Chapter 17: (Ch. 17) Sebastian Rojas

Lila had tried calling Jane when Alex went to grab the juice, unfortunately she did not pick up.

She sent her a text message asking to meet with her the next morning at her house for a private conversation. She waited, hoping a text would have garnered a faster response but it was not so.

Alex returned within minutes with juice in hand.

Lila began the drive back to Eric's home. "So have you thought about what you're going to do with..." She let the sentence trail off.

He remained silent for a moment. "Not really. I thought I would speak to Jane first."

As if on cue, her car alerted her a text message had been received from Jane.

Lila was determined to listen to the message after she'd dropped Alex off, but he hit play immediately on his own volition.

"I have something to do tomorrow morning. I'll meet you for a quick coffee at Bubba's Coffee Shop on Main Street. See you at nine."

Alex quickly spoke, "Great, Eric and I will meet you there."

"No!" She blurted, immediately realizing it was not her place to deliver the news to Jane. She sighed. "Let me convince her to meet you somewhere first so you can break the news to her."

Alex stayed quiet.

"Alex, I don't want to be in the middle of this, I never wanted to, yet you and your brother keep pulling me back in." She focused on the road. "Please, let me do this my way."

Alex clutched the orange juice carton in his hand without saying anything.

Within minutes she pulled up in front of Eric's home. Alex quickly exited the vehicle, she rolled down the window halting him with her words. "Hey, don't forget your bucket."

He turned, she handed him the bucket through the open window.

****

The following morning was chilly with a slight nip in the air. The cold weather of the season was beginning to unravel, making her crave a bit of nostalgia. She showed up at Bubba's ten-minutes early wearing black jeans, a white tank top and a black knit sweater, left unbuttoned at the front. Instead of ordering a coffee drink this morning, she was looking forward to having their hot chocolate with marshmallows. Bubba's made it just like her dad used to with a brown sugar and cinnamon tea base, and a thick marshmallow layer.

She sent a quick message to Jane asking what she wanted so it would be ready by the time she arrived, she dropped the phone the pocket of her sweater.

"I'm sorry miss," the dark-haired man in front of her holding an infant in his arms spoke.

"Yes?" Lila pressed.

"I hate to bother you with this but I just realized my wallet is in the baby bag-"

"Sure, I'll pay for your order," she reached into the other pocket, ready to pull out a debit card.

He laughed. "Actually, I was wondering if you could hold my baby while I pull out the wallet."

She laughed. "Won't it be easier if I just pay?"

Without another word, the man placed the small body in her arms. Instinctively, she cradled the baby's head in the nook of her arm, supporting the little one's body with the other.

Lila gasped at the feeling this little body in her arms provoked. Seeing the little chubby cheek, the slightly parted lips and the cutest button nose.

The sleeping baby sighed.

She felt a pull in her heart.

"Oh my God," she whispered, staring at the little child with wonder. "This is the most amazing feeling."

"You don't have any offspring?" The man asked as he paid.

Lila shook her head. "No," she whispered as she began rocking the baby.

"You're a natural," he complimented.

Lila smiled at his words with tears brimming her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.

Seeing that it was her turn to order, she asked for a medium sized hot chocolate. She was about to hand the baby back to the father, but he was quick to pay for her order.

"Would you mind holding on to the baby a little longer?" He asked.

She raised a brow unsure of what timeframe he was thinking, thankfully he clarified. "I'm going to bring the stroller from the car," he pointed to a blue SUV in front of the coffee shop.

She nodded. "Go ahead," she turned back to the baby with a tender smile. "We'll be right here."

Lila moved out of the line, heading to the opposite end of the counter where drinks were picked up.

"Lila," she heard a now familiar voice behind her.

She turned, finding Eric staring at her. He wore a red and black paid long-sleeved flannel shirt and blue jeans. He stared at the child in her arms, pushing his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"What are you doing here?" She was confused.

Eric pointed to the corner, where she saw Alex staring at the two of them. "Alex said we were going to me you and Jane here." He turned to the baby on her arms. "Who's this?" He asked with a smile.

She turned back to the child who was now stirring in her arms. She began rocking again, "Shhh, shhh, shhh." She whispered to the baby, who settled back in her arms peacefully.

"That's Matthew," the baby's dad called from behind them, rolling a stroller. He smiled at the baby as he grabbed the infant from Lila's arms and carefully placed him in the stroller.

"And that's Matthew's daddy," Lila said as she locked her gaze on the baby.

"Troy," she heard him say.

"Troy, nice to meet you," she said. "That's Eric, and I'm Lila."

"Lila," a new voice called from near the group. All three sets of eyes looked at the new face. "I'm Sebastian Rojas. Jane told me to meet you here."