Chapter 63- Arizona
What just happened? "a cell phone?" I ask the teenager that has started calling me mom who is standing in front of me.
"please" she says, her brown eyes pleading for me to say yes
"what would you do with a cell phone?" I ask, I don't ever use mine, as a matter of fact I have no idea where it is. Shaking the thought away I hear her say "play games and look up stuffs on the net"
"hmm" I hum, and look at her, I think she was expecting me to say no, I don't remember Callie and I ever saying no to something she asked for since she's been here. "alright, I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea"
"yay" she squeals, and I feel her wrap her arms around me "I love you mom" I feel the tears fill my eyes, I honestly thought I would never hear that. I have never wanted kids, and my last relationship, well you know how that was. Wrapping my arms around her, placing a kiss on her head "I love you too kiddo" she squeezes me tight "go get your shoes on, once Callie" I smile and correct myself "once your momma is ready we'll go"
"ok" she says going to where we keep the shoes "I'll go let the grandpa's know we are leaving"
"grandpa's" I repeat and laugh, I know my dad loves it, but I'm not sure how Carlos will feel. I hadn't had a chance to talk to dad about what we heard last night. I do know Carlos never went back to the hospital, and they were both out in the kennel when I got up. Callie comes down breaking me of my thoughts "where'd she go?"
"out to tell the grandpa's we are leaving"
"grandpa's" Callie laughs
"her words not mine" I shrug and reach for my light jacket, it wasn't cold, but I felt I might need it at the hospital
"is she getting a phone?" I looked at Callie, meeting her eyes, she laughs "are we ever going to be able to tell her no?"
"I don't think so" I shake my head, and reach for Callie's jacket, helping her put it on. We head out the door, Sofia is already in the car waiting. "someone is excited" Callie says as we climb in. Apparently, we are taking Callie's car this time, so she is driving.
"I'm excited to see auntie Aria" she says "I hope she's ok"
"it sounded like it" I say although Alex didn't say much on the phone, I could tell by the sound of his voice if he was upset or not, and he didn't sound upset, he sounded tired.
"alright seatbelts on" Callie says as she pulls away.
"did the grandpa's say anything?" I ask trying to hold back my chuckle
"no" Sofia shakes her head "they looked like they were about to do something"
"hmm" Callie hums quietly, and I let out a soft chuckle. Turning my attention back to Sofia "do you know what kind of phone you want?"
"oh nothing too elaborate, just something I can take pictures with. Pen did the cutest thing the other day and I wanted a picture of it"
"was it rolling in the mud?" I ask rolling my eyes. She often found the dirtiest mud puddle to stomp around in, which prompted either me or Callie to give her a bath.
"yeah" Sofia giggled, causing Callie and I to both laugh. Callie reaches over taking my hand as she drove. I looked over at her, feeling the tears building, I didn't want to be too corny with Sofia in the car but I couldn't help myself "I'm so glad nothing happened to you, I don't know what I would have done"
"me either" Sofia says from the back, I sniffle as a tear slips out of my eye. Turning my head to look out the window I wipe it away. "mom are you crying" Sofia asks.
"yes" I decide not to lie and go with it "I am, Callie is my life and I don't know what I would do without her"
"you'd still have me" Sofia says touching my arm "and gramps and grumpy uncle Alex"
"grumpy uncle Alex" I laugh "you know he's only grumpy towards you because he loves you"
"I know" Sofia says, Callie reached over turning on the radio "come on down to Torres motors, tell them Callie sent you and get a free gift"
"I can't believe he's still using that commercial" Callie says shaking her head
"why wouldn't he? You are returning to work aren't you?" I ask, with the wedding planning and everything, I had forgot what she and Lucia had decided. "I am" she says "but I don't think mom is going to, she got a lot of money from the divorce settlement, so she doesn't have to work"
"but she's moving?" Sofia asks
"yes, she will be moving"
"I'm going to miss us all living together" Sofia goes on, I tune her out, I know mom of the year right here. Callie pulls into the strip mall where the phone store was located, and we get out. Callie had found mine and I actually brought it with, thinking I might as well upgrade, and maybe start using it more. Walking into the store, Sofia leads us over to a display, as the worker comes over "hello, how is everyone doing today"
"great" Callie says with her fake enthusiasm "I lost my phone and need a new one"
"and I get to get one" Sofia chimes in, I clear my throat "and I'd like to upgrade" I say holding up my older than dirt flip home. The worker smiles "great" she claps her hands together "let's go over to the computer so I can look up your account"
"we're on two different accounts" Callie says "but we'd like to change that"
"can I keep my number" I ask, I've had it for so long I'd rather not change anything
"let's see what we can do" she smiles and goes about typing on the computer asking Callie questions as they went. It took over an hour, but we all walked out with the newest Samsung phones out. Sofia even got a tablet, saying she might need it for school. Callie also brought up getting her a laptop, causing me to roll my eyes. We are now pulling into the parking lot at the hospital, Callie had called Lucia, who said she would send Alex down to meet us. "there's grumpy uncle Alex" Sofia says seeing him standing outside the front door.
"you should say that to him" I say reaching for Callie's hand as we walk
"ok" Sofia smiles and runs ahead of us "hi grumpy uncle Alex, how's auntie Aria" Alex shakes his head and looks at me "hey she's the one who keeps referring to you as that so I told her to call you it"
"eh, if it fits" he shrugs, and to my surprise he bends down and wraps Sofia in a hug "Aria is doing better, come on let's go see her, she missed you" Sofia takes his hand as they walk. Callie and I follow. Alex was different, like something inside of him switched. He has never been the touchy feely person. I'm contemplating this as we walk through the hospital, the next thing I know we are standing outside Aria's room. Callie takes a deep breath before we enter, Sofia already claimed her seat in the chair next to the bed "auntie Aria I got a cell phone" she pulls it out and shows Aria, they have a conversation about it, but Aria looks up at Callie. When they lock eyes, Callie squeezes my hand "how are you sissy?"
"I'm doing better than you" Callie says letting go of my hand and moving closer.
"I'll be fine, they got the bullet out, just have to wear this thing for awhile" she holds up her arm which is in a sling. "at least they got the bastard and you won't have to worry about him anymore"
"yeah" Callie says "although I didn't realize I had to worry about him, I hadn't heard from him in so long, I almost forgot he existed"
"he's going to be put away for a long time" Lucia says coming into the room "I just got off the phone with my lawyer, he's looking at a pretty lengthy sentence"
"the bastard deserves it" Alex says, I watch how tender he is with Aria, and I can't help but smile, being with Aria has been good for him. "so" Aria says looking at me "I'm sorry you guys didn't get married"
"me too" I mutter
"we'll figure something out" Callie says
"what's there to figure out? Bailey lives in town right?" Callie nods "as long as she is still ordained, you can do it anywhere"
"hmm" Callie hums and looks at me, I shrug, "we were thinking maybe Vegas, after you're better" Aria let's out a groan "that's going to be a bit, and you two deserve something now"
"can we at least wait until you're out of the hospital?"
"in a day or two?" Aria asks looking around the room, she had everyone's attention "are your friends from out of town still going to be around?"
"Meredith and Cristina?" Callie asks, Aria nodded "oh I don't know" Callie shrugs.
"Sofia honey, why don't we go down and get some coffee" Lucia says
"but moms wont let me drink coffee" she protests, I could tell she didn't want to leave
"but I do, and I'd like you to join me" Lucia stood, Sofia let out a groan and stood up "fine but I'm bringing my phone"
"ok"
"I know what you are doing" Sofia says as they leave the room
"what was that about" Alex asks
"she wanted to give us time to talk" Aria says moving in the bed and wincing as she did, once the pain subsided she looked at me "you want to get married"
"well yeah" I say
"so why not do it? Like I said Bailey is ordained and can do it anywhere"
"Aria we are not getting married in a hospital" Callie says shaking her head "we can wait until you are feeling better"
"but I can't" she says, I look up at Alex, who has that smirk on his face
"what?" Callie exclaims, I see Alex nod "how, when?"
"after I woke up" she reached over with her good arm and takes Alex's hand "I love him, and he loves me" I cock my head, this is so unlike Alex, normally he'd talk my ear off about it first "dude" I say, he shrugs his shoulders "it felt right"
"dude" I smile, he knew what I was saying
"so, I thought, since you two didn't get married yesterday, we could do a double wedding" she pauses, waiting for Callie to say something, but when she doesn't Aria adds "here" pointing to the open area by the door. Honestly, I kind of liked the idea, but then again I just wanted to be married, like we were supposed to be yesterday. When Callie still hadn't said anything "Calliope" Aria says. I look at Callie, and shrug, it was up to her.