Chapter 7 Octavia
Seven
Octavia
I loved the guesthouse.
It was about the size of a studio apartment and had just enough space for me.
When I first saw it, it reminded me of one of those tiny homes on HGTV. I’d always wanted to stay in a tiny home, so I fell in love at first sight.
The exterior was made of stucco, with dark-green shutters. Two windows on the face of the house revealed the front lawn and a distant view of Javier’s whopper of a home. A three-step stoop led to a small porch that paved the way to a dark-green door.
The interior was what sold me. I didn’t expect there to be two levels inside the guesthouse, so the first thing to catch my eye was the loft area on the second floor, where a full-size bed was set up, along with a mounted TV and a dresser.
A round window was built into the wall next to the bed, providing a view of leafy treetops.
On the first floor, the kitchen had a sink, a fridge, an oven, and a row of cabinets for storage. A black love seat was placed against the windowless wall, and a beautiful rug matching the black, sienna, and beige color scheme was spread on the middle of the floor.
The two-person dining table was set up in front of one of the windows, with a perfect view of the lawn. I sipped so many cups of coffee there. This place had a cozy, industrial vibe, and I loved it.
Apparently, Javier’s mother had decorated the place when he first moved in. The guesthouse was meant for her, but she realized quickly that she didn’t like being alone, so it kind of just sat for years.
I’d never had a real place of my own. I think that was why I cherished it so much. If I wasn’t staying with Mama, I was living with whichever kid I nannied.
I’d spent a few months in an apartment with my high school bestie, Naomi, when I was twenty-two, but that didn’t last long because Naomi’s job let her go and she couldn’t afford to pay rent anymore, which resulted in me not being able to afford the full amount of rent and us having to break our lease and move out.
Now I had a place—at least for now—and it was marvelous.
I thought about all those things as I sat at the table, sipping my coffee and watching the sun rise. We were coming close to summer, which meant Javier would be home more since this basketball season would be over.
I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that yet—him being home more, that is. I felt like I finally had a good routine with Aleesa, but with him hovering around, things would definitely shift.
But that was okay.
I was good at adapting.
It was coming close to six in the morning, so I finished my coffee, washed the cup, then left the guesthouse to walk across the yard. Normally, I could sleep in another hour or so when Javier was home, but figured I would get a head start on the day.
Once I reached the back door, I took out my key and unlocked it to get inside. I flipped on the light switch to illuminate the kitchen and sighed.
I was in such a funky mood the day prior, but I didn’t feel so awful anymore. Javier had apologized, and I truly appreciated that. Most people weren’t mature enough to own up to their mistakes, but he had.
To show my appreciation, I whipped up some French toast, eggs, and bacon. I was just about to cut some fruit when I heard a high-pitched voice yell “Tava!”
“Right on time.” I laughed to myself as I dried off my hands and hurried up the stairs.
Aleesa was in her bathroom, sitting on the toilet, a big grin on her face. “I’m done pooping.”
“Good morning to you, too, little one.” I helped her get situated, then we went to her bedroom to find an outfit for the day.
I let her pick out a shirt, found some cute polka-dot leggings and socks, gave her a quick bath, got her dressed, and then worked on her hair. As I brushed it into two pigtails, I noticed a looming silhouette in my periphery.
I gasped and paused, only to realize it was Javier.
“I could have gotten her,” he said, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
“Oh, I got it. Don’t worry.” I forced a smile to calm my racing heart. “You were sleeping. Looks like you could use a little more of it.”
He walked into the bathroom and bent over to place a kiss on Aleesa’s cheek. “I will be okay.”
I side-eyed his reflection in the mirror, finishing up Aleesa’s hair. “I made breakfast.”
“Yes. I could smell it in my dreams.”
I laughed.
“Come on, amor.” He said something else in Spanish to Aleesa before scooping her up and carrying her out of the bathroom. He began making playful growling noises as he nuzzled her cheek and nibbled at her nose.
“Scratchy Daddy!” Aleesa squealed.
“?Sí?” he asked, looking into her eyes with a lazy smile.
“Sí.” She giggled, running her hands over his shadow of a beard.
“Okay, okay. No more of scratchy Daddy.”
I couldn’t help smiling at their interaction.
I followed him downstairs, and once I made it to the kitchen, I reheated the food before plating it.
“You know I am capable of preparing my own food, right?” he asked in a light tone.
“I know. But I don’t mind.” I really didn’t. It made me feel good to feed others. To know they enjoyed the food I made. Especially him. I placed his plate down on the table in front of him. “Apple or orange juice?”
“There are options?” he asked, and he was so serious that it was kind of cute. Almost like he never had the chance to choose between things as simple as juice flavors in his own home.
“I like having a variety,” I told him.
“Apple, then, please.”
I poured him a cup of apple juice, filled a small cup for Aleesa, and worked on the fruit again. Aleesa loved fruit.
Javier dug right into his French toast, taking massive bites. Aleesa kicked her feet as she nibbled on a slice of kiwi. I made a plate for myself before sitting in the chair next to Aleesa’s and right across from Javier.
“So for the party,” I started, cutting into my syrupy bread. “What theme are you thinking?”
“Oh—right,” he garbled around a mouthful of eggs. He chewed a bit before swallowing. “I asked her a few days ago what she would want, and she told me ‘mermaids.’”
I nodded. “That will be really pretty.”
Aleesa watched the live-action trailer for The Little Mermaid almost every day.
I knew the melodies and every word of them by heart now.
How could anyone not sing along with an angelic voice like Halle Bailey’s?
It was going to be a delight to take her to a movie theater and watch the actual film.
I could already imagine the stars in her eyes as she gazed at the big screen, hands clasped together, eager for it all.
“Yes. It will be good.” He picked up his glass of apple juice. “My mother is working on invitations, and I am looking into a party planner right now, since it is a little over a month away. I wanted to speak to you about it because I may need more help than usual with Aleesa so that I can prepare.”
“I’ll be here to assist,” I assured him.
He seemed almost relieved to hear that. “Okay. Good.”
“But you know you don’t have to hire a party planner, right?” I eyed him as he guzzled down some juice. “I love planning parties, especially for kids.”
“No, Octavia. Absolutely not. That would be asking way too much of you.” He sliced a hand through the air, as if that were final. “Handling Aleesa is a lot already.”
“Aleesa is an angel. I don’t mind at all. Really. Just tell me all the things you want, and I can figure it out.”
“No. I could not put you through that.”
“Javier.” My eyes locked on his. “If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t have offered my help.”
He sighed, training those dark-brown irises on mine for several seconds. “Fine. Okay.”
“Yay!” I did a tiny clap with my fingertips.
“Well, if we are doing mermaids, I was hoping to have an undersea theme. I would like there to be activities to keep the kids busy, and to have food catered. I would also like there to be a few games.”
“That all sounds doable.”
“And of course I would give you the money to arrange all of this.” He raised a hand, as if to pause the entire situation and make that abundantly clear. “You would not have to come out of pocket for a single thing.”
I fought a smile. “Okay.”
“You can use the credit card I gave you for whatever is needed.”
I blinked, a little surprised by that. “Are you sure?” The most he ever let me use the credit card for was groceries, gas, and miscellaneous needs for Aleesa. Each month had a budget, and he had made it very clear when I first started that he did not want me going over it.
“Yes.”
“Um . . . okay. Sounds good. What’s my budget for the party?”
“There is no budget,” he answered with finality. “Just make it a wonderful day for her.”
Holy shit.
“What?” Javier’s shoulders slumped. “Your eyes are very big. Do you think that I should have a budget?”
“I can’t tell you what to do with your money, but I will tell you that you don’t have to break the bank to throw an enjoyable birthday party.
Sometimes the simpler things are, the better.
Kids don’t care as long as they’re having fun.
And, like you said, I seem like the type to have fun. Let me put that quality to good use.”
He cracked a smile. I was proud of myself for getting that out of him, even if it didn’t fully spread across his face.
“Okay, sure. I will trust you with this.” He studied me briefly, as if seeing me for the first time. “Thank you, Octavia.”
“Of course. We have to make sure our girl has the best day ever, right?” I squeezed Aleesa’s chin, and she scrunched her nose and laughed.
She was such a happy child. It surprised me sometimes how completely opposite she was to her father.
It made me wonder how her mother was. Was she just as bright and bubbly? Was she sweet? Did she love to cook? Dance? Sew? Sing?
There were pictures of her in the foyer and in Aleesa’s bedroom. She was a gorgeous woman, and in all of them, she seemed happy.
But I of all people know smiles can be misleading.
Javier placed his fork down with a light clatter, then yawned. His plate was clean—hardly a scrap left.
“You should go lie back down and get some more sleep,” I suggested. “At least another hour or so.”
“I should be up for Aleesa. She will not see me tomorrow.”
“Another hour won’t hurt.” I winked.
He looked deep into my eyes. “You make me feel useless, you know?” He said this in a semi-playful tone. He was teasing . . . and it was the dryest tease I’d ever heard, I kid you not. Did this man even know how to make a joke?
“I’m just here to help. Now go.” I grabbed his plate. “I’ve got this.”
He pressed his lips, slowly rising to a stand. Swinging his gaze to Aleesa, he sighed and blinked a few times. Then he walked over and kissed the top of her head.
“By the way, I don’t think you should call yourself useless,” I said before he left the kitchen.
He paused and gazed over his shoulder at me.
“Having a helping hand doesn’t make you useless.
It makes you smart. We’re only human, Javier.
No one is expecting you to be perfect.” I pointed at Aleesa just as she leaned down and stuck her tongue out to lick syrup off her plate like she was a puppy.
“Especially not her. As long as she knows you’re there for her, she’ll be happy no matter what. I know I was when my dad was around.”
He stood there for a beat, seeming to process my words.
Then he nodded, held my gaze for a split second, and left the kitchen.
A hot wave ran over me.
There was something in his eyes right before he walked away. Something about the way he looked at me made me feel warm and a little fuzzy inside.
After cleaning the table and giving Aleesa a puzzle to do at her kid-size Hello Kitty table, I realized what it was that I saw.
Appreciation.
That was genuine appreciation.
Now we were getting somewhere.