Chapter 6: Pilot Modern Family III
Mitchell sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just turn it off."
"I can't turn it off, it's who I am!" Cameron protested, almost defensively.
Mitchell pinched the bridge of his nose. "The music, Cam. The music!"
Cameron blinked, then quickly fumbled for the remote. "Oh! Yes, the music." He lowered the volume and lifted Lily proudly. "Come on, say hello, Lily."
Haley leaned in with a bright smile. "Oh, she's so cute!"
"Let me see her," Phil said eagerly, reaching out. He smiled down at the baby. "Hi, Lily. Lily? Isn't that gonna be hard for her to say?"
"Phil," Claire called softly, giving him a warning look.
Jay cleared his throat. "Excuse me... Okay, I know I said I thought this was a bad idea. But what do I know? It's not like I wrote the book on fatherhood. I've been trying all my life to get it right, and I'm still screwing up. Right, Manny?"
"I wrote a song about it in the car," Manny said earnestly.
I looked at him weirdly.
"Not for Brenda, but for the other girl I met at the mall," Manny clarified.
"Yeah... I'd say it only improved a little," I replied, keeping a thoughtful face.
Jay gave a weary smirk. "Of course you did. Anyway, I'm happy for you, Mitchell and Cam! And you should know that I'm not here to spit in your face - I'm here to blow at your back. It's supposed to sound better in Spanish." He waved it off. "Anyhow, Mitch…"
"No, Dad, it's fine. I got it," Mitchell interrupted quickly.
When Lily started to cry, Claire - who was holding her - softened her tone. "She wants her daddy."
Mitchell took Lily and brought her close. "Do you wanna meet grandpa?"
"You're kidding?" Jay said, breaking into a grin. "She's one of us now. Let me see that little pot sticker! Hey, you're a cutie, aren't you?" He carefully took Lily in his arms.
I stepped closer and made a funny face at her. "Careful, Lily. In a few years, you might get an Afghan brother. We seem to adopt kids from countries where Dad's nation fought wars."
Jay stifled a laugh, while Gloria scolded me.
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Later that evening, we all sat for dinner while the women took turns holding Lily. Luke and Manny wore identical sulky expressions.
"Yep, they just lost the 'youngest card,'" I murmured to Haley, who simply shrugged.
Gloria then announced that Sunday lunch would be at our house.
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Back in Brentwood, Jay and I were sitting on the couch after Manny and Gloria had gone to bed. He was reading the poem Manny had written for his new crush.
"We're from different worlds. Yet somehow we fit together. Love is what binds us, through fair or stormy weather. I stand before you now with only one agenda: to let you know my heart is yours."
Jay cleared his throat awkwardly. "Kelly, coma, Alex - I mean, seriously."
I winced. Not that it was terrible, but still.
"I think we should meet the girl before Manny delivers any letter," I suggested. "Whether it's this one or another in the future. Rejection's part of life, sure, but if he runs into the wrong girl, it could mess with his confidence more than it should."
Jay exhaled deeply. "Yeah... but let's deal with that when it happens," he said, standing up and heading to bed. I followed soon after.
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"Why do we need to have Sunday family lunch? We just saw them yesterday," Jay complained the next morning as he sipped his coffee.
"Jaay, we have a new addition now! We must welcome her into the family properly," Gloria said, handing me another French toast.
"Mom just wants to hold Lily again," Manny muttered, sounding a little jealous.
Gloria just ruffled his hair.
"Mind if I call Brenda too?" I asked.
"Already thinking about something serious, Jake?" Jay asked, raising a brow.
"Not really. It's not gonna happen," I explained. "Brenda's leaving for Yale at the beginning of August, so we've got less than a month. And I'm not into long-distance relationships."
"Why not?" Manny asked. "She's beautiful - and now a Yale girl," he said with a tone of regret.
Regret of what, I had no idea. The kid had zero chance with her. It was like a dog chasing a car - even if he caught it, he wouldn't know how to drive it
"Manny, believe me, long-distance relationships rarely work. It's better to end things on good terms before they turn messy," I advised. "Especially one that started just over a week ago."
"But when there is love-" Manny began.
"Forget it, kiddo," I cut him off, getting up. "I'm going for a walk and then to the gym. Anyone coming?"
Suddenly, both Manny and Jay became very interested in their plates. Getting those two to exercise was a lost cause.
"Jaake, bring a nice piece of meat," Gloria said, handing me some bills. "Pollo too -I'll make empanadas."
"Uuuh, nicee," I grinned. "Guess I'll have to push a little harder in today's workout."
Gloria, like Claire, was an excellent cook. You could tell just by looking at Manny and Jay. Since I didn't want to lose the shape I had thankfully been blessed with, I kept up my physical training.
During my walk, a woman kept glancing at me from across the street, as if trying to make sure she recognized me. I ignored it and kept walking.