CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
PRESENT DAY
You prepare yourself everyday from the time you begin medical school throughout your internship, your residency, even through your attending years, and even after you become the head of your department to give bad news to the family of your patient. But nothing prepares you for when you receive a call from your daughter and she is crying on the phone telling you that you and mama need to fly to Miami as soon as possible. I receive such a phone call from Bailey on April 5, 2037.
By the time Arizona, Alexander and I arrive in Miami, we are escorted by a gentleman to an awaiting car that takes the three of us to St. Mary's Hospital. Upon arrival at St. Mary's, we are greeted by Bailey, Timothy, Theodore and Addison Barbara. After we exchange hugs and kisses, Bailey takes Arizona and I to Room 4975. Timothy, Theodore and Addison Barbara take Alexander with them to go and get something to eat. They say that they will be up to the room shortly. I knock on the door before the three of us enter the room only to be greeted by my father as I see my mother lying in a hospital bed.
Taking a chair on one side of my mother's hospital bed holding her hand in mine while my father sits in a chair on the other side of her bed, Arizona and Bailey each position a chair as Arizona sits next to me holding my other hand in hers stroking the back of my hand with her thumb as Bailey sits next to her grandfather resting her head on his back between his shoulder blades as she slides her hand up and down his back comforting him. My father begins to speak to Arizona and I "She was at work…she had a meeting this morning and her secretary went into her office at around ten and found her on the floor. When she could not revive her…she called 911 and then called me and Bailey. I arrived to the emergency room just after the ambulance and the doctor said she had a stroke" then my father began to cry. "The doctor says she may never wake up again" Bailey says as she too begins to cry.
Arizona and I rise to cross the room to give my father and Bailey a strong hug as the four of us cry in each other's arms. Then the four of us are joined by the rest of our children and when Alexander sees his grandmother, he runs to me and my father and hugs both of us as he cries in our arms. Timothy, Theodore and Addison Barbara have explained to Alexander what has happened to his grandmother during their lunch together. Timothy holds Addie and Theodore close to his body when the doctor walks into the room to see the whole Robbins-Torres family. He asks for my father to come outside but I hold on to my father while the two of us are holding onto Alexander and I say to the doctor "You can tell us all…we are her family. What ever you have to say…you may say it to all of us". The doctor questions "What about the boy? Do you really want him to hear this news"? Then Arizona says "Yes, he will understand". Then the doctor says "We have run all the tests we needed to and there is no brain activity. Mrs. Torres has suffered a massive stroke that is irreversible. The only thing keeping Mrs. Torres alive is the ventilator that is breathing for her. Once the ventilator is removed, it will be only a matter of time". I then say to the doctor "Thank you, we will let you know of our decision".
You prepare yourself everyday from the time you leave medical school throughout your internship, your residency, even through your attending years, and even after you become the head of your department to give bad news to the family of your patient. But nothing prepares you for when you are the one that receives this kind of bad news because the patient is your mother and her doctor is telling you that she is brain dead.
The 9th of April in 2037 is a beautiful sunny day here in Miami as the whole Robbins-Torres clan is laying to rest the matriarch of the Torres family, Lucia Inez Ramirez Torres. We all arrive at St. Mary's Catholic Church and take our places as the ceremony begins. After hearing Lucia's friends and colleagues along with family members say their goodbyes, then each of our children steps up to the podium to say their individual eulogies about their grandmother. Then my Arizona says her eulogy and then it is my turn. With Arizona by my side for support and love, I say my final good bye to my mother. My father is the last to speak. My father ends his eulogy by asking his wife to tell their daughter Aria that he misses her and loves her. My father turns into my embrace as we stand there for a few moments and just hold each other. That is when Father Kevin, with the help of Bailey and Timothy, escorts the three of us back to our seats.
All of us ride together to the cemetery as we take our place at the rear of the town car that drives behind the hertz that carries my mother's body in a very large coffin. Then the funeral director opens the door to the back of the hertz limousine as Arizona, Alex Karev, Addison Barbara and Timothy are on one side of the casket and me, Theodore, Bailey and George are on the other side of my mother's casket. We all hold onto each side of the coffin, and then Alexander Michael leads us towards my mother's final resting place. Father Kevin leads us into a prayer and everyone attending comes to pay their final respects. Timothy and Theodore help my father back into the town car, I stand at me mother's burial sight a little longer. When everyone is ready to leave, my wife comes to ask me if I am ready as I am still standing next to my mother's casket. I hold my wife close to me and she whispers in my ear "Take all the time you need, Calliope. We will wait for you". We stand there a little while longer just holding each other. Then Alexander comes to lay a red rose on the top of the casket as he walks over to the two of us and places his arms around us both. He looks up at the two of us and says "I love you both so much". Arizona and I take turns kissing him on the lips while we both tell him that we love him too. Then the three of us walk towards the town car.
Arizona and Alexander fly back to Seattle a few days after the funeral along with the rest of our Seattle family while I stay to tie up some loose ends in Miami. With Bailey selling her condo and moving back into the Torres mansion along with Timothy, who has moved here from southern California this past February, I feel much better going back home to Seattle and leaving my father to teach our two oldest children the business of running Torre Industries. Bailey asks to speak with me and my father before I return to Seattle. She has asked for our blessing because she wants to take over her grandmother's law firm instead of taking over Torres Industries. She has been working with her grandmother for the past two years at the law firm and her abuela had asked her to consider taking over the firm when she passes the bar exam in June.
My father's reaction is "Mija, I just want you to be happy. So if you want to continue your abuela's legacy, then by all means you should do what your heart wants you to do. I love you". My father gives Bailey a hug and a kiss and I turn to her and say "Baby girl, you will make your grandmother proud to follow in her footsteps. I love you, too". I hold my first born so tight and kiss her on her forehead. My father tells Bailey that he will inform Timothy, the board of directors, his brother and his nephews of her decision. He will keep everyone in place for now as Timothy will become COO as of June 1, 2037.
Arizona and Alexander Michael welcome me home as they are there to pick me up at the airport when I come back to Seattle. I hold them both close to me, kissing them as I begin to cry. The ride home is in complete silence with Arizona never letting go of my hand. Once we arrive home I ask our baby boy if his mamas can have some alone time for a few minutes and then they will all go to his favorite restaurant for dinner. He stands on his tippy toes as he puckers his lips and says "Yes mami, but may I have a kiss first" all the while he is tilting his head upwards as he is puckering his lips and I bend downward to place a well deserved kiss on our son's lips and then I tell him that I love him very much. Alex places his arms around my neck while he holds me there for a little while staring at me with those gorgeous ocean blue eyes that mirrors his mama's as he says "I love you too very much, mami".
When Alexander leaves the room I take my wife's hand and lead her to our bedroom. I sit on the end of our bed with my back against the headboard with Arizona facing me as I say to her "We need to let Alexander know about who his father is. He is old enough to know and after what he has gone through with losing his Abuela…it is time Arizona". Arizona sits next to me on our bed as she wraps me in her arms and says "Yes my love, after we take Alexander to dinner tonight, we will tell him about his father". Then I lay back on the bed and Arizona holds me close I say to her "I miss her Arizona...I really miss her" as I cry on my wife's shoulder and she says "I know you do…me too honey…me too". We both just lie there for a while. After about thirty minutes, Alex knocks softly on our door and asks "Mama's are you about ready for dinner"?
The three of us arrive at the Whistle Stop Ale House Family Pub for dinner. We have asked Karev to join us because Arizona and I want to talk with him about Alexander's father. Arizona and I sit on one side of the booth while Alexander, tucked into the inside of the booth across from me, and Karev sits next to Alexander on the other side of the booth. After we all enjoy a delicious meal and Karev and I enjoy a few of the Whistle Stop's house brews, we begin to tell Alexander about his father. I begin by saying that "Alexander, your mama and I would like to express our deepest gratitude on the way you handled yourself at your abuela's funeral. You were and are a complete gentleman. But now we both feel that you are old enough to know about your father". I simply take a hold of both of his hands tight as I begin to cry again just at the mention of my mother.
Arizona places her hands over ours and begins to say "Alexander, do you remember the pictures all over the house of your Uncle Timothy? Do you remember the stories that your grandparents and I have told you over the years about how your Uncle Timothy was a hero and that he died in a war over twenty five years ago"? Our baby boy Alexander shakes his head yes and then says "Grandma Barbara says how he was a true American fighting for his country and how proud she is of him". I now begin to cry at the mention of my brother and his heroism then Karev says "Maybe we should do this at home. Let's go back to your place and properly tell the little dude this news and not here". That is when Alexander asks if he can ride back home with Karev on his motorcycle and Arizona and I kiss him and tell him we will see him soon. My wife and I watch our sonride off with his favorite uncle.
Just as Calliope and I arrive home before Alexander and Karev, Karev sends me a text asking if it is alright if he explains to the little dude about his father. I show the text to Calliope and she says we should be the ones to tell our son about his father when I say "Calliope, we could barely talk about this matter at the pub, maybe Alexander will understand this better if it comes from the one person that he considers to be his father". Then Calliope texts back to Karev that it is alright if he wants to tell Alex about his father but he is to bring our son home as soon as he has told him about how he was conceived. Calliope and I lie on the couch in each others arms and wait for our baby boy to return home. We tell each other that we love each other as we hold each other close.
Karev tells Alexander that they are going to take a side trip before they go home. Karev parks his motorcycle into a parking space at Kelly Park. It is almost sunset as he and Alexander dismounts the motorcycle and he asks Alexander to follow him. They walk together to the one spot where you can see the skyline of the city of Seattle. Karev tell Alexander to "cop a squat" on the park bench in front of them. This is where Karev begins to tell our son a story…Alexander's story…about his mama's and about his father.
For the next two hours, as they both watch the sun set over the city, Karev begins the story by telling Alexander how his momma's met, fell in love…about him and Arizona going to Africa…about Arizona being missing for a year in Africa…about Callie becoming pregnant with Bailey…about how his grandfathers found Arizona in Africa and brought her back home…about how his momma's got married right over there as Karev points to the open area where Callie and Arizona were married inside Kelly Park…and how his brother Timothy came into their lives…how Theodore and Addie were conceived and finally clearing his throat to talk about Alex's father… and his Grandma's Robbins favorite hero…Timothy Daniel Robbins I.
"You see little dude, your mama's and your brothers and sisters were spending the Christmas and New Year's holiday in Boston at the end of 2024. The subject of your father's sperm donation came to light as your mami and your Grandma Barbara began to talk about the possibility of using your father's sperm. When everyone was visiting your grandparents in San Diego during the Memorial Day weekend in the year 2025, that was when your mami and your grandmother Barbara began talking about the sperm donation again. And that your father had left at a sperm bank facility that was supposed to be used in case his fiancé Aimee ever wanted to have his baby. When your grandparents found out that Aimee only wanted to use your father's sperm to have a baby so that she could collect on your father's death benefits, your mama along with your grandparents took Aimee to court to fight for the right to have your father's sperm stay with your grandparents". Karev takes a breath before he continues.
"All of this happened in 2009 and when your family went for that visit in 2025, your grandmother was telling your mami about how she sent the sperm to your Aunt Addison to have her test the sperm to make sure it was still viable. When your Aunt Addison tested the sperm and found out it was still viable, then she helped your mami with the injections so she could become pregnant. Your mami asked that they do not tell you mama until the time was right. So with your grandparents blessing, Aunt Addison agreed to place the sperm into your mami but your mami had to promise to tell your mama. Your mami said she would tell your mama when the time was right. So your Aunt Addison injected your father's sperm into your mami that weekend but by the 4th of July when your Aunt Addison came to Seattle to attend your brother Theodore and your sister Addie's 8th birthday party, your mami was not pregnant. So again your Aunt Addison injected your mami again with your father's sperm and by the time Labor Day weekend rolled around, three months later, your mami was pregnant with you. Now it was time to tell your mama and the rest of your family".
With Alexander asking question throughout the story, Karev tells him that he was nearing the end of the story when Alexander sat up straight and contently listen to the end of Karev's storytelling. "Your mami took your mama out to a fancy restaurant for romantic dinner and then drove her to this very spot to tell her about the pregnancy. When your mami told your mama the story of what your Grandma Barbara told her about having to use Timothy's sperm and how your mami wanted to have another baby but did not want to tell your mama until she was pregnant, your mama rose from this bench and took a few steps away from your mami. Your mami was afraid that she was in trouble for getting pregnant when she stood to face what ever your mama was going to say to her but before she could walk towards your mama your mama turned to face your mami with a single tear sneaking down her cheek as your mama said to your mami "You are having my baby, Calliope". Your mami opened up her arms and says "Yes, Arizona I am having your baby" and your mama ran into your mami's arms and kissed her passionately. Then on March 15, 2026 you were born.
Alexander Michael Karev answers the remaining questions that his godson asks about his parentage when Alexander Michael Robbins-Torres stands to face his godfather to say "Uncle Alex, I just want to say thank you for explaining to me about my father. I have always been told by my family how heroic and brave my father was and I now finally understand what that exactly means when they say that about him. But I just want you to know that even though Timothy Daniel Robbins I is my biological father and I am very proud that he is and I will cherish his memory forever, I do not want anything to change between the two of us. The reason I am telling you this is because even if you cannot fight biology, I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. So no matter who is technically my father, you will always be my dad". Then our son Alexander encircles his arms around Karev's neck telling him that he loves him as he kisses his neck as Karev whispers "I love you too son".
Karev and Alexander come through the front door as Calliope and I are lying on the couch together. Alexander comes running from the foyer through the kitchen to find his mamas as he lies down on the sofa with us and tells us that he loves us. I ask him if he has any questions and he smiles and says "Uncle Alex told me everything and he answered all my questions. But if I think of anymore, I will find you both to ask you alright, mama" as I say to him "Yes my son, please find your mami and me for your answers. Now why don't you say goodnight to your Uncle Alex and go upstairs to get ready for bed and we will be up shortly". Alexander gives both Calliope and I a kiss and runs back to his Uncle Alex as Calliope says strictly "Alexander, no running in the house" as our baby boy stops in his tracks and begins to walk towards Karev as he says to his mami "Sorry mami".
Calliope and I climb off the sofa to meet Karev as Alexander is telling him goodbye and Karev tells our son that he will pick him up on Saturday morning. That is when I walk to Karev and question "Saturday morning" as Karev says "The little dude and I are going to the Mariner's game, if that is alright with the two of you" with a sound of embarrassment in his voice since he did not ask Calliope and I before he made plans with Alexander. I decide not to string Karev any longer by saying "Alex, you know that you can take him whenever you want". Then Calliope and I shake our heads at Karev as I walk him to the door and say "Thank you for everything Alex. Our little dude loves you very much and I am glad you were the one to tell him about his father. It means a lot to him coming from you". Karev smiles and says "I was glad to do it. Every kid should know where they came from. After we talked, I think he has a renewed appreciation for who his father is and how he came to be. I love that little guy as if he were my own, so it was my pleasure to have this talk with him this evening. Please for future reference, please…please let me have the manly talk with him in a few years". Karev smirks back at me as I hit him lightly on the arm as he says to me as he walks away "Dr. Robbins-Torres, you hit like a girl". I smile back at him as I watch him walk away.
Calliope and I reach Alexander's room to see that he has already taken a shower and put on his pajamas. We both stop at the entranceway to Alexander's room because we watch him talk to the pictures of his family as he has now placed them on his nightstand next to his bed and has removed the lamp that once occupied that nightstand on top of his dresser where the pictures of his family used to sit. Calliope and I listen to the conversation that our son is having with the people in these pictures because he is telling them the story that Karev has told him about his father, his biological father. A tear begins to slowly fall down my cheek as I see our son holding a picture of me and my brother Timothy before he went off to Iraq. We hear Alexander explain to this picture that his Uncle Alex just explained to him that my brother is his biological father and that he could not be prouder of this fact for two reasons. The first reason is that from what everyone in this family says about his father being brave, honorable and a hero. I am proud to be your son. The second reason is that he is glad that his father left his sperm so that his mamas could have a mini version of themselves to look at each and every day of their lives.
Our baby boy turns his head around to see both of his mamas crying in his doorway and says "Mamas" as Calliope and I make our way across his bedroom to take a hold of our son. We both take a seat on each side of our son's bed as the three of us discuss the conversation that he had with his Uncle Alex this evening. After another lengthy talk, Alexander is ready for some sleep. As he and I both begin to yawn, Calliope says to the both of us "Alright you two, it is time for bed for you both. Alexander get yourself under the covers and Arizona say goodnight to our son. We have all had a busy couple of weeks and now we all need a good night's sleep". Calliope then moves from one side of Alex's bed to the other to gather me up in her arms. As we give our son one final kiss goodnight and tell him that we love him and will see him in the morning. Then the two of us leave Alexander's room and we hear him faintly tell us that he loves us too.
Calliope travels down the stairs a little faster than I do as I am yawning again as I make my way to the bottom of the stairs. Calliope is standing at the bottom of the stairs smiling up at me when I reach the next to the last stair step as Calliope asks me "So baby, how tired are you really"? When my wife shoots me that shit-eating grin of hers that I love so well and I say "Oh my darling, I am never too tired for you and your dirty…dirty mind". I stand on the next to the last stair step and place my hands on my wife's cheeks as she wraps her arms around me and we kiss each other passionately. When we realize that we need oxygen to breath, I break the kiss as Calliope places her face into the valley between my breasts and begins to take turns sucking and kissing my boobs. Then she looks up at me with those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes as she lifts me upwards as I wrap my legs around her waist and she leads us into our bedroom. Once inside our bedroom she softly lays me down on the bed as she slowly and tenderly undresses me all the while kissing my body as she strips me of my clothing. She then pulls my naked body up to hers as I begin to undress her as I kiss every inch of her body as she begins to moan in my arms.
Just as we begin to enjoy each other, Calliope's phone rings and it is Bailey calling her. Calliope answers to phone in a panic because of the hour in Miami as she is thinking the worst. As she frantically says "Mija, why are you calling at such a late hour"? I watch the color come back to my wife's face because our daughter just wants to talk to her mami and that nothing was wrong. I slip Calliope's robe over her shoulders as she sits on the bed talking to our daughter and I too slip on my robe as I walk out to the kitchen to grab two bottles of water before I head back into the bedroom. I hand my wife a bottle of water while she continues to talk to Bailey. I make my way out onto our balcony that is now closed off due to the inclement weather that we have here in Seattle. While I am sitting on the chaise lounge watching the snowflakes that begin to fall as the weather here in Seattle show signs of a late spring snow. Tomorrow is the first day of May and it is snowing in Seattle tonight.
Calliope finds me partially asleep on the chaise lounge as she maneuvers herself atop my body as she opens both of our robes because she wants to feel the skin to skin contact. I take a deep breath as she lays herself onto my naked body. We stay this way for a few minutes without saying a word to one another. It's just me and my wife enjoying each other's scent and each other's naked bodies. Then Calliope gradually raises her head to say "I love you, Arizona" while she kisses me so tenderly and she then travels down my body to rest her face on my boobs. Taking each boob in her mouth as she sucks, kisses and gently bites each one as I begin to smile at her antics. My wife then hovers over me and says "Would you like to finish what we started earlier back in our bed"? I look at her with a mischievous grin of my own when I say to her "No my love, I want you to make love to me right here and right now as the snowflakes fall over our heads outside". Calliope looks upwards to see the snowflakes fall, she then turns her attention to the woman that she loves as she begins to descend down my body as she makes love to me.
With the light snow falling throughout the night, Calliope and I lay out on our balcony until early morning when Calliope's pager goes off waking both of us from our slumber. Calliope rises from my body as she whispers "Probably an MVA due to the snow" as she makes her way to her pager. When she reads the text on the pager she says to me "told you so" as I tell her I will put some coffee on as I leave our bedroom and make my way out to the kitchen. When Calliope makes her way out to the kitchen I have her thermos of coffee waiting along with a breakfast sandwich, Calliope grabs both items from my hands as she kisses me telling me that she loves me and I walk her to the door where she turns and places a few kisses on my breasts and says "Great boobs, baby". I kiss my wife again and tell her that I love her. Calliope makes her way down the steps from the front porch telling me to tell Alexander that she is sorry she is not home when he wakes up but that she will see him tonight. I tell my wife to be careful in the snow as I wave good bye to her as she walks to the hospital entrance way.
Alexander awakens at the smell of bacon frying and maple syrup. He says good morning to me as he asks if his mami is home. I say good morning back to him as I tell him that his mami had to go into work this morning. Just I begin to have a conversation with our son my phone rings as I look to see who is calling and say "Bailey is everything alright? Bailey honey, calm down, Bailey, you need to calm down so I can understand you".