It took me more than a few moments of consciousness to figure out that I was lying in a hospital bed next to my father. I looked over at him, and he seemed to be awake, so in a very raspy voice, I tried to get his attention. “Dad, are you there?”

He turned over to look at me, I could tell he needed a lot of effort to do that. He gave a terribly weak smile, then spoke “Would you look at us? We should just let Brian take over the family restaurant.”

I gave a weak laugh, we were both a sight for sore eyes. “I’m pregnant, Dad.” His eyes opened wide, and he seemed to be in shock. I gave him another smile, telling him I was happy I was going to give him a grandson. He tried to speak, but he suddenly went into a spasm of coughs. He started to have trouble breathing and I gathered up all my strength to sit up and start shouting for a nurse. Just then he mustered all the energy he had to say one last thing, “Take care of my grandkid. Explore the world.” Then he deeply breathed out, and that was it. Dad was gone. Brian and Patricia had just shown up from outside, as they had drove me after I passed out back at the restaurant. When they realized what was happening, they started to cry. I was crying too. It was one of the worsts days of my life, as you can imagine.

“Teresa, may I speak with you?” Dr. Mitchell had entered the room. He looked concerned, and now that Dad was gone, I couldn’t begin to imagine what bad news he had to tell me now.

I looked at my Dad’s body. I didn’t want to leave his side just yet. “Can this wait, Doctor?” I asked, thinking whatever it was could wait.

“I’m afraid not, Teresa. Please come with me, this will only take a moment.” Dr. Mitchell turned and exited the room. It was obvious this was terribly urgent and confidential, so I got up and followed him with the little energy I had.

“What is it, Doctor?” I asked after finding him out in the hallway waiting for me.

“Teresa, I didn’t want to say this in front of the others, but I have to let you know that the baby is fine. You had a very substantial fall this afternoon, and I want you to know that we did all the necessary checks, and everything seems fine. However, I highly recommend you take it easy. With the pregnancy, and your father, and the business, the stress might get to you. You need a break from this. You need to relax, or you are going to have complications with this pregnancy. Do you understand?”

Dr. Mitchell came over with his wife to the diner every other Tuesday and Thursday. He meant well as he spoke, and passed on his condolences as he left. I leaned against the wall, trying to take it all in. My mind was racing, and my tears were still falling. I felt heavy, and my weak body felt like it couldn’t handle anything at the moment. I hadn’t thought about the baby’s condition since I came to, and after what had just transpired, all I could think about was being with my dad on his deathbed. I had thought about the phone call and the news that made me pass out, and now the doctor was reminding me that I had this pregnancy to worry about. Thank goodness Dr. Mitchell didn’t ask who the father was. I had managed to keep all of this a secret up until now. I didn’t need the entire population of this little town knowing that I was carrying a bastard child. I had to find a way out. My father’s last words echoed my mother’s last wish. I needed to get away or I would lose my mind, or worse, my child. I made up my mind in that moment that I would leave town after Dad’s affairs were wrapped up. I was going to build a new life for me and my unborn child.

* * *

Everyone was in the diner. Brian had come up with the idea of having everyone over after the burial to honor the memory of my Dad’s legacy, so everyone came. It had been a long while since the diner had been this full. None of the faces were unfamiliar, but everyone preferred coming in on their own days, at their own time, according to their own frequency. This was a rare moment in which they all had to come over at once.

Brian wanted me to take it easy and rest a little, knowing I had just come out of the hospital but I couldn’t rest, we were at a full capacity. I had to help out.

“Order up!” it sounded so peculiar, hearing Brian say it and I felt like it was further confirmation that I had to leave this place.

I immediately stood up and tugged on my uniform. I hadn’t gotten around to ordering any new uniforms, life had simply been too fast paced for me, and now I feared my baby bump might start to show. I wouldn’t be needing that new uniform anymore, so I brushed the thought to the back of my head. This was technically my last working day at Baxter’s Family Restaurant.

I grabbed the two plates out of the window, where Brian stood behind with a worried look on his face. I wondered how he would take the news when I told him I was leaving, but I quickly brushed it to the back of my head, one problem at a time. Brian had recreated Dad’s Masterpiece Meatloaf for the day’s special board, and the sample I had was pretty close to Dad’s recipe. I told Brian that my Dad would be proud, and it wasn’t just to flatter him, it was pretty honest. I turned around with the plates in-hand and headed to the table.

It was Dr. Mitchell, and he was with his wife. The glare he gave me suggested that he disapproved of me working in my current condition, but the look Mrs. Mitchell gave me suggested he hadn’t acknowledged the doctor-patient confidentiality I thought we had entirely.

“Here’s your order,” I said as I placed the plates in front of them. “Enjoy your meal, this was Dad’s special!” I gave them a smile, and quickly started to make my way back.

“Teresa!” the voice that called me stopped me in my tracks. I turned to where the voice had come from and saw who it was. It had come from table seven, the Martin’s favorite table in the Restaurant, and for the first time in years, they had shown up with Gavin. I gulped, nervous, and made my way to their table.

“Hello everyone,” I greeted them all. “How may I help you guys?”

“Oh we’ve already made our orders. I think Gavin here is just a little bit impatient and wants to talk to you,” Phyllis said, giving me a knowing smile. I looked at Gavin, and all he could say was, “Guilty as charged.” With a cool smile. I could not believe how insensitive this guy could be in such a situation. Why was he back in town? Was it for the funeral?

“Oh, okay. I’ll have to see you a little later, I’m kind of busy right now.” I said, gesturing to the entire restaurant.

“Oh, sure. No problem, I’m around until tomorrow and I just felt that we should catch up. I am staying with my parents and I figured I could see you later on. My condolences, by the way.” He offered.

“Thanks. I’m sure we can figure something out.” I said, and practically ran away. It must have been the hormones again, or the fact that my father had just been buried, or the fact that this was my last day at a restaurant I had spent my entire life at, and that I didn’t even know where I was going and what I was going to do when I got there, or the fact that I was a single mother and my baby daddy was in the restaurant and wanted to ‘hang out’ later, but I ended up in the bathroom stall crying for a long time.