Babies and a new hire

Briella left with what little left overs stowed in her car with the help of Austin, Dave and Steve. As the men put the food in her back seat Amara gave Briella one last hard hug. “Enough with that,” Briella said as she sensed how sad Amara really was. She pulled her back and said, “You take care of yourself and we’ll see each other.”

“But how are you going to manage?” Amara said, imagining how limited Briella’s mobility had become.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Briella said. “I’m all set up with help. It’s a part of my pension plan. But I’m not just going home to sit around and do nothing.” Briella’s smile brightened and said, “I have my own interests I can now fully enjoy.”

Amara forced a smile and said, “Are you planning on opening a thrift shop?”

Briella’s smile became more coy, “Well, it will include used goods.” Then more seriously, “I expect to hear from you too. I may not be your boss anymore but I’m still your friend.”

Amara nodded her head. She still had to think about some things, but she didn’t want to lose contact with Briella. As she walked away she saw Alixandrea standing with Austine and first thought she would let them be. Then saw Austin’s look of concern and walked over.

“You didn’t say anything until now?” Austin said with some frantic tone.

“I’ve been having Braxton hix for a week; I didn’t think it was real,” Alexandrea argued back.

“Holly shit,” Amara blurted out, realizing what she had just walked into.

Austin pulled out his keys and walked Alexandrea to his car. “You may as well drive behind us,” then looking at Alexandrea said, “How far apart?”

Alexandrea shrugged, “Couple minutes.”

“Fuck!” Amara turned to her, “What the hell?!”

Alexandrea winced and said, “Yell later,” and waddled to Austin’s car.

Amara ran to her car and was half-way out of her space following behind. The rest of the office watched as they rushed out guessing what was going on. The three made it to the hospital with Alexandrea barely able to hold on. Her water broke as Austin pulled into the emerchency exit, Amara had called the hospital to tell them they were on their way and orderlies were waiting for them. The receptionist was about to say only one of them was allowed back with Alexandrea, but the baby had other ideas. Alexandrea was crowning and there was no time to discuss niceties. She barely made it back in time to deliver and no one made an issue of who was there or not. Alexandrea was glad for it though, as much as she cared for Austin, she wanted Amara. She didn’t want to have to say that though.

Then the delivery nurse’s smile dropped as the baby was fully delivered. The little girl had dark chocolate skin with tight curling hair and she screamed as if this whole hassle had interrupted her nap. The nurse looked over at Austin waiting to see his reaction and clearly expecting some blow up.

As if anticipating her reaction Austin said cooly, “She was pregnant before we started dating,” then smiled at the little girl who hadn’t stopped screaming. “She’s perfect.”

Between tears and panting Alexandrea said, “Look at you.” Smiling at her little girl.

Once the little girl was cleaned and Alexandrea was properly admitted to the hospital Austin and Amara stood in her room with Alexandrea in bed. The little baby was swaddled in her roll hospital crib sleeping. Amara itched to hold the little girl, but was afraid to make an issue of it. Instead, she asked, “What’s her name?”

Alexandrea looked over, besotted by her baby, smiling but still tired, “I was thinking Cora.”

Austin smiled and asked, “Isn’t that one of Anna’s anime character names?”

Alexandrea’s smile went a little sad, “I know she wanted me to let her adopt her so badly. She’d never say it, but maybe it’ll make her happy.”

It wasn’t until the next day that everyone from the office was able to come by and see Alexandrea. She was waiting to be discharged when they all came and the lot of them wound up helping her and Austin take Cora to the car to go home. Amara had brought the car seat for Cora and helped Alexandrea to her apartment when they got home. Austin didn’t wait to be asked. He had a bag of his own things to stay with her and help out while she settled in. The roster for helping Alexandrea was implemented with Amara taking over Briella’s time as well.

As with so many things, the coworkers pitched in like a family with help of all sorts. If Alexandrea needed to sleep, someone fed and watched Cora. If dishes needed to be done, someone helped out. Amara didn’t even think about it. She gathered Alexandrea’s laundry and did it along with her own as a matter of course. Mable came with food, Steve came by to help how he could and Dave came to watch Cora in turn as well.

The next Monday, Amara looked over to see one of the floating secretaries in Alexandrea’s place. She knew it was only temporary. Alexandrea would be back with Cora in daycare in a matter of weeks.  It was still hard to see. The new hire was sitting at Dave’s old place now though. Amara was the one to tell him that the offices were shut up at lunch and his sandwich and small bag of chips would likely be a snack for later.

“I didn’t even think about that.” Donald looked worried. “I’m broke until my first paycheck.”

“What about the vouchers and stuff?” Amara asked.

Donald looked embarrassed and said, “I got clothes for work.”

“Rookie mistake,” Amara smiled then said, “I’ll take you for lunch today.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Donald said quickly, “I can just take my sandwich to my car or something.”

Steve chimed in from across the hall, “Enough of that.” He added, “I’ll take you tomorrow,” then looked at Anna, “Wednesday?”

Anna smiled, “Hope you like Mexican.”

“Uh, well…” Donald looked between the men then at the secretary who just smiled at him. “Okay.”

Amara was still serious, ‘But you can’t do without like that,” She got up and walked to Dave’s new office.

The secretary, a dark complected woman with scarlet red hair said, “I told him you’d be coming in.”

She nodded at her and opened the door, “So remember when I started on and wound up using my starter money on stuff I didn’t need to?”

Dave smiled and said, “Sure, why?”

“Well, our new financer spent his money to get by on clothes for work.”

Dave shook his head, “He does know there’s a clothes allowance, right?”

Amara shrugged, “I don’t know, but all he’s got is a little ham sandwich and bag of chips for lunch we’ve got him covered until Wednesday...”

Dave cut him off, “I’ll take Thursday and you can see if Carson will take Friday if you please.” He was reaching into his drawer and pulled out some gift cards, “Until he’s fully trained, I’m pulling both his and my duties.” He handed Amara some gift cards. “Give him these.”

Amara took the cards and said, “Sure thing.” Then hesitated.

“Is there something else?” Dave smiled.

“Would it be weird if we had lunch tomorrow?” Amara felt strange asking, but she had spent a lot of the weekend thinking about things.

Dave smiled seeming relieved, “Not at all.”

Amara’s smile was more relaxed as she handed Donald the cards and walked through to the reception area. Carson agreed to treat Donald on Friday and she returned to her desk. A couple of minutes later, a woman walked through. She was soft and wore a comfortable dress suit that hid none of the rolls she sported. Amara worked while the woman taught Donald how to use the system and navigate the computer network.

Ten came around and Anna walked by with the many boxes of pastries. Amara filed into the breakroom and smiled at Donald who seemed surprised by the work stop. He made his way into the breakroom to see everyone with the ubiquitous plates of donuts. “Come on, sit over here.” Steve said. When Donald started over he said, “No, you need some snacks, come on.”

The confused new worker went over and placed a couple donuts on a plate and went to sit with Steve who had piled his own plate high. “So, is this a special occasion?”

Everyone chuclked a little and Dave said, “No, just our 10 am break.”

“You do this every day?” Donald looked surprised and bit into his donut.

“No, no,” Austin said, “Sometimes we really go all out.”

Anna chimed in, “You’re going to have to tell me what special goodies you like.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” Donald said, “I don’t want you to put yourself out just for me.”

Everyone laughed again but tried to stay amiable. “It’s not a bother,” Anna said. “It’s what I do.”

“Our regular secretary is a fiend for fancy pastries,” Amara volunteered, then looked at the woman standing in for Alexandrea embarrassed.

The secretary said, “Don’t worry, we all know how close you all get to the regulars. “But my thing is candy bars.” She smiled, showing a wide gap in her teeth. “I could eat them nonstop.”

Donald thought some, taking another bite of his donut. He seemed to be considering the implications of his new job then looked at Amara briefly. Then, back at Anna he said, “Well, I’ve never met a cheesecake I didn’t like.”

“Noted,” Anna said. “I know a place in town that makes amazing cheesecake.”

“Vergin or fruit toppings?” Amara asked on impulse.

“Any way they come,” Donald said with a smile.

Dave looked over at Amara then at Donald with a smile. Donald appeared to notice the attention and his casual tone subsided.

Amara didn’t think much about it at first. Dave was the new boss and Donald didn’t understand the work dynamics yet. He would and he would feel less on edge then.