Dynamite Kid and the Green Butterfly

Chapter 10

I sat in the waiting room with Officer Martin. My hands were gripping the foam cup of water as we sat in silence. They'd taken Adrianna in for surgery when we'd arrived at the hospital. We'd be able to see her as soon as she woke up in the recovery unit. I have to say that being here with this man is pretty awkward. He sat across from me, and all he did was stare. He didn't say anything, he just stared. I cleared my throat and looked away from him. "So, how old are you?"

"Eighteen." I answered. "I just had a birthday a few days ago. That's when I got the letter from Adrianna. I have it here…" I held it up for him to take and he did. His expression softened as he read the letter.

"She was only a kid herself." I just listened as he thought a loud to himself. "How did this happen…where was I?

"Are…are you my dad?" I asked quietly. He looked up at me with wide eyes.

"No." He said softly. "I'm your uncle." I smiled at him. "Adri is only thirty-eight. She had you when she was eighteen. I just don't remember seeing her with a baby bump."

"Oh…"

"I was away at college at the time. I didn't come home very often, and now that I think of it…it all makes sense how I never knew." He mused. "I'm Daniel by the way."

"Gabriella."

"I know." Right, he was there at the station. Of course he knew me. We were silent again. This man across from me is my uncle. A living, breathing, relative of mine. What do I do? Do I introduce myself? Do I tell him about me? Or should I ask about him? Should I be asking about Adri…I mean, mom? Yes. That's what we should talk about.

"So, um…" Great start, G. "I'm sorry. I don't know exactly what to say right now." Sighing, I slumped down into my seat.

"That makes two of us." Daniel chuckled. I saw him flash a smile, and instantly I felt better. I returned his smile with one of my own. "You have her smile…" His voice was so low, he could've been whispering. He sat staring at me, and I stared back. His eyes were the same color as mine, as well as our hair. The more I looked, the more the similarities stood out. I sighed in relief after realizing his smile was still in place.

"Do I have anything else of hers?" Now, I'm not sure if this is a good question to ask. I just don't think I can take the silence. I don't want this to be any more awkward for him than it has to be.

"You do. You have her head shape. I also see that you've been blessed with those enchanting Martin peepers." He grinned, widening his eyes for dramatic effect. Naturally, I blinked my own eyes twice. "Everyone in the family tree has these eyes." Daniel said. "I think you got my hair though. You're lucky; I've got the best genes in the family." The more he said, the more I smiled.

"Well, thank you, Uncle Dan. You've saved me loads of money on appointments at the salon." He stopped. Oh no! Now, I've done it. This was going so well. Ugh! For once can't I just control my mouth?!

"You called me uncle…" Crap! Okay, just think. Maybe I can fix this.

"I-"

"It's fine. It's just that I don't have any nieces or nephews."

"She never had kids?"

"No-well I guess yes, since she had you, but none otherwise."

"…do you have any kids?" I asked, desperate to steer this in another direction.

"Two. A boy and a girl. They're a few years younger than you."

"Wow. I-I'd love to meet them sometime." After a moment I added, "If that's okay…" He simply nodded. The lady on the intercom paged a doctor, and I was jolted back into the hospital. I suddenly remembered why I was there and what I was waiting for. A cold feeling came over me. I may not get the chance to meet her. How unfair would that be?

"I wish we could see her." I warmed as he said 'we'. Daniel, Uncle Daniel is beginning to include me. He's accepting me.

"Me too." I agreed.

"Have you eaten? We could go get something to eat from the café." I nodded, and we made our way downstairs.

~*~

Uncle Daniel and I sat at the small, round, white table in the café. He bought us both coffee and paid for the blueberry waffles I got too. We sat in a comfortable silence until he spoke. "So, tell me more about you."

"Oh, I couldn't tell you what fact is or what fiction is right now." I said with a dry laugh.

"Why's that?"

"I just feel like my whole life has been a lie." I answered shrugging. "It's like I've been brainwashed, you know?"

"Nah, that doesn't change what you like. Maybe it shakes you up a bit, but doesn't change what you've chosen to like."

"Well…" I was speechless. He was right about that. Nothing really changed at all.

"Think about it like this Gabs, instead of losing your identity, you gained more people to help you find it." Huh. I hadn't actually thought about it like that. Uncle Daniel was right. I hadn't really lost anything, not much at all. Well, okay, maybe I lost my mind, but that's about it. "So um…" He started, clearing his throat. "that boy you were with…"

"Yeah…"

"I take you two are dating?"

"Oh, yeah." I laughed. "I mean, no." I added after thinking about what got me here in the first place. "It's a little complicated."

"He's in love with you." Those words made my eyes fill with tears. "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad."

"No, it's okay. I'm just overly emotional this week. I've been hit with a hurricane."

"Yeah…I'm sorry you've had to go through this." As he opened his mouth to speak again, his phone rang. Without hesitation, he answered immediately. "Martin." I motioned to the trash in my hands and got up to dispose of it. This whole thing feels like a dream. It's weird. Things like this usually only happen in movies. Particularly the ones on Lifetime. But, of course, this is my real life.

"Somebody, please pinch me." I muttered.

"Gabriella!" Daniel called from our table. I rushed over to him. He held this look on his face that was hard to describe. If I had to guess, I'd say somewhere between relief and worry. "Adrianna's out of surgery." He grabbed my hand and we raced up to elevator.

~*~

Here I am, outside of my mother's hospital room. I can't bring myself to go in. What if she doesn't remember me? I mean, what if she doesn't want to remember me? What happens then? Part of me is starting to wish I'd been willfully ignorant about the whole thing, and just stayed in Albuquerque. I can't do this! I sat down on the bench with my head in my hands. I heard the footsteps in the hall approaching, and it only intensifies the pounding that I feel in my head. I cover my ears in a sorry attempt to block it out, but it's no use. My head snaps up, and suddenly I'm looking into Troy's eyes. I don't question his abrupt appearance at all, I just hug him. I literally burry my head in his shoulders and cry.

"Shh, shhh, it's okay. I'm here Gabriella, its okay." He whispers. "Have you gone in yet?" I shake my head no, and he grips on my hand. I squeeze his hand tightly. There's no way I'm letting go.

"I-want to…I just can't."

"It's fine." Troy's lips press lightly against my forehead and I smile. "We'll wait until you're ready."

~*~

AN- Short, I know, but I can't help it. I'm insanely busy and this is the first time I've been able to sit and type this up. I don't like it, and I didn't have time to edit. Pardon my errors. I'll fix them later.

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