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He rose so they could hug and then sat back down, taking my hand in his from across the booth.
“You’re a new face.I’ve never seen you in my café before,” Peggy said to Colt.
“Not new to Miami, just new to your establishment,” he explained.
“Your mother must be a good cook,” she joked.
He laughed.“The best.”
“Most of the people who come here are either worker bees who barely have a second to make a cup of coffee in the morning and just want one on the go, or can’t cook worth a shit.”She chuckled.“That’s why I know Scar here so well.”
“Hey!”I feigned insult.“Brandon tried, but, yeah, he burnt rice.”
Peggy grinned.“See, what’d I tell you?That boy had many talents, but cooking wasn’t one of them.And that’s why you still can’t cook macaroni and cheese.”
I chuckled.“The box has instructions, but it never comes out right.Either too milky, too cheesy, or just dry.”
Colt rolled his eyes.“Scar doesn’t even want to learn.I’ve tried teaching her, but she says as long as I know how to cook she doesn’t need to.”
“That’s the same thing Robert told me.”
“Your husband?”Colt asked, and I squeezed his hand.He winced when he realized he must’ve said the wrong thing.
Peggy sighed.“My late husband, yes.He never wanted to learn.When we were dating I took him to a few cooking classes, thought it might be fun, but somehow I ended up making everything while he just stared at me.”
“I’m sure he just liked the view,” Colt said.Such a guy response.
Peggy blushed, clearly remembering those fond days.“I’m sure he would’ve said the same if he were here,” she agreed with Colt.
I finished off my fried pickles and brushed my hands on a napkin, washing it down with the rest of my milkshake.“Peggy, I know you don’t have these on the menu, but you totally should.I can’t be the only one with a craving for fried pickles.”
“My menu is not changing.It’s classic, like me.”
I scoffed.“You’re classy,” I corrected.
Peggy grinned.“You’ve got yourself a great girl,” she turned and told Colt.
He smiled.“I know.”
“I still can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Peggy said.
“How’d you know?”I asked, knowing I haven’t told anyone yet.
“You ordered fried pickles and a milkshake,” she said, as if that was a dead giveaway.“Plus, you’ve stared down at your belly at least five times since I’ve come to your booth.”
I sighed, feeling mixed emotions.This was something I always wanted but didn’t think it’d happen so soon.And I’d never not be sad over the baby I lost.I tried not to dwell on it too much, since the sadness was all-consuming and I wanted to pay attention to the one I was still carrying.I didn’t want to miss out on any of these moments.The doctors told me the best thing for me to do was live in the present and that was exactly what I was going to do.
I finally responded to Peggy, “It’s all so surreal.”
“Brandon would’ve been ecstatic to be an uncle,” Peggy commented and then immediately tried to take it back.“I’m sorry, that was stupid of me.I shouldn’t have—”
I stopped her.“Don’t be sorry.I think about him every second of every day.I know Brandon would’ve loved this baby.His niece or nephew would’ve been spoiled.Now they’ll never get to know him.”
I began to tear up and Colt squeezed my hand, reaching further over the booth to grab my other one in his, too.“They still will know Brandon.We’ll tell them stories and he’ll always live on in our hearts and our memories.”
I knew he meant well.I also knew he was right, which was why I nodded.
“Hey, Peggy, a refill please?”a gentleman at a nearby booth shouted to Peggy.
