Chapter 9 – "Till We Meet Again"

Cosmo exited the admit desk. He took in a deep breath to calm his nerves. He has found it overwhelming after learning that his patient turned out to be his biological father.

"Mrs Martin. I am afraid that your husband is up at the ICU" Cosmo said.

"Oh my god!" She gasped. "It's his heart! Can I see him?"

"I can take you up there"

"Thank you"

They made their way to the elevator to ride up to the ICU floor. When they reached the floor, they stepped out and strode along the corridor. Cosmo ushered the woman in to designated place and opened the door. Her eyes raced round the room to search for her husband. She found him and rushed to his side. She started to cry, clasping his hand.

Chuck is laid on the bed all wired up. The monitor is bleeping away. Cosmo stood staring at his father with a lump in his throat.

"Will he wake up?" Mrs Martin interrupted Cosmo from his stare.

He shook his head and blinked hard "He is heavily sedated"

"I don't want him to die," She sobbed.

"He is being well looked after" He reassured her. "We have the best team here"

"How am I going to tell the kids?"

"Kids?"

"Yes we have two boys" She replied "Eldest is 12 and the other 10"

Mrs Martin leaned over to kiss Chuck on his forehead. She looked at Cosmo with mascara streaks down her face. "I need to go freshen myself up and make a phone call. Will you still be here when I come back?"

"I'll stay here until you get back."

"That's kind of you. Are you his doctor?"

"No I am a Med Student. I assessed him in the ER this morning."

Cosmo watched Mrs Martin leave the room. He moved closer, standing by the bed and leaned over to take another look at Chuck. Cosmo had mixed feelings, feelings of emotional and anger about his new found Father. Cosmo dragged a stool and seated himself. He started to talk to Chuck in a soft tone.

"Hi, it's me Cosmo. Your long lost son. Did you ever think about me and wondered what sort of person I turn out to be? Well I don't know where to start. I guess it's easier talking to you like this. I have many questions and so many whys? How things could be different. I don't know what to say if you were staring in to my eyes. I really wanted to know why a loving guy turned into monster over night? What if you didn't drink so much would we all still be together as a happy family and you be a good father to me? Why did you hurt Mom? Why, why, why? I hate you, I hate you so much for doing that. Taking away the dignity from the kindest and generous loving person. You almost destroyed Mom. She was in pieces, she wouldn't have pulled through if it hasn't been for me. She knows that life was worth living, bringing up her child. Mom knew that she wouldn't let you win. No she wouldn't let a bastard like you take over her life."

Cosmo coughed to clear that lump feeling in his throat. He sat there in silence for a minute.

He continued "Another part of me feels happy that I have found you. I always felt there was something missing in my life. I always felt that I didn't belong to Robert even though he bought me up. Don't get me wrong, I do love him. He did what every father does for his son. Football, baseball, fishing and boys campfire weekend. Mom always treated me, my brother and sister the same. Even though I have made things difficult for her. Hey isn't that what kids do? She always stood by me through bad and good times. I am not a perfect son. No one's perfect we all have our flaws. I am curious about the person you are now. Do have your mannerisms? Do I have your temper? Mom doesn't have a temper so I must get it from you…"

Cosmo's talk was cut short when Mrs Martin entered the room.

"Everything's sorted. Got my sister to look after the kids so I can stay here" She said with a sad smile.

"Till we meet again" Cosmo said to Chuck and he rose up on to his feet. He nodded and left the room.

Susan got out from the SUV and looked at the beautiful suburbia. Trees lined both side of the road. The fallen autumn leaves swirling in the wind. Susan climbed up the steps to the house and knocked on the door. She grinned when the door opened.

"Hey!" Susan laughed with her arms wide open to give her daughter-in-law Debbie, a big hug. She followed her in to the kitchen. Susan took an inspection of the room. "Wow"

"Beautiful isn't it?" Debbie smiled.

"Nana" A little voice from behind.

"Hey sweetie" Susan bent over to pick up her granddaughter. "How's my favorite little girl? Ooh you are getting heavier by the day…"

"Mollie has been helping mommy haven't you?" Debbie smiled and suddenly winced.

"You ok?" Susan cocked her head.

"I feel a bit sickie" She laughed nervously "Probably just nerves and stress with all this moving house business"

Susan cocked her head further looking into to Debbie's eyes. She smiled as she suspected that it is something else. "Is that so?"

"Erm Coffee?" Debbie asked awkwardly, changing the subject..

"Yes please" Susan smiled and glanced at the boxes scattered around the place. "I see the UPS brought all the packing here in time"

"Yeah thank god" She blew out a sigh of relief "The agency didn't hand the keys over gone 10.30. Robert and I were waiting around since 9 O'clock. I was panicking when UPS arrived at 10.15. They said they would give the agency 20 minutes to come otherwise they would unload everything in street because they had another client to go to"

Susan scoffed in disbelief. "That would make it twice as hard for you. Not everyone has one those stack trolleys. Imagine carrying all the boxes up those steps"

"Robert was stressing out big time down the phone to get their asses here in time!"

Susan chuckled lowering Mollie down to her feet and watched her run out of the back door. She turned to the window to look out to watch her granddaughter playing outside. Her eyes marvelled at the view of the garden.

"Wow the size of your garden! Perfect for Mollie and the little brother or sister on the way…" Susan turned to look at Debbie. She startled by Susan's smart guessing. Susan gave her a hug. "I'm thrilled"

"God you scare me, you don't miss a thing do you?"

Susan grinned. "That's what you get for being a doctor"

"I only found out yesterday morning. No one knows yet" Debbie sighed. "Wasn't planning to say anything, not for a few weeks"

"Its ok, secrets with me"

"Thanks" She smiled "You're the best mother-in-law anyone can have"

Susan laughed, "I wouldn't push it!"

Robert walked in to the kitchen and patted Susan on the bum.

"Oh" Susan was taken by the surprise.

"I thought I heard your voice" Robert smiled, leaning over to kiss Susan. "How's your day go?"

"Uh lousy and boring"

"That bad huh?"

She nodded "The good thing about that is that I bumped into Greg Pratt"

"Another interesting reunion. Have you seen the lounge?" Robert asked gesturing her through.

Susan gasped as she walked through. "My god you managed to erect all the furniture since 10.30 this morning?"

"Well I don't think Cosmo will have the time especially starting on the wrong week"

"Anyway where is he?" Susan asked.

Debbie shrugged "I don't know. He should have been here an hour ago"

"He's doing it on purpose to avoid any heavy labor," Robert laughed.

"Talking about me?" Cosmo walked in. He glanced round the place. "Wow you both have done some work here"

"Dadda" Mollie jumped up.

"Hey" He picked her up and leaned over to kiss his wife "Thanks Deb" and looked at Robert "Thanks…Dad"

"No worries kiddo" Robert smiled, tapping a screwdriver against his palm of his hand.

Susan frowned at Cosmo's tone when he spoke to Robert.

"I'm sorry that I'm late back. I got held up in something really important" Cosmo eyes flashed at his Mother. This took Susan by surprise, she knew this is so unlike him.

They spent the next few hours putting all the household stuff in their irrelevant place.

"Anyone hungry?" Cosmo asked grabbing the keys "I'm going to fetch a Chinese take-out"

"Yeah great idea" Robert and Debbie replied in unison.

"I'm come with you" Susan asked drying her hand on the towel.

"It's ok mom I can manage myself" Cosmo abruptly left the room and slammed the front door.

Susan narrowed her eyes biting her bottom her lip. She went after him.

"Cosmo wait" Susan shouted as she rushed down the steps. Cosmo swung round to face her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" He sighed.

"Come on, I know that look."

"Mom I'm just tired out" Cosmo shrugged his shoulders getting in the drivers side.

She muttered under her breath. "I don't believe you."

"I heard that."

"I am your Mother. Hell! I can say what I like," She snapped.

He sighed gripping the steering wheel. "I guess I'll need a hand but all you want to squeeze out what's bothering me"

"That's what mothers are for" Susan smiled forcefully. Walked round to get in the passenger side and buckled up. They spent a few moments in silence.

"I don't know Chicago very well, well not yet. Where would you recommend for a Chinese?"

Susan had to laugh, "Well you have driven past three of them so far. Hmm I can tell you're very distracted"

Cosmo doesn't say word.

"Come on talk to me. Have you had a bad day at work? Is there something troubling you?" Susan asked with her head cocked to one side looking at her son.

Cosmo doesn't reply and puts on the indicators to turn left into a quiet secluded street. Susan frowned at where he was directing the vehicle.

"I won't stop until you tell me what's wrong"

Cosmo slammed his foot on the brake. The SUV skidded along for a short distance and jerked to a halt after hitting the kerb.

"Ugh! Fucking hell Cosmo!" Susan swore out loud when was winded by the seat belt and it had also cut into her shoulder. She winced rubbing herself "What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to get us killed?"

Cosmo sat still, staring out of the window. He can feel anger rising inside him.

"Can't believe you did that, that was so stupid of you. How dare you do that!" She groaned in pain trying to unbuckle her belt. "Your moods lately starting to remind me of someone."

"My moods? You really wanna know what's up with me?" Cosmo seethed, draping his arm over the steering wheel. He waved his finger "Your so called friend Abby lied to me"

Susan's face grimaced "What?"

"She kept me away from a patient. I didn't know he was. She didn't tell me why. It all came clear when his wife came along and asked for him."

"Who was he?" She shook her head.

"My Dad!"

Susan's eyes widen in horror and gasped with both hands over her mouth…