Olive Branches

Chapter 3

It has been a month since Yara's birthday. Job has been good, Bates family is fine and my Nico is growing fast learning new words everyday. And I actually ran into Elijah twice while I was shopping groceries. Today is Thursday and I am picking Nico from daycare. Last weekend we celebrated his first birthday, I even invited Elijah. Nico was really happy.

"Nico baby come on we are going home."

"Momma! Home." He happily said as he walked to me. Yes now he is fully walking. He is so cute. As we enter in the car my phone rings. It's my coworker Marissa. She is in charge for interviews and photoshoots, but I help her out occasionally.

Hi.

Hey Sky, sorry to bother you but there is something with today's interview and photoshoot that is going wrong. Could you go check it?

Well honestly, I have Nico so I don't know...

Please Sky, I know it's my job, but my sister is in hospital and I am taking care of my little nephew. He is only few months old, I really cannot bring him to set.

Okay, yeah I will go. But I will take Nico with me. Hope your sister gets well soon. Bye.

Thanks, I owe you. Bye.

"Nico we are going to mommy's work okay? Be a good boy for me okay?" In response Nico smiled happily for me. Marissa is my good friend also, she even sometimes babysit Nico. 10 minutes later me and Nico arrive at my work and go into photoshoot section. As we enter I hear photographer shouting something along the lines: "No! Do you not know how to model, just stand near the guy!"

So I go to him right away.

"Joseph what is the problem?" I ask with Nico still in my arms. But he is getting heavy so I put him down while holding his hand. I put my finger to my lips indicating him to be quiet.

"This girl doesn't know how to model!"

"Let me see pictures." He showes me pictures of the girl, and boy she really doesn't know how to even stand. Just as he tells me that I should look at photos with male model just then I feel Nico tugging on my arm, but I still hold him tightly, and then Nico starts shouting: "Dadda! dadda!" Oh god I hope he didn't call some stranger that.

But as I turn around I see Elijah who is smiling at me and Nico.

"Nico! Pearl!" He scoops Nico in his arms and- Oh god did he just call me by my middle name?

"Hi Elijah. Sorry for Nico again. What are you doing here?" I ask curiously.

"Hey. Again it doesn't bother me. Oh I am having a photoshoot but the girl can't model to save her life. You?"

He is a male model?

"Well I am Junior editor and my friend asked me for a favor to sort this out. Could you please hold Nico for a minute or two?"

"Gladly Pearl." I don't comment on name, but later I will have a chat with him.

"Okay so girly if you could stand near photographer and I will show you two or three good poses." She scoffs but goes there anyway. Who even hired this girl? I am still in my business attire but I still show her some business poses. And the photographer? He absolutely loves them.

"This, this is modeling!" He shows me a picture

"Okay Joseph, let's not get ahead of ourselves. You girly know how to do it now right? Oh and Joseph do make sure these pictures are deleted." I than turn to Nico and Elijah.

"Elijah thank you again for watching over Nico. Come baby, we are going home." He than goes to me.

"Stop saying thanks, I really like to spend my time with him." I see honesty in his eyes. I again choose to ignore it.

"Okay. Say bye Nico."

"Bye dadda." We wave and turn around to leave.

"Wait Sky! Umm can I get your number? We could grab coffee sometime or go to park with Nico.." He hands me his phone.

"Oh yeah, sounds cool. Okay now I really have to go."

Between the ride backhome Nico falls asleep and my mind wonders to Elijah. He is really kind and impossibly handsome. And Nico likes him too. Having him as a friend won't be bad.

From: Unknown: Elijah here. How about coffee tomorrow Pearl?

I save his contact number and give him a reply.

To:Elijah: Sorry tomorrow I can't. Nico has annual medical checkup. Saturday ?

From: Elijah: Sure, whenever is the best for you. We can first go get coffee and than go to park?

To: Elijah: Sounds good. See you on Saturday.

Before I know it Saturday past and we are just walking in coffee shop. Nico in Elijah's arms as he was really happy when he saw him. We take a booth and order our coffees.

"So how was check-up?" Elijah asked me. He actually surprised me with question.

"Everything was great. Although there was this intern, who was annoying honestly. She keep asking me questions and couldn't understand why his birth certificate has only my part filled. Eventually the doctor told her it is not her business and she shut up."

"That is not really nice of her. If you don't mind asking, why really is blank?"

I see then whenever I talk with him, he really listens and is participating in our conversation.

"Well when I told Jake, he and I signed a contract that he gives up every rights and doesn't want a baby to even know about him. I of course agreed since I didn't want my baby to be in toxic environment. Therefore I left birth certificate blank at fathers part."

"I completely understand. Skylar you do know that if you need something, anything you can always call me right?"

"Thanks."

We than proceed with small talk, getting to know each other. Nico was asleep most of the time in his stroller. When he woke up, we decided to go to park, so we asked waitress for bill. Waitress was an older lady.

"This will be 9,90$." She said. I tried pulled my wallet out. Key word tried.

"Don't even think about me letting you pay Skylar." Elijah said.

"But- ." I was speechless again. I am not used to depend on anyone at least during this two years.

"You should just let your husband pay dear. I don't know why you split money. Oh You two have a lovely child." What is it with people leaving me speechless today! Well Elijah certainly wasn't.

"Thank you. You should listen to her Pearl." He paid the bill and than turn to Nico.

"Let's go Nico, we are going to park." By now waitress was gone and I was out of my daze.

"Why didn't you correct her Elijah?"

"Honestly, I didn't want to. I like you Pearl. I have since the day we ran into each other in toy store."

What? Why? Who would want a girl with a child? I asked myself in my head but I heard my voice so I think I projected my thoughts out loud.