Neighbours

two

'Come on Layla finish your bottle for mummy.' I pleaded as my daughters cries echoed through the flat.

'Please baby.' I almost cried. It was 5AM and I wanted to sleep. I'd been feeling drained recently.

'Come on baby, for mummy please.' Nothing would drown out her cries.

I lay her on the bed and put her coat on top of her pyjamas. I grabbed a woolly hat my nan had knitted for her and placed it on her.

Once she was ready I threw on joggers and a coat before grabbing my trainers.

I put Layla in her pram and grabbed my keys and phone along with her bottle before heading out.

Yes you may be thinking why are you taking her on a walk at 5AM? It settles her, anytime she's in her pram on a walk in the open air she's calm and even falls asleep.

As I was locking our door I looked to my right to see Brad also locking his door.

Fuck, he doesn't know about Layla. He had called over a few times but his visits weren't too long, he had me over for dinner but my parents had Layla that night.

We'd became quite close over the past 3 weeks. Not that close where we knew every single thing about each other, obviously. But we were still getting to know each other.

Yesterday he had been over for around 2 hours, it just so happened that my sister and her boyfriend had took Layla out for the day. My family always love taking her to help me out and give me some me time to myself.

I tried to make my way out of the apartment block without him seeing me. But that didn't go to plan.

'Ellie?' I heard his husky voice. I turned to see him jogging a little after me.

'Oh Brad, hi.' I smiled as he pulled me in for a hug. 'How've you been?' I ask as we walk down the road.

'I've been good. It's quite lonely living in a big flat to myself.' He said, I knew how he felt apart from I luckily had Layla.

'How about you? Who's this little one?' He said fussing over Layla.

'Alright I suppose.' I shrugged. 'Brad this is ah my daughter.' I told him.

He turned to me with a surprised expression. 'She's adorable. What's her name?' He asked which surprised me.

'Layla.' I told him. 'Well Layla aren't you just gorgeous.' He cooed as he stroked her cheek.

'What are you doing out at this time anyway?' I asked him.

'Couldn't sleep.' He shrugged. 'And you?'

'Well Layla wasn't for settling so I thought I'd bring her out a walk.' I told him as he nodded.

We ended up in a park a few minutes walk away, the park I used to go to when I was growing up. We found a bench and sat down.

I got Layla out of her pram and held her. 'Hello my gorgeous girl.' I spoke in a baby voice. She let out a little squeal causing me to smile.

'Can I hold her?' Brad asked as he watched me and my daughter bond.

I nodded and handed her over to him. Usually with new people she wriggles and won't settle, but for him she instantly relaxed into him.

'She likes you.' I told him as he looked at me raising his eyebrow. 'She never relaxes like that for anyone she doesn't know.'

I watched as a small smile formed on his face. 'She's got your eyes.' He commented as he admired my daughter. 'And your lips.'

I laughed as he concentrated on her. She just smiled up at him.

'Are you still in contact with her dad?' He asked causing me to shake my head.

'No, he left me. I told him I was pregnant and he fled to Spain. I thought I was in love but obviously not.' I laughed coldly at the fact of being in love with him.

Brad looked at me, his eyes full of concern and sorrow.

'At first I worried that she wouldn't have a father figure in her life but over the last few months I've realised it's me and her against the world.' I said as she latched onto my fingers.

'I'm so sorry about that.' He said looking and sounding genuine. 'I hate when men treat girls like that, you don't deserve it.'

I shrugged. 'I appreciate it.' I said as I smiled at him.

Just then Layla began crying.

'Ah did I do something?' He panicked. I laughed as he looked at me with a worried expression.

'No don't worry.' I chuckled. 'She's just hungry, she wouldn't take her bottle this morning.'

He sighed in relief. 'What time is it?' He asked.

'Quarter to six.' I told him whilst looking at my phone.

'Do you want to go to the cafe nearby to feed her? It's getting cold here.' He asked causing me to smile at him, he was caring.

I nodded and we stood up. He held Layla, bouncing her up and down to try and calm her as I pushed her pram.

'You're a natural.' I joked as she began to calm down.

'Well what can I say.' He sassed as he pretended to flip his hair.

We got to the cafe and sat at a table. 'Do you want a coffee?' Brad asked as he handed me Layla to feed.

'Yes please.' I replied. 'Here get it.' I told him as I went to hand him my card.

'Don't be silly, it's only a coffee.' He said as he walked away.

Layla began to wriggle again almost as a way to tell me she was hungry.

When Brad came back with the coffees Layla was half way through her bottle.

'Thank you.' I smiled as he sat down facing me.

For a while we sat talking, Layla fell asleep in Brad's arms much to my surprise.

He was well chuffed with himself seeing as I told him she won't settle for most people.

'Do you want to head back now?' I asked him. He nodded and put Layla in her pram.

'Can I push her back?' He asked softly.

'Of course.' I smiled. He's been so excited at every little responsibility almost I've let him have.

On the way back he pushed her carefully and kept on looking down on her as she stared around her. 

It was nice to have someone other than my family that is fond of me having a child at such a young age.

By the time we got back to the flat it was almost 8AM. I had asked Brad if he wanted to come round for dinner tonight but he was going out on a date.

It didn't surprise me, he is really attractive. I'm still surprised he's single. Wait. What am I saying?

•

It was 9PM now, me and Layla were lying on the sofa. She wouldn't settle tonight and was wide awake.

She lay on my chest in her nappy, I was in my bra and joggers. She was too warm in her pyjamas and baby grow.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. I walked towards it with Layla still on my chest.

I opened it to reveal Brad, a very upset looking Brad.