Ben's Gift
By Ben
Chapter Seven
"Ah, yes, Berto. I have to talk to you about something. Your surgery went well, much better than expected, but..."
"Que? What is it? Ben, please tell me!" Ben could see Berto was becoming excited and rested his hands on the young man's shoulders to prevent him from moving too much.
"Shhh, please be still, Mi Corazon. I will tell you. It is the Padre. The surgery did not go well for him. I'm afraid... well...he died, Berto."
Berto stared in disbelief. He looked like a little boy. Tears filled his eyes and he couldn't speak.
"I am so sorry to have to tell you this." Ben bent and held his lover.Berto found his hand and squeezed it tightly. Ben felt the slender body shake and heard Berto sniff as he cried in silence. He didn't know what else to do, so he just held him until the initial grief subsided.
"Ben?" He heard Berto say, softly.
Ben stood up and dried the tears with the corner of the crisp, white sheet. "Si, what is it, Babe?"
"Did he suffer? Was he in much pain?" Berto looked into his eyes.
"No. He was still heavily sedated from the surgery when I talked to him. There was no pain." Ben told him truthfully.
"He saved my life, Ben." A simple statement, but one filled with so much promise.
"Yes he did. And he did it knowingly and willingly. He was very happy that he could do it for you. He told me so when I spoke to him, just before he died."
"What else did he tell you?" Berto wanted to know.
Ben was stricken. Should he tell him everything? The Padre had really surprised him and he intended to tell Berto everything, but maybe it was wiser to tell him later.
"He said a lot of things, but I will save some of it for when you have had a chance to rest, okay?" Ben decided to change the subject. "Carla has had her babies, Berto."
Berto's face registered surprise and happiness. "Si? Is she alright? How are the ninos?"
Ben smiled. "Yes, she is fine. The babies are perfect and beautiful like Carla. She had a boy who is named after his papa. And a girl, whom she has named Manuella."
Ben saw that tears were, once again, filling Berto's eyes. "For Mama." He whispered.
Ben gripped Berto's hand more firmly. "That's right. She loved your Mama very much. We all did."
Berto nodded. "She loved you all, too. Especially you, Ben. She would be very happy that we are together."
"Yes, I know. I am very happy that we are together, too!" Ben bent to kiss Berto's lips and felt his kiss returned warmly. He adored this young man and could kiss him for hours, had, in fact, done so on many occasions. He looked forward to when he could hold him and make love to him again.
The nurse had returned and patiently said. "I'm sorry, but we have to let this handsome young man get some rest. We will be moving him to his room in a little while."
Reluctantly, Ben stood upright. Still holding Berto's hand he said, "Okay, I have to go. I know you need to get some rest. The sooner you regain your strength, the sooner I can take you home."
Berto nodded his understanding. "Si. I am looking forward to seeing our casa again. I miss it."
"Me too." Ben agreed. "And I am sure your roses miss you as well."
This brought a smile to Berto's face. He had a magnificent smile, which involved more than just his mouth. It radiated from his entire face and could light up an entire room. Ben thought how great it was to see it so soon after a very serious surgery.
Berto said, "It was very good of Ricky and Jose to send us one of their gardeners to care for them until I am able to do so."
"Yes it was." Ben nodded. "But I know you will have some helpful hints for them when you get back." The nurse cleared her throat softly to signal that it was time for Ben to go. He bent to kiss Berto one more time and said, "I'll be right here when you are settled in to your new room and have gotten a chance to rest."
Berto could see the fatigue in Ben's eyes. "Please go and get some rest, Ben. I am being well cared for and there is nothing you can do for me right now. Promise?"
Ben was hesitant to leave the hospital, but he nodded and said, "Okay, Babe. I promise, but have them page me when I can come back to be with you."
"Si, I will. I love you, Ben."
"Oh Berto, I love you, too. I'll see you soon."
Slowly he released Berto's hand and walked to the door. He turned and looked back at Berto and was rewarded with another of those amazing smiles that made his heart soar. He allowed the door to close behind him and then walked to the elevator.
On the solitary ride to the maternity floor, he realized just how tired he really was. He was also extremely hungry. He hadn't had anything to eat for many hours and now that Berto seemed to be doing so well, his worry eased a bit and his body became aware of its needs.
Entering Carla's room again, Ben saw that Jake and Nathan had arrived. Jake had Miguel Jr. in his arms and was making stupid little sounds that people tend to make to babies. Ben wondered if babies ever thought they were surrounded by idiots.
Miguel was asleep in the chair next to Carla's hospital bed with his new daughter asleep on his chest. It was a touching sight and brought back a thousand memories to Ben of when his sons were babies.
Jake came over and gave Ben a hug. "How is Berto doing?" He asked.
Ben smiled, tiredly. "He's just fine. He looks great, considering all he has been through."
"Great news!" Jake said cheerfully. "Can we go and see him?"
"Not right now. He is still in recovery and they will be moving him to his room in the ICU shortly, then he has to get some rest, so it will be a few hours before they allow any visitors."
Jake looked a bit disappointed, but nodded his head in understanding. "You look like you could use some rest yourself."
"That's what Berto told me. He made me promise to get some sleep then come back to se him. I'm going to get something to eat then check into a hotel..."
"Like hell you are!" Exclaimed Nathan. "You're going to come home with Jake and me. Ricky and Jose too. They both look a little ragged around the edges, too."
"Are you sure, guys? I don't want to put you out or anything."
"I ought to kick your ass for saying that." Jake said. We would love to have you guys come stay with us. Make it your home until Berto can travel back to Santa Rosalia."
"Ben laughed at the mock threat. "Okay, okay. Sorry. I accept."
Miguel awoke as they were saying their good-byes to Carla. "How is Berto?"
"I'm told he is doing amazingly well." Ben answered. "His color is good and he's quite cheerful."
"Ah, that is always a good sign." Miguel yawned.
Why don't you come over to our place with Ben, Jose and Ricky?" Jake offered.
"Thank you, mi amigo, but no. There are some beds near the doctors' lounge downstairs. I need to be here to see to Berto and I'm not leaving Carla or our new family right now.
"I will make sure he gets some sleep." Carla promised.
" Keep the pager that the hospital gave you, Ben and I will get in touch with you as soon as I hear anything of importance about Berto."
Ben held up the pager. "Got it right here. Thanks, Miguel. Congratulations again!"
Nathan returned the baby to his mother and herded everybody out of the room and to the elevator. It was a quiet ride down to the ground floor. Ricky and Jose drove their rental car, following Nathan's Jaguar. Ben spread out on the back seat enjoying the luxurious interior, and soon fell asleep.
I'll bet you guys though I had forgotten about you, huh? Not so! I have had a few changes in my life lately, one of which is that I am now working only one job. Hopefully this will leave me more time to write. Anyway, I am back. Would love to hear from you! ben_sc@hotmail.com