Reunion

Her eyes flashed 

"Are you making fun of me?"

Max touched his chest "I couldn't, cross my heart"

The watch refracting light "May I come in?"

   She swallowed, letting her ex into her house wasn't exactly what she had in mind. Mia was asleep, as long as she stayed that way.

    He walked in when she pulled the door open, scanning the small living room, the rose wallpapers covered all except for a portion where the white paint yellowed, the chairs were lower than he expected, settling for a stool. There was an outlet that was out of place with wires exposed, he sat up.

"Did you actually leave that open on purpose?"

   Stella noticed how overwhelming his presence was, the room seemed to be smaller than it actually was, aware of him, aware of Mia in the other room, drawing her breath 

"I was actually expecting the electrician but it seems he's running late" she lied.

The news was on, his eyes strayed to the pink napkin hanging on the chair. Stella took it 

"Sit down, Sirena"

"Don't call me that" she said blankly.

He grinned, deep down he was dying to see the baby, what sex it was, what it looked like, who it looked like?.

Stella's hands curled on her thighs

"Can I get you anything? Water?"

"I'd appreciate a cup of coffee" He said.

She nodded and went to the kitchen, her hands shook as she poured the beans into the coffee machine.

"Ok, relax, Stella" she spoke to herself calmly. Panic set in when Mia started to cry.

She practically outran Max carrying her. Max's eyes rested on the baby she was carrying.

What a head of hair! He thought gaping at her.

"Shh, it's okay" bouncing her, eyeing him.

"Whose baby is that?" He teased.

"It's the neighbours"

"They're seniors Sirena"

"The other neighbours"

"They're home" he said drily, she passed him a suspicious look 

"Have you been going around asking about me?"

"Of course, it's the only way I could reach out to you"

   He moved closer to take a good look at it, it was a girl, her eyes opened it struck him that they were similar to his eyes. Hazel. And her chin, that hair.

"Can I hold her?"

"No"

"Why not?"

"You just returned from a trip, I think it would be unsanitary if I let you have her"

"I assure you that trip was yesterday, I'm perfectly_"

The smoker alarm went off "Oh no, I left the coffee machine on"

  He ran to the small kitchen, the coffee spilled on the floor "Shit!" the machine heated and smoke set the alarm off. He pulled the plug and stared down at the spillage.

 Stella hauled in a bucket with a mop 

"You left her alone out there?, stay with her, I'll get this mess cleaned up" He said.

"It's my kitchen_"

He said something in Spanish sharply that made her stiffen and she left begrudgingly.

She rubbed Mia's side and looked down at her, Max dumped the coffee machine in the dumpster and deactivated that annoying alarm.

"That coffee machine's long gone" he said wiping his hands with a napkin. Actually upset, he hadn't had a cup in days...

"What were you thinking?" He asked 

"My ex's here in Missouri, how was I supposed to think?"

"None of this would've happened if you had just let me_"

She held Mia protectively 

"No"

He sighed "Is she mine?"

It was funny how she would rather let her house burn than let him see and acknowledge his living, breathing daughter.

"No, no she's not" She retorted.

He cursed rapidly in Spanish, she actually caught on to that phrase. "Then who's is it?"

She fell silent.

"What's his name? No?" He clapped "Then I would like a DNA test"

***

       Stella waved the taxi to a halt, the cab driver loaded the booth with her things and she was left to carry the baby kit in the back seat. 

 She had to get away at least for a while. A DNA test? She definitely wasn't waiting around for that to happen!!! Holding on to Mia, the cab started to move, she sighed looking back at the house.

...

Max drove downtown to where she lived, knocking_ no answer, the lights were off, the curtains down, the windows were shut.

It's a good time for you to wake up Sirena, He thought. Looking in at the opening in the curtains, her property were still inside. 

An old lady, one of the seniors he met came outside holding the garbage

"Who the hell are you?" She asked with a scowl, obviously the neighbours looked out for each other and he wasn't so surprised she forgot him already.

"Mr Martinez, abuela" grandmother

Her smile returned "Max, how are you?"

She started to ask questions that had long been answered years ago, he didn't blame her, there was no information she could offer him now.

 "I'm great, just great" he muttered dialling her phone number, stunned the line went dead. The house was actually deserted, just as he feared. She was making a run for it.

He said goodbye to Madam Ellis and drove away in his Bentley.

    Stella settled down on the bed, the room was just about the size of her living room with little walking space given the hefty wardrobe and the big bed, a little window showing the parking lot. Just about the only room she could afford...for a few nights.

  Looking back, Mia was asleep in her pink footies on a nice soft nest of  blankets, she cried in the cab and got stares from the driver. Glad that ride was over.

She didn't know if this was a comfortable environment for Mia. Turning on the ceiling fan, it started with a creak and then rotated till the room was airy.

  Reaching for the telephone, she punched in the numbers, glancing behind her at Mia like she was going to wake up any minute 

A woman's voice emerged "Room service, how may I help you?"

"I'd like a BLT sandwich...and some Aspirin. Thank you"

She forgot to have breakfast this morning and her stomach clenched

"I'll be down in a minute"

Her phone vibrated 

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶?

  She scoffed at the text, recognizing his number. 17 missed calls. 5 voicemails and they were all in Spanish. He seemed very upset, she understood a huge deal of Spanish but never spoke it_ from him scolding and forgetting he spoke English. Although it wasn't his first language, his accent was without flaw.

   There was a light knock on the door, she took the tray with the disposable plastic plate, glass of water and a few pills of Aspirin in a small container.

"Thank you"

The staff nodded and left.

 Max dialled her number, she picked it up 

"Why weren't you picking my calls?"

"I was busy and not close to my phone right now"

"You're lying to me Sirena" he said outright at her.

"You don't know that"

"I know you" His eyes dropped on the monitor of his small office at his apartment. There was a long pause

"Don't ever call me again" Her voice curt and firm. The line went dead again.