My New Baby

Chapter 10.

It's been a week since Hayden came home. So far he's had two doctors appointments, and both appointments were a success. He's a really healthy baby, considering he was pre mature.

Mom life has been very different for me. I've never even taken care of a baby, so I'm always looking up things on Google, and Youtube. Being a Mom is harder than it looks, and tiring as well. I find myself drinking about three cups of coffee, or more a day. I barely get any sleep, and when Hayden is asleep I need to be cleaning or doing something else. If being a Mom is hard enough right now, I can't imagine how life will be once I start work again.

It was around noon, and Hayden was taking a nap. I was about to start preparing my second cup of coffee, when I heard the doorbell ring. My first thought was that maybe Isiah forgot his key, but he couldn't of because he was at work right now.

I walked over to the door, and opened it. I was very startled to see Eric standing at the door holding a bag, and he seemed kind of awkward just standing there. "Am I interrupting anything?" Eric questioned. I quickly shook my head at him.

Eric and I haven't talked since he drove me to the hospital. He gave me two weeks off, so I haven't been to work lately. It was kind of weird, and such a surprise seeing him standing at my front door. "No, not at all. Do you want to come in?" I asked him.

Ever since I had that talk with Isiah, I knew I had to try hard and leave behind that hatred I had for him. Right now that I'm seeing Eric though, the hatred seemed to have already been gone. His kind gestures, really did warm up my heart.

"Sure," he simply answered. I moved to the side, so Eric could come in. Before he fully went in, he turned around and handed me the bag. "Some diapers, wipes, and more formula. I didn't know if he needed clothes or anything, so I just went with the essentials," Eric explained.

I took the bag from him, and I was at a loss for words. Isiah hasn't even helped me with the expenses on Hayden, and this guy already bought him a car seat and essential baby things. "Thank you," was all I was able to say. Usually I would of just handed him these things back, and told him I didn't need help, but I do need help. Financially I'm going to be struggling with the rent, phone bill, and Hayden.

"Have a seat on the couch. Do you want coffee?" I offered Eric. Eric made his way to the couch and sat down.

"I don't know, is your home made coffee as good as the one you make at Java Beans?" Eric questioned with a smirk.

I know he was trying to tease me, and I wasn't going to let that get to me. If he's comfortable enough to play around with me that way, then why shouldn't I do the same.

"How would you know if the coffee I make at Java Beans is good? I refused to make you a cup," I reminded him.

Eric smiled, and I slowly felt my cheeks burn. I never noticed how beautiful Eric's smile is, but I quickly shook that thought out. I looked away, hoping Eric wouldn't notice my cheeks. "I'll take a cup of coffee, I bet your coffee is better than Java Beans."

My cheeks felt like they were glowing by this time, so I avoided looking at him. I'll just prepare our coffees, by then my cheeks should be back to normal.

I poured coffee in two separate mugs, and added hazlenut coffee creamer. The coffee itself had a cinnamon taste to it, and the coffee creamer would make the two flavors balance out nicely. I walked over to Eric on the couch, and handed him a cup. I took a seat next to him, and I immediately started to feel a bit nervous.

I quickly shook off the feelings I was getting, and just smiled at Eric. "Thank you so much for the car seat and stroller, and for the bag of things you brought me today." Eric looked a little taken back.

"Isiah told you about the stroller and car seat?" He questioned. I couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah, he's my best friend. We tell each other everything," I explained.

Slowly Eric smiled back, and he looked a bit embarrassed too. "Did he tell you anything else?" He questioned.

I started to remember Isiah telling me about Eric caring, and how he always asks about me. I didn't want to embarrass Eric, or make this anymore awkward, so I just shook my head. "No, that was it. Eric, I wanted to apologize to you if I was in any way rude. I just had a hard time accepting that maybe you are changed, and you're not going to humiliate me like you use to." As I was apologizing to Eric, I noticed what looked like guilt all over his face.

"You shouldn't be the one to apologize, I'm the one that should be telling you sorry. Look Aaliyah, there's something I should probably tell you."

Before Eric could say another word, we both heard a crying baby. Hayden must of woken up from his nap. "Excuse me, I think he's probably hungry." I placed my mug on the ground, and stood up from the couch.

I walked into Hayden's room, but before I picked him up I quickly made him a bottle. I warmed up the bottle in this special bottle warmer, Grace bought it for when she had to pump breast milk.

Once the bottle was made I picked up Hayden, and the little baby quickly started looking for the bottle with his lips. I smiled at Hayden, and I couldn't help but think how beautifully cute that was.

I walked Hayden out of the room, and I notice Eric's expression. It's the first time Eric see's Hayden, and he looked a little shocked as if he was finally confirming that Hayden was real. I took a seat next to Eric, and Eric quickly put his mug of coffee down on the ground. "Do you mind if I hold him to feed him?" Eric asked.

I would of been hesitant, if I didn't have that conversation with Isiah. After talking to Eric today though, maybe we can learn to be friends. "Sure, just be careful," I requested from him. Eric nodded.

I carefully handed Hayden to Eric, but it seemed like he knew exactly what he was doing. "Have you had a baby before, or what?" I asked him. Eric looked at me and nodded.

"Yeah, when my parents adopted my youngest sister, Isabella," he answered.

I was a little taken back when he said adopted, but I tried not to show my emotion to it. "Your parents adopted a baby, was she the only one?" I questioned. I didn't want to sound rude or anything, but I didn't know what else to say.

"Not exactly, we're all adopted," Eric tried to explain. I bit my lip, not wanting to say anything stupid, but I wanted to know more.

"All as in you too?" I simply asked. I saw how Eric smiled, he probably noticed I was walking around egg shells with him.

"All as in me too. Did you ever wonder why I moved away when we were younger?" I shook my head at his question. "Well the only reason I was there was because I was at a foster home, and I moved away because my parents adopted me."

I didn't know what to say, I had no idea Eric was adopted. "Wow, I didn't know. I'm sorry-" Eric cut me off.

"I don't want you to think any different of me, I am who I am because of my past. I didn't know what an actual family was until I met my parents. They took me in kindly, just like they did with my siblings. Trust me, being adopted is hard but at the same time with great support, I usually even forget." Eric smiled at me, and I couldn't help but do the same.

"I hope Hayden feels the same when he grows up. I know hes going to ask about Grace, and his dead beat dad, but I hope I'm enough for him." The thought hurt, knowing he would never meet Grace, or his Dad.

Eric put down Hayden's bottle, and with that free hand he placed it under my chin. He brought my chin up so I can look at him, and immediately my face started to burn. "You're going to be an amazing Mom, and this baby will know it. I'll be here to help you both through everything."

Every word Eric spoke, my face burned a little more. He slowly let my chin drop, and I quickly wanted to hide my face. "I should grab Hayden from you, he probably needs a diaper change," I said. That was just an excuse, I just wanted to hide and calm down.

Once I had changed Hayden, Eric was standing in the living room. "I better go, I told my Dad I would check in on David training Isiah. Don't forget tomorrow to come in at one, that's when we'll start our training," Eric said smiling.

"I won't, I'll see you tomorrow then. Thank you for the things for Hayden," I said once again. Eric smiled and gave me a nod. Just like that, Eric left, and I was left with a weird feeling I didn't have before.