Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 51

Lila is up super early this morning. I feed her in my bed and we have some snuggle time together.

Before Shawn arrives, Lila and I run some Christmas presents over to Kendra and her family; I knew they'd be up early since Mike is like a kid about holidays. She'd already given me and Lila our Hanukkah gifts a couple weeks ago. We talk for a few minutes, but I decide not to tell her about the almost-kiss.

Shawn arrives right on time and he helps me carry the big bag of presents I have for his family out to the car. I get Lila buckled in her seat and we take the short drive to his house.

When we get inside, everyone is in the kitchen drinking coffee and hot cocoa.

"Merry Christmas! Breakfast first, then presents," Karen says to me, as she takes Lila from my arms and gives her a hug and kiss before putting her in the high chair.

There's a huge array of pastries on the island along with a breakfast casserole and fruit salad. Everyone grabs a plate and sits at the table. I prepare Lila's food, which she is very eager to get to.

After we eat, Manny and Shawn do the dishes. I put the presents I brought under the tree. When the kitchen is clean, everyone gathers in the living room.

Shawn's gift to Lila is by the tree. It's a very fancy toddler rocking horse. He puts her on it and holds her as she rocks.  She's giggles and says, "more!" which is her latest word.

It's my third Christmas with the Mendes family, and as always, they are extremely generous. They get me thoughtful gifts and spoil Lila with toys and clothes.

Lila and I got Shawn a vintage, late 1800's, pocket watch that I found in an antique store. He has quite a collection of watches, and I felt this was an interesting change from the wrist variety. You can just make out the initials 'SM' engraved on the back for a previous owner. What are the odds?

"This is incredible, Jessica," he says admiring it. "What a weird coincidence with the engraving!"

All the presents have been handed out and opened. Shawn never gave me anything, which is fine, but kind of surprising.

Karen puts out some food for lunch which is quickly gobbled up even though it feels like we just had breakfast. After Lila eats, I put her in the portable crib in the office. I step out of the room once she's asleep. Shawn is standing there waiting for me. I notice that the house is very quiet.

"Where did everyone go?" I ask.

"Everyone decided to nap," he says.

"Everyone? All at once?"

He just shrugs and takes my hand, pulling me to the couch. He pulls out a gift from behind a throw pillow.

"I wanted to give this to you in private," he says.

"So you banished your family upstairs?" I say with a smile.

"Maybe. But they really were all tired," he says sheepishly.

He hands me the present, and I unwrap it. It's a black leather binder. I open it and see that it's filled with plastic sleeves containing various types of paper with what appear to be song lyrics written on them. There must be 50 or more pages. Some look pristine. Some are wrinkled, torn, or have coffee stains. Some are written neatly, while some are fulls of scribbles and writing in the margins. One is written on a Tim Horton's napkin.