The Unexpected Gift

Chapter 4

He wasn't sure why he'd agreed to this dinner. He supposed it was because he'd been told you were going and he wanted a chance to see you but if he'd known Jason would be there, he'd have never agreed.

The two of you were sickly sweet together. He doted over you and you over him, sharing chaste kisses and glances as Steve and Connie beamed about all the latest shenanigans of Olivia and María. You paid special attention to his daughter which at first, he had loved, but as Jason got involved he loved it less so.

Connie could see how uncomfortable Javier was with the situation and she knew right then and there that the agent was smitten with you and you... were completely and utterly oblivious to it. She wondered if she should tell you.

Would you want to know? Would it make a difference if you did?

As she watched you and Jason together, she could see that you were happy, content but she also saw the glances you threw at Javier when he wasn't looking. She could see how you both pined over each other but neither one of you knew how the other felt. You would be good for him, good for María but she worried if Javier would be able to commit to you.

He wasn't known for that.

She decided that if the two of you were meant to be, you'd end up coming together on your own. It wasn't down to her to play matchmaker.

"She's really beautiful Peña." Gushed Jason as he looked up from María to the agent across from him.

"Thank you." Javi replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he watched you with her.

You were bouncing the infant on your knee as he giggled and danced, delighted by the faces you pulled at her. You were a natural with her. Your mothering instinct came out every time you were with her and he yearned to see you with her more but alas, that wasn't to be. You'd been with Joel around three months now and had only seen him and María in passing. You'd missed so much. She was crawling all over the place and now, she was pulling herself up and standing whenever she could.

At ten months old now, she was staring down the barrel of turning one. It was something that Javier had not been prepared for at first but, as it edged ever closer, he found he was looking forward to it a little more.

"So have you decided if you're going to have a party for María?" Connie asked as she cleaned up Olivia, who'd managed to paint herself with tomato sauce.

"I don't know." Javier shrugged "Not like she'll remember it."

"We threw a party for Liv." Steve argued and Javier nodded "Yeah... true. I dunno. I'll think about it."

"You could throw it here. At least she'd have Olivia to play with and we can all enjoy a drink. Celebrate Javier keeping a baby alive." Connie teased, winking at him as he gave her the finger.

"You should do something." You piped up, your voice a little small as you looked over at the older agent "I know I would've if I'd had the chance."

The statement you made stung Javier more than he'd expected. With how little he'd seen of you lately, it had slipped his mind that you'd never gotten the chance to celebrate that milestone with your family.

"Okay." He answered simply after a few moments "We'll throw her a little party."

"Here that, Preciosa?" You whispered against her ear "Papi's going to throw you a party."

María started to clap and screech and the five of you chuckled at that. A comfortable silence fell over you all as you focused on the little ones around the table for a while but when María started to rub her eyes, Javier knew it was time to leave.