"Jonathan, you can go back to pre-op with Mom. I'll stay in the waiting room and wait for Dad and Hank."
"No Sam, you should be with her right now. You have a calming affect on her.'
"I'd like BOTH of you with me right now since Tony isn't here. Please?"
"Okay, Mom," they said together.
As they were getting ready to head back to the waiting room while Angela was taken to surgery, two men came running down the hallway. "Angela!"
"Dad, we're over here!" Sam called out.
"Oh Tony, I'm so sorry. I thought that I was okay and they say that the baby is okay but there is internal bleeding and I am SO scared," Angela cried.
"Mi amore, from what Hank told me you're in great hands here. I'll be waiting right here for you. I love you, Angela."
"I love you too, Tony." Then she drifted out of consciousness.
"The sedative is working," stated Nurse Christy as she wheeled Angela back to the operating room.
"Now Samantha Marie Thomopoulos, what's this that I hear that I am going to be a grandfather? When were you going to tell your dear old dad?"
"You told him?!"
"Sorry, honey, but I needed to share something good with him."
"And I'm glad that he did. My Sammi, having a baby of her own as I become a father for the second, make that the third time."
"Oh Dad, I'm glad that you aren't upset. We were going to come out and surprise you and Mom with a visit in a few weeks. We'll be finding out the sex of the baby soon."
"And, Jonathan my boy, anything happening with you?"
"No, Dad, nothing really."
"Jonathan, aren't you going to tell him?"
"No Sam, not with Mom and Grandma in the state that they are in."
"What, what's going on with my boy? Samantha, what is it? Hank? Will someone please tell me what's happening with my son?"
"I really wanted to tell you and Mom together, but I guess I'll start with you. I recently went out on a date."
"That's great pal, but you've been on dates before. What's so special about that?"
"Yeah, but this one was...different."
"Spill it Jonathan, or I will!"
"Ok Sam, don't get your undies in a bundle! Well, Tony, this date was with a boy. And we've gone on a few more dates since."
"Oh, wow, that's all? I thought you were going to say a long-lost cousin or an older woman like Diane Willmington. So does this mean that you are gay?"
" Yes, it does. Are you upset?"
"Upset? Not at all! Jonathan, you are my son in every sense of the word. If that is part of who you are, of course I will accept it. I love you as much as I love Sam, and the baby your mom is carrying. And yes, Hank, I love you too."
As Jonathan ran into Tony's arms to give him a bear hug, he said "I love you too, Dad!"
"Let's go head to the cafeteria and get you guys some dinner," suggested Hank.
"I'll go let Christy know where we are so that they can reach us with any updates on Mom," Sam said.
"Sounds good, honey. We'll meet you downstairs then."
"So Hank, when are you going to share your other news with Dad?" Jonathan asked.
"Oh yeah, that. So, Dad, you know how I was applying for internships? Wel, I finally got one!"
"That's great, Hank! Where is it?"
"It's for the Walt Disney Company."
"You mean with Mickey and Minnie and Donald and Goofy and..."
"Yep, that's the one! They have design studios throughout the country, so I'll be working at the one in Manhattan."
"Wonderful news, son! Then you and Angela and Mona can ride in on the train together, once they're both back up on their feet that is."
"Well, Dad, he will be able to for a while...wait, did you say Angela? But you and she are out in Iowa."
"Yeah, well I'm thinking that may change now with the accident and all, but she and I will have to talk about all that once she's out of surgery. Anyway, what were you saying Sam?"
"Okay. Anyway, I also got an internship, more like a trial job offer, at the local ABC station."
"New York local?"
"Yes, Dad. So when I get through my probationary period, I'll be working the overnight news desk, or rather under those that run the news desk. So we figured that it may be easier to live closer to their to make it easier for when the baby comes. I mean, Mona will be at work all day, Jonathan will be at school, and you and Mom are out in Iowa, or maybe will be still? So we figured that Joe and Fran will be helping to watch the baby during overlaps in our shifts."
"I'm so proud of you, Samantha. I'm so proud of all of you. And the fact that you are making smart, grown up decisions well before you'd need to makes me realize just how mature you both are. When you got married, I still saw you as my little girl. But you are indeed a grown woman, and I'm so grateful you found a good man to lead you through life with."
"Oh, Dad, you know I will always be your little girl!" She hugged her father tightly, and he reciprocated in kind.
"So, what about this possibility of no longer being in Iowa? What about the office that Mom is looking to open up in Dubuque?"
"Well Jonathan, she's not going to be able to do that for a while now. And, with her in surgery, Mona being laid up, becoming a dad AND grandfather, and really missing all of you, I think it's time to be here with all of our family. Family is the most important thing to me and your mom, and we should be here."
After Jonathan and Tony had their dinners and Sam had a snack, they headed upstairs to visit Mona as Angela was still in surgery. Sure enough, she was able to finagle a double room for her and Angela on the OB floor. "Tony! What are you doing here?"
"I heard about the accident and had to come home to take care of my girls."
"Het bub, I'm no girl!"
"You know what I mean, Mone."
"Yeah, I do. So how is Angela?"
"She's still in surgery, Grandma."
"I pray my baby is okay! She looked so scared when they were putting me into the ambulance, I thought I was a goner for a moment. But them Dr. Paul said it was minor injuries, so that helped to calm me down."
"So Mona, do you know?" Tony asked.
"You mean do I know for sure shat I suspected as soon as she tuned down pizza for dinner for her go-to meal from about 16 years ago?"
"What was 16 years ago, Grandma?"
"Jonathan, don't you know anything? Mom would've pregnant with you, you bonehead!"
"Hey, don't be calling me names, Sam!"
"Knock it off, both of you! Yes, Mone, we're having a baby. She's due mid-June."
"Oh, Tony, I can't wait to be a grandma again! Wait, that's right after your due date, isn't it Sam?"
"Yep, Mona, it is. And I'm super excited for Mom and Dad!"
"I've already told the kids, but with the accident and the babies coming, we need to be here with our family. While we have a great support system in Iowa, they aren't family, and family is what we will both need."
"Are you sure Tony? Angela may fight you on that one. After all she can be pretty stubborn like me."
"Yeah, Mone, I am."