Knight stood outside of Paulie’s office, while the hustle and bustle of the before-lunch crowd of waiters and bartenders passed by him. He ran his hand through his hair nervously, staring at the door.
Lynn walked by him and knocked on Paulie’s door. Knight glared at her. Lynn gave him her best smile and walked away.
“Yeah?” called Paulie.
Knight had no choice but to open the door. He peeked his head in. “Boss?”
“Hey, Knight, c’mon in.”
Knight stepped inside, shut the door. Paulie finished writing something on paper, tearing it off a pad and sticking the paper onto another paper. He folded his hands on his desk and looked attentively at Knight. “What’s up?”
“I…um, I gotta ask f’r some time off in September.”
“A week’s vacation?”
“More’n that.”
Paulie looked concerned. “Something wrong?”
Now came the lie. “Mal an’ I are adoptin’.”
“Oh. Oh, I see. You need some time to bond with the child.”
“Babies. Three of ’em.”
Paulie laughed, “Three? You guys don’t do things half-assed, do you?” He opened a drawer. “I remember reading something about a leave for something like that…”
“Family Medical Leave Act. FMLA. It’s in th’ breakroom.”
Paulie snapped his fingers. “I knew I had to hang that stuff up for a reason. How long did it say I could give you?”
“Three months unpaid leave.”
Paulie frowned. “That’s bullshit. I wish I could pay you for the three months…”
“I think I got a week’s vacation coming to me.”
“I’ll give you two. Consider it a present to celebrate your new parenthood.” He sat back, “What made you two decide to have kids?”
Knight took that as an invitation to sit down. “Mal wants a kid with his name. An’ I think I c’n pass shit down to them.”
“Isn’t it a crapshoot, adopting?”
“No, we’re in contact wi’ the mothers.”
“What if one reneges? I’ve heard of that kind of thing happening.”
The lie could get too deep. “Nah. We got a lawyer.”
“Hopefully they’re happy and healthy children. Do you want me to let everyone know?”
Knight shrugged. Paulie smiled. “Always the silent type. You know Lynn and the girls, they’ll be excited for you and want to see them the day after you get them. When are you supposed to get them?”
“September 17, but it might be a week earlier. I’ll let ya know when it’s closer t’ the date.”
“Okay. And I’ll hire myself a temp. I wonder if the ex-wife would be interested for a couple of months.”
“Dunno, boss,” Knight said, and put his hand on the door. He stopped, and turned around. “I wanna thank you.”
Paulie waved his hand. “No bother. But be damn sure, I’ll miss you.”
Knight smiled, and before he could cry, he left the room. He stood outside the door, composing himself, and then headed into the kitchen.
After the first few lunch requests, Lynn and Tina came into the kitchen, nearly squealing with glee. “You’re going to have a baby!”
Knight almost dropped the sandwich on the grill. Did it show?
“Oh, don’t look so scared, you’re not having the baby,” said Lynn.
Tina added, “We just heard, you’re going to adopt three! That’s so nice!”
“We’re going to so plan a baby shower,” and both girls nodded.
“Do you know what sex?”
Knight began, “So far there’s–”
“Oh!” cried Tina, “I hope one’s a little girl.”
Knight nodded. “So far one’s a girl, one’s a boy, an’ we’re not sure of th’ other one.”
“A little girl!” squealed Lynn, and it hurt Knight’s ears. “Ohmigod, the dresses!”
“Pink and frilly – lavender – what color is the mom’s hair?”
“She’s, uh, blond.”
“Blue,” both girls said together, looking at each other. They giggled.
“Twins?” asked Lynn.
“Um…” Maybe? He took a leap of faith. “No.”
“That’s so wonderful. Are they coming from the U.S.”
Paulie ducked his head in. “LYNN! C’mon, you can talk later. Let the man work.”
The two girls left, chattering like chipmunks and giggling. They’re more excited than I am, he thought to himself.
He was elbow deep in dishes when Frank, the only waiter on the staff, came into the kitchen. “Hey, Knight, congrats.”
“Thanks, Knight.”
“Someone left this for you.” He held out a piece of folded paper, on which was “The Cook”. “Someone weird.”
“How weird?”
“A cat woman. All dressed up, like she worked in one of the offices.”
“A cat lady. No shit.” Knight opened the paper. On it was one line, in calligraphic writing, “First to the Queen of Cats.” Knight furrowed his brow, thinking. “Anything with it?”
“It was under a small plate with the tip.” He pointed to the dishwasher. “I already bussed the table.”
“Huh.” Knight muttered, and put the paper away. Maybe Mal would understand it.