Party of Four

O Bella Ciao - Riley

I hated working Fridays. Mallory had gotten sick though, and wasn’t going to make it, so I reluctantly agreed to cover for her. Besides, it meant extra money, and with Poppy’s arrival due for any day now, we could use the extra money. I hadn’t expected us to be slammed though.

Six o’clock hit and it was as if the flood gates had been opened. Not only was the lobby packed, to-go’s was popping too.

It seemed like every time I had to step away from the computer, the phone would ring. I had orders in expo, guests at the bar planning to-go orders, and cars in the parking lot picking up curbsides. I couldn’t stay glued to the phone. I had to rotate.

I put lids and labels on all the dishes currently in the expo window and sorted them accordingly, then returned to the phone. “Stella Cucina, this is Riley. How can I help you?”

I waited. Nothing.

“Hello?”

There was noise in the background. Heavy, frantic footsteps.

I sucked in a deep breath, closing my eyes for a second. I was trying not to be annoyed.

“Hello? Can you hear me?”

More silence. I hung up.

I got three notifications that curbsides were here all at the same time. I finished double-checking the orders and grabbed the last couple of items that were needed. I marked each bag with which space the customers were in. The phone started ringing again. It would have to wait.

The phone was still ringing, loud and shrill from the kitchen over the noise of the hectic lobby as I carried the bags out. By the time I walked in, the to-go phone was no longer ringing. Eli must have gotten it.

Mackenzie was on the phone though. Probably someone wanting to make reservations. Stella’s didn’t take reservations.

She stopped me as I started to walk past, “Hey, Cole’s on the phone.” Her voice was soft, quiet. My brows pulled together, noting the concern in her eyes. “He said everything is okay, but he sounds frantic.”

I stepped behind the host stand and held the receiver up to my ear. A sudden feeling of helplessness washed over me. A sense of déjà vu. I remembered answering the phone after Nica’s car accident last year. What’s your malfunction?

A knife twisted in my gut.

“Cole?”

“Nica’s in labor. We’re headed to the hospital.”

Blunt, straight to the point. My mouth fell open. A jolt of shock ran through my body. I blinked a few times, trying to reboot my brain. All I could manage was, “What?”

“I’m taking her to the hospital-“ his words were cut off by an agonizing groan from Nica. The result of a contraction, I was sure.

“Okay. We’re slammed, but I’ll find Eli. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Hurry,” they said simultaneously.

“I will…wait! Cole. Are you…are you driving?”

“He is,” Nica’s proud but pained voice came through the receiver.

The smile was instant. “Alright, I’ll meet you there. I’ll call mom and dad. You just focus on getting her there safe.” I handed the receiver back to Mackenzie, my brain still processing the shock of, well, everything. “I’m about to be a dad,” I told her, disbelief sneaking into my tone. Then I repeated, “I’m about to be a dad.”

I started untying my apron as I headed back to the kitchen. I had to find Eli. I had to leave.

“Nica’s in labor. I gotta go,” I told him the second I found him.

“Oh, s**t. Okay.” I watched him process the news, his expression conveying the emotions of someone who’d watched me practically grow up at Stella’s mixed with the professionalism of being my manager. “You just go,” he told me. I’ll clock you out, and handle to-go’s. We’ll figure it out. You go be with your family.” I nodded and before I could step away, Eli pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m proud of you,” he murmured quietly.

Eli let me go and I thanked him. I didn’t stop for anything as I headed out the door and ran across the parking lot to the Sportage.

On the way to the hospital, I called my parents. Neither of them answered. They were probably having just as busy nights as I was.

I pulled into the parking lot for Emerald Bay Memorial Hospital and spotted Nica’s Mini near the entrance. I was able to park three spots down. I texted my parents before rushing inside. She’d already been admitted to labor and delivery, and I was directed to her room.

I knocked twice, quick and sharp then opened the door. Cole leaned over her, his hand in hers, fingers threaded. She was hooked up to monitors and had an IV drip. Cole’s free hand held a cup of ice chips. Nica’s curls were loose and messy, spread across the pillow. Her face was pale and sweaty, twisted from the pain of a contraction. My breath was taken away.

Cole looked up and the relief that flooded his eyes was instant and overwhelming. I crossed the room to him and wrapped my arms around him. He still held both, the cup and Nica’s hand, but tried to return the embrace anyways. “You i***t,” I whispered in his ear, but the words were laced with pride. “You actually drove. I’m so proud of you.”

He didn’t say anything. The hug was a silent release for both of us. I let him go and immediately turned my attention to Nica.

I slid my hand over her damp forehead, pushing the curls from her face as her expression twisted with the pain of a contraction. “You’re late,” she teased, forcing a strained smile.

“Shut up,” I leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “I broke three traffic laws to get here, and scared Mackenzie half to death.”

Cole handed Nica the cup of ice chips and I pulled a chair up to the opposite side of the bed. Now we just had to wait for Poppy.