Party of Four

Return to Normal - Nica

The sun was far too bright for my liking when it started filtering in through the windows. I groaned, burying my face back into the pillow, which smelled faintly of Riley’s cologne and the lingering smell of sweat and s*x. My body felt heavy in the best way possible. There was a dull ache in my hips that reminded me that I was finally, officially, back to me.

I felt a shifting beside me. Cole was already awake, propping himself up on an elbow as he slid his glasses into place. His hair was a mess, but he looked down at me with a lazy, satisfied grin. “Morning, Peaches. How’re you feeling? No…repairs needed?”

“I’m perfect,” I rasped. “A little sleepy still, but perfect.”

Riley was on my other side, already sitting up and staring at his phone. The blue light reflected in his eyes as he checked his apps. “The grandparent cam is active,” he announced, his voice still thick with sleep. “There’s movement in the cottage. Mom’s in the kitchen feeding Poppy a bottle, and dad’s…well, it looks like dad’s wearing Poppy’s pumpkin hat while he does a crossword.”

I giggled, the sound coming up from a place of pure contentment. “He’s going to be so wrapped around her finger.”

“He already is,” Cole said, leaning over to press a lingering kiss to my forehead. “We all are.”

We had about twenty minutes of blissful, quiet snuggling before the sound of the sliding door signaled the end of our ‘adults only’ time. I heard Gwen’s voice, and the low rumble of Odie’s laugh.

“The princess returns,” Riley said, sliding out of bed and retrieving his trousers.

I scrambled to pull on a silk robe, my heart doing a little flutter. As much as I had needed last night, I had missed that heavy, warm weight in my arms. By the time I made it to the top of the stairs, Gwen was already halfway up, carrying a wide-awake and very wiggly Poppy. Odie followed behind, the diaper bag slung over his shoulder and the playpen tucked under his arm.

“Good morning, parents,” Gwen beamed, looking far more rested than we would’ve expected. “We had a wonderful night. She only woke up once, at 3AM, and your father sang her some old sea shanties.”

“Sea shanties?” I asked, taking Poppy into my arms. She smelled like the cottage, cinnamon and lavender, and she immediately let out a sharp, happy squeak.

“We watched The Little Mermaid,” Gwen answered.

“She has excellent taste in music,” Odie added, stepping into the nursery to deposit the gear. “So, did you three behave yourselves? Or do I need to start looking for lawyer money?”

Cole came up behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder as he looked at our daughter. “We behaved. Mostly.”

Gwen’s eyes softened as she looked at us. She had a look like she was mentally calculating the likelihood of receiving another grandchild next year. “Well, you look radiant, Nica,” she said.

We accompanied Gwen and Odie back down the stairs, and watched them cross back to their cottage. I looked down at Poppy who was staring up at me with those wide, curious eyes. They were starting to take on my golden hue. Her hand reached up to grab a loose curl of my hair.

The following Monday marked another finish line: my first shift back at Stella’s. It felt strange to be trading my silk robe for a white kitchen apron, but as soon as I stepped into the heat it was like being home again.

Cole and Riley had spent the last week hunched over a calendar, coordinating their rotations for Eli with the precision of a chess match. Since I was only starting back part time for the moment, they planned for one of them to always be at home with Poppy, and the other to be at work with me.

Today it was Riley’s turn to be my shadow. Eli was starting me off easy though. He had me on prep today. I worked my way through the list, plating desserts, slicing vegetables, and baking bread like I’d never left. When Riley didn’t have tables, he’d find his way to the back of the kitchen to snag a breadstick and check in on me.

I finished up prep just as the lunch shift started to lull, and found myself sitting outside with Willow and Mallory while Eli held the door open for a trash run.

“I am still not over the save-the-date,” Willow smiled while she hit her vape. “The paper? The bridge? Nica, it’s giving haunted manor in the best way possible. I’ve had it on my fridge for a week, and I just stare at it.”

“It’s definitely a vibe. I don’t know what all Gwen is planning, but I know I want my dress to match that bridge.”

“So, when are we going?” Mallory asked, her lips tugging into a smile of her own.

“By the end of the month. Gwen is wanting a Saturday morning trip followed by a very boozy brunch. I want my bridesmaids there.”

“Did you hear that Em?” Mallory called over to the dumpsters.

“What?” Emily’s voice echoed over the metal thud from the dumpster. The wheels on the trash cart rattled as she came back around the corner.

“Dress shopping. We’re gonna go on a Saturday and get brunch afterwards, sometime this month.”

“Finally!” Emily cheered. “I’ve already started a Pinterest board for hair and makeup.”

My phone buzzed in my apron pocket - a text from Cole. He sent a video of Poppy in her bouncer, looking mesmerized by a dangling plush bat. She’s been an angel, he wrote, but I think she knows when you’re gone. She keeps looking at the door.

A pang of “mom guilt” hit me, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of pride. I was at work, my best friends were excited for my wedding, and my daughter was being raised by two men who loved her enough to track her every blink.

Riley walked over then, his server book still in hand as he placed his other hand on my shoulder. “How are the feet holding up, Peaches?”

“Better than expected,” I leaned into his touch for a moment. “I was just telling the girls we’re going dress shopping before the month is over.”

Riley’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. “Good,” he murmured. “I want you to get your dream gown. Something unforgettable. Like you.”

“I plan to,” I promised.

As I stepped back inside to clean my station, I realized my life wasn’t just back to normal. It was better. I was a mother, a partner, and a professional, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like I had to choose a role. I could be all three, and still be myself.