CHAPTER 15 “UNKNOWN FATHER"

"HELLO," that's how she heard Callie greet the man who was for a fact a stranger to her.

Lara turned to Joaquin and then she seemed to be missing herself when she carried her daughter. "If you want to have breakfast, just follow me to the kitchen," she replied instead of what Joaquin had said earlier.

Lara didn't know why she suddenly felt that way. Because in fact, last night she told herself that it was okay for the two to meet, especially since the man didn't know that he got her pregnant.

But now, he seems to want to regret the simple coffee offer she made to Joaquin last night. It was as if she just wanted to tell herself that she should have just thanked him for saving her. After that, she would have just left the man.

Maybe this never happened again.

Maybe she doesn’t feel scared now as if she can’t explain where it came from.

"Good morning, Grandpa!" Callie's cheerful greeting to her father, as before.

She immediately lowered Callie into the chair and then pointed to Joaquin the vacant seat next to her father's.

"Hello," Callie greeted Joaquin again who was now facing her at the table.

"Hi," Joaquin replied that was when she looked around, and then she saw her little girl smiling.

Lara couldn't resist the strange touch of emotion that immediately took her to heart at what had happened. Though she didn’t admit it, she knew she could see the pure emotion in Joaquin’s smile and the twinkle in his eyes at those moments. As he stared into the face of his daughter.

"What is your name?" Callie again kindly asked their guest.

“Joaquin, how about you? What is your pretty name?” Joaquin immediately answered their daughter with a series of questions although he still had in his tone the strange kind of tenderness that she could not deny experienced and had seen before in Rodolfo.

"I'm Callie, my real name is Calista," Callie replied eloquently.

“Callie, don't ask too many questions. He’s our guest and he has not eaten yet,” after a while and that is how she heard her father's rebuke to his granddaughter.

"No, Sir Rodolfo it’s okay," said Joaquin who obviously wanted to prolong his conversation with Callie.

That's when Lara started serving the fried rice and other dishes she had already cooked on the table.

“Wow, hotdogs!" the applause Callie said when she saw she cooked her favorite dish.

Lara laughed softly and then inwardly glanced at Joaquin.

At that point, the two of them inadvertently caught sight of each other. That's why Lara sees comfort in the man's eyes as he watches Callie and all the child's reactions.

Back then she didn’t believe much in the saying about the leap of blood. But from what she sees now, it is just proof that it is true. Because if not, how would you explain what she sees as a sudden understanding between these two?

Could Joaquin have felt the strange caress in his heart for their daughter?

And is Callie the same?

Could there be a part of her daughter’s heart that had a home that for a very long time has longed for the care and love of her real father?

Even before becoming emotional, Lara decided to get rid of that thing and about it in her mind.

This was not the right time for that, so she decided to get herself organized and start having breakfast with her family. But in Lara's mind and heart, she knew that even if unintentionally, there was a part of it that secretly rejoiced. Because even now and in an unexpected moment, they were able to be with the father of her daughter.

*****

"How old is she?" that's what she heard the question from Joaquin when they were both inside his car.

As the young man wanted to happen, he would get her to work. She has no choice because even her father agrees with what Joaquin wants to happen. Add to that the fact that she doesn't see anything wrong with giving in to what he was asking for.

"Three years old," was her short reply and then fastened her seatbelt.

Joaquin nodded then he smiled and stared. "I kind of like her," the young man said lightly.

Lara was not surprised to hear that. Not for whatever reason but also because of the fact that she had seen a while ago what was true. She saw everything in the smiles of the man while staring at Callie.

“Thank you for that. Anyway, that's really how everyone sees my daughter. She is charming and friendly so maybe that's why,” she explained.

The engine was running but the young man had not run the car yet.

"No, that's not what I meant," Joaquin corrected promptly and then shook his head one after another.

Lara stared at the handsome face of the man. "What do you mean?" here the young lady began to feel a trembling in her chest which she could not explain.

“It feels like she’s a part of me. The fact that I just saw her today? It seemed like I was so relieved when I saw her. I don't know why but that's how I really feel,” Joaquin explained in a tone that was obviously very happy.

At that point, Lara immediately felt mixed emotions. That includes confusion. She didn’t know if she should be happy or scared about what the man had admitted to her. But since she was not a toxic person, she preferred the first.

“Can I visit Callie? If it’s, okay? But I hope it's okay and I hope you agree,” Joaquin added when she remained silent.

At this point, Lara bit her lower lip unknowingly.

"Please?" Joaquin pleaded.

Lara sighed because of that.

She thought that the young man would not stop her just in case so in the end she just nodded in agreement with what he wanted to happen.

"Thank you," said Joaquin who could not hide the happiness in the tone of his speech.

A few more moments and the car is running. It was then that the young man spoke again and asked.

"If you don't mind, I would like you to be my friend, Lara?" the young man told her.

From her sight being busy outside the car window, she turned her attention to Joaquin.

"What did you say?" she asked in surprise.

The young man just smiled at first although he did not look back. That’s because his vision remained focused on the road.

“I want us to be friends. I hope it's okay with you?” said Joaquin holding out his hand to her.

Lara knew that when she accepted it, it was also a sign of her willingness. But for some inexplicable reason, her hand seemed to have a mind of its own. Eventually, she felt the warmth of his palm on her.

"Thanks," said Joaquin.

She didn't say a word and just smiled instead.

“So, this means you will let me pick you up later? I also want to see Callie and I want to talk to Sir Rodolfo?” added Joaquin.

"Why do you want to talk to my father?" she asked with mixed astonishment in her tone of voice.

Joaquin shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing, I just want to,” was his short reply.