Re: Visiting the Hospital
The next elevator burped out Cris. He'd gotten back to the room, had seen his phone and no Sam, and he'd followed some unwitting distance behind. It was strange, the momenta perspective, from the doorsa the elevator. They opened on the lobby, tall-ceiling'd and chairs arranged nice, tucked off to the sides by the plants, mosta the space open to let people get where they were going. Somebody was getting their parking validated, and in fronta that scene was the small smatteringa people, the only people in the world, who were there for Joey and Sam. Daniel, Iris, Lou, each looking sour and taciturn, pinched and worried, and Cris watched Sam near them (he knew it was her. He recognized her and her ass immediately). He couldn't hear her from this far, but he could almost feel the smile she projected gappy, and he watched it work on Iris, just before Sam sat. The older gringa's face lit up from its oatmeal color to something a lil bit brighter, and she hugged Sam after brushing at her elbow.
It was a quiet reunion, and the guy couldn't help but thinka his people in the city. How his nephews had come in loud to see Teresita. How his sisters sat with an exhausted Elena, laughing too loud, onea them holding a grandbaby, bouncing her on her knee. His ma was there next to him, holding his hand, talking to him rapid-fire, her hands smelling like Royal Violets, soft with baby oil. And, course, Teresita herself, fussing in his other arm as he looked at her, small and scrunched up and black-eyed. This was different, Sam's people. Quiet, pale, everything like the color and life had both been leached outta 'em, and Cris was suddenly stupidly, achingly homesick, like a stitch in his gut. He frowned as he crossed over toward everybody—his new family.
He didn't look so good either, huh? But, it was mostly lacka care. His hair wasn't brushed, it was wild and curly. He had a few days' growth down his throat and jaw, and he was in a t-shirt and jeans, both bland, white and denim. His frown lightened into a smile as he came up behind Sam's chair, his fingers swiping over the backa her neck, before he went in to hug Lou, one arm 'round the shoulders, pulling him in and his hand warm, low against the napea the guy's neck, fraternal. Daniel got a handshake, with the good hand (the other was bandaged), if the guy managed it, and Iris got a smile, alla 'em getting a 'thanks for comin'. How was the ride?' before he went back to Sam, his hand settling on the backa her neck proprietary. He looked at the stuff in Lou's hands and just said, "I hope somea that's for me, huh?"