Even Angels Fall

Chapter 28

                         ~~~~Christina~~~~

Things got much better after I started my job. Aside from making money and having something to do, I had people to talk to again. 

I loved Mike and Steve was great too, but they were always so tired from working and weren't usually up for any lengthy discussions or much of anything besides relaxing in front of the TV or reading. I hadn't realized how starved I was for actual company until I got around everyone at the restaurant. 

They all worked hard and did their jobs, but when it was slow or when we were in the back, it was like one big party. Everyone laughed and talked and even danced around when Diego wasn't watching. 

I was right about being the only non-Mexican working there, but they didn't care. Maria sort of took it upon herself to look out for me at first. She introduced me to everyone and yelled at anyone who even looked at me funny. Which was only at first and was understandable considering I wasn't Mexican and that I was obviously very young and pregnant.

After the initial surprise, they all pretty much adopted me into their little work family. They would tease me good-naturedly like they did with each other, calling me 'guera', which took me a long time to figure out meant 'white girl'. And they all tried to baby me. Everyone was constantly trying to get me to sit down for a few minutes or shoving food at me. Always with a little pat on my stomach, saying something about the baby needing it. I would usually laugh and wave them away, insisting I was fine.

The only thing that wasn't going great was the fact that I was no more comfortable about Diego than I'd been that first day. If anything, I was less comfortable around him. 

He was the boss and I was still technically on trial, since he hadn't asked me to fill out any paperwork yet. Which I was really starting to wonder about. I'd been working there for three weeks now. I'd have to work up the nerve to ask him pretty soon.

But aside from him being the boss, he just made me nervous any time he was around. He mostly stayed in his office, which I was thankful for. But I noticed when he did come out into the restaurant, alot of the time, he'd come straight to me. He always had something to say to me, whether it was a light criticism or a compliment or just trying to make small talk. And he'd always find some little way to touch me. Usually just on my arm, but he was the only one that I didn't like to touch my stomach. I felt like I should keep my mouth shut about it though, since he was the boss and it wasn't really that big of a deal.

I might not have been so uneasy about it if I saw him giving other people the same attention he gave me, but he didn't. Once in a while, he'd call someone into his office or call out quick instructions when he was walking by, but I was the only one he paid so much individual attention to.

I tried not to let it bother me. He hadn't actually done anything and we were never alone. Besides, the benefits of this job far outweighed a little discomfort. 

Mike opened a bank account and had been depositing his checks every week. I was so proud when I was able to deposit my own and start helping out. I kept out some of the money to go shopping with. So now, after a trip to the thrift shop, I had plenty of maternity clothes. But I hadn't had to ask Mike for the money and I was still able to put something in the bank. It felt great to be able to do that.

I didn't even need any clothes for work, since I had a uniform. Mike still wasn't crazy about me working for whatever reason, but he admitted he thought the uniform was cute. 

It was this flouncy off-white peasant top with a long, flowy, colorful skirt that, conveniently, had an elastic waist. There was a red flower for my hair too. 

Today however, it was Sunday, one of the rare days that Mike and I actually had together. I thought it was kind of unfair that we still only got to spend any real time together on the weekend. Only now we didn't really have money to be going out to eat or anything all the time.

Mike sat on the couch reading his book and I was over at the table, writing to Jodi. I felt bad about just running away on her that day. I still didn't feel safe to go visit, but I could write to her at least. Let her know I was fine. 

"Huh," Mike said, over on the couch. He'd been mumbling things like that for a few minutes and it was getting kind of old.

"What?" I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my tone.

He looked up like he'd forgotten I was even there. "How about Arwen?" 

"For what?" I asked, confused.

"A name," he said.

"A name for what?" I didn't like the direction this seemed to be heading.

"The baby," he said, as if that should be totally obvious. 

I just looked at him, wondering a nice way to say that I thought Arwen was a horrible name.

"Oh come on," he tried. "She's a princess in this book."

"She huh?" I smiled.

Mike shrugged. "Well, you know. Fifty-fifty chance."

"What kind of princess?" I'd never read Lord of the Rings. But I at least knew it was a fantasy book and not generally something you want to steal baby names from.

"Elvish," he grinned sheepishly.

I just raised my eyebrows at him.

"Hey, it'll be unique," he tried. "I bet no other kid would have that name."

"Yeah," I agreed. "There's a good reason for that."

"Well, what names have you thought of?" he asked defensively.

I looked down, not sure how he would feel about the name I wanted if it was a girl.

Mike came over to me and took my hand. "What?" he asked, softer.

"Well, if it's a girl, I was thinking about Elizabeth." I looked up at him, pleading. 

"Why Elizabeth?" he asked, knowing I didn't just like the name.

I looked down again. "It's my mom's middle name," I said, my eyes clouding with unshed tears. 

Mike squeezed my hand and I looked up at him again. He wasn't watching me. He was looking off to the side, thinking.

"Elizabeth," he tested it out before he met my eyes. "I like it."

"Yeah?" I asked, hopefully.

"Maybe Lizzie for short?"

I nodded and smiled.

"And what about if it's a boy?" he asked.

"Louis." I hadn't spent alot of time thinking about boy names, but when I had, nothing else seemed to fit.

Mike smiled and looked pleased. "Perfect."

I put my arms around his waist, leaning into him, and wondered if I was carrying little Louis or Lizzie.

"So, how about Arwen for a middle name then?" he asked after a minute.

I sighed and cringed. I couldn't very well shoot down the name he apparently loved right away after he just gave in to both of mine. 

"Maybe..." I said vaguely. Hopefully, I could come up with some really great names in the next four or five months to sway him. If I couldn't, I was afraid of what it would mean if it happened to be Lizzie that was on the way.