The realization that she might have given her number to the devil is slowly dawning on her. It started that night when they got home from Vegas. The 30 minute drive from the airport to her house earned her 10 unchecked texts from him.
9:30 pm: Just wanting to make sure you gave me the right number.
9:34 pm: You still driving?
9:38 pm: Are you purposely ignoring me?
9:50 pm: Is this really your number?
10:00 pm: I miss you!!😘😘😘
10:05 pm: Mendoza! Why are you ignoring me?
10:10 pm: Hey I'm starting to get worried.
10:20 pm: I really really miss you!
10:25 pm: Maine? Maine. Babe?
10:30 pm: I miss your scent. All strawberry, vanilla and lemony combo.
She wasn't able to check the texts until the day after because she spent that night with her son. Sebastian must've thought his mom is crazy cause when Maine saw him she literally ran to where he is, screaming 'BAAAAABBBBBBYYYYYY' and then hugged him so tight he had to protest.
When Maine checked her phone the next day, she saw the texts messages from RJ. As much as she tried otherwise, she couldn't help but feel flattered and a little touched by his texts. He really didn't waste any time did he? So she texted him back.
From Maine:
Faulkerson, I gave you this number so you can call me. Not to leave text messages that are a few minutes apart. And I'm not ignoring you . SMH.
She then put her phone to the side and went about her morning as usual. Sebastian is still sleeping so she has time to enjoy her coffee and watch a bit of morning news. As she was putting her dishes away, she heard her phone ringing. She ran to her bedroom to catch it before the ringing wakes her son. She was breathless by the time she answered "hello".
"Hey beautiful" RJ's voice on the other line.
"Hi! How are you?" she breathlessly responded back.
"Hhmmm, honestly? Im missing you."
Maine could feel herself blushing from that statement. Get a grip Maine! You're a fuckin 28 year old grown woman and you're blushing? Sheesh?
"Maine, why do you sound breathless?" RJ asked a bit too forcefully.
"Well, I was downstairs when my phone started ringing so I had to run up here to answer it" she answered.
"Hhhmmm I see. I thought for a minute you were doing something else."
"Like what?!? What would I be doing at 8:30 in the morning? Wait? Is that jealousy I hear? Are you perhaps thinking I'm doing the horizontal tango with someone else" she teased.
For an unknown reason, she felt comfortable enough to tease him about sex at this time. Huh! Go figure! He's not even your boyfriend Maine! For all you know, you're just another woman. Then she heard him answer.
"Fuck yeah I'm jealous! I want to be the only one who can make you breathless!" Well that shut her up! My god! The things that he says sometimes just leave her speechless.
"Oookkkkaayyyy. That went awkward quick" she states to fill the silence and they both ended up laughing.
"Listen Maine. I'm at the office now but can I call you again later?"
"Of course. Be nice to your patients Dr. Faulkerson. Don't flirt with any of them even if they try hard to flirt with you" she reminded with a laugh.
"You're the only woman I'm willing to flirt with, Mendoza so take that thought out of your mind."
Again, speechless Maine but this time with a huge grin plastered on her face.
"Call you later" and he was gone.
Damn that man! What the fuck is he trying to do to me? I'm behaving like a teenager around him. Shit! Oh god. I really have to tell him about our son. He deserves to know. And just like that, she turned somber. She was on her way downstairs when she heard the little pitter patter of Sebastian's feet as he left his room. He spied his mom and called sleepily "Mama" and stretched out his arms to be picked up. It's amazing how he looks so much like RJ. No wonder her sisters knew in an instant that RJ is the father as soon as they saw him. Which left Maine wondering if RJ would know as well when he sees his son. It would be so much easier for her if that happened because then she wouldn't have to put it into words. She's never been one to back out from fights or arguments or anything but in this case, she is admittedly a coward. Maybe because she is a little more emotionally involved with RJ that she would like to admit. There is still that fear of the unknown. What if RJ doesn't believe that Sebastian is his son? But what if he does and he would file for custody because God knows he can. What if he's not ready to be a father? What if Sebastian doesn't like him? So many what ifs but when it boils down to it, her sisters are right. RJ deserves to know of his son's existence and what he does after is on him. Ugh! What have I gotten myself into?
Mother and son went about their usual daily routine. Time flies when she's with her son. The day goes by so fast and before she knows it, it's nap time for Sebastian again. As soon as she put her son for a nap, she went into her room to grab her phone and saw 3 missed calls from RJ. She decided to just text him cause he probably is with patients at this time.
Maine:
2:30 pm: Hey. Sorry I missed your calls. Was a little busy. Hope you're having a good day 😊. Ttyl.
RJ:
2:35 pm: In bt patients. Been a busy day. Still missing you though 😘.
Maine:
2:36 pm: Are you flirting with me Dr. Faulkerson? Cause that wink seem to say so lol.
RJ:
2:38 pm: Yeah. That wink and I have a conspiracy going on. The end result is hopefully you on by bed 😉
Maine:
2:39 pm: So forward! You need to court me first! What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! You need to work for it. #serioustalk 😜
No answer after that. Maine then started to think of all the worst possibilities. Shit! Was I too forward? Did I scare him off? Or does he not think I'm worthy of being courted. Was it because of what happened in Vegas? Doubts and questions kept plaguing Maine most of the afternoon after that. She is a well educated confident woman but truthfully, she is still an insecure girl when it comes to matters of the heart. It might have stemmed from the fact that her first boyfriend ran off when her dad tried to test him. She was 17. That time she felt that she wasn't worth fighting for. Her second boyfriend at the age of 22 left the country for work reasons and she never heard from him again. And then there was Gabriel. Yeah, we all know how that ended. And here she is now, at the age of 28 and a single mother. Not once did she ever regret having Sebastian but she can't help but wonder what if she didn't get pregnant that night. Would she have tried harder to look for RJ or would she be married to someone else by now?
At exactly 6:30 pm after mother and son finished dinner, her doorbell rang. She went to open the door and there stood a delivery guy with three bouquets of flowers. One was a dozen yellow roses, 2nd one was a bundle of yellow carnations and the last one was a bunch of yellow daffodils.
"Delivery for Maine Mendoza" said the delivery guy.
"Oh thank you. Yes that's me" she responded while reaching for the flowers.
She took the flowers to her kitchen to put them in vases when she noticed the note. It read:
To a certain lady whom I met in Vegas. I'm willing to court you to the moon and back if that's what it takes. Hope you like the flowers. I picked yellow since I figured it might be your favourite colour.
Signed RJ
Then the tears came. Tears of relief because he is a man of action. Tears of joy because at least someone thinks she's worthy to be courted. Sebastian found her in such state which prompted him to ask "Mama sad? Mama cry." And he encircled her leg with his arms. Maine knelt down, faced her son and held his cheeks.
"No baby. Mommy is not sad. Mommy is happy" she said and she smiled at the same time. Sebastian seemed to understand cause he touched his mom's cheeks as well and gave her a sloppy kiss. That's the scene that Coleen walked into.
"Oh god! Who died" she blurted.
"Oh shut up Auntie Coleen. Sebastian and I were having a moment and now it's ruined" Maine answered back. "Oh and you know, it wouldn't hurt to call before you drop by out of the blue" she added with a huff.
"I texted you 1 hour ago. It wouldn't hurt to check your phone once in a while" Coleen huffed back as she turned her attention to her nephew. "Ooohhh there's my favourite 1 year old! Come and give auntie Coleen a kiss" she said as she puckered her lips and opened her arms. Sebastian of course went running to his aunt which prompted his mom to murmur "traitor".
"Who are the flowers from?" Coleen asked.
"They're from RJ." Maine answered off handedly.
"Oh my god! RJ as in Sebastian RJ? Dr. Faulkerson RJ?" Coleen shrieked.
"Yes, yes and yes" Maine calmly answered although she herself was getting really excited.
But Coleen's next words brought her back to reality. "Have you told him yet?"
"No, I haven't." She put her hands up to stop Coleen since she looked like she was about to say something. "Ate, I will tell him soon. It's only now that I realize he might mean more to me and visa versa. You and Ate Nicki are right. He deserves to know. I'll try to talk to him in the next 2 days. Will you be free to take Sebastian for a night if ever?"
"Meng, you know I am free anytime you need me. I'm very proud of you for doing this. You know that right?" Coleen stated as she placed her arms around Maine's shoulder.
"I'm just going to go upstairs. I left my phone up there. I'll call him now so at least we know when Sebastian can have a sleepover with you."
"Yap! Sure" was the response she got because Coleen was already looking for food in her fridge while Sebastian was just standing behind her as if waiting for scraps.
Maine just shook her head as she headed upstairs. Her second sister is the perpetual food digger in the family. She lives alone so anytime she can get away with not cooking, she will.
She opted to text RJ first just in case he's busy doing something.
Maine:
7:01 pm: Hey. Are you free to talk?
As soon as she hit send, her phone started ringing. It's RJ calling. She had to smile at that.
"Hello"
"Hey there. Did you get the flowers?"
"Yes. Thank you RJ. They're beautiful. And you did a good guess. Yellow is my favourite colour."
"I figured as much. I'm glad you liked them"
"Uhhhmm, RJ? Are you free for dinner tomorrow night or Thursday night?"
"Wait. Am I being asked to dinner by Maine Mendoza? If that's the case, I'm free whenever babe."
Maine had to laugh at that. "What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow sounds great. Around 6:00 okay?"
"Yes. Six is perfect. My place okay?"
"Text me your address?"
"Oh don't pull my legs Faulkerson! You already know my address. How else would you have had the flowers delivered" Maine stated with incredulity. RJ laughed so loud on the other line that Maine had to move the phone away from her ear.
"Don't you just love google eh" he stated after catching his breath.
"Okay then. See you tomorrow. And thank you for the flowers again" she stated.
"I'm looking forward to it. Ok. Dream of me tonight" he said before they finally said their goodbyes.
Oh RJ, if you only knew. If you only knew!
RJ
10:30 pm: I really really miss you! I'm actually stalking your social media accounts right now. God! Dream of me tonight!