Page 62 of Finding Basil
Basil’s sweet laugh and heavenly blush didn’t make it any easier. “I’ll be with you soon, and from then on, we won’t have to leave each other in the morning, or anything. We’ll be married men.”
The sound of that, married, together, connected, was so good, he held Basil again, only tighter. “I want to have about fifty babies with you. We need the help on the farm.”
“Yes, we do. Let’s get the married part finished first, then we can decide on kids.”
That wasn’t to happen, however. That night, Basil was in Herb’s bedroom, shaking him awake at three in the morning. “Babe! Babe, wake up!”
Herb woke with his heart in his throat. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! Sabrina’s having the babies!”
Up and dressed in seconds, Herb was rushing down the stairs with Basil, who was so happy, he was laughing all the way to the hospital.
In the truck, Herb asked him, “Were you this way for all your nieces and nephews being born?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s another party. We all head to the hospital, and Mama brings jugs of tea, Abuela has a cooler full of empanadas and donuts, homemade, ready to go. Carla will bring a little boombox this time, so we have music.”
“Doesn’t that bother the other people in the waiting room?”
“No, weirdly. They get in on the fun too. I mean, we’re all waiting for something wonderful. No one’s in a grumpy mood.”
It was amazing how Herb fell in love not only with the man, but with the entire family. They were the sweetest people he’d ever met, and no one he’d ever known had the joyous adventures they had in seemingly everyday events.
He got on the phone just then, thinking of his own family. His mother answered, a little groggily, “Herb?”
“Mom, Basil’s sister is having the twins. I’ll be at the hospital, so don’t worry when you wake up and I’m not there.”
“Oh! How wonderful! We’ll get dressed and be right there. Should I bring coffee?”
At that moment, his eyes welled with tears. He’d had his family there for such a short time, and already, they were part of the larger family he was marrying into. “Yeah, uh, Mom, that would be great. Thank you.”
When he hung up the phone, Basil asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just…yeah. I’m great.”
They got to the hospital, and the waiting room was hopping. Michelle and Abuela were allowed into the room until the delivery, so the rest were on their own, and they were handed the little pockets of deliciousness that were empanadas, and as soon as his parents arrived, everyone was sipping gourmet coffee.
Two other families were there, and they were joining in the fun, all waiting for their newest family members to arrive. What a wonderful night, and just before dawn, Abuela and Michelle came out of the room, announcing they were taking Sabrina down to the delivery rooms.
That was when the music was turned down, and everyone paced. Basil and Herb sat in the chairs, holding hands, and as each moment went by, Basil’s grip grew tighter. Worry came with the celebration no matter what. Childbirth was a serious, scary thing. Bringing a whole new person into the world, and all the things that could happen to the child and the mother, were too horrific to consider.
When Sabrina’s husband, Lawrence, came out with the widest grin Herb thought possible without the corners of his mouth splitting, he announced to a crowd of waiting faces, “The first one is born! A girl!”
They all knew it was a girl, but the surprise was huge nonetheless and they erupted in cheers, and the new father was hugged tightly by each family member.
When he came up for air, he told them all, “The other may take a while; she’s stubborn.”
“Like the rest of her family,” Juan said, and everyone laughed with him.
“I’ll be back as soon as she comes.”
Michelle was crying on one chair, and Basil sat on one side of her, Herb on the other. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, hito. Mom’s just overwhelmed. New members, making this family bigger, stronger.” She put a hand on Herb’s cheek. “Each person that comes into this family makes us better. Herb, you, the new babies, you all are adding to the love of us. Your parents too. I’m so very proud of you.”
Herb kissed her cheek and said in a whisper, “I’m more honored than I can say, being allowed into this family.”
When the second baby finally came, almost a full hour after her sister, there were as many cheers and begging to see them both. Lawrence and Michael both calmed them all down by telling them to be patient.
