“Is that true?” I asked Dante. “You pushed that guy into me?”
“Yes, but I didn’t mean to. I didn’t realize he was going to stumble like that and hit you. If I had known that was going to happen, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“Why did you?” I asked. “I’ve never seen you so much as have a cross word with somebody. Why on Earth would you start a bar fight with somebody?”
“He had just stolen all of the tips out of the tip jar,” Dante revealed. “I was standing there at the bar, and I watched him reach into the tip jar and take everything out of it. And there was a lot. A whole big group had just come by and put a ton in there. I’m sure that’s why he decided to snatch it. I told him to put it back, but he refused.”
“So, that’s why you pushed him,” I said.
Dante nodded. “Yes. He was just going to walk up and pay his tab with the money he just stole, then leave. I couldn’t let him do that. That money belongs to you and Miranda. Especially with the little one coming, it wasn’t fair that you would work so hard and then have your tips stolen from you.”
“I can’t believe somebody would do something like that,” I said.
“Neither can I,” Dante said. “It was such a shock. That’s why I reacted the way I did. I should have thought about it more, and I was horrified when I saw him knock you over. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “Mason brought me to the hospital to get me checked out and to make sure the baby’s okay. Everything looks great. We were even able to see the ultrasound. That was the first time.”
Dante grinned. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you. Do you know yet if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“Not yet,” I said. “Just a couple more months. It’s killing me to wait.”
“Have you tried out any of the old wives’ tales to see if they will predict it for you?” Dante asked.
“Old wives’ tales?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
“Things like analyzing your cravings or looking at your Chinese astrology chart,” Dante said. “You can also attach a crystal or a coin to a piece of string and dangle it over the center of your belly while you’re lying down and watch the pattern it makes when it swings. If it swings straight like a pendulum, that means it’s a boy. If it swings in a circle, it means it’s a girl. I think.”
“Do they actually do anything?” I asked. “I mean, are they at all accurate?”
“Oh, yeah,” Miranda said, coming up beside me. “My grandmother predicted every single one of my cousins.”
“How many cousins are there?” Mason asked.
“Four,” Miranda said.
“Well, as impressive as that track record is, I think we’ll go ahead and wait for the ultrasound,” I said. I didn’t want said old wives to predict one thing and then have it turn out to be the other. I was a planner, and I liked to get things done in advance. Which meant if I did one of those predictions, I would end up having a closet full of clothes and the nursery decorated within a week. That it would just be one giant hassle to undo it all if it was wrong when the baby came along.
Mason came up behind me and laughed, kissing me on the cheek. “Ever the logical businesswoman,” he said.
“Well,” Dante said. “If you change your mind and want to try one of them, let me know. I want to be a part of it.”
I giggled. “Sure thing.”
“And, Ava, I’m so sorry, again. I really didn’t mean for you to get involved.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” I said. “I appreciate you sticking up for Miranda and me. That means a lot.”
“Yes, it does,” Mason said. “You’re getting taken care of tonight. Order whatever you want. It’s covered.”
Dante grinned. “Thank you.”
The rest of the night was more relaxed, and I found myself laughing and having more fun than I’d had in a while. There was still sadness in those moments when we started thinking about Mason’s father, but in a way it was like he was there with us. And I found comfort in that.
After work, Mason drove me home. He walked me up to the door and paused.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” he asked.
“Of course,” I said.
“Good. I’ll be right back. I left my stuff in the truck,” he said.
He jogged back down the sidewalk to the truck and pulled out a bag. I laughed when he threw it over his shoulder and came walking back up the sidewalk.
“You just happen to have that in the truck?” I asked. “No planning or anything went into that?”