Cahpter 42: A Final Farewell

*Zain*

Zain arrived at the hospital early the next day, eager to see his sister and new little nephew. His clothes were packed, and he was ready to go, having planned to go straight to the airport to meet Jasmine when he left the hospital.
At Jasmine’s insistence, he reluctantly let her go back to her condo the night before. He just hoped nothing had happened to her before she met him, and that her father hadn’t come back.
If he touched her, he was going to kill him. Damn the consequences.
But no matter how eager he was to see Jasmine and see for himself that she was okay, nothing was going to stop him from being there for his sister now. He was just glad that he was there when she had the baby.
When he walked in, the hospital antiseptic smell was overwhelming, more so than he’d remembered from occasional trips to the emergency room when he was a child from playing baseball or some other sport. The bright lights lit up the hallway as he stepped out of the elevator and made his way to his sister’s room.
The hospital was quiet, except for the sound of Zain’s footsteps ricocheting off the walls. The door squeaked loudly when he opened it and smiled as he peeked inside. Carmen was sitting up on the bed, the baby cradled in her arms.
Tears filled his eyes as she looked up and smiled. “Zain. I’m glad you’re here. Come and meet your new nephew.”
“Where’s Juan?” he asked, clearing his throat as he cautiously entered the room, closing the door behind him.
She lifted one shoulder. “He was here all night, so I told him to go home and get some rest. He’s going to check on Sylvia and will be back up later tonight.”
“So, how’re you feeling?” Zain stepped up next to her bed, looking into her eyes.
Carmen scoffed. “I just had a baby. How do you think?”
“Fair point.” Zain chuckled and then looked down at his nephew's innocent, beautiful face, and tears filled his eyes. “Oh, Carmen... he’s gorgeous.”
Her eyes were misty as she beheld her son. “Thanks. I think so, too.”
He kissed her cheek and then leaned his head against hers as they both watched Sebastian, happily sucking his fist. “You did good, sis.”
She smiled, and a tear trickled down her cheek as she leaned into him. Then she pulled back and quickly swiped her hand across her face. “It’s just the hormones.”
Zain chuckled. “Carmen, you don’t always have to be strong for everyone. It’s okay to feel emotional, and not because you just had a baby.”
She nodded as she looked back down at her son. “I know.”
He wondered how she had managed to make it through the difficult labor to bring a child into the world. She had been in labor half the night and had finally given birth to Sebastian at five o’clock this morning. Yet, here she was, sitting up in bed, holding her newborn son.
“You want to hold him?” Carmen asked, already holding him out to him.
“Sure. Why not?” He took the baby gingerly from her, careful to support his head. But when the baby’s eyes met his, he was done. “Carmen, he’s so alert. I can’t believe how focused he is.”
She shrugged, smiling proudly. “What can I say? He’s smart like his uncle.”
Zain smiled, tears filling his eyes. “Thanks, but I can’t take credit for that. His mother is pretty smart, too.”
“And so is his father.” Carmen smiled proudly.
“Definitely.” Zain cradled the baby as he glanced up and smiled at his sister. “He’d have to be to be married to you.”
“Damn straight.” She chuckled. “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and he knows it.”
“And I’m sure you tell him all the time.” Zain laughed as he looked down at his baby nephew, cradled in his arms. He looked like a doll, his skin soft and smooth, his tiny hand clenched around his finger. His hand reminded him of Carmen’s when she pulled him away the day they left their father behind in Cuba. The pain of losing his father combining with the joy of seeing his nephew for the first time gripped his heart.
It wasn’t every day that he thought of his father, but right now, looking down at his nephew, he couldn’t help it. “Poppy would have been proud.”
Carmen nodded. After a moment, she cleared her throat, her voice thick with emotion. “I think so, too.” Her smile faded as her eyes met his. “He’s still alive, Zain. I know he is.”
Zain nodded, blinking back tears. “I hope so.”
He made a mental note to go back to Cuba to look for him as soon as his baseball career takes off. He had no doubt that it would. But that was in the future. Right now, he had to focus on his career and earning enough to take his mother back there to try and find his father.
But Zain said none of that now as he watched Sebastian’s lips moving, making a sucking motion in his sleep. “Here you go,” he said as he handed him back to his sister. “I hate to say this, but I have to get going.”
Carmen smiled when she took the baby, her voice soothing and maternal as she spoke softly to her baby. She had done so much for him while they were growing up that he wished he could do more for her. But the only thing he could do right now was to be there for emotional support when she needed it. And now, he was leaving and couldn’t even do that.
“Sis, are you sure you’ll be okay after I leave?” His eyes were filled with concern. “I can stay another day or two—”
“And miss Jasmine?” she asked, taking him by surprise.
Zain’s head snapped up. “What are you talking about?”
“What do you think?” She shrugged. “Zain, I wasn’t born yesterday. Just promise me that you won’t do anything stupid.”
“I won’t,” Zain lied, wondering how much to tell her. Butt even though she would think what he was doing was stupid, it seemed right and logical to Zain… even if they would only be married for a weekend. “Jasmine and I are meeting for dinner at the airport, then Jasmine’s flying to Tennessee, and I’m going to California.” He hated lying to her but didn’t want her to talk him out of going to Vegas with Jasmine, either.
“Uh-huh. Hey. It’s me you’re talking to.” She arched an eyebrow, smiling suspiciously. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but your secret’s safe with me. Don’t get me wrong, I like Jasmine, but just be careful.” Carmen sighed as she looked down at the baby in her arms. “Just don’t do something you’ll regret.”
But as he looked down at the baby sleeping peacefully in his sister’s arms, he knew that having a baby with Jasmine wouldn’t be a mistake. Just bad timing. But if it happened, he would be the happiest man in the world.
Sebastian gripped his finger. “There’s no way a little guy like this would ever be a mistake. But don’t worry. I’m going to wait for Jasmine for as long as it takes.”
Carmen nodded, her eyes meeting his. “You really love her. Don’t you?”
Zain nodded. “More than my own life.” He knew it sounded overly dramatic, but it was true. As he told Jasmine before, it would never be over between them… no matter what happened.
A smile lit Carmen’s lips as her eyes met his. “I’m happy for you, brother. Just be smart.”
He nodded, smiling. “I intend to.” Warmth spread through him as he sat on the edge of her bed and slipped his arm around her, both of them gazing at the precious bundle in his sister’s arms, mere words unable to express the emotion in both of their hearts.
As he stared at the baby, he couldn’t help but wonder what his and Jasmine’s baby would look like, when and if they ever had one.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said, his voice shaky.
“Thank you, Zain,” she said, her voice a gentle whisper. “I’m proud of you, too.”
There was a pause as they watched the little one, a special moment shared only between them.
“It really is an incredible thing, what you’ve done.” He sighed, his voice barely a whisper. “I’d like to have one, too, someday.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Just make sure it’s a long time from now.” Then she turned her gaze back to the baby. “I’m going to miss you, Zain.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
He took her in, the silence between them heavy and filled with memories. He wanted to stay, to remain in this moment with her longer, but he had to go. He had to move on and live his own life and she had hers to live, too.
“I have to go,” he said, his voice breaking along with his heart.
She nodded, understanding filling her eyes. “You know I love you.”
“I know,” he replied. “I love you, too.”
He leaned in and kissed her forehead. Then he took a deep breath, the emotion of the moment overwhelming.
After saying his last goodbyes, he quickly turned away as tears filled his eyes. Zain knew he had to leave, but he wanted to stay. He wanted to tell his sister how much she meant to him, and how much he would miss her. He wished he could have said everything that he felt at that moment, but Jasmine was waiting.
Just One Weekend
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