Page 52 of Matteo

Amy

The morning is a repeat of yesterday, complete with Matteo going in with me to get a smiling Layla who said ‘dada’ about twenty times before Matteo left for the day.

Since everything is cleaner from yesterday, it doesn’t take as long to clean today. I check the weather and get Layla dressed in an adorable purple jogger set. She hates the coat I try to put on her, so I wrap her up in a blanket and then another one over her car seat when I take her downstairs.

It’s almost twenty minutes past the time I thought I would leave. I check the clock in the dashboard to see it’s almost fifteen past one as I pull up outside the clinic. Getting Layla, her diaper bag, and lunch through the front door of the clinic takes a minute.

When I walk through the doors, there is a wide desk with two women. One of them, an older woman with long hair in thick braids, is on the phone.

The other is younger with bright blue hair. She’s concerned. “Oh, my goodness, you look so much better. Are you sick again?”

Confused, I shake my head. “Um, no. I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“I’m Willow. I was here when you came in.” The smile is back.

“I apologize. I don’t remember much from that day.”

She nods. “No worries. You seemed bad off. I’m glad you’re not sick again. How can I help you?”

Now I’m embarrassed. This seemed like a good idea before I got here. I wonder if he’ll think I’m crossing a line or something. “I’m here to have lunch with Dr. Castillo.”

Her brown eyes go wide. “That’s great. He never said anything about it. But he can forget sometimes when he’s busy. And goodness, is he busy with paperwork. Let me ask Cleo to come get you and escort you to him.”

Picking up a phone, she dials and a moment later tells the woman what I said. “Okay, give her a few minutes. She’ll be right here.”

She said a few minutes, but it’s more like twenty seconds. I barely have time to put down the bags and Layla on an empty seat when a woman appears. An older woman, heavy-set and wearing glasses, comes through the doors. Her concern is clear. “Amy, is everything all right?”

I nod. “Hi, I’m hoping to have lunch with Matteo. So he’ll actually eat.”

A smile lights up her whole face. “Thank goodness. I’ve worried about him and the way he overworks himself and forgets to eat. I’m glad you’re here. Let me grab a bag for you. Follow me.”

Grateful for the offer, I give her Layla’s bulky diaper bag. As we pass through the doors, it’s busy but not hectic.

Cleo stops outside an office with the door open. “Dr. Castillo, you have a visitor.”

I hear a soft curse from inside the room. “Come in. It’s my mother, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not your mother. I hope it’s okay to come have lunch with you.” The look of shock on his face has me laughing. Then his smile is bigger than Layla’s after getting her way.

“Yes, please. Cleo, can you do me a favor and close my door? Thanks.” He takes Layla’s car seat from me and leads me to the long, low, tan leather sofa in a corner of the large room.

“This is a wonderful surprise. I hate to admit you know me well. I set my alarm for lunch, then got caught on a long phone call and completely forgot. Let me grab the cooler you packed.”

I shake my head. “Don’t bother. I only packed you some string cheese because I knew you’d forget.”

Opening the bag, I packed our lunches in I grab two glass dishes full of the chicken fettuccine I added broccoli to. I’m glad everything is still warm from me making it before I left. I hand him one, putting mine on the low table in front of me.

He unwraps Layla, who chuckles with happiness at seeing him. I take out another dish, this one filled half with goat cheese and the other half with hummus. I packed as much of the bread he loves as would fit without getting smushed.

Unfastening Layla from the car seat, he puts the car seat on the floor beside him and settles Layla onto the couch. She’s interested in what we have until I give her a bottle. Since she can hold up her bottle on her own, she’s preoccupied while Matteo and I get sorted.

“This looks good. I’m not a huge fan of broccoli; this is one of the few ways I’ll eat it—in something.”

“You didn’t get me the list of what you like and don’t like. I’m not leaving here today until we get it written out.” I warn him.

He sighs. “You’re right. My apologies.”

“It’s all good. I wasn’t sure beyond a few of the dinners we’ve had that you seemed to like.”

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