Love Stitches

Not a colleague anymore

Hazel's POV

"Hello Jaylen" I bend a little to reach the six year old.

"Hello, Mrs. Torres" he smiles and I don't correct him. I don't know how to tell a six year old that I am a miss and not mrs.

"And hello, Ameya" I smile at her.

"Hello" she says and looks at her mother again.

"I am so sorry for her behaviour. I don't know why she is this way. She is usually so talkative" the twin's mother apologises.

"It's okay.." I trail and look at her.

"Esther. Esther Stone" she shakes her hand with me.

"Hazel Torres. You can just address me as Hazel" I smile at her.

Savannah tugs my hand once and I look at her. She tilts her head towards them and I realise why we started talking in the first place.

"I would have no problem if you ever want to send kids over to my place. They can have play dates. And they will be safe with me" I smile at Esther.

"Really? That would be cool. No one really invites these both" she says and I look at the kids. They seem fine to me.

"I will gladly consider the offer. I will drop by this Saturday evening with the kids, if you don't mind" she smiles.

"Perfect. Will see you in two days then" I smile.

I see Savannah and Jaylen smile at each other and wave. It makes my heart warm. I love seeing Savannah engage with other kids. She usually likes to play to herself, study on her own and all of that stuff.. sometimes, it hurts her to ask someone to help her.

I tug at her hand and she smiles at me. We walk to my car where she quickly hops in the front seat and looks for Jaylen again.

I rev the engine up but give Savannah a moment to wave her hand at Jaylen again. I then start driving and reach my place in no time.

"So tell me about this Jaylen boy" I ask her as soon as we both walk into the home.

"Why do you ask?" She asks me back.

"Because I have never seen you befriending someone this soon" I say.

"Maybe we share the same interests. He and I wore white when I first went to the new school. He likes Frozen too" she says.

Okay. Justified. My phone rings and I ask Savannah to take a shower while I see what I can make for our dinner today. But first, I see the call is from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Hazel?" The voice asks me and I smile.

"Did Jenny give you my number, Daniel?" I smile as I walk to the kitchen.

I put the phone on speaker and open the fridge.

"Yes. It is not that hard to find a girl's number that I like" he says.

Wait! Is he flirting with me right now?

"Oookay" I say and look into the refrigerator but my focus is somehow missing. I am not really searching for any ingredients that can potentially make my daughter and I a meal.

"Would you mind opening the door?" He asks and the next second someone knocks the door.

What? How?

I open the door and sure enough, I see Daniel standing before me with a bouquet in his hand and chocolates in other.

I just stare at him not knowing what to do. Jenny doesn't have my address so how did he find out?

"This is the part where you should invite me in" he says and I nod.

"Come in, Daniel" I fake a smile and move to a side letting him in.

Savannah is already out of her shower and he is just staring at Daniel. Daniel kneels down and gives the chocolates to Savannah.

She smiles and takes those. And Daniel gives me the roses. Of course. I take them and give him another tight lipped smile.

"If this was someone else, I would have called them a creep" I whisper.

"I should have told you. But I thought it would be a surprise. I am so sorry it backfired" he says.

"Coffee?" I ask him and he shakes his head.

"Dinner?" He asks and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Hello there, I am Daniel. Your mother and I work together" he smiles at Savannah.

"Hi" Savannah replies and tucks her long black hair behind her ear. She looks a lot like Adrian as she grows up.

"Mommy can you help me with my hair?" She asks and I nod.

"Hey, how about we go out for dinner?" Daniel asks at the same time.

Would Jenny be hurt if I kick him out? I remember Jenny telling me that she likes him and that she is planning to ask him out.

I look at him and then at Savannah. She smiles at Daniel and I think that is the cue. So I nod. I ask Daniel to sit on the couch so I can help Savannah.

I take her upstairs with me and I ask her to sit on the bed.

"This is the first and last time, Savannah. Next time someone comes for the first time and offers to take us out .. we say no" I say.

"But he told me that he is your friend" she says.

"Yes. But this is for our safety. We cannot go out with just anyone, can we?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"Good. Now come here, sweetie!" I hug her and place a kiss on the top of her head.

I change my outfit and I braid Savannah's hair. We are ready to go out. Just because the diner we went to the last time is closer, I ask Daniel to take us there.

At least we know our way to home from there. Daniel is a nice guy I can stress on that. But I don't want complications right now. I wonder if Jenny knows this.

He drives a decent car and here and there I catch him just staring at me. He doesn't talk, he doesn't move but he just stares at me. Honestly, this is slowly starting to get uncomfortable but I have no idea what to do.

We walk into the diner and there are few tables empty. Savannah chooses the table the last time we sat. I help her with the chair again and I see Daniel smiling.

"What's so funny?" I ask him.

"Nothing. What would you like to have?" He asks.

"She would like some shakshuka, the little kid likes Mac n cheese and I would just want some coffee. Thanks for the treat, Daniel Lauren" I hear Mr. Montgomery's voice out of nowhere and I sit straight.

Savannah smiles little wide than she smiled with Daniel. Maybe because she saw my boss once already. He even helped me wipe the stuck cheese on her cheeks.

On the other hand Daniel just watched me struggle helping Savannah with the tall chair. And why the hell am I even comparing these two?

"Mr. Montgomery?" He asks but our boss just drags another chair from the table and he sits beside Savannah.

"You remember me?" He asks Savannah and she nods.

"The one who was yelling and my mom snatched your phone" she giggles and I look at the expression on Daniel's face.

"Oh! Yes. You are a smart girl for your age. You remember even the little things" he smiles at her.

"Just like you remembered I like Mac and cheese and that mom likes Shakshuka" Savannah chuckles.

How and why are they both talking like long lost best friends? I awkwardly smile at Daniel and his phone rings at the same time. Daniel excuses us for a moment and walks out to attend the call.

I can see him through this glass barriers.

"Why are you out with him?" Mr. Montgomery asks.

"He asked us out so. Do you live around, Mr. Montgomery?" I ask him.

"I just stopped by to grab another coffee and grilled cheese sandwich" he says and I nod.

"You still did not answer me, Hazel" he says and I look at him. Then at Daniel.

"Jennifer introduced Daniel as her friend. He got my number from her and address from God knows where. He showed up at my door. Asked us out and we couldn't say no. He is a colleague after all" I shrug.

Mr. Montgomery nods and he looks at Daniel who is now staring at me as he still talks on the phone with someone else.

"He is a pervert but the only reason I did not fire him is because he is good at what he does in his department. Our sales see a rise whenever he is incharge. But do not fall for his charms. I am just looking out for you since you are obviously better worker than him" Mr. Montgomery says and I nod.

"And my name, is Elliot. You are?" He asks my daughter.

"Savannah" she smiles as she shakes his hand.

I smile at them and Mr. Montgomery even proceeds to order the food for us. He promised Savannah to even buy her a dessert if she finishes all of the Mac and cheese on her own.

I chuckle and when I look at Savannah, I realise what it must be for her to not have a fatherly figure. I know I do everything in my hands to protect her and to help her but sometimes.. she just needs a father with who she can be absolutely naughty but still get away with it.

Daniel walks in and he smiles at me. Again, I awkwardly smile at him.

It is not that he surprised me when I was least expecting, but there was something that I was uncomfortable with. That he got my number without me knowing or that he showed up at my door without any intimation. Knowing I live alone with my daughter?

"So, I am sorry to break this to you Daniel Lauren" Mr. Montgomery says.

Not just Daniel or I but even Savannah is officially interested in this conversation now.

"You are fired. I would appreciate it if you leave now and you can find your termination letter on your desk tomorrow morning. Good luck for your future" He says and I just stare at him.

"S-sir?" Daniel asks as if he did not process what Mr. Montgomery said and to be honest, I am almost the same too.

"You heard it. You are fired" he says again and my mouth is now probably wide open.

Daniel looks at me once and when he saw I am just as surprised as him, he walks away without saying a word.

Meanwhile our food arrives and Mr. Montgomery eats it as if he just did not fire his employee without a valid reason. I just stare at him as he finally speaks about the issue.

"Now, he is not your colleague and if he reaches out to you again.. break all his bones and I will cover it up for you"