Chapter 34
Today marks exactly five months since I left, since I left Emma behind. I'll admit she's still on my mind most days. My workaholic lifestyle continues, and I don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
I'll have to go to New York. I'm making the rounds at my restaurants, and since I made the menu changes, I haven't been back to see how they're being received. Revenue has increased—that's a fact—so I believe everything is going well, but as any good manager knows, I like to see things for myself.
I plan to make it quick, not stay long in the city, and try to avoid Emma as much as possible. But when Carter found out I was here, he asked me to come by his office. At first I thought about refusing, but I'll see her at some point—it's inevitable—so before heading to the restaurant, I stop by.
“Look who's here.”
“Hi, Carter. This is just a quick trip—I'll be leaving in a week at most.”
“Ah, of course. Any problems with the restaurant?”
“No, just my usual check-in. And since I changed the menu, I wanted to see how it's being received.”
“If you're talking about the new dishes, they're wonderful. I tried them all and loved them.”
“You like everything. Can't trust your opinion.”
“And the dry wit remains.”
“I have to go now. Let's grab dinner one of these days.” At that moment, I hear a knock on the door, but I don't turn to see who it is.
When I hear her voice, she realizes I'm there, pauses for a moment, then continues her conversation and leaves shortly after.
“Well, I'm heading out. Call me so we can set something up.”
“I'd like to understand what happened between you two, since you were doing so well in Italy.”
“I'd rather not get into that, if possible.”
“Of course. I'll call you to set up a drink, at least.”
“I'll be waiting.”
And so I leave. As I'm heading down the building's stairs, I see Emma hailing a taxi.
She's more beautiful than before—I think the pregnancy suited her well.
I watch a moment longer and don't see a belly, but that doesn't concern me anymore.
She gets in the taxi and leaves, and I head to where it all began: my restaurant.
When I arrive, James greets me warmly and takes me to a private room. First, we have lunch—I take the opportunity to try one of the new dishes, and it's delicious.
“The new menu really is excellent.”
“Yes, the customers have responded very well to it.”
“Good to hear.”
“How long will you be staying this time?”
“I'm planning on a week. Let's try to wrap everything up as quickly as possible—I need to get back to Italy.”
“Of course. I've got all the financials ready, just waiting on one document the office hasn't sent yet. I've scheduled the staff meeting for tomorrow.”
“Always on top of things. Everything good with the waiters, bartenders, and hostesses?”
“Everything's running smoothly. The kitchen too—the staff is excited about the new cuisine, and it's been very well received.”
“That's great to hear. Well, let's head to your office. I want to look over the finances.”
“Of course, let's go.”
The restaurant really has done much better with the new dishes.
The returns have been excellent. We should have done this sooner, given the local culture here, which is so diverse.
New York welcomes thousands of people from all over the world every day, so it makes sense to embrace that diversity in my menu.
I finish up with James and head downstairs to walk around and check on things.
I go to the kitchen and decide to cook, putting on a chef's coat and an apron before heading to a station.
I ask them to send me some Italian orders, and I make them—it feels so good.
I love this place. I prepare several dishes, and since my seasoning is quite different from the chef's, a customer asks to meet me.
I take off my apron and go to the table to introduce myself, and as is my custom, I bring them a dessert with my signature on it.
When I decided to take over the family restaurant, I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it—not with the legacy of my grandfather's and father's cooking, which was wonderful.
I loved it when Dad would serve me a plate of spaghetti carbonara and then bring out whatever dessert he'd whip up on the spot, and the most special part was that it had his signature in chocolate or some cream that was part of the dish.
So I decided to carry on that memory. It was something he always did as a gesture of affection for the customer, and today was no different.
When I went to the table and looked at that family sitting there, tasting the food I had prepared, it filled my heart with longing.
I gave the customers my full attention and then decided to leave, so I got in my car and drove to some random bar on the way home.
I sat at the counter and ordered a whiskey from the bartender, who served me promptly and efficiently—I've always liked that kind of treatment.
I had about three glasses and decided to head out.
After Emma came into my life, everything changed completely.
I never expected I'd fall in love with someone.
But this time it happened. I had a girlfriend in college, but I was young—we partied together a lot and that was it.
I knew that when college ended, we'd each go our separate ways, and that's exactly what happened.
After Vitória, I didn't have anyone else.
I always put work and family first, especially after my father passed away and asked me to take care of the restaurant, and that's what I've done ever since.
I opened several branches, and my intention was to expand even more, to bring the flavor of Cucina Italiana to the whole world—and that's what I was going to do, until I met Emma and, for a moment, changed the course of the story I was building.
But I was disappointed, and that made me realize I needed to get back to my plans.
So I threw myself into work like never before, studying countries, locations—any information I could get my hands on, I had it.
My next restaurant will open in Brazil, a country with a significant Italian population and many descendants, so I'm starting preparations to go soon and should stay for a few months.
First, I want to get to know their cuisine, and then finally bring our name there.
My trip is already scheduled. I didn't come to New York to check on the menu or the finances—I did that less than five months ago.
I came to see how she was doing. And she seems very well and happy.
Before going into Carter's office, I watched her secretly for a few minutes, and from what I saw, she's happy.
So that's it—now I'm going to follow the path I planned, and I won't be back anytime soon.
I have some contacts in Brazil who will help me learn everything and decide on the best location for my restaurant.
Everything is arranged for my departure, and when I return, I hope I won't remember her anymore.
I just didn't expect the surprise that awaited me when I came back, nine months later.
Chapter 35
My pregnancy is almost over now. I'm loving every moment of it—the first time I felt my baby move was wonderful.
I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible, but I'm also very anxious to have my Matteo in my arms. Yes, he'll have that name.
Even though his father doesn't know about him, I decided to at least choose a name from his heritage.
Mattia traveled to Brazil—it's been a few months now.
I heard Carter mention it to Sam: he's going to open another restaurant, and he went to learn about the country and the culture.
From what I heard, he doesn't plan to return anytime soon.
I intended to tell him about the baby before the birth, but I can see that won't be possible.
Matteo's little room is all ready, and it's beautiful.
Carter gave us a wonderful layette with an airplane theme.
He also helped with the painting and the lights we put on the ceiling to look like a starry sky.
I can't wait for Matteo to be there in his crib, or to nurse him in the chair my mother insisted on buying for me.
There are two weeks left until my due date.
I want to try for a natural birth, but as my doctor said, we'll have to see how Mr. Matteo wants to come into the world.
I've cut back on work quite a bit. I don't go to the construction sites anymore—I just stay in the office, keeping an eye on everything from a distance.
I want to try to work until the end, as much as possible.
Today is my appointment with my obstetrician, and as always, Carter and Sam are with me.
My mother can't come every time because of the job she got after being home for so long, and Gabi, since she took on the management position at the company, tries to avoid stepping away, but they're with me every day and support me in everything—and that's the most important thing for me right now.
I haven't seen Frank in a while, and I don't plan to see him anytime soon.
I hope he stays gone for much longer so I can have a more peaceful pregnancy.
We arrive at the hospital. My belly is huge and low—I'm waddling like a duck, as my friend Sam says—so she takes my documents and signs me in for the appointment. Soon I'm called.
“Let's go see our little guy,” Carter says.
“Yes, and soon we'll see his little face. I can't wait for that day.”
“We all are, friend. By the way, who's going to be in the delivery room?”
“I'm the godfather, so I think I should be there, right?”
“I’m the godmother, so I have the same right.”
“Carter, do you really think I’d let you be there for something like that? I know you’re my friend and my son’s godfather, but we’re not that close.” We all laughed.
“I didn’t think of it that way, Emma. Sorry.”
“How’s our mom-to-be doing?”
“Hello, Doctor. I’m more tired than before—it feels like my belly weighs a ton.”
“You’re very close to the end, Emma. That’s normal—more swollen feet, swollen legs, belly sitting lower. All of that adds to the tiredness. Have you stopped working yet?”
“No, I feel better at work, and I’d be alone at home, so I prefer to keep going in.”
“That’s fine, but I hope you’re taking it easy.”
“Don’t worry, Doctor. We’re all keeping an eye on her, making sure she takes it easy.”
“That’s very important. Have you been doing the exercises I gave you for a natural delivery?”
“Yes, every day when I get home.”
“Good. Well, your blood pressure is normal despite the swelling. Other than the weight gain and tiredness, have you felt anything else? Any pain, for example?”
“I feel some pressure and a slight pain in my pelvis.”
“All right, so today I’m going to do an ultrasound, and we’ll also do a cervical exam. You can go into the other room to change.”
I follow the nurse who helps me into the exam room, lie down on the table, and wait for the doctor. She comes in shortly after, telling my companions they can come in after the exam, just for the ultrasound. I feel some discomfort during the cervical exam, and the doctor notices.
“Uncomfortable, isn’t it? What I can tell you is that you’re already going into labor.
” I’m startled by what she says. What does she mean—is it happening now?
“Calm down. You’re at two centimeters dilation; ten is full dilation.
So you can go about your life normally unless you have fluid leakage or the pain becomes unbearable. Now let’s do the ultrasound.”
At first, I was scared by what she said, but then she calmed me down. Still, just knowing I could have my baby at any moment makes me much more anxious than before. During the ultrasound, we couldn’t see him properly. As the doctor says, he’s going to be a big boy—he’s taking up my entire belly.
She explains the dilation to Sam and Carter and what to expect from now on.
After that, they wouldn’t leave me alone.
Even in the bathroom, my friend came with me.
Carter drove me home and picked me up too.
Then, two days later, I felt a sharp pain right at the bottom of my belly.
It scared me, but since I’d already been warned about contractions, I tried to stay calm.
The pains intensified as the day went on, so I started timing the intervals between contractions. They were getting shorter. Then, at a certain point, I felt liquid running down my legs. I said to my friend:
“Sam, I think I peed myself.”
“What do you mean? Why didn’t you tell me so I could go with you to the—” She stopped talking, staring at the liquid on the floor. “Girl, your water broke.”
I looked down and saw clear liquid on the floor around my feet.
My friend yelled for Carter, who came running, and the two of them rushed me to the hospital.
On the way, the pains got worse and became unbearable.
Sam called my mother and my sister, and when I arrived, they were both already in the reception area waiting for me.
My doctor was called too, since she was going to deliver my baby.
Everything happened so fast. Before I knew it, I was in the delivery room with the doctor telling me to push, my sister right there with me, holding my hand and giving me all the support I needed.
“Come on, Emma, focus on your baby now. Push! Let’s bring him into the world.”
And that’s what I did. Despite the pain consuming me, I thought only of my son in that moment.
I was happy that finally, I was going to have him in my arms. I admit I really wanted his father here instead of my sister, holding my hand and giving me the comfort I so desperately needed in this moment.
But no, he was far away, so I pushed that thought aside and focused on my son, my Matteo.
I pushed once, twice, three times, until I heard a little cry.
That sound made me forget everything else, and when I finally saw him, my heart overflowed with happiness and love. I cried like a baby.
My Matteo was beautiful. He was covered in gunk, but I didn’t care when they placed him on my chest, right between my breasts.
That contact was the most wonderful connection I could have ever experienced.
I kissed him, told him I loved him, and thanked God for giving me such a beautiful, perfect baby.
I was already in the recovery room, exhausted.
Although my delivery was quick—since I’d waited until the last moment, I was already at almost ten centimeters when I arrived at the hospital—my friends weren’t happy that I’d hidden the pain for so long.
But that’s how I wanted it, and that’s what I did.
Still, we were all happy about Matteo. I was dying to breastfeed him, and I’d just asked my friend to go find a nurse when I heard a knock on the door.
She walked in with my baby in her arms, and when I took him, I couldn’t believe my eyes.