tell me, Jack?"
"Teri" He inhaled deeply. "told me she was pregnant... The day she was murdered."
Tony's heart sank. Teri's death became more cataclysmic for Jack than Tony already knew it to be.
His words were insufficient but he said them anyway. "I'm sorry, Jack."
Tears fell freely from Jack's eyes again. "So I'm saying..." He wiped them, but they were quickly replaced. "that I understand."
Tony nodded. It took a hell of a lot for Jack to rip out his own secret horror for the sake of solidarity with his friend. The significance of the deed was not lost on Tony.
"Thank you, Jack." He said and he meant it.
"Michelle," Tony said while they were having dinner at the kitchen table.
"I want our son to be baptized."
Michelle was about to take a sip of water from her glass, but stopped and stared blankly at Tony. He waited for a response.
Suddenly she tipped her glass slightly so that a little amount of water fell onto her (very) pregnant stomach.
"Done." she said.
Tony's face broke into a smile and so did hers. He picked up a piece of food and chucked it at her. "You're a jerk." He said with a laugh.
"But you love me for it."
"Yes, I do."
"All joking aside." Michelle said. " As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing to lose and I'm open to your faith and you passing it to our son. So that's fine with me. We both have gifts to give our children."
"He'll also be bilingual thanks to me." Tony added, patting himself on the back. Michelle rolled her eyes. "As glad as I am for that, I cannot indulge that sentiment. ...I guess he's going to be a religious pluralist then too?"
Tony looked puzzled.
"A Catholic and a Chicago Cubs fan." She clarified.
"Oh. Well, that was my condition for marriage; Our kids would be raised a Cubs fans."
Michelle just started laughing. "That sounds so absurd. 'raised a cubs fan'? Like being 'raised catholic' or 'raised jewish'?... And what if he decides he doesn't like the Cubs or even baseball?"
"That won't happen."
"Why not?"
"Because he'll know that he will be disowned if he isn't a Cubs fan."
Michelle stood up to take her plate to the sink. As she passed Tony's chair she poured the little remaining water in her glass onto his head.
"Oh!" Tony shouted in surprise. Michelle was out of his reach just in time.
So days were ideal. Jack, Michelle, and Tony working together to get their fledgling business off the ground. Tony plunged into the work. He loved doing what he was good at again and along side his wife again. Michelle was getting closer and closer to due date. Tony was becoming slightly ridiculous. He would jump out of his chair if she so much as rubbed her back after standing up. She would have to assure him that she was not in labor. Jack, if he was present and lately he was often, would look on with amusement and roll his eyes. But the day did finally arrive.
Michelle's water broke in the mid afternoon. Jack was over at the house doing some work on the computers with Michelle. Tony had just run out for another office supply that they needed. She was in the kitchen pouring a cup of tea when it happened. Jack was typing away in the Almeida's designated work room when Michelle called his name. "Jack!"
"Yeah?" He called.
"Please call Tony right now." She said as calmly as possible.
This time Jack registered the note of urgency in her tone. He had heard that tone once before in his adult life.
"What would you like me to tell him?" He asked knowingly as he withdrew his phone from his pocket.
"Just do it Jack!"
"Ok." He said as he came into the kitchen. Michelle was now sitting at the table with her hand on her stomach.
"Tony?... Michelle needs you to come home right now... Yes, but she didn't say that... Ok." Jack put his phone away and went back to the room. "He's down the street and on his way. How do you feel?"
"Like I have some time, but you know..."
He began to answer, but then thought better of it.
Jack was excited and it wasn't even his wife.
"I'll go get the car."
"Ok." She said and got up to find her bag.
Jack was getting out of the car he'd just pulled out of the garage when Tony came speeding up the driveway.
"Jose's coming!" Tony shouted as he ran toward the house.
"Jose?"
"You're not supposed to know that!" as the door slammed behind him. Jack laughed.
"Baby! How do you feel?" He said, taking her bag as she was coming down the hall.
"Fine. Let's just get going before I don't feel fine anymore."
"Yeah. Ok." He said hastily and opened the door for her.
Jack was standing with the passenger door open for Michelle.
"You're coming right?" Tony asked after Jack shut her door.
"No, I'd rather not."
"Get in the car, Jack. I've never done this before."
Jack smiled appreciatively and obeyed.
Tony was in an absurd state of nervous glee. Jack was perfectly calm and Michelle was calm, all things considered. Michelle was ok with Tony being Tony, but also very glad that Jack, calm and cool, was in the back seat.
The labor lasted 3 hours and even Michelle commented that Tony seemed more worn out from the experience than she was. At least emotionally. But both parents were so happy. Jose Thomas Almeida had finally arrived. Michelle and Tony were so happy. Life had just begun for a more than just Jose. When Tony placed him in Michelle's arms for the first time, she actually cried. He was so beautiful and not so long ago she believed she and Tony would never get to have children, let alone be together. She kissed the baby and held him for a few minutes, telling him who she was and who Tony was. Then she gave him to her husband to show to Jack. Jose was 9 lbs. even and was born with a full head of downy black hair. He was a big boy and Jack found him so cute that he could not help but chuckle. When he eventually placed his son back in his mother's arms, Tony was beaming. Jose's arrival had at once dissipated anything negative in the world universe. His life couldn't be more perfect.
That evening Michelle fell asleep, but Tony sat in the chair gazing at his new baby boy. His whole hand wrapped around Tony's index finger and his dark, tired little eyes searched for nothing in particular. Tony spoke to him a soft low voice. He told him about his mother and he told him how much he loved him.
"Everything I have is yours." Tony whispered.
Tony promised Jose that he would never have to be afraid as long as he was his father. Then he looked up at his sleeping wife and smiled. Finally he had to obey his body demanding to sleep and placed Jose in the basinet. By now the baby was slumbering. Tony then settled into the uncomfortable hospital chair and quickly fell asleep.
