Carlos smiled, standing up, holding Mary's hand, "My grandfather, Miguel, he is passed away,"
Everyone, of course, expresses their regrets with notes of ohs and aws
"He leaves me a good deal of money and Eric find me a job!" Carlos smiled, "Maria and I will have our own home again!"
Mary nodded, squeezing his hand. Everyone clapped, cheering.
"Wonderful news!" Annie said, "Anything else?" She asked
My god, that woman is hard up for grandchildren. She works at a halfway house full of babies and all her grandkids are practically babies. When will it be enough for her?
"Annie," Eric said, in an attempt to settle her down. Poor Dad doesn't seem to realize the lack of restraint he has when Mom really wants something.
"That is it," Carlos said, confused, sitting down,
"What about the baby?" Annie blurted out
"DAVID!" Mary screamed,
"It wasn't me!" I yelled and everyone chuckled,
"Baby?" Carlos asked, "What is Annie talking about, Maria?"
Mary bit her lip, "I'm afraid that I'm eating for four, Carlos,"
"What?" He asked
"Two boys and a girl, all fraternal," She continued, "I like Eddie, Bobby, and Jamie for names,"
Carlos sighed, "I need some vodka. Lots of vodka,"
"Me too," Annie said, sitting down, "Triplets? Oh my-Are you sure, Mary?"
"As sure as Carlos wants that vodka,"
"Mom, I have news too," Lucy said, bringing Kevin front and center. Oh great.
"More babies?" Annie asked, her face lighting up
"No," Lucy laughed, "No, no, no-"
"What she means to say is that we are very happy with our six and want to keep it to six," Kevin said, smiling slightly. First smile of the evening.
"Kevin and I just told the kids a few days ago," Lucy said softly, playing with a thread on her sweater
"And?" Annie asked, confused, "Is Savannah skipping another grade?"
"No," Lucy said, glancing at Savannah, who was holding Jacob on her lap, trying not to cry and failing.
"Lucy and I are separating, and we're discussing a possible divorce," Kevin said, speaking when Lucy's voice died out
"What?" Annie stood up, "Why?"
"That's between Kevin and myself," Lucy said softly, "And we are going to go now," She added
"Wait!" Matt yelled standing up, Annabel front and center, "If this is the night to shed secrets, Annabel might as well say hers,"
"You are anorexic!" Annie declared
"No!" Matt was shocked, "Mom!" He yelled and rolled his eyes, "Annabel, sweetie?" He asked
Annabel looked up, directly into my face, "I have diabetes," She said softly, "Type 1,"
"Oh!" Annie looked so confused, unsure of which couple to hug, or to pray to God for better times.
Cain glanced at me and mouthed, "now?"
I shook my head
"Simon?" Annie asked, hoping for better news from him
Simon sighed, "This might be the last time any of you good folks get to see my boy," He nodded over to Andrew, who was still playing with the other boy-Caleb, unaware of the attention. "Cecilia won full custody and I only have weekly visitation rights. Looks like that car chase came to bite me in the ass," He said softly
Annie sunk down to a chair and I could see Dad's face getting paler. Sweat was coming down his forehead.
"Dad, Mom," Ruthie came out of nowhere with Chad and his kids, "I know this isn't the best time, but this is my fiance Chad and his kids, Joshua, Noah, and Caleb," She said in a burst. I wondered briefly how it felt to rip off that Band-Aid and just tell them.
Dad's breathing looked a little short too. Frowning, I quickly led him to the car, all the other guests now in a clamor, trying to comfort everyone at once. Dad gave me a weary look and rasped out,
"David, I think it's happening,"
"I'm going to the hospital," I told him, putting him in the car and starting the engine. Cain had popped up from the back and was waving us away. I knew Cain would take care of our leave until we actually needed the family.
I've always hated the hospital. Well, not always. When I was nine years old, Sam and I had been climbing up this giant tree at our school during recess. It had been a dare and I was afraid of heights. About twenty or so feet from the ground, I looked down and promptly fell off. I crashed to the ground, unconscious and my arm shattered into four pieces. Sam, I was told later, shimmied down. Neither of us have gone near a tree since.
Anyway, my least favorite teacher, Miss Wandheim, had to escort me to Glenoak hospital. I was basically lectured the entire time about climbing a tree. My least favorite part though, was when we were waiting in the emergency room and there were all these druggies, bleeding people, kids with broken arms like me, and doctors were just walking around.
I was treated right away though, because my father was Eric Camden, a man who had helped the hospital in hard times and liked to visit the patients.
"Reverend!" A woman I didn't know in scrubs came toward us, smiling, "Missed the patients already?"
"My son, Sam," Eric said, leaning on my shoulder
"I'm David, Dad," I corrected, frowning, "Nurse, my dad has a history of heart attacks. His last one was about five months ago, and I'm worried that he's going to have another one,"
She took a closer look at him and checked his stats. Frowning, she sighed,
"You seemed much better earlier, Reverend. We better get you in a bed and a doctor to treat you-again," She looked at me, smiling, "You did the right thing, David. His heart seems like it's undergoing a good deal of stress,"
"It is," I assured her, "Everyone chose the same day to tell him their news,"
"Not good news?" She asked
"Try five pieces of different bad news," I told her, "And he hasn't even heard about Sam's multiple girlfriends!"
"What?" Eric rasped, standing up straighter and frowned, "Da...vid...Jo...seph...Cam...den," Dad seemed to be slowing down and gripping his left arm. The nurse frowned and yelled for a crash cart.
Two hours later, my father was in a coma. I was sitting in his room, tears washing over my face. I hadn't bothered to call anyone about the fact that Dad was going to have to go through a triple bypass. And that was only if he pulled out of this coma. Cain had called me, and I told him everything.
He was going to come tomorrow. Other people were calling me, and Dad's cell was vibrating constantly. I could see that most of the calls were from Mom. The people calling me were mostly Sam and Mom. I was going to have a hell of a lot of voice mails tomorrow. For now, I decided to shut off both phones.
Walking in the hallways, I saw old men and woman undergoing dialysis, getting ready for bed, exchanging jokes with each other as if this was just some sort of elderly sleepaway camp. A kid around my age was sitting on one of these chairs crying. I sat down, looking at him.
He glanced at me and sighed, wiping away his tears. At least until he saw that I had tears of my own. Then we sort of reached a mutual bond to cry.
"Your dad too?" I asked
"Grandfather," He corrected me, "My folks died young, so he's been raising me. Just discovered Parkingson's," He looked at me
"My dad," I said, sighing, "Fourth heart attack. He had the first when I was a baby,"
"Damn," The boy said, sighing, "I'm Keith,"
"David," I told him softly, "Seventeen, you?"
"Nineteen," He smiled bitterly, "That old man was the only family I had left for a long time,"
"I have a family," I told him, "A meddling mother, two older brothers, three sisters and my twin brother, not to mention the cousins and aunts and uncles, and grandparents," I said
"Why the hell are you wasting time with me?" He asked, "You should be with your family, praying for your dad to live,"
I raised my eyebrow, "My family is the reason why Dad chose today to have another heart attack. My sister was just telling him that she was marrying another man with three kids instead of the man he and my mother have wanted for her since forever,"
"So? Sisters are still worried about their father's whereabouts," He told me
"My twin is dating three girls at once. He's very serious with all of them and they all know. My dad does now, as well, thanks to my big mouth,"
"You should call that twin," He said kindly, "Tell him that you told your father his news that spiraled into a heart attack,"
"What a wonderful way to put it," We both laughed, despite the situation.
"I still have to tell dear old Dad that I'm a bisexual, on top of it all,"
"I'm straight," Keith told me, off the bat, "Just in case this was your idea of flirting,"
"I'd be a pretty crappy flirter then," I laughed, smiling
"David, I'd tell them one at a time," Keith told me gently
"Keith Washington?" A nurse called, "John Wells is awake and asking after you," She told him kindly, "And are you David?" She asked me, "Reverend Camden's boy?"
"Reverend?" Keith said, "I see where you might get screwed, David," We both laughed weakly and Keith walked off. The nurse looked at me, waiting for confirmation, I guess.
"David Camden, yeah," I said
"Can you fill these out?" She asked, "We have most of his information, but these are just insurance things,"
I nodded and looked at the forms. God. I hate forms. You would too, after dealing with college forms, graduation forms, insurance forms, all these pain in the ass forms.
With that, I decided to take Keith's advice, tell 'em once at a time.
I dialed Simon. Why Simon, I don't know. He answered his cell and I said,
"Are you alone?"
"David?" Simon said, "Is that you?"
"David!" My mother. There was some noise and her voice filled the line, "David Joseph Camden, where are you!"
I hung up, hoping Simon would get the message. Five minutes later, I dialed again.
"Hello?" He said, a hint of nerves in his voice
"Are you alone?" I asked, honing my ear for background noises
"Uh, ye-yes," He said, "David, where are you and Dad? Everyone's getting really worried,"
"Simon, listen to me," I told him, "You can't tell anyone where you are going unless you want them to get hurt," That part was a load of bull, but I wanted to scare Simon enough into coming without anyone behind him. He tended to be a hero of sorts.
"Okay," He said, "Detective Michaels is here, you know," He said
"Don't tell anyone, Simon," I said again, "Tell Sam the apple runs to the creek and to bring you with him, in Reese pieces seven," I sighed, deciding to rely on twin code words. Sam and I had invented these when we were ten or so. We used them habitually, but I knew Sam knew what apple runs to the creek in Reese pieces seven meant.
Quietly run to the hospital in an hour and seven minutes.
Sure enough, I spotted Sam, who was loyal to the twin codes. He walked up with Simon next to him, both of them well and alone.
"David!" He greeted me laughing, like nothing had happened. Simon seemed grimmer,
"David, what happened?" He asked, "Sam and I crawled through bushes and ran all the way here,"
"You could've driven, you ass," I told Sam,
"Wanted to make sure," Sam shrugged, "My cell's at home and sos Simon's. Mom thinks I'm in my room and Simon's in the bathroom, so no one's followed us,"
I nodded, "Dad had another heart attack,"
Simon turned white and Sam swore.
"Damn it, David, why didn't you just tell Mom?" He asked, "She thinks that you two were kidnapped or something!"
"I don't want to excite our father again," I told him, worn, "Mom's just going to coddle him and the man's in a coma. Give him some respect. He should be out of it in a day though,"
"Why me?" Simon asked, "Sam, I get, but why me?"
"I haven't told Mom and Dad my news," I said, looking him square in the eye, "And Sam, I may have accidentally told Dad about your three girlfriends,"
"Actually," Sam grinned, "I broke up with Lilly. Cherie's moving again, and Mandy dumped me for another boy," He shrugged, "That leaves Keegan. Just one girl for me,"
"Dad'll be happy to hear that," I smiled, "He liked Keegan,"
"Three girlfriends?" Simon asked
"It was fun," Sam told him, smiling, "But I'm going to go for the committing to one girl thing. Plus Keegan's one hell of an amazing kisser,"
"And what's David's news?" Simon asked
I looked at him thoughtfully, "I have a boyfriend. Cain Morgan from down the street,"
Simon nodded, looking down, "So you're gay then?"
"Bi," I told him, "Don't know how Dad'll handle it,"
"Dad, is he okay?" Simon asked
"After the coma comes a triple bypass," I told him, "You know what the odds are on triple bypass?"
Simon let loose a swearword that I'd rather not print. Sam hugged me tightly, and I saw that my twin was also crying.
"I love you, Sam," I told him softly and he said the same to me.
"My brothers, everyone," Simon sighed and hugged me tightly too, "I'd like to meet Cain," He told me, looking at the floor, "I bet he's a good guy,"
"One of the best," I told him, smiling, "Dad's in there. I'm going to go call Matt,"
"Matt's at home too," Simon said softly, "Everyone's in the kitchen with their phones on, calling us,"
"Dad's voice-mail is already full," I said, "I was listening to threats that Mom was making,"
"She stopped after the fifth glass of wine," Simon said thoughtfully, "Now she's more sober, and probably eying the phone like a hawk,"
I nodded and pulled out my cell, "I have to call Matt, tell him everything,"
"We're going to visit Dad," Sam said, clapping me on the shoulder
"Hello?" That was Matt's rough voice, "Snuggles, I have to stay, for a little while longer, I'm sorry,"
"Snuggles?" I asked, smiling in spite of myself, "Cute nickname, Matt,"
"David?" Matt said, surprised. I could hear people scuffling all around him, "Where's Simon and Sam?"
"With me and Dad," I told him, "Can I have Ruthie?" I asked thoughtfully
The phone was tossed over and I could hear Mom in the background talking about ways she was going to punish Dad and I for scaring her.
"David?" Ruthie asked, her voice calming me down, "Hey kid, where are you?"
"Ruthie, I want you to come in about a half hour with Matt. Don't let anyone follow you. Not even Detective Michaels,"
"David, I don't-" Ruthie said weakly
"Is Chad there?" I asked, wondering
"No, he had to go to the hotel with the boys," She said, "They were getting tired,"
"Martin's next to you, right?" I asked, "Probably listening in. Hi Martin!"
Nothing came until a few seconds later when I was greeted with a, "David,"
"Bring Matt and Martin, I suppose," I said softly, "Pretend you're leaving or something. Come to the place where I saw the almost dead. And trust me, Ruthie,"
No one but Ruthie would know that. We had a discussion about it a while ago.
I hung up, even though Ruthie was still questioning. Forty five minutes later, I saw her, Matt, and Martin. Matt looked as if he was going to fry me alive.
"David!" He yelled, "Mom's out of her mind, screaming at everyone about all these ridiculous codes,"
"She'll live," I said, "Mom needs some sleep," I took a deep breath, "Dad had another heart attack and he's currently in a coma,"
"No," Ruthie sighed, "Because of me?"
"More of a factor of all the secrets he heard at once," I said softly, "Dad needs triple bypass surgery,"
"Whoa," Martin sighed, sitting down
"I still have to tell him that his youngest son is gay," I said simply, "And has a hot boyfriend,"
"Cain?" Ruthie asked, smiling, "He's cute,"
I blush a little, "I know,"
"What?" Matt said, bewildered
"I do like girls though," I told them, "So I guess I'm bisexual, but right now, I'm with Cain,"
"Right on," Martin said, unsure of what to say
Ruthie hugged me, crying, "Oh David," She sighed, "You're telling all of us?"
"One at a time," I said softly, "Mom's last, because well," I sighed, "I just don't know if I can tell her,"
"Mary and Lucy probably won't like being last to know," Ruthie said, chuckling
"I was actually going to call Mary and Mom up, let Lucy be the last and see if she'll complain about that,"
"Careful with Lucy, David," Matt said gently, "She and Kevin are going through a hard time,"
"She should have never invited Chandler back," I said simply, "That's where it all went wrong,"
"Huh?" Ruthie asked
"Kevin walked in on Lucy and Chandler during a inopportune moment, so to speak," I said, "She does love Kevin though,"
"Our family is screwed up," Matt said, laughing, "How the hell do you know about all these secrets?"
"Our sister taught Sam and myself," I said, shrugging. Ruthie laughed and pecked me on the cheek.
"Lots of luck to you, David. Where's Daddy?"
I nodded to his room number-172 and Ruthie went there, followed by Matt. Martin stayed where he was, hands shoved into his pockets. I clapped a hand on his shoulder,
"Martin, while you're here, you should know that I make good friends with little kids. Such as Ruthie's boytoy's kids,"
Martin nodded, not liking the boytoy reference I made to Chad.
"Seems that Ruthie's love of her life has a few loves of his life in Britain," I said, chuckling, "They should break up in about three days and I expect you to swoop in and save her,"
Martin grinned and nodded.
"You are a good man, David Camden," He told me
"I know," I smiled and walked away, with my cell in hand,
Mom picked up on the first ring.
"David?" She asked, sounding like a worried mother and not one out to get me.
"I love you, Mom," I told her softly
"That bad?" She asked
"Bring Mary. No one else and I mean it Mom." I said softly, "Dad wouldn't want it. Come by whenever, but make sure only Mary's with you,"
"What about Lucy and Kevin and Detective?" She asked, concerned
"Let me talk to the Detective," I said, sighing
"David," He said, all-business.
"Go home. It's not an emergency situation," I said kindly, "If you'll notice, I'm recruiting Mom and Mary to leave next. That leaves Lucy and Kevin alone together, and they need to talk,"
"I see your point, son," He said, smiling. I could tell he was smiling.
"Tell Mom secretly that Dad's at the hospital. He had another heart attack. In a coma right now, but scheduled for a triple bypass, should he wake up,"
"I'll come by in the morning too," He said, and we both hung up.
Mom came running down with Mary trailing her. How they had managed to leave Lucy's claws, I wondered.
"David!" Mom hugged me, "Oh don't ever scare me like that," She said, angry and relieved at the same time, "Ever again!"
"I love you, Mom," I said, laughing,
"Michaels just left as well," Mary said, laughing. "Said that he had another case come up,"
"How'd you guys get out?" I asked
"I said that I was going to look for you and Mary said she had to leave early in the morning," Mom explained, "Lucy and Kevin are alone in the kitchen waiting for you to call,"
"Hopefully talking," I said, "Look Mary, Mom," I breathed a sigh, "I have a boyfriend. He's the greatest and I like him a lot. Maybe even love him someday," I shrugged, "I don't know,"
"David," Mary sighed, "Congratulations, I guess,"
"And I didn't say anything about the triplets," I added, "Sam made a comment and Mom overheard,"
"I've made my peace with that," Mary said gently, "I love you, David," She walked to Dad's room and I was left with my mother.
Mom is possibly the most fearless person I've ever met, but at that moment, she seemed like a sheet. I could just tip her over with one poke.
"David Joseph Camden," She said kissing me on the cheek, "How times do change,"
"You're okay with this?" I asked
"As long as I meet the boy and I like the boy," she said, "Meaning, if the boy is not like Rose,"
I laughed. We have a lot of inside jokes for Rose. We do like Rose, but Simon and Rose, how they ever got together, no one knows.
"You'll like him," I assured her, "He's the greatest guy I've ever met," I added honestly
"I'm sure he is," Mom said and walked in to see Dad with me. Everyone was there, looking at him. Dad, I could see, was also awake now. When he saw Mom, he literally lit up.
"My Annie," He croaked, "How I love you,"
"Oh Eric!" Annie said and ran over, half afraid to touch him, and half afraid not to touch him.
"David," Keith looked at me, smiling, "Turned out to be a mix-up. All he's got is a concussion from falling down a ladder," He laughed
"They know," I said, smiling, "Thanks man," We shook hands and left.
"Is that the boy?" Annie asked
"No, he's straight," I said, chuckling, "Cain's cuter,"
"Who's Cain?" Dad asked
Everyone glanced at me, half worried for Dad's heart. I sighed,
"Cain is the boy that I wanna date," I said, getting it over with
Dad, to my surprise, smiled.
"The boy I saw you kissing in the kitchen?"
"Dad?" I said, confused, "You know?"
"You're my son, David," He said smiling, "I make it a point to know everything. And you should know that Bryan is a bigger fan of Oreos then you think,"
I laughed, and kissed him on the cheek, "I forgot that I told him," I frowned, "So, Dad, you knew everything?"
He nodded, sighing, "Where do you think that you and Ruthie inherited the spy gene from?" He smiled
"So, why the heart attack?" Mom asked, holding his hand confused, "If you already knew everything-"
"I didn't know about Ruthie and Sam," Dad said softly, "And Simon,"
"Dad," Simon sighed, "Cecilia's talking about joint custody. She feels bad about the heart attack,"
"And Daddy," Ruthie spoke up, "Chad and I decided to end things amicably. He was worried that he had something to do with your heart. It was really just a fling,"
I could see Martin looking at her, smiling.
"Also, everyone should know that I now only have one girlfriend," Sam said, smiling,
"I'm having a talk with you about the polygamy," Dad said, frowning
"Polygamy?" mom repeated, "Sam?"
"After the surgery, Reverend," The doctor came in, grinning,
"Surgery?" Eric asked
"Triple bypass," I explained
"David, Sam, Ruthie, Simon, Lucy, Mary, Matt," Dad said, and looked up, smiling, "Annie," He added, "How I love all of you and your families, no matter what should happen,"
"We're praying for you, Eric," Annie assured him, kissing her dear husband of years on the cheek. She dropped a few tears as he was wheeled out. I look out the window and smile. The sun is shining for the first time since this week started. Before, it was mostly rain and clouds.
This week, for the first time, most of the secrets are out.