most. But I was too old to live life bitter and hateful.
When I had hugged my dad, I knew he had been shocked. But then he told me something, the only thing I had wanted to hear from him for years. He was proud of me. He had been for my whole life. I wanted that father/son relationship but I lost hope rather early. My dad apologized, promising to make it up to me.
“Matteo?” Mae rolled onto her side, cupping my cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
(Mae)
It had been a couple of weeks since Matteo came home from the hospital. Even longer since I almost lost him. He was healthy except for the stress that had been placed on his heart.
He called his receptionist, Cathy, letting her know what had happened. He filled her in on most of the details but kept the nitty gritty ones to himself. I could hear her giving him a lashing through the phone and I told him to pay her a visit to reassure her that he was in fact fine.
It was a Friday afternoon and Nika and a couple girls from work were coming over for a late lunch. But I had asked Nika to come over ahead of time to help me. I wanted her to be the first one to hear my news.
“Honey, I’m home,” Nika called out, making her way into Matteo’s apartment.
I laughed, greeting my best friend with a hug.
“How’s Matteo doing?” she asked, looking over my shoulder.
“Good.” I linked my arm through hers, leading her into the kitchen. “He went to his office to talk to his receptionist about everything that has been going on. And he’s also going to start working from home a couple days a week.”
“That’s good.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe he had a heart attack. He’s so young.”
“I know.” My chest ached.
“So,” Nika clapped her hands together. “Tell me, what’s new? You haven’t been home lately. Are you living here now?”
“Um…” Matteo and I had never talked about it but we both knew it would be happening. With the baby coming, we needed to sort out our living arrangements. “Well, we will be living together once the baby comes and we get married.”
“That’s nice…wait, what?” Her head whipped around.
I giggled, flashing the giant rock on my finger.
Nika squealed, throwing her arms around me. “And a baby too?”
“Yes.”
She squealed again, hugging me tight. “Oh I am so happy for you,” she exclaimed, her voice cracking.
“I’m happy too,” I whispered, wiping the tears from under my eyes.
“When did you find out?” Nika asked, placing a hand on my tiny baby bump.
“Officially? The day Matteo…when he ended up in the hospital.”
“When are you due?”
“Not sure yet. We have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow,” I said, anxious to see my baby, the little bean growing inside of me.
“Oh exciting.” Her smiled widened. “And this ring. Holy shit, girl. I have no idea how I missed it.”
I laughed. “That’s why I wanted you over first so I could tell you my news.”
“It pays to be the best friend,” she joked, helping me bring the food and drinks out onto the balcony.
We chatted like we used to. Nika filled me in on what had been going on at Cello’s. Apparently it had become so busy that my cousin decided to open up another restaurant.
“That’s wonderful,” I stated, sitting on the patio couch. “It’s about time.”
“Yeah. No doubt.” Nika sat across from me, taking a sip of her white wine.
“So what’s been going on with you?” I asked, noticing she was looking everywhere but directly at me.
“Nothing.” She shrugged, her cheeks reddening.
“Nika,” I sat forward. “Talk to me.”
“Remember how I told you that I was seeing someone but I didn’t want to say who because it was so new?”
“Yes. I remember,” I said, frowning.
“Well,” she took a deep breath. “I’m seeing Cello,” she said quickly.
My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“I know I should have asked you if you minded but it happened so fast, the next thing I know, I’m falling in love with him.” She gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. “That was the first time I said that out loud.”
“You’re in love with my cousin.”
She nodded slowly.
I squealed, rushing to her side and pulled her in for a tight hug. “I am so happy. He’s lucky to have you. You’re going to be my cousin. Oh this is amazing. We need to set up a double date,” I said all in one breath.