23. CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 23
“Oh my god!” Andy exclaims…in shock over the story she was just told.
“I know.” Maya drawls back before taking a bite of her omelet.
Maya was quick to call Andy an invite her for breakfast after the surprise at the door the night before. When Vincenzo Deluca showed up at the door out of the blue Maya barely had time to even register what was happening before Carina ushered him out. Later that night, Maya could tell by the crinkle in Carina’s eye brow that she was in no shape to talk about anything related to Vincenzo DeLuca.
Earlier in the morning Carina asked Maya to take Ginny for the day and keep her out of the house while she was out taking care of a few things. Carina was worried that Vincenzo would show up again at their front door and didn’t want Maya to have to deal with that alone. So, Maya called her best friend in hopes of working through what happened over breakfast. Ginny was just content sitting on her aunt’s lap eating the delicious pancakes that kept showing up in front of her like magic.
“He just showed up out of the blue?” Andy says as Ginny finishes chomping on the piece of peach that came with breakfast.
Maya lets out a long breath before taking a sip of her coffee. “Pretty much.”
“What happened next?” Andy asks incredibly intrigued…sitting on the edge of her seat for more details.
Maya shakes her head and waves her hand a bit. “Carina asked me to take Ginny into the bedroom and then I heard them start arguing in the living room…loudly.”
“How long did that go for?” Andy asks as she notices Ginny reach for another small bite of pancake. “Want some more?”
Maya smiles as she watches Andy hand Ginny a tiny piece before continuing. “Only a little bit before Carina whisked him out of the apartment and drove him back to his hotel. She was pretty pissed.”
Andy snorts and kisses the side of Ginny’s head before talking in her ear. “Don’t mess with Mama.”
“When she got back she said she was tired and we pretty much went to bed.” Maya then explains.
“That’s it.” Andy says confused.
“For now.” Maya sighs before reaching her hand over to wipe some syrup off of Ginny’s cheek.
Andy takes her fork and stabs a piece of peach before eating it. “How is Carina doing?”
“I told you…she’s pissed.” Maya says.
“Anything else?” Andy asks.
“I’ve seen her get so upset talking with him on the phone…I mean she was terrified to tell him about Andrew.” Maya says as she is brought back to that difficult time. “Terrified.”
“Yea.” Andy sighs knowingly.
“But seeing them face to face, or hearing them argue out in the living room…” Maya starts out to say before getting quiet. “It was different….she was different.”
“I’m sure she was resorting to some previous coping mechanisms.” Andy says as she tries to reassure her worried best friend. “I’m sure she had to put aside some things to deal with the situation.”
“Damn…you’re right.” Maya huffs before watching Ginny eat another piece of syrup covered pancake. “Is that good?”
Ginny’s eyes twinkle with her full cheeks. “Mmmmm.”
“I love this child.” Andy gushes.
Maya giggles and watches as Andy shoves another big piece of pancake in her mouth. “It looks like Auntie Andy has her appetite back today.”
“We should celebrate with another round of chocolate chip pancakes.” Andy chirps with a mouthful.
Maya chuckles again and notices Ginny looking for more food. She quickly reaches her fork over to push more tiny pieces of peach and pancake towards the little girl’s reach. “Here baby…there you go.”
“Where’s Carina now?” Andy asks.
Maya sighs and puts some hair behind her ear with her fingers. “She got called into the hospital and then she’s meeting her dad at the hotel for lunch.”
“Uh-oh.” Andy says into her coffee.
Maya nods her head. “Carina said she’ll probably invite him over for dinner…test the waters.”
“Sounds like fun.” Andy teases playfully as somebody comes walking up from behind to their table.
“What sounds like fun?” Jack asks with a smirk on his face and his hands stuck in his jean pockets.
Andy looks up in shock. “Hey!”
“What are you doing here?” Maya asks surprised...and slightly irritated.
Jack holds out his hands before taking a seat at the table. “You invited me for breakfast.”
“You texted me and asked me what I was doing.” Maya corrects the man irritated. “That was not an invitation.”
“My bad.” Jack quips before grabbing the spare fork off the table and pointing it towards Andy’s half eaten pancake. “Are you going to eat that?”
Andy’s eyes go dark and she points her fork threatening at the man. “Touch my pancake and lose a hand Gibson…you can have the rest of my eggs and toast.”
“Awesome.” Jack murmurs before reaching to grab the rest of Andy’s eggs.
Maya shakes her head and mumbles under her breath. “Dork.”
“So…what sounds like fun?” Jack asks with a mouthful of eggs.
Maya rolls her eyes and lets out a long breath. “Carina’s father is in town.”
“Nice.” Jack says before seeing the look on Maya’s face. “Not nice.”
“It’s complicated.” Maya goes on to explain to her friends. “Carina and her dad have a complicated relationship and he just showed up unannounced at our door last night.”
“Seriously? Her too?” Jack says as he grabs the piece of toast to take a big bite. “Your building needs a bellman or something.”
Maya snorts bitterly. “No kidding.”
“So is that why you are here?” Jack asks as he looks around at the diner. “Hiding?”
Maya rolls her eyes at the man. “I’m not hiding from anyone…we are just giving Carina some space to deal with her dad.”
“How is DeLuca doing?” Jack asks.
“She’s putting on a brave face.” Maya says before taking a napkin and dipping it in her glass of water to help clean Ginny’s syrup covered hands.
“Brave face or scary face?” Jack asks with a raised eyebrow. “Your wife has both.”
Maya huffs and reaches over to clean the baby’s hands. “I’ll let you know after we have dinner with my father in law tonight.”
“Can I come?” Jack asks wanting to see the show. “Please can I come?”
“No.” Maya grumbles quickly.
“Ginny you want Uncle Jack to come to dinner tonight, right?” Jack says to Ginny with a goofy look on his face which results in giggles from the little girl. “Right!”
Andy rolls her eyes before shaking her head. “Don’t fall for his charm Ginny.”
“What are you guys doing after breakfast?” Jack asks before shoving the last piece of toast in his mouth.
“Are you asking to ask…or asking for an invitation?” Maya asks…wanting clarification.
Jack tilts his head back and forth before smiling. “Depends on what you say.”
“Carina wants us to stay clear of the house and hospital until she talks to her dad.” Maya answers.
Jack snorts under his breath before turning to Andy. “Scary Carina.”
“Definitely.” Andy says in agreement before taking a sip of her water. “And if her dad says something he shouldn’t to her….he’s going to meet scary Maya.”
Jack clicks his teeth with his tongue. “Poor bastard.”
Maya shakes her head and squints her eyes at her friends. “Are you two done?”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile over at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital, Carina is up in a delivery room on the OB floor trying to bring a new life into the world. The labor started out fairly simply but has not been progressing as quickly as Carina would like and the baby has been showing mild signs of distress. The young mother to be Beth has not stopped crying or screaming since she walked in to the hospital…terrified to do this without her boyfriend who got called away on a business trip last minute and will miss the birth. Carina expertly has helped reassure Beth along with her favorite nurse Keisha that everything will be alright…as long as Beth can keep her yelling to a minimum.
Now the doctor is sitting at the foot of Beth’s bed in between her legs...trying to help both the mother and baby get through this birth in one piece.
“AHHHHHH!!!” Beth screams out in pain as she pushes through the contraction.
Carina moves her hands around and takes a better look in the birthing canal before giving Keisha a nod of her head. “The baby is in position.”
“Oh god.” Beth mutters out tiredly as she whips her head back against her pillow. “Oh, make it stop.”
Keisha standing at the right of the patient speaks down in her ear. “You got this Beth.”
“No I don’t.” Beth cries out pathetically. “I’m the worst…I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“You’re doing great, okay.” Carina reassures the young woman as she continues her work underneath the sheet.
“I’m gonna kill my boyfriend.” Beth grumbles with her eyes slammed shut as she continues to push. “Sam is a dead man.”
Carina smiles and shakes her head. “So you’ve said.”
“Oh my god!!” Beth yells out…loudly.
Carina makes a move to get her hand in better position. “Good…..good.”
“You’re doing great Beth.” Keisha adds supportively.
Beth shakes her head and starts to panic. “Make it stop!”
Carina takes a calming breath and immediately notices that something is obstructing the head from coming out and the baby’s heart beat is showing some abnormalities due to the stress. She reaches her hand further in and starts to feel around the channel to see what is going on.
“Beth.” Carina says to get the patient’s attention, hoping to keep her calm. “I need you to stop pushing for a minute.”
“I have to.” Beth cries as her face scrunches in pain. “If I don’t push, it hurts.”
“You can’t push.” Carina says as she examines the canal…seeing that the baby could be in distress at the complicated vaginal birth. “I need to check something first.”
“Stupid Tulsa!” Beth yells out, cursing the city where her stupid boyfriend is. “I want this to be over!”
“Beth, you’re almost there.” Keisha comforts the woman.
Beth continues to cry out. “I have to push.”
“Not yet, not yet.” Carina says as she starts taking tools off the tray to help remove some excess loose tissue that has blocked the canal. “No, no. no.”
“Oh god!!” Beth exclaims pathetically as the tears start to roll down her cheek. “I can’t do this!!”
“Yes, you can.” Carina says over the sheet.
“It hurts….I have to push.” Beth cries.
Carina shakes her head and continues to work. “I need to control your labor…you need to wait.”
“I can’t…please.” Beth begs.
Keisha reaches her hand over and gently wipes the sweat of Beth’s forehead and the tears off her cheeks. “You can do this.”
“I want to push!” Beth yells out as a surge of pain flows through her once again. “Let me push!”
“Wait.” Carina says firmly.
Beth lets out a heated grunt and breath before screaming out. “LET ME PUSH!”
“Okay, Beth…..push.” Carina encourages the young woman as she removes the clam she was using from the birth canal, before getting her hands in place. “I need a big solid push!”
“AAH!!” Beth yells.
Carina nods for Beth to keep going. “Push!”
“AAHHH!!” Beth screams out at the top of her lungs.
After another 35 minutes of hard pushing Carina successfully delivered a beautiful baby boy. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Beth and the new baby as the nurses helped clean them both up and she finished examining both mother and baby before delivering the afterbirth. Carina DeLuca truly loves her job but in all honesty…there are days when she could do without the screaming.
When Carina was finally able to take a break and grab a coffee she took a stroll down the next hallway where she found Amelia Shepherd looking over something at the nurses’ station with a cup of coffee in her hand. The OB manages to give her a tiny wave before going back to nurse her sore ears.
“Hey! I’ve been looking for you!” Amelia yells out to her friend walking towards her.
“My eardrums are mush.” Carina drawls as she walks over to the nurses’ station where Amelia is leaning up against the counter with her arms crossed and her coffee in her hand.
Amelia winces sympathetically. “Screamer?”
“Big time.” Carina says before stretching her neck in attempts to het the kink out.
Amelia nods her head before biting her bottom lip. “I would have thought you’d be used to that….your wife gives me screamer vibes.”
“Funny.” Carina deadpans before downing the rest of her coffee and throwing the cup in the side trash can.
“What’s your schedule like?” Amelia asks her friend. “You wanna grab some lunch in a little bit?”
Carina reaches her hand over to the back of her neck and continues to stretch it out. “I am actually off shift.”
“What?!” Amelia shrieks out in jealousy. “Lucky! I want to be off shift.”
“I would gladly switch places with you.” Carina grumbles under her breath.
“Really?” Amelia asks as she leans closer to Carina for the details. “Why?”
Carina sighs before telling her friend the situation. “My father is in town and we are having lunch at the Theodore.”
“Dr. DeLuca…back in Seattle.” Amelia says intrigued before raising an eyebrow. “Did he bring his lamb in a bag?”
Carina rolls her eyes and looks up to the ceiling before grumbling out. “God I hope not.”
“Here.” Amelia says as she holds out her coffee for Carina to take. “Take it…take it all.”
“Thank you.” Carina mutters as she takes Amelia’s coffee and takes a drink.
Amelia watches the doctor swallow the hot substance quickly as Miranda Bailey comes walking over to talk with two of her doctors. It doesn’t take a genius to see that there is a lot going on in the feisty Italian’s head…it is spilling out of her pores.
“What’s going on with you?” Chief Bailey asks the sulky Italian.
Carina grumbles and rests her forehead against the palm of her hand. “Ugh.”
Amelia nods her head and winces before filling in the blanks for their boss. “Carina’s father is back in Seattle.”
“Oh boy.” Bailey sighs.
“But….” Amelia drawls as she holds up her pointer finger in the air. “We are hopeful that he left the lamb fetuses at home.”
“Is he here to see the baby?” Bailey asks Carina.
“I think….?” Carina drawls as she tries to think back on what happened the night before. “I heard him say the word baby once or twice when we were screaming at each other last tonight….but I’m not 100% sure.”
Amelia winces for the second time. “There was screaming?”
“We are a very loud people.” Carina huffs before waving her hand around. “And he showed up on our doorstep out of nowhere…I saw red.”
“Did Bishop get in on the screaming?” Bailey asks.
Carina shakes her head. “No…thankfully.”
“Bishop didn’t say anything?” Bailey huffs in disbelief.
“I asked her to take the baby into the bedroom.” Carina says.
“Ahh…that makes sense.” Amelia says before taking a look at the clock on the wall. “I have to get to the OR.”
Carina smiles and holds up the coffee cup. “Thanks for the coffee.
“I hope your lunch goes well…if you need anything call me.” Amelia says before pointing to herself.
“I will….thank you.” Carina says genuinely to her friend.
Amelia gets ready to walk away before stopping in her tracks. “Also…if Maya starts throwing hands at the good doctor…also call me.”
“Bye Amelia.” Carina quips.
“Right.” Amelia retorts back before heading down the hallway.
Bailey watches Carina watch Amelia walk away before speaking out. “It’s been a while.”
“It has.” Carina agrees before running her hand down her long braid. “When I went back to Italy we barely saw each other…and when we did…”
“It didn’t go well.” Bailey ventures.
“He was quiet and standoffish.” Carina goes on to explain to her boss. “He didn’t really say anything when I told him about the engagement.”
Bailey tilts her head sympathetically. “I’m sorry.”
“I love my dad.” Carina sighs through a long breath. “But…I never know what I’m going to get…it’s exhausting.”
“Yea.” Bailey hums.
Carina smiles softly at her friend. “I’m meeting him for lunch now and then tonight we are having a dinner at the apartment.”
“It could be good for the three of you to spend some time together…or four of you.” Bailey says.
Carina shakes her head before biting her bottom lip. “I am terrified…I don’t want him to say anything that will upset Maya, that will upset me.”
“DeLuca it’ll be--” Bailey tries to say but can’t continue.
Carina sighs and nurses her forehead with her fingers. “My head is spinning and I’m just trying to stay calm for my family….but I feel like I’m on the verge of freaking out.”
“What if Ben and I came to dinner?” Bailey suggests quickly…offering a solution.
Carina’s head pops up and she looks at her boss. “What?”
“It probably will not surprise you that my husband is great at a dinner party.” Bailey jokes with a smirk on her face.
The Italian doctor lets out a genuine chuckle and places her hand on her cheek. “No…I can see that.”
“We both have met your father, we know how he can get and he knows us.” Bailey goes on to explain before shrugging her shoulders. “We can act as a buffer of sorts.”
Carina’s mouth drops speechless before a feeling of love and support takes over. “Chief...that would be amazing.”
“Ben and I are here for you…all of you.” Bailey says before a small smile graces her face. “We take our jobs as godparents very seriously.”
“Thank you.” Carina says quietly….feeling overwhelmed at the gesture.
Bailey nods her head. “Just text me a time for us to be at your house and we will be there.”
“You are the best.” Carina says…her voice thick with emotion.
Chief Bailey snorts under her breath before walking away to get back to work. “I know.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later on that afternoon Carina is sitting at a table in the restaurant at the Theodore waiting for her father to show up. She slowly made her way through the hallways on her way out hoping that a pregnant patient would come in and need her immediately…but no such luck.
Carina DeLuca truly loves her dad but she knows his patterns. When things are good…they tend to stay good, often times really good. But is something goes wrong or even the tiniest hiccup…a snowball effect tends to takeover. She sits there gazing down at the menu when her attention is finally brought to her father dressed in a navy blue suit walking in through the entrance to the dining room.
“Carina!” Vincenzo DeLuca exclaims with his hands out open as he steps over to his daughter who gets up from her seat to greet the man.
“Ciao Papà.” Carina says with a smile as she accepts a kiss to each cheek before her father heads to the other side of the table. (Hello Dad.)
Vincenzo unbuttons his suit jacket before staking a seat. “Spero che oggi abbiamo la testa più calma.” (I hope we have calmer heads today.)
“Non è probabile, ma sediamoci lo stesso.” Carina says under her breath as she too takes her seat at the table. (Not likely, but let’s sit down anyways.)
“I’m surprised you could fit me in with your busy schedule.” Vincenzo quips as he starts to take a look at the menu. “Last night you all but dragged me out of your home.”
“Wow.” Carina huffs quietly before whispering to herself. “We couldn’t even order coffee first.”
Vincenzo flips the page of menu before looking over the top to his daughter. “Sono venuto dall'Italia per vedere mia figlia e la sua famiglia.” (I came all the way from Italy to see my daughter and her family.)
Carina resists the urge to roll her eyes and holds up her hand. “Senza alcun preavviso.” (Without any warning.)
“I tried calling you multiple times over multiple days Carina Rosa.” Vincenzo says jumping to his own defense. “What other forms of communication should I have tried…carrier pigeon?”
“Can you blame me? Our last phone call did not go exactly well.” Carina says to the man.
“It was nothing.” Vincenzo says as he brushes the woman off. “You used to be tougher than this Carina…these Americans are making you soft.”
Before Carina can open her mouth with a reply a perky waitress comes walking over to their table to take their orders.
“Hello, my name is Janet.” The waitress Janet says with her best service smile at the table already filled with tension.
“Hello Janet.” Vincenzo greets back happily before placing his hand on chest. “My name Is Dr. Vincenzo DeLuca and this is my daughter Dr. Carina DeLuca.”
“Ahhh…..this is so sweet.” Janet hushes at the father and daughter. “What can I get you two started with this afternoon?”
“Espresso please.” Carina says with a smile.
“Of course.” Janet says to the daughter before moving on to the father. “And you sir?”
“I will have a cup of joe.” Vincenzo quips back with his best ‘American’ accent. “When in America, of course.”
Janet laughs and nods her head. “One cup of joe coming right up.”
Carina smiles at the woman as she walks away before rolling her eyes. “Oh my god.”
“What?!” Vincenzo laughs heartily.
“Nothing…nothing.” Carina murmurs, knowing it’s not worth it. Not when she has bigger fish to fry…like figuring out what his motives are. “Perché sei qui Papà?” (Why are you here dad?)
Vincenzo looks at his daughter confused. “Pensavo di essere qui per pranzo.” (I thought I was here for lunch.)
“Why are you in Seattle?!” Carina finally snaps in a hushed tone before looking around the restaurant, hoping nobody saw the scene.
“Te l'ho detto... sono venuto a trovare te e la tua famiglia.” (I told you…I came to see you and your family.) Vincenzo starts to explain before waving his hands around. “A proposito... dov'è tua moglie e il bambino?” (Speaking of which…where is your wife and the baby?)
Carina shakes her head firmly. “Te l'ho detto al telefono stamattina, non li portavo.” (I told you over the phone this morning, I wasn’t bringing them.)
“E perchè no?” Vincenzo bites back. (And why not?)
“Sai esattamente perché non Papà.” Carina scoffs gently. (You know exactly why not Dad.)
“Do I not have a right to see my only granddaughter?” Vincenzo asks.
“Of course--!” Carina snaps back but stops when Janet makes her way back to the table with their drinks.
“One espresso.” Janet says as she sets the cup in front of the woman.
“Thank you.” Carina says back.
“And one cup of Joe.” Janet finishes as she sets the large coffee mug in front of the man who is beaming back at her.
“Grazie Janet.” Vincenzo says.
“Have you decided on what you would like for lunch?” Janet asks.
Carina nods her head and hands Janet the menu. “I’ll just have the grilled chicken sandwich with the side of grilled vegetables.”
“Absolutely.” Janet retorts.
“That sounds great…I will have the same.” Vincenzo says as he skims through the page of the menu once more. “Except instead of the grilled chicken sandwich, I will have the B.L.T….and instead of vegetables, I will have fries.”
“A man after my own heart….coming right up.” Janet giggles before walking away from the table.
Carina watches Janet walk away before turning to her grinning dad. “Cute.”
“Again….when in America.” Vincenzo says back before taking a sip of his coffee. “I believe you were about to explain to me why I am not allowed to see my granddaughter.”
“Of course…you can see Ginny.” Carina grumbles annoyed.
“Ginny?” Vincenzo asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Ginetta.” Carina says slowly before explaining. “We call her Ginny.”
Vincenzo snorts under his breath. “How American.”
“Well…she is an American.” His daughter quips back.
“Not if it were up to me.” Vincenzo says into his mug before holding up the mug towards his daughter. “If it were up to me you and Ginetta would be on the first plane back to Italy…”
Carina shakes her head as he blood starts to boil in her body. “I’m not talking about this with you…right now.”
Vincenzo getting frustrated waves his other hand at Carina. “Allora di cosa ti piacerebbe parlare Carina?” (Then what would you like to talk about Carina?)
“Yes…you are allowed to see Ginny.” Carina says as she tries to remain calm. “But Maya--”
Vincenzo scrunches nose in confusion. “Maya?”
“My wife.” Carina murmurs back….not amused.
“I’m kidding!” Vincenzo teases through a hearty laugh. “I’m kidding!”
Carina takes a long breath, again trying not to let her father get under her skin with his little comments. “Ma io e Maya vorremmo invitarti prima a una cena per soli adulti.” (But Maya and I would like to invite you for an adult only dinner first.)
“Tonight?” Vincenzo asks.
Carina wondering if she should back track on the invitation and runs for the hills, swallows the lump in her throat. “Yes, tonight.”
Vincenzo chuckles and again points at his daughter. “Questo è un test.” (This is a test.)
“Voglio sapere dov'è la tua testa prima di portare il bambino nell'equazione.” Carina quips back firmly…wanting Vincenzo to know that she is serious. (I want to know where your head is at before we bring the baby into the equation.)
“You want to see if I’m…oh what do you like to call me…” Vincenzo says in his coffee as he goes on dramatically. “Crazy.”
Carina bites her bottom lip before responding. “La tua telefonata dell'altra sera non era esattamente il miglior esempio di salute mentale.” (Your phone call the other night was not exactly to best example of mental health.)
“Carina…don’t be so dramatic.” Vincenzo snips back before letting out a huff. “Ero arrabbiato e ho reagito male.” (I was upset and I reacted poorly.)
“Concentriamoci... solo su una bella cena.” Carina suggests firmly. (Let’s…just focus on having a nice dinner.)
“Of course.” Vincenzo says with a smirk, again waving his hand. “I am excited to formally meet…uhhh...”
“Papà!” Carina exclaims, her frustration finally bubbling over.
“Maya!” Vincenzo says through a long laugh before shaking his head at the woman. “You used to laugh Carina.”
Janet chooses this moment to walk back over with the two plates of food. “Sounds like you two are having a great father-daughter date.”
“We are Janet...thank you.” Vincenzo replies happily as he claps his hands together at the sight of his big sandwich and fries.
Carina…not as enthusiastic smiles politely as the waitress sets down her plate. “Thanks Janet.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carina finished up lunch with her dad and then headed back to the hospital to work on some paperwork and tried to keep her mind from running out of her body. All she wanted to do was to avoid the anxiety and nerves concerning the dinner that would take place that night. After a couple hours of working she headed to the grocery store and got the ingredients she needed to make a couple of classic dishes her Nonna perfected and that her father absolutely loved. It was actually therapeutic to cook something from home and helped get her in the right frame of mind to deal with her sometimes difficult father.
A couple hours later the two dishes are almost ready to serve when Carina hears a jingle at the door before it opens.
“Carina!” Maya calls out in a hushed voice to announce their return. “We’re back.”
Carina hearing the hushed voice walks out confused towards the dining room. “Why are we whispering?”
But Carina answers her own question when she sees Maya stepping to the dining room with a sleeping Ginny in her arms. The blonde puts down her keys quietly, hoping not to wake the sleeping baby who is resting so comfortably with one arm resting around her mommy’s neck and her cheek resting on her mommy’s shoulder. The picture perfect moment makes Carina feel a million times lighter.
“Look.” Maya says with a smile as she turns so Carina can see Ginny’s face.
“She’s asleep?” Carina whispers impressed as they walk back into the kitchen.
Maya carefully nods her head as she rubs the sleeping baby’s back. “We drove around until she fell asleep…she didn’t take a nap today and I figured it would help to put her downearly for tonight.”
“Is she in her pajamas already?” Carina asks as she points at the child.
Maya nods her head as she continues to rub Ginny’s back while swaying. “I got her changed before we left the station.”
“Rockstar.” Carina whispers impressed as she raises her hand up in the air.
Maya nods her head and quietly high-fives her wife. “Right.”
“Her little boots.” Carina gushes as she carefully takes the boots of Ginny to get her ready for bed.
Maya rolls her eyes playfully as she watches her wife. “She’s obsessed with these things…she’ll want to wear them to the beach this summer.”
“That’s okay.” Carina laughs quietly before carefully slipping her little arms out of her jacket.
“I’m gonna go put her down.” Maya says as she nods her head towards the baby’s room before smiling at the pot on the stove. “It smells delicious.”
“Thank you.” Carina says back with a genuine smile as she watches Maya take their little girl into her room for the night.
Maya quickly sets the sleeping child in her crib and carefully turns on her little fire truck night light before grabbing the baby monitor and heading out of the room. When she walks back into the kitchen she sees her wife back at the stove finalizing dinner for the evening. Maya immediately walks over to stand next to her wife and slips her arm around her waist.
“Is there anything I can do?” Maya asks as she rests her chin on Carina’s shoulder. “What do you need?”
“I need….” Carina sighs as she leans towards her wife’s head. “A hug.”
“That I can do.” Maya says with a kiss to Carina’s cheek before turning her wife in her arms to wrap her arms around her waist. “I love you.”
Carina holds on tightly and lets out a calm breath. “I love you too.”
“Do you think I have time to go over Ginny’s Little Tyke’s Learn Italian book before your dad gets here?” Maya asks playfully.
Carina snorts under her breath as her wife pulls away. “Probably not.”
Maya smiles back at her wife and gives her a quick kiss on her lips as the front door to the apartment swings open to reveal the buffers for the evening.
“Hello!?” Miranda Bailey says as they walk in.
Maya turns around confused and sees their friends standing in their entryway. “Hey.”
“We brought wine.” Ben says as he holds up the bottle in the air before helping his wife with her jacket.
“I invited them for reinforcements.” Carina tells her wife after seeing the confusion and surprise on her face. “I also told them to just walk in so I wouldn’t have to have the hairs on my neck stand up twice at the knock at the door.”
“Honey.” Maya sighs warmly as she squeezes her arm before smiling over at their guests…trying to bring the mood up. “So…you brought wine?”
“We brought wine.” Ben confirms again as the smell from the kitchen hits his nose. “Carina it smells fantastic.”
“Thank you Warren.” Carina says back before smiling appreciatively. “And thank you both for coming.”
“Of course.” Miranda Bailey says before slapping her hands together. “Where’s my goddaughter?”
“Asleep.” Maya answers.
Bailey pouts dramatically before pointing to the baby’s room. “Can I at least go peek at her cute little face?”
Maya nods her head. “Go knock yourself out.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” Ben asks as he walks into the kitchen.
Carina smiles and points to the plates on the island. “You wanna put the plates out on the table?”
“I’ll put out the silverware and glasses too.” Ben jokes back before grabbing the plates and silverware to go set the table.
“Thank you.” Carina tells her friend appreciatively before going back to her food on the stove.
“What can I do?” Maya asks her wife.
Carina gets some sauce on the spoon and holds it up to Maya’s lips. “You are already doing it.”
Maya gladly takes the bite and hums happily. “So good.”
“Actually…I do need something from you.” Carina says before licking some stray sauce off her thumb.
“Name it.” Maya replies quickly.
“Please don’t let my father get under your skin.” Carina pleads with her wife before huffing out a heated breath. “He is good at that.”
Maya squints her eyes and thinks about it for a second. “I can’t promise that…but I can promise that I won’t react.”
“Thank you.” Carina says back.
“Unless, he starts going after you…then all bets are off.” Maya says as she kisses Carina’s cheek before walking away towards Ben at the dining room table.
Carina sighs and stares straight ahead in a daze. “This is going to be a disaster.”
Bailey then comes walking back into the kitchen with a blissful smile on her face. “That child…is perfection.”
Carina nods her head proudly. “Did you see her little jammies with the puppies?”
“I did.” Bailey says with a fond smile before looking at the food on the stove. “This looks amazing.”
Carina lets out a long breath. “It’s my dad’s favorite.”
“Buttering him up couldn’t hurt.” Bailey says with a nod of her head.
Carina chuckles under her breath. “That is exactly what I was thinking.”
Then there is a knock at the door and just like she thought the hairs on Carina’s arms stand up and her heart stops in her chest for a moment.Bailey lets out a sigh and raises her eye brows. “Show time.”
“I can do this?” Carina asks her friend.
Bailey nods her head. “You can do this.”
“I can do this calmly?” Carina questions with a raised eyebrow…not sure if she believes this.
Bailey...also not believing this entirely shrugs her shoulders. “Sure.”
“Thanks Chief.” Carina says before she swallows the lump in her throat and heads to the door.
Carina passes Maya who gives her a tiny encouraging smile before she opens the door to reveal her father again dressed in a fancy suit...this time complete with one of his signature hats and a bottle of wine in his hand.
“Hello Dad.” Carina says as she greets her father.
Vincenzo Deluca nods her head and smirks at his eldest child. “Do I get to stay this time?”
Carina resists the urge to roll her eyes and moves to the side so her father can walk in through the door. “Yes….come on in.”
“Thank you.” Vincenzo says as he walks past her.
“Let me take your coat and hat.” Carina says before her father slips of his coat and hands it to his daughter along with the hat on his head. Carina puts both on the hooks of their coat rack. Carina takes a calming breath as she closes the door before waving her wife over. “Bambina.”
Maya steps over and for the first time gets a good look at her father-in-law. She’s seen pictures of the man and even got a glimpse the night before but nothing could prepare her for what is standing in front of her now. This man truly looks like he would have starred in Goodfellas...and she knows that his suit probably costs more than her car. However, first true thing to catch her off guard is that the twinkle in her wife’s eye is also in this man’s eye.
“Hello.” Maya says tentatively.
“Dad.” Carina says to her father before starting the introductions. “This is my amazing wife…Maya Bishop.”
“It is nice to meet you…uhh…Dr. DeLuca.” Maya sputters out as her nerves get the best of her.
Vincenzo laughs happily and waves his daughter-in-law off. “Nonsense, call me Vincenzo!”
“Of course.” Maya says with a polite smile. “Vincenzo.”
“Contrary to popular belief I am thrilled that my daughter has married.” Vincenzo says as he places his hand on his chest. “I thought she would spend the rest of her life hopping from one lover to the next.”
“Yikes.” Maya says under her breath.
“Dad!” Carina exclaims at the distasteful comment.
“What?!” Vincenzo laughs back in defense. “You have not been one to settle down until you met this woman…let alone marriage.”
“Dad.” Carina grumbles.
Vincenzo again chuckles before pointing at his daughter. “You told me you’d never get married.”
“And people give me grief for my monogamy is for the weak comment.” Maya says to her wife who rolls her eyes in response.
“Things have changed….obviously.” Carina says before letting out a short breath. “Let’s get ready for dinner.”
“Dr. Bailey!” Vincenzo exclaims happily as he walks over to the woman with his arms out.
Bailey can’t help but smile at the man as she steps over to her. “Dr. DeLuca.”
Vincenzo places a kiss on her cheek before taking her hands in his. “You are as beautiful as I remember.”
“And you are just as charming.” Bailey chirps back playfully before waving her hand at Ben who holds out his hand to the Italian. “You remember my husband Ben Warren.”
“Of course.” Vincenzo says as he shakes the other man’s hand. “The ex-doctor.”
“Actually…I’m still a doctor.” Ben corrects with a smile.
“Of course you are!” Vincenzo replies back as he slaps his hand on his arm. “I was in the chorus when I was younger and I still consider myself a singer at heart.”
Ben’s mouth drops to the floor before he starts to spiral. “No, I mean I’m still--”
“Let it go Benjamin.” Bailey cuts him off.
“Okay.” Ben says with a nod of his head before noticing Maya smirking next to him clearly amused at the interaction. “Are you done?”
Maya nods her head and smiles gleefully. “I needed that…thank you.”
“Glad to help.” Ben mutters back as Maya pats his back.
“Do I smell Nonna’s Caponata?” Vincenzo asks his daughter.
“Yes.” Carina says with a smile.
Vincenzo clicks his teeth and smiles. “My favorite.”
“I know…I also made fish and couscous.” Carina tells the group.
“Perfect.” Vincenzo cheers as he pats the wine bottle in his hand. “It will go wonderfully with this.”
“Looks like we won’t run out of wine.” Maya smiles and grabs the bottle from the man. “I’ll pour.”
“Quickly please.” Carina says through her clenched teeth to her wife.
“Uh-huh.” Maya says back as she walks over to the wine glasses on the island.
The group drinks wine and makes polite small talk before eventually sitting at the dining room table for dinner. Carina and Maya are quick to hand out the dishes and soon the table is content in just enjoying the amazing food and all that can be heard is polite words and the clinking of utensils. Carina can’t help but think that maybe this dinner won’t end in disaster.
“This is amazing Carina.” Ben says to the chef as he finishes a bite.
“Thank you Warren.” The brunette says back with a smile.
“I mean….wow.” Ben says into his plate as he shoves another big forkful in his mouth.
“Are you done?” Bailey chirps at her husband.
Ben laughs and chuckles innocently. “What?”
“You get fed at home Benjamin.” Bailey mutters back before taking a sip of her wine.
“I know…but come on.” Ben says back before waving at his plate.
Maya smiles at her friend before reaching for Carina’s hand under the table. “Really good.”
“Thank you.” Carina says softly back as her wife squeezes her hand tenderly.
“So…Maya what do you do for a living?” Vincenzo asks cutting in.
Carina rolls her eyes before she goes back to her meal. “You know what Maya does for a living, I’ve told you multiple times.”
Vincenzo mimes his daughter with a roll of his eyes himself. “Yes…I know she is a fireman.”
“Firefighter.” Maya mutters under her breath, correcting the outdated term.
“Good grief.” Vincenzo mumbles to himself before addressing his annoyed daughter. “But what does she do exactly.”
Carina squints her eyes back and takes a quick bite off her fork. “She fights fire…it’s in the name.”
“I’m the captain of Station 19.” Maya says jumping in…trying to diffuse some of the tension between her wife and father-in-law.
Bailey nods her head and takes a queue from the blonde. “Yes…she and Ben work together actually.”
“And she is great.” Ben chirps in with a smile. “Whether it’s as captain, or lieutenant, or back to captain….she’s great.”
“Why would she go from one to the other and back again like that?” Vincenzo asks confused.
“Oh boy.” Ben whispers under his breath before going back to his meal.
Maya swallows a big lump in her throat before speaking. “Some changes were made within the department and I went back to lieutenant for just a little bit.”
“So…you got a …oh what do you call it?” Vincenzo says to himself as he snaps his fingers while trying to think of the word in English. “A demotion?”
Carina’s mouth drops horrified. “Dad!”
Maya clears her throat and reaches over to place her hand on Carina’s back. “Yes…technically.”
Vincenzo nods his head before taking a sip from his wine. “I see….I see.”
“Everything was sorted out and she worked for hard to get where she is at.” Carina says proudly.
“Captain Bishop is one of the best firefighters in the department.” Ben says genuinely from his seat. “If not the best.”
Vincenzo nods his head in his wine. “Okay.”
“I am very proud.” Carina says as she smiles over to her wife.
“I’m the proud one.” Maya says back with a small smile on her face. “What you do every day is truly amazing.”
“Amazing?” Vincenzo questions playfully from his seat. “Did women start giving birth a different way and nobody told me?”
“Good one.” Carina murmurs out before taking a big swig of her wine.
Maya watches her wife with her wine with wide eyes before turning to Vincenzo. “Carina is an amazing doctor.”
“I would agree.” Bailey says chiming into the conversation in Carina’s defense. “She is incredible at what she does and the changes she has brought to her department have saved numerous lives.”
“Of course, of course.” Vincenzo teases before taking a bite of fish. “Though I can’t help but wonder what she could have accomplished in a real surgical field.”
“What does that mean?” Maya bites back as her stomach starts to heat up. “She is in a real surgical field.”
Carina sensing an argument places her hand on Maya’s thigh. “Let’s…move on.”
“Okay.” Vincenzo says with a mouthful of food before he takes a drink of his wine.
Ben looks at everyone awkwardly before trying to change the subject. “So….you must be ecstatic to be a grandfather.”
Vincenzo nods his head as he continues to eat his meal. “I was…when I was finally told.”
“Uhh…” Ben mumbles out regrettably…realizing he put his foot in his mouth.
“My daughter kept my grandchild secret from me for months…but yes….” Vincenzo goes on to say with sad smile. “I am thrilled that something has been left behind of my darling boy.”
Ben looks to Maya and Carina regrettably. “Yea.”
“Though I will say…that she belongs in Italy with her family.” Vincenzo says as he glances over to the brunette at the table that is avoiding eye contact with him.
Carina looks up at her father. “Her family is here.”
“You belong in Italy with your family too.” Vincenzo adds as he points his fork at Carina.
Carina rolls her eyes before squinting back angrily at the man. “My family is here.”
“Yes...your wife.” Vincenzo says while waving his hand around.
“Maya.” Carina bites back annoyed at her father’s antics.
“Maya, of course.” Vincenzo says with a low chuckle as he continues to wave around his hand in the air. “You can bring her along.”
“Uhhhh…” Maya mutters out nervously.
“Our lives are here in Seattle.” Carina says firmly to her father wanting him to stop with the stupid comments about her life. “We are happy.”
Vincenzo snorts sarcastically. “How can you be happy here?”
“I’m not talking about this with you again.” Carina bites back.
“Even with everything that has happened here….with Andrea.” Vincenzo says with just as much bite in his voice.
Carina shakes her head trying to keep her emotions under control. “I’m certainly not talking about Andrea with you right now.”
“You can walk around the same streets where your brother was taken from us by common criminals.” Vincenzo scoffs.
“I feel close to Andrea here.” Carina says in defense as she clutches her chest thinking about the little brother that she loved and lost. “He loved Seattle.”
Vincenzo shakes his head and takes a bite of eggplant. “You and your brother would have been better off coming back to Italy when I asked before.”
“Can we move on from this please?” Carina asks through a sigh as she reaches over and refills her glass with some more wine. When Maya notices her hand start to shake, she gently takes the bottle and fills it halfway for her wife…thinking a full glass would not be the best idea.
“So Tesoro…we can’t talk about your professional life and now we can’t talk about your personal life.” Vincenzo rambles on from his seat. “What is okay for us to talk about Carina?”
Carina continuing to get frustrated shakes her head at the difficult man. “You are not interested in talking about those things…you are only interested in criticizing.”
“Again…so sensitive.” Vincenzo snips back.
Carina sputters out an irritated laugh before holding her hand out. “Could somebody please pass the eggplant dish?”
“Of course.” Ben says as he grabs the dish to hand to the woman before making eye contact with a worried Maya across the table.
“You came to Italy for the first time in years and did what…I didn’t see you.” Vincenzo says…breaking the last straw.
“I was there in the middle of the pandemic!” Carina exclaims finally snapping. “I barely left the hospital! I slept in my PPE on a gurney in the basement.”
Vincenzo chortles and goes back to his wine. “You are not the daughter I raised.”
“Please.” Carina mutters under her breath before glaring at her father. “I just don’t subject myself to your temper tantrums anymore.”
“Dramatic.” Vincenzo scoffs.
Maya opens her mouth helplessly and tries to diffuse the situation. “Maybe we all sho--”
Carina cuts her wife off and holds up her hands in the air. “Every phone call has ended in a disaster.”
“Carina…honestly.” Vincenzo huffs.
Carina squints her eyes coldly at the man who is acting like his actions are no big deal. “You told me that Andrea deserved to live instead of me…that it was my fault that he died.”
“What?” Maya asks hearing this for the first time.
Bailey also shocked at what she just heard faces the furious man. “I’m sorry, what?”
Vincenzo shakes his head and rolls his eyes before addressing Carina. “You know what I meant.”
“No I don’t!” Carina snaps as her fork goes clinking on her plate.
Maya jumps at the sudden sound and tries to reach her wife with no luck. “Honey...”
“Your brother idolized you…and he did what you wanted.” Vincenzo says coldly.
Carina shakes her head as the whole room disappears except her father. “Andrea is the one who was brave enough to get help with his bipolar.”
“You are the one who pushed the drugs onto him.” Vincenzo bites back.
Bailey hearing enough tries to cut in between the fighting Italians. “Dr. DeLuca--.”
“If he wasn’t drugged up…then he would have been more alert and he wouldn’t have been stabbed.” Vincenzo declares.
“This again! That is insane!” Carina huffs out.
Bailey in shock at what is being said turns to the furious man at the head of the table. “Dr. DeLuca, that is not true.”
“Your brother was fine! He was doing amazing things with his surgeries and his studies!” Vincenzo yells out loudly.
“You need to lower your voice.” Carina says firmly to her father as Maya turns her head slightly towards Ginny’s room. “I will not have you scaring my daughter.”
Vincenzo chuckles sarcastically before waving towards the hallway. “That is your brother’s baby in there…not yours.”
“Hey!” Maya snaps at the comment immediately.
Carina shakes her head and pushes back from the table. “Okay…I’m done.”
“What do you mean you are done?!” Vincenzo asks back.
“You need to leave.” Carina says.
Vincenzo squints his eyes back at his daughter. “You are kicking me out?”
“She will always be Andrea’s but she is also…ours.” Carina says before waving at herself and her fuming wife next to her. “We are her mothers.”
“Dramatic again!” Vincenzo huffs feeling misunderstood. “You knew what I meant!”
Carina still fuming moves to open her mouth again when loud cries coming from the baby’s room can be heard. The whole table goes still for a second until Maya makes a move so Carina can finish dealing with her father.
“I’ll get her.” Maya says to Carina before getting up from the table to go tend to her crying daughter.
Carina sits quietly at the table fuming before finding her voice. “How dare you say that little girl in there is not ours.”
Vincenzo sighs in regret. “I’m sorry Carina…I did not mean that.”
“No…I wanted to see what kind of mental state you are in and now I know.” Carina says to her father before shaking her head. “I don’t want you anywhere near me, my wife, or our daughter.”
“Carina…” Vincenzo tries.
“Get out.” Carina demands.
“You want me to leave…fine.” Vincenzo bites back before shaking his head and holding up his hands in the air. “You want to turn you back on the little family we have left?”
“You are the one who is turning your back to me.” Carina says back.
“I will leave…I will wait for the car in the parking lot.” Vincenzo chirps back bitterly as he throws his napkin on his plate before pushing his chair away from the table. “Like a common bum.”
Miranda looks over to Ben, asking him a question silently and he nods his head. “Yea.”
“We’ll give you a ride back to the hotel Dr. DeLuca.” Bailey tells the man.
Vincenzo stands up from the table and nods his head at the couple. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Ben says as he looks sympathetically at his friend before heading to the door.
“Goodbye Carina.” Vincenzo says as he looks down at the brunette who won’t look him in the eye.
“Have a safe flight back to Italy.” Carina says with all emotion gone.
Vincenzo simply nods his head once more before walking away from the table to get his jacket and hat on his way out of the door. Bailey watches him and Ben leave before turning to Carina who has gone rigid from head to toe.
“Thank you for taking him back to the hotel.” Carina says to Bailey, avoiding eye contact. She can’t bring herself to look at her boss after the dinner she just had to sit through.
Bailey shakes her head stunned. “I’m sorry…that was awful.”
“That was typical…when he is low…his lows hit hard.” Carina says as she stutters out a heard breath.
Bailey tilts her head to the quiet woman at the table. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thank you again for coming.” Carina says as she swallows back threatening tears. “I’m sorry it ended the way it did.”
“You do not need to apologize.” Bailey says back as she walks to the door…placing a comforting hand on Carina’s shoulder as she walks by.
Carina has to fight back the tears at the simple gesture and manages to let out a watery breath when she hears the front door close again…leaving her alone with her thoughts. She sits for a few moments and tries to regulate her breathing when she can hear light footsteps coming towards her and soft sniffling tears. Carina looks up and sees Maya with Ginny in her arms and she immediately stands up.
Maya kisses Ginny’s cheek and whispers in her ear as they walk towards Carina. “There’s Mama.”
“Hi Mimma.” Carina says with a smile as she holds out her hands to her sniffling daughter with her eyes thick with sleepiness and tears. “Come here.”
Maya hands the baby to her wife and when the baby settles into Carina’s arms, Maya reaches over and rubs comforting circles on the baby’s back. “There you go…shhh.”
“It’s okay…you’re okay.” Carina soothes in her daughter’s ear as Ginny nestles in her neck.
Maya studies her wife for a second before tilting her head. “Are you okay?”
Carina simply shakes her head before resting her cheek on top of Ginny’s head and smiling gently. “But this is helping.”
Maya leans over and runs her hand over Carina’s long dark brown hair. “You are the most incredible person I have ever known.”
“Back at ya.” Carina sighs.
“I’m going to get her a bottle.” Maya says as she again rubs a few circles on Ginny’s back before heading to the kitchen.
Carina nods her head. “Sounds good.”
The two brunettes are left alone in the dining room, content in swaying slowly in the later hours of the evening. Carina closes her eyes and takes a sniff of Ginny’s faint strawberry scented baby shampoo. The words her father said start to replay in her mind but are quickly shoved away when Ginny nestles her nose further into her neck.
Carina leans her lips over and places a few small kisses on the side of Ginny’s head, her sniffling tears turning into hiccups. “Shhh…it’s okay.”
Outside the apartment Miranda Bailey walks out of the building entrance and heads down the path where Ben and Vincenzo are waiting for her. She takes her time with every step knowing that if she walks fat to the older Italian gentlemen she just might kick him in the shin. When she finally does arrive to the two men, she attempts to take a breath to calm her heightened emotions.
Vincenzo notices the woman glaring at her and exhales his own breath. “Thank you again for taking me back to the hotel.”
“Ben please go to the car.” Bailey says.
“Yup.” Ben says quickly before making a quick exit towards their car.
Vincenzo lets out a loud breath as he watches the man walk away. “Are you about to lecture me Dr. Bailey?”
“I don’t need to tell you that you were an ass in there…you already know that.” Bailey chirps.
Vincenzo licks his bottom lip and slips his hands into his jacket pockets. “Things got heated.”
“You know…” Bailey drawls as she shakes her head before zeroing in on the man. “I have watched your daughter do amazing things with women and infants…she is incredible at what she does. She sees things that most people in her field miss and she has saved many families for horrible heartbreak.”
“I never said my daughter was not brilliant.” Vincenzo sighs.
Bailey snorts under her breath bitterly. “And what you said about that baby in there not being hers…was hurtful and stupid.”
“I just meant…” Vincenzo says through a long breath.
“Carina and Maya love that little girl and that little girl loves them.” Bailey informs the Italian standing next to her. “And I do hope for your sake that you get to see Carina with Ginny because…that little girl adores her mama.”
“Are you done?” Vincenzo asks not liking the feeling of being attacked.
“No.” Bailey huffs angrily before pointing up towards the building. “Maya Bishop is also an incredible woman and she loves those girls in there with her entire heart...she deserves your respect.”
Vincenzo sighs and touches his forehead with his fingers. “Dr. Bailey….I have nothing against that young woman in there.”
Bailey just nods her head before getting quiet in the moment. “You were right about one thing, though.”
“What was that?” Vincenzo asks.
“Your son idolized Carina…she was his hero.” Bailey says.
“I know.” Vincenzo sighs.
“You lost your son…and I am truly sorry about that.” Bailey says carefully as she touches her chest with her hand….before bringing her hands to her side. “But your daughter…she is still here.”
Vincenzo nods his head slowly. “I know that.”
“And if you lose your daughter now too…you will only have yourself to blame.” Bailey tells the man before motioning him towards the car.