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Song for this chapter: Poison Tree166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5faEggn5T
Isabella166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ufaYmTGy9
The clouds are gloomy with a promise of rain, and it feels like the aromas of coffee are seeping into my very soul. The chills of early winter are starting to creep in. I love Boston this time of year, but I'm homesick. It would be summer now back home in Brazil. 166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pSYsW1FdX
Lorain's chirpy voice snaps me out of my thoughts, "Hey, did you hear me, Isa? I asked if you ordered a new shipment of Brazilian coffee."
Lorain is nine months pregnant and due any day now. She's the reason I'm in Boston. My job is to take care of whatever she needs and to keep her safe. Like a bodyguard/personal assistant, "Yeah, I called. They said our delivery will be here next week on Monday."
She absent mindedly nods at me and continues helping a customer.
This is her dream. To own a Brazilian coffee shop. A dream her father, my real boss, and leader of the Brazilian cartel, granted her after she graduated from Yale with a master's degree in business.
Benicio Pereira is not an easy man in any sense, and I was confused as to why he gave her freedom to do what she wanted, but like everything in this world, there was a catch. She had to marry a man her father chose for her.
She agreed. She was willing to give up, loving who she chose for freedom. A sense of escape from her father.
She married Paulo Rodrigues, her father's left-hand man's son. That was almost 2 years ago now. She opened the shop about 11 months ago before she knew she was pregnant. When she told Paulo and Don Pereira, they demanded she close the shop and stay home. Being the stubborn woman she was, she negotiated and convinced them to let her do things her way.
The condition Don Pereira set for her was that she would always be accompanied by a guard when she was not with Paulo or in public. She argued that having a gangster in a suite would be detrimental to her business, which is where I come in.
A deadly trained guard disguised as a barista.
For the past 9 months, coffee beans and steamed milk were my life, but it's almost over. Once Lorain gives birth, I'm off back to Brazil. I've become comfortable, and in my profession, that's a dangerous luxury I can't afford.
I can't say I miss the killing and torturing people, but I do, however, miss the way I don't have to talk to anyone back home. How I can just do my job in silence without a word or fake smile?
I am a quiet person at heart, and I remember when I first got here, Lorain had to teach me how to be a people person. It's a trait I struggle with still, I guess that's why she took me off waiting tables and made coffee instead.
The rest of the day faded away quickly, and before I knew it, the sun was setting. We are open till eight so I clean a table here and there. Tonight is my turn to close up.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0fr9Z5XWK
Lorain grabs her purse and starts walking to the door like she does every day at five o'clock. "I'm heading out now, bye. See you guys tomorrow!" It becomes a routine at this point. Lorain yells goodbye to us all, and I walk her out to her car and drive her home. She lives a block away from the shop, so on nights like tonight, when I close up, I usually drop her off and catch a cab back.
I walk behind her to her car like I usually do, but as she reaches for her car door, she abruptly pauses... something is wrong.
"Lorain?"
My voice is shaking, and I'm... scared?
I ask again, "Lora -"
"My water just broke."
"Wha- Lorain get in the car -"
"No, no time this baby I coming now!"
"Lorain, you can't have the baby here on the sidewalk! Could you make it back inside?"
"I-I think so."
I support her as we rush back into the coffee shop. Luckily, there were no customers in the shop, so I locked the shop behind us.
"Juley!"
My coworker Juley comes rushing at my call. I let Lorain sit down and start yelling orders towards Juley.
"Bring me a towel or something quick!"
Juley rushes and hands me the towel. I wipe sweat from Lorain's brow.
"Where are you at Lorain? Talk to me!"
"I nee-need to push,"
"Okay, Lorain, take a deep breath. Juley! I need you to call an ambulance, and I need you to call Paulo"
I hand her my phone and turn all my attention to Lorain. She groans and squeals in pain. I help her out of her underwear and encourage her.
"You're doing amazing, Lorain, Breathe. Take a deep breath, okay? Lorain honey, I need you to listen to me, okay-"
"No! Isabella, I can't it hurts. "
Her screams echo in the shop, and I almost feel her pain through them. I try to keep my voice from shaking as I try talking her through it.
"Lorain sweetheart, listen to me. You are the strongest person I know. Take a deep breath for me, okay, and on the exhale, you're going to push, ok? Deep breath in...out-push. Deep breath in...out-push. That's good Lorain again come on!"
"Isabella! Aghhhhhnnnn!"
"That's it, push! I can see the baby's head come on. it's almost out. Juley! Where are you? Did you call?"
Juley is frozen in place at the sight of Lorain in labor, and I wish I could throw her with something right now, "Juley did you call? Yes or No?" "Ye-yes they are both on their way."
Lorain gives one more big push, and I catch the baby in the towel as it slides out completely. I wipe its face, and it immediately starts screaming.
"You did it, Lorain, congratulations it's a beautiful boy,"
Lorain has a look of relief and pure joy on her face as I place the baby on her chest. She starts crying tears of happiness and starts thanking me, "Isa, thank you so so much!"
Just then, the paramedics and a very anxious-looking Paulo storm into the shop Juley unlocked for them.
The paramedics attend to Lorain as I step back and give them space. I send Juley home after the paramedics take Lorain and Paulo to the hospital.
In the aftermath of everyone leaving, I locked the door and started cleaning, mopping the floor next to where Lorain stood a few minutes ago, rearranging the tables in neat rows, locking the register, and then the door.After lighting my cigarette and blowing smoke into the cold night air, I begin my 3 block walk to my crappy apartment. I think of Don Pereira. About how he just might kill me.
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