[29]

There was something different about Terry's coffee place today, and it didn't have anything to do with the new worker's uniforms.

Terry's was warmer than the atmosphere outside, a welcoming sensation wafting in the air. The smell of coffee in the air was stronger, and the noise of the cafe was higher. Even the fans seemed to be spinning faster. My regular table looked different as well, too clean. The hard stain that had been on the top left corner of it yesterday was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe this wasn't my table.

"Hey, Cam!"

I lifted my gaze to smile at the passing waiter, who smiled back and threw a nod my way.

A lot had changed for me. I'd changed my hairstyle a month ago, right before Simone's wedding to Marcus.

Today, my craving for coffee was on the high side. I wanted it hot, black with a cube of sugar to ease my nerves. I also wanted a doughnut.

The waiter grinned and came closer, holding a notepad in his hand. "You came earlier than usual today," he commented with a slightly raised brow.

I sighed, leaning to the side and watching him. There was a reason why I was here early. My nerves had been all over the place since the beginning of this week since Mida was admitted into the hospital.

She had exceeded her due date, and yet she hadn't delivered. I was beginning to worry, but I wasn't the only one. Shawn and his parents had been worried sick ever since. Even Aunt Alice and Uncle Donovan were concerned. Though they were still the busy parents they normally were, they didn't hesitate to call and check on her almost every day.

Instead of telling the waiter all of my problems, I smiled and shook my head. "Work, Milo."

"Ah," he breathed. "It's gotta be tough having to juggle all those weddings, huh?"

It wasn't. In fact, I'd canceled all my appointments because of Mida's condition. Apparently, pregnant Mida was way worse than normal Mida. Besides that reason, after Parker left, I lost my wedding planner vibe. It was like Mida's wedding burned me out. So, after Simone's wedding, I took a break.

I pulled my lips into a line and nodded.

"I guess you'll have the usual?"

"Make it stronger, and reduce the sugar cubes to one. Also, I want a doughnut." I told him, thanking him as he excused himself to attend to my order. The only sign that he was beside me before was the whiff of his perfume that lingered in the air.

Subconsciously, I drew out my phone and checked if I'd gotten a message from Parker yet. I hadn't. Our old chats decorated the screen before me. Sighing, I dropped the phone to a side of the table and looked out the window at the cars that zoomed past and the snow covering most of the ground.

It'd been over a year since Parker had left. We'd kept in touch, never forgetting to speak to each other every day, telling the other person how our lives were going. At first, it was consistent, but with time our conversations got shorter until it was just a 'hey-hi' and 'how are you doing?' thing.

If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was forgetting about me. But Parker had made me a promise, and I was going to trust him. I would hold on to his words. If there was anything the last year had helped me realize, it would be that there was no use in holding on to the past. We just had to learn from it and trust our present to bring forth a bright future.

Parker was my future. And just as I had promised, when he'd return, he'd find me waiting for him.

A few minutes later, Milo was back with a steaming cup of black coffee for me, a doughnut, and a smile. "One large mug of extra strong black coffee and a cube of sugar. And your doughnut." He put up a hand, showing off the customary napkin he was holding. "With our special napkin to brighten up your day."

I couldn't help but grin at his cuteness. Milo was a lot younger than me-around his mid-twenties, perhaps. But he was my favorite waiter at Terry's. Never failed to put a smile on my face.

My gaze dropped to the napkin which I collected from him. To the cafe's logo printed onto the fabric: a picture of a coffee cup and the steam coming off I shaped into a 't.' The smile on my face already widened further.

"Thank you, Milo."

"You're always welcome," he replied. He drew out his notepad from the huge pocket in front of his apron and scribbled some stuff down. Then he raised his head again. "Gotta go now. I'll see you when you're done."

I nodded, proceeding to lift the mug up with one hand and pick up my phone with the other. I typed a one-handed text to Parker:

I miss you.

Sent. 09:26 am

I didn't expect an immediate reply, and I didn't get any. I understood that Parker was quite busy. He was probably at the final stage of the project. So, instead of dwelling in melancholy, I chose to read through our former texts.

As I brought the mug to my lips, ready to take a sip, my phone buzzed with a new message.

Simone:

Where are you? Terry's? Get to the hospital right now. Your cousin's in labor!

SOS! She's gonna rip Shawn apart if you don't come quick. And bring chocolate-lots of it.

My eyes almost fell out of their sockets. Mida was in labor, finally! Oh my God, I hope she's okay. Poor Shawn.

I grabbed my bag, practically throwing my phone in there. For a second, I mourned my untouched coffee, but then I remembered Mida.

"Milo!" I called, getting up. Placing the pay and a tip for him on the table, I snatched the napkin and tucked it into my bag. The doughnut followed. I cursed my luck for not asking for a takeaway cup. "Sorry, but I have to leave now. I'll come back tomorrow."

I rushed for the door, ignoring the looks I received from all over the place. Behind me, I heard Milo mumble something along the lines of, "it's fine." Wrapping my scarf around my neck, I stepped out into the cold and hurried to my car.

By the time I got to the hospital, Mida was asleep, snoring her stress away. And Shawn sat by one end of the room, surrounded by Simone and Marcus, who were cooing at the bundle in Shawn's arms.

There were no signs of any struggles like Simone had mentioned. None of the trio who were awake even noticed my presence. They were too busy making faces at the baby.

"Well," I began, approaching them. Wanting to get a chance to see my nephew-the doctors said it was going to be a boy. Their attention snapped to me. "That was quick."

Simone detached herself from the small crowd, giving me a chance to peek at the baby. I couldn't really tell if the baby was male or female, but he looked, male. His hair stuck to his little forehead, and he had his eyes shut tightly, hands balled into tiny fists at his chest. When he squirmed in his father's arms, I fought the urge to aww.

"He's so cute," I said, gawking at the baby.

"She's a she," Simone deadpanned, a hand on her waist. "What took you so long? It's been almost an hour since I sent you that text."

I pouted. "I had to stop for chocolates," I told her, motioning towards the bag in my hand. The excessive chocolates I'd gotten stuck out of the paper bag. I might have gone overboard with them, but it was due to the tension Simone had out upon me. So this was partly her fault. "And there was traffic on the highway."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Poor Shawn here almost got his hands pulled out."

After shooting Shawn, an apologetic look even though it wasn't really my fault-it was kind of his-I faced Simone again.

"What do we call her?"

"Mida isn't awake yet," Shawn piped in. "We had multiple names picked out, but she'd shred me if I chose a name without her." He laughed, watching his wife adoringly. Abruptly, his attention went to me again. "Cam, could you call Garth and ask him what he wants to call the baby? We're open to suggestions."

Marcus, who had been silent before now, put his hand up and grinned. The brown skin of his face crinkled in certain areas as he did. "Let's call her Shauna!"

"Shauna's a great name, babe," Simone said with a smile.

Marcus grinned proudly. "We should make a baby."

Simone went to him, smiling. "Slow down, babe."

To her words, Marcus pouted.

"Cam?" Shawn broke through their conversation. I hummed in response. "Call Garth."

"I haven't spoken to him in a while, Shawn. He's probably too busy to receive calls or texts." I frowned slightly, remembering all the unanswered texts. What was he doing? Was he okay?

"That's a bummer." Shawn frowned, turning to look at his baby and smiling after. Marcus joined him in gawking as well, but Simone came to me and grabbed my arm.

Staring me in the eye, she asked, "how are you holding up?"

"With Parker?" I inquired. She nodded. "I'm holding up great."

"You look tired," she pointed out, touching the back of her hand to my forehead while I prayed she wouldn't notice something amiss and force me to get a checkup. "I just wanted to remind you, in case you forgot, that Garth's still your man. Don't let this distance get to you."

I knew she was concerned, but I was fine, really. A few days without talking to Parker wasn't going to kill me. So I shrugged.

"I won't."