The next morning she was yawning and fully focused on the work when Charlotte came in with blushing cheeks.
"Morning Lottie." Aria smiled at her friend. "How's Suzie?"
"All good." Lottie sighed as she started prepping for a day. She fidgeted nervously.
"What's the matter?" Aria noticed it instantly.
"Ari, I need to make a call around 9:00."
"Okay, what's the matter?" Aria probed further.
"I was offered an interview at DA Finance."
"That's fantastic!" Aria was ecstatic for her friend.
"Well, no. I received an email last night and the interview is this afternoon. I can't just drop the shift and get childcare on such a short notice. I am going to call them and cancel."
"Absolutely not, Lottie." Aria said decisively. "We are here for you. Jess will be on her shift and she'll manage. I'll look after Suzie through the duration of the interview. You've got this."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Aria smiled again. "Besides, I can help you prep this morning."
"You're a Godsend." Lottie beamed with pure happiness. "How long will you and Jess need to find replacement?"
"Don't worry about it, Lottie. We will manage. If they offer you a quick start, go for it. It is an amazing opportunity for you and it likely will provide you with the stability to look after Suzie."
"Are you sure?"
"We all knew that you are here just for a little while, until you stand back up on your feet. It sounds like it might be it. What role did you apply for?"
"Finance Analyst. It's a fairly junior role but it is a start."
"Sounds good."
"Did you ever thought about going back to your specialisation?"
"Nope." Aria chuckled. "I would have absolutely hated it. I realised a long time ago that I rather work 16-hour days than ever go back. I've burnt myself out beyond anything imaginable and I don't think I can ever do it again."
"That is a shame." Lottie said, joining Aria in making drinks. "Or maybe not. You seem happier these days."
"Do what works for you, Lottie." Aria said before going to serve the few occupied tables. She thought deeply about Lottie's observation. Overall, she was happier. Her life still had space for improvement but she still preferred it over her past.
Between running the tables, Aria asked Lottie typical interview questions to help her practice and in the afternoon Jess took over their work so Lottie could get dressed up in a suit while Aria looked after Suzie. They've made their way to the financial district where Lottie went into one of the tall shiny buildings and Aria played hopscotch on the pavement tiles with Suzie jumping in front of her. It was easy to distract the girl and entertain her while they waited for Lottie. Besides, Suzie grew up with Aria and Jess by her side. They were like family.
"Yes! We did it!" Aria and Suzie exclaimed, high-fiving each other. The posh business men and women scowled at them for not being as serious as they were but Aria couldn't care less.
"Is it going to be much longer?" Suzie looked back at the most impressive skyscraper within the square. DA finance was well known globally and their shiny building was to show for their prestigious position.
"I don't think so." Aria checked the time. "Hmm… I think it might be another fifteen minutes or so. But it's a good sign. Your mum must be doing well."
"Can we go somewhere? I'd like a milkshake!"
"Let's wait for Lottie and we can get a milkshake all together back at the cafe."
"Okay." Suzie agreed with a slight grumble, returning to their game.
At first, Aria didn't notice a man a few meters away stop mid-step. Alessandro watched as Aria jumped across the pavement tiles along with an 8-year old child. A sudden realisation dawned upon him. Could Aria be a mother?
"What's up?" Alessandro's friend noticed his sudden stop and looked back at him.
"I was just thinking about Aria." Alessandro admitted not drawing his friend's attention to the fact that he was looking right at her. It was too early to meddle into her business and introduce her to the most nosy man in the world who happened to be his very best friend.
"Your new girlfriend?" His friend asked curiously.
"Yes." Alessandro nodded.
"What is bothering you now?"
"Not sure. I guess I still know very little about her and I am worried that she will… break my heart." Alessandro admitted his truest worry and vulnerability.
"And that's why you shouldn't be going all in straight away." His friend teased him.
"I couldn't stop with her. I dived head first as stupid as it was."
"But hey, she's not that bitch of an ex you had. She might be different. Your first instinct was to ignore your logical side and essentially fall-over-the-heels with her. Maybe your instinct was right?"
"Maybe you're right, Josè." Alessandro let out a sigh.
"So, what is bothering you?"
"I don't think she is reciprocating my feelings."
"Give it time. You only saw her a few times."
"Twice."
"That's not enough to know someone." His friend laughed. "Did she not call you yet?"
"Not yet."
"You're just as impatient in a relationship as at work." His friend chuckled with a head shake.
"Perhaps." Alessandro admitted. His friend changed the topic and they started to walk again. Aria coincidentally looked up and her eyes briefly locked with his. He smiled at her as he always did. It was hard not to when seeing her round cheeks and kind eyes. He waved at her while his friends attention was completely elsewhere. Aria hesitated before she smiled and waved back at him.
"Who are you waving at, Ari?" Suzie questioned her instantly.
"I just spotted a friend of mine." Aria admitted but the word friend didn't quite sit right with her.
"Oh, is it your new boyfriend?"
"What? No." Aria was dumbfounded by the question. She looked back down at a child beside her wondering where that assumption came from.
"I heard mum and auntie Jess talk about your boyfriend." Suzie declared with a pride to have known so much about the affairs of grown-ups.
"Did they now?" Aria was going to investigate it with her two friends when she got the chance. "They must've got it all wrong. I am waiting for someone extra special to come around, and so should you!"
Suzie giggled when Aria chased and tickled her forgetting all about the boyfriend.
Lottie came out within fifteen minutes and they all walked back to the cafe, awaiting the outcome of Lottie's interview.