Chapter 18

CAROLINA

It was strange Alex didn't show up at the house since we had agreed to have dinner today because it's Christmas Eve and I was really worrying about him; I was afraid something would happen to him so I called him. When he answers I'm more relieved until Gabriela answers. She tells me everything is happening and that Alex is in the hospital right now, he's having surgery, which makes me worry more than I already do. I ask Gabriela to tell me which hospital they are in and as soon as she tells me I leave.

It didn't take me long to arrive and as soon as I did, I quickly went to the waiting room where I would have to wait for the doctors. I don't know what trouble he had gotten into this time or why he had to have a surgery, well, I know his nose is broken from what Gabriela told me, but that could have been from getting into a fight or something and it seemed strange to me since I is with Gabriela, he wouldn't do it even if they paid him.

When I got to the living room I could see Gabriela, who even though I didn't know her myself, I knew it's her. Alex had shown me some photos of them together and had told me a lot about her. I approached her and from what I could see, her eyes were glassy, which made me think the worst.

"Is something wrong with my grandson?" I asked and Gabriela turns to see me. Apparently, she had no idea I was there and she's in her head, but I didn't like seeing her like that, from what Alex had told me, she's a great girl.

"No, they came out a couple of minutes ago and said he's fine, they were about to finish his surgery." She responded and I sighed relieved at least it wasn't a big surgery "That's good. How are you?" I asked, sitting next to her. "I'm not the one that matters, ma'am, really."

"You do matter, don't say that." I objected, but she denied, "Well, I'm fine." She responded after a few seconds, "You don't really look like it." I observed "Really ma'am, you don't need to worry about me, I'm fine."

"Ok, if you don't want to talk about it, can you answer a question for me?" I asked and she nodded. "Do you know what happened to my grandson?" I asked, trying to find out what had happened, because he promised me a long time ago, he would stop fighting, and it doesn't make sense to me he got into it again. "They hit him on the nose hard."

"Did he get into fights again?" I asked, worried he had done it. "No, this time they went for him." Gabriela stated and I frowned "I don't understand, why?" I questioned "For being with me." she whispers. I don't know what she meant by that, honestly, and I could see how she got worse than she already was, although what both Alex and Angela had told me was true, I could tell this girl could endure anything.

I decided it's better to stop talking about what happened because I could see she didn't want to talk about it, I would ask Alex later and he would surely answer me. I don't know what had happened and I didn't understand what Gabriela said and no matter how many times I thought about it I couldn't understand it so I decided it's better to leave it until Alex could answer me. What I had to do right now was try to make Gabriela feel better, I couldn't see her like that, not after everything I heard about her and what both Alex and Angela told me.

"By the way, I'm Carolina, Alex's grandmother." I introduced myself and a small smile appeared on her face "Nice to meet you ma'am, I would like it to be under other circumstances." She replied, "Me too, Alex won't stop talking to me about you." I said with a big smile on my face, which makes her turn in my direction in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes, he hasn't talked about anything other than you in years." I said, "I think I'm not really understanding you." She said a little confused. "Let's be clear, Alex fell in love with you and no one else, and when he broke up with you, he felt bad, he got into a lot of trouble until he stopped and decided to focus on finding out things about you, as well as he changed college."

"Did he get into fights?" She asked out of nowhere and now it's my turn to frown. "What makes you think that?" I asked, "The scars he has on his hands and the way he fights, before he wasn't good at it and now, he is."

"Well yes, he got into fights until I managed to convince him to leave it." Just at that moment a doctor appears and approaches us, I could see how Gabriela got up quickly and helped me.

"We have already finished the surgery. We have been able to close the veins well so he stops bleeding as he's doing and now you will have to be careful because it will take a while to heal, it was a little more complicated than we thought, but in the end, he will be able to breathe well and without difficulties" The doctor assured, and we both sighed in relief. "When can we see him?"

"As soon as he goes to the room, you can be with him as long as you want. A doctor will come and let you know when he's there." He stated and I nodded "Thank you very much doctor." It didn't take long for the doctor to leave the waiting room and I went to sit down, because the only thing we had left was to wait. Gabriela walked for an hour through the waiting room from one side to the other without stopping, and she did so even less when they told us we could see Alex.

As soon as we entered the room Gabriela approached him and I could see Alex smiling. He looks happier even than when he was talking about her and how things were going. That really made me happy, I liked seeing my grandson like that.

"Hello my queen, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be." He protested, "Where I should be, I wasn't going to leave you alone and much less was I going to leave without knowing how you were." Gabriela assured with a small smile on her face, and more sincere than the one she had given me. "Well, I'm fine."

"I'm glad to hear that." I could see how much they loved each other and apparently Alex hadn't even realized I'm in the room. As soon as they stopped kissing, I think more than anything because Gabriela stopped, Alex turns towards the door where I am and looks at me for a few seconds.

"Grandma, what are you doing here?" He asked confused and to which I laughed, "Well, I was worried about you not showing up at home and when I called you, Gabriela told me what had happened to you. I wasn't going to leave you here, much less stay at home without knowing how you were."

"You didn't need to worry grandma, but tell me mom doesn't know anything." My grandson asked and I denied, "No, I haven't called her yet, but you know I'll have to call her." I assured "Grandma…" he started, but I stopped him before he said anything "I have to do it, no matter how angry you are with her, she cares about you."

"Your grandmother is right, love, she must be worried about you." Gabriela supported and a big smile invaded my face. "See? She understands me." I said pointing to her "Because she's like that." He assured looking towards her.

I decided it's better to go out and leave them a couple of minutes alone, I could see how he wanted it and I suppose Gabriela did too and so I could take the opportunity to call Alex's mother and Angela so she wouldn't worry about her granddaughter.

"Well, I'm going to go get some coffee and I'll call your mother." I said, "Grandma, it's not necessary." He protested and I denied, because even though my daughter is angry with him, I know she loves him and would be worried when she didn't know anything about him. "Yes, it is, but don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't come today."

Alex was going to tell me something, but Gabriela prevented him from speaking and saying it. I like this girl better than I already did before meeting her in person. As soon as I made sure everything is ok, I headed out the door to get a bottle of water and call both my daughter and Gabriela's grandmother.