Page 41 of Belonging to Them

“I really want to talk to you,” I tell her, “and get to know you.Can we come back when your shift is over?”

“Gianna,” the guy behind the counter says, “you can go.I’ll take care of the tables until Carol gets here.”

Other than Squid and Roman at the counter, there are only a couple of tables with people at them.

Quickly wiping away the tears on her cheeks, Gianna turns to face the guy at the counter and says, “Are you sure?”

“Yep, it’s dead tonight, anyway.Go.”

She looks around the diner, then slides into the booth beside me.She almost doesn’t fit; there’s barely enough room for her baby bump.“I’ll stay right here,” she says to her coworker.“If it gets busy before Carol arrives, I can still help.”

He shakes his head, obviously frustrated that she won’t take a break.He seems to care about her.When she sees me looking at him, she says, “He’s my cousin.His mom—my aunt—owns this place.”

“This is where you met Tommy, isn’t it?”I say.

“Yeah.”She gives me a soft smile.“He used to come in a lot, really late.The place was pretty dead, so we’d talk for hours and he’d order coffee after coffee.”

“Where did you see him last?”I ask.

“At home.He was mad about something, but I had to come to work, so I left.We always had a rule, that we wouldn’t leave each other when we were angry—we’d make up first.But he wasn’t talking, and I was pissed, so I took off.I think he ghosted me and the baby.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” I say.

Natasha arches an eyebrow at me.

“He wouldn’t,” I insist.“He’s been an asshole lately, but family is important to him.”

“Then what do you think happened to him?”Gianna asks.“He really wanted to come to my prenatal appointments, and there’s one tomorrow, but he’s not returning my calls or anything.”

“He isn’t returning mine, either,” I say, squeezing her hand.“I’m so sorry.”

Gianna starts crying, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders and look at Natasha.This is not at all what I expected when I came out with Natasha tonight.“I’m sorry,” I mouth at her.

“Are you kidding?”she says quietly.“It’s okay.This is important.Hey, Gianna, why don’t you tell us a little about the baby?Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?”

“Tom and I want it to be a surprise,” she says, sniffling.

“And you’re thirty-six weeks along?”I ask.“Thirty-six weeks is nine months.That’s, like, birth time, right?I know nothing about pregnancy.”

“Yeah,” she says.“About forty weeks is full-term.So I’m nearly there.”

We talk a little bit more about the baby, carefully avoiding any mentions of my brother, which just upsets Gianna.It’s getting late, though, and Gianna’s looking tired.

“We should let you get home,” I say to her.

“I am feeling rather tired.But I really,reallyenjoyed talking to you,” she says.“I’m so glad you found me.”

“Me, too,” I say, then I pause.“Did you say you have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow?”

“Yeah.It seems like they’re every other day at this point,” she says with a laugh.

“How about I come with you?”I say.As soon as the suggestion is out of my mouth, I realize how presumptuous and pushy that sounds, so I quickly add, “If you want.If you’re uncomfortable, please just say so—I won’t be offended or anything.You can say no, I won’t mind?—”

“I’d like it, actually,” she says.“The appointment’s at two, if you’re free.”

“I am,” I say.

“Okay.”She grins at me.“What’s your number?I’ll text you the address.”