❤️

Dedicated to Nancy for being my first supporter❤️

"I'm going to miss you so much, Sampson. You're the best boss, which pretty much means anyone who replaces you is going to suck."

I made a loud and dramatic sigh. He chuckled and ruffled my hair.

He went back to cutting the cake I bought for his retirement/going away party.

It wasn't really a party though. It was just me whining about Sampson leaving, and the restaurant staff eating some cake.

There wasn't even music or dancing.

At least I was able to convince everyone to chip in for a going-away present. We bought him a new wallet. It was pretty lame because no one helped me decide on the gift. So, I panicked and got a wallet.

He pretended to love the wallet as if it was made of golden thread though and hugged me tight enough to bust a lung.

I smiled at that. He was the sweetest man I knew.

"Yeah right! Only you feel that way sweetheart, everyone else here is ecstatic to see me retiring. You're the only one who feels different because I have always had a soft spot for you. I never let any of these bozos get away with anything like I did with you."

His smile was full of fondness. I blushed at that. Sampson did always let me off the hook for things that would have gotten the busboys and cooks fired.

Maybe it was because I was the only girl working in the tiny restaurant.

There was only one waitress needed in a restaurant with five tables total. The cooks were all cranky older men who spoke in Italian most of the time.

Like that one time, I punched a customer who smacked my ass. He had it coming!

Sampson threw him out, but lightly scolded me to not go around punching any more customers.

He told me to tell him and let him bring them to the back alley and teach them how to be respectful.

Sampson treated me like a daughter, which felt right since he was like a father to me in my mind.

"No, that's not true. They are going to miss you too- not as much as I will though, so don't leave. And I don't know what you're talking about...I was always a perfect employee" I punctuated my plea with a lopsided grin and puppy dog eyes.

He cracked a laugh.

"You know it's time for me to retire sweetpea. I'm too old for this now. Plus, Ester wants to go somewhere warmer than New York. I can't say no to the wifey, she's the boss."

I tried to smile but a frown etched across my face instead. I didn't want Sampson to leave.

He was like the father I never had, going in and out of foster care growing up.

He was my only constant parental figure in my life.

My parents died in a fatal car crash when I was much younger, around three years old.

No one was around to take care of me, so I was thrown into the foster system until I turned 18.

I've been working in "Della Nonna" under Sampson since I was a freshman in high school.

He hired me after their last waitress went away for college and it's been six years since.

Sampson always had a soft spot for me. He treated me more like family than an employee.

He and Ester would let me come over to their house after work, and she would help me with my schoolwork. She used to be a college professor.

I loved going to their apartment after work, and I loved eating dinner at their house even more.

The foster families never minded that I came home later.

Probably because it was one less mouth to feed.

So, I spent most of my evenings in Sampson's apartment when I was in high school. I slept on their couch most nights.

They had a tiny apartment in Brooklyn a few blocks away from Della Nonna.

The two of them probably would have adopted me if they had enough room to pass the credentials for adoption. But they only had one bedroom and were too elderly to adopt a kid.

I wouldn't want to put that on them anyway.

I wasn't a charity case, not that they treated me like one.

Ever since I started college and had to be in Manhattan for half of the week, I went to their apartment less and stayed in my dorm studying most nights.

I wanted to hang out with them more, but I had morning classes in another borough which was a much longer trip than from my dorm.

I just turned 20 last month and Sampson was 73 years old now. I was the one who told him he should retire and enjoy himself so that he can relax.

Ester wanted to go somewhere warmer than New York, so they were moving to Puerto Rico by the end of this month.

I just wish he wasn't going so far.

I study at NYU in Manhattan, majoring in English literature to become a teacher. I have been volunteering at the library close to my dorm since I started at NYU.

The dorm is a tiny, messy little space, but it is manageable since I don't have a roommate.

But, with the restaurant, my studies, and volunteer work, my plate was way too full. I haven't been to their apartment for dinner or even hang out in a few years now.

I guess they sensed that I have grown more independent.

I wondered if that is why they didn't leave sooner. If they were waiting for me to be grown up enough to take care of myself completely.

The thought made me feel guilty like I was holding them back from retirement this whole time.

"So, who is the new manager anyway?" I asked nervously. I didn't bother asking him sooner. That made it too real. To accept that he was actually leaving.

"His name is Rob. One of Ester's friend's husbands. I met him a few times and he seemed nice. I hired him as a favor but he is more than qualified, so I think he'll be just fine. Not as good as me though," he winked.

I giggled and rolled my eyes at him.

"Fine, fine. Whatever you say," I shrugged off my anxiety. A new manager, yikes this could go really well...or really bad.

"Speaking of my Ester, she just texted me, she's out front to pick me up. We have our flight in the morning to start moving our stuff into the villa."

The reality that he was leaving depressed me beyond words. But I wouldn't let him see it. I smiled softly at him. It was the best I could come up with, without blubbering like a mess in a few seconds.

"I'll walk you outside. I want to say bye to Ester too." My words were close to a numb mumble.

"It's not goodbye sweet pea. You know that right? You can come to visit as soon as your semester ends. And we are going to come back to visit you too. I promise it won't be too bad. You can come and stay at the villa whenever you want. It has a room I made just for you. I even painted it bright turquoise already, your favorite color."

That made my tears start flowing freely.

Damnit, Sampson!

Not sad tears, though.

Happy tears, because he and Ester made me feel so loved, so wanted. I loved them so much.

"I love you, Sampson. You're like the father I always wished for. You and Ester deserve the best. I'll see you for Christmas?"

"Of course, sweet pea. You really are like a daughter to Ester and me. I love you too. And you bet your ass I'll see you for Christmas. You better book that flight for as soon as your semester ends. I'm going to miss you too much. Stay as long as you can, and I'll talk to Rob to make sure he doesn't give you any issues taking off."

I smiled at him. Ester kissed me hello and I hugged them both tightly, not wanting to let them go.

Then I walked back inside to start cleaning up the cake plates while I wondered about Sampson's replacement. I could only hope this 'Rob' guy would be pleasant. Or maybe just not a total asshole.

But if Sampson chose him, then he must be pretty great.