Chapter 30

"I can't believe you look so good and you just had a baby!" I blushed and shook my head.

"I don't look good." I disagreed. I haven't felt pretty lately; where my body was concerned. I have a few stretch marks on my belly, and the baby fat still hasn't gone down yet.

My mother walked up to me and cupped my cheeks. "You don't look good, you look great. After I had you, my belly was twice the size of yours. It took a while to go down; I didn't have much time to exercise and take care of a baby at the same time. It didn't matter anyway; I was single. I didn't have anyone to impress." She smiled and whispered, "Have you guys put the cake in the oven?"

It took me a second to understand what she meant, and when I did, I laughed. "No. We haven't."

She nodded her head, "Okay, well. Has he tried to put the cake in the oven?"

I shook my head, "No. He hasn't even tried to bake a cake."

"Really?" she asked with raised brows.

I nod, "He's bought the ingredients."

She laughed, "Okay, you lost me at ingredients?"

"We've kissed."

"So first base?"

I nod, "Yep."

"Hmm...that's weird. How long have you guys been dating?"

"Only a few weeks. We started dating a few days after Jamaica was born." I answered, honestly. I know my mother wouldn't judge the situation until she knew the facts behind getting a relationship with a man a few days after giving birth to another man's child.

"So it hasn't been six weeks yet?"

I remembered clearly what Nurse Voila recommend to me before I left, "No, ma. It hasn't been six weeks yet. It doesn't matter anyway. Valdo isn't like that. He's not going to jump me as soon as he gets the chance. We've decided to take things slow."

She nodded, "I understand. He seems like a good guy. I can tell he really likes you. Do you really like him?"

"I do."

She chuckled, "Good because if you didn't, I'd be willing to shoot my shot." I laughed at her words. Valdo wasn't my mother's type. She preferred men who were n the rough side and older than her. She always had a thing for the bad guys, and Valdo is quite the opposite.

"But seriously. You look beautiful in that dress, and I'm sure you'd look beautiful without it. It takes super strength to push a child out of your vagina. If a man can't appreciate your "after-baby" body, then he just doesn't deserve you."

"I had a C-section." My body took the easier way out to some extent.

"It doesn't matter which one you had. Remember what I told you on your twelfth birthday?"

I remembered the day like it was yesterday. Everyone wore fancy clothes to school on their birthday except me. I cried for the entire bus ride home. When she saw my tears, she asked me what was wrong, and I told her that the other kids were making fun of me because I didn't get new clothes for my birthday. She bent down on her knees, and she said,

"Beauty is more than just appearances."

"Exactly. Beauty is your personality, how you interact with people." She smiled, "You're the most beautiful woman I know, inside and out. Stop worrying about how you look."

I looked down my dress and smiled. I did look good in yellow.

"That's the smile I want to see. Your man has been waiting for a while now."

She tugged my right hand and pulled me towards the bedroom door.

As my mother and I walked out of the bedroom. Valdo's attention shifted from Jamaica to us. "Wow. You girls look amazing. You look like sisters." My mother and I blushed at his kind words.

"You don't look so bad yourself." My mother muttered under her breath. Valdo chuckled.

"I try."

I rolled my eyes, "We both know you don't need to try.

He lifted his hands to his hair, "Do you think I wake up and my hair looks this good? No honey, I have to brush it and add gel to it."

"Okay, I understand the hair but look at your face. It's like gorgeous. I have to put on makeup just to look half as good as you."

He rolled his eyes, "You don't need makeup to look beautiful. You're naturally beautiful. Just like Aphrodite."

I blushed.

Did he just compare to me to a goddess? The most beautiful one at that.

"I'd love to sit, and you two compliment each other, but it's also six, and if we don't leave right now then we might not get a seat until eight." I nod, agreeing with my mother. "The Castle" is usually packed by six-thirty.

"I starving so the earlier, the better."

I gave him a thumbs up. "Okay. Let's go then!"

......

"Table for three please, along with a high seat for the baby." Valdo requested, but the hostess wasn't paying him much attention. Her attention was on me and the baby in my arms while shamelessly chewing on a blue gum. She smirked. I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Her name was Cara; she graduated Alton High two years ago. While she was there, she dedicated her days to make me miserable just because I was poor.

Based on her current job, she never got rich either.

"So the rumours are true?" she smirked then glance at my mother. "Like mother, like daughter, after all."

"You little piece of.."

I touched my mother's shoulders. "It's okay, ma." I looked at Cara, "Table for three and a baby seat."

"This isn't McDonald's; this is The Castle. You can't afford it here." Cara said with her lips pushed up.

Valdo chuckled so I looked at him confused, "So you're assuming that we can't afford this restaurant?"

Cara frowned at Valdo, "Who are you anyway? Do you belong to the mother or the daughter." she chuckled, "Maybe both. I can't even tell. You..."

Valdo lifted his left hand to stop her from continuing then he slid his right hand in his pocket and took out of his phone. He dialled a number then brought the phone to his ears. "Hi, Marcos. How have been? Glad to hear you're doing well. I have a little problem. I'm at your Alton location, and your hostess is very disrespectful to my partner and her mother." he looked down at her badge, "Cara." he nodded, " Yes. Okay. Thank you. I'll talk to you soon." Valdo hung up the phone and looked silently at Cara.

She laughed, "Is that supposed to scare me? A fake phone call?" she looked, and a grinned. "Where did you get this one? Hollywood auditions?"

A few seconds after, Mr Monro, the manager of the restaurant, came out with fiery eyes. He looked at Cara, "You're fired. Go home." He turned to us; the previous angry wiped from his face. He smiled. "It's a privilege to have you in Alton, Mr Dakoda." He nodded at my mother, "Gizelle." He looked me, "It's good to have you back, Jacobia." I smiled at him. Mr Monro was also the town pastor, so he made it his goal to know everyone in Alton. He tried to recruit my mother and I a few times but my mother was a not very religious person, and neither was I. Mr Monro was also known for his abilities to spill people private business during sermons.

"How may I help you, Mr Dakoda?"

"We'd like four seats, including a high baby seat," Valdo repeated.

Mr Munro smiled, "Okay. Right, this way, Mr Dakota."

We followed him into the restaurant. My eyes widen at the decor. I now understand why it was so expensive to dine here. The place looked majestic. There was a central wooden theme with natural colours added. Five low lightening chandeliers lit the place. Live piano music coming from the side.

I looked at my mother's dazzled face and smile. She has always wanted to dine here but could never afford to.

"If the place looks this good, imagine the food." She trilled.

I looked but at Valdo and smile. "Thank you. How did you do that back there?"

He shrugged, "I know the owner of "The Castle" Franchise."

"Wow, Do you know the president too?" I joked.

He chuckled, "I do. I met him before he came into politics."

I smiled, impressed. Wealth makes you have connections all over. If Valdo weren't here, we would have never entered this restaurant even if we had the money. Alton's richest didn't like mixing with the poorer folks unless it's to satisfy their sexual pleasures.

Mr Munro led us to the table of three. Then he called someone over, "This is Uvaldo Dakota, one of America's finest businessman. You'll be serving him and his ...friends tonight. Hurry and get a high seat for them." Mr Munro turned to us and bowed. "Enjoy your meals."

Valdo pulled out the chairs for my mother and I to sit then he took a seat.

"Thanks." My mother and I responded.

"Everyone's looking at us," my mother whispered. I looked around and noticed that almost everyone's attention was on our table. "I guess everyone is surprised to see you back in Alton."

"They just want something to gossip about." I shifted my attention back to my mother. I looked down at the sleeping baby in my hands. "You're going to be the talk of the town tomorrow. High School Girl runaways and brings back a baby."

"It doesn't matter what they say. They can stare all they want. Their opinion shouldn't matter. Don't let their gazes bother you. They only gossip because their lives can't be as exciting," Valdo remarked.

"Yea, and he's right. Don't pay them any attention. Let them see how happy you are. That will piss them off." I smiled at my mother's words.

A petite blonde placed the high seat behind me. She then turned to us, "Good evening. I'm Rosie. I'll be your server for today. Here is your menu. I'll be back in five minutes to take your order." She placed the cards on our table and left.

"Talk about great customer service." My mother rolled her eyes. As a waiter herself, she believed that excellent customer service was vital, and she prides herself on it. "Oh, I understand now." She said as she looked down on the menu cards, "Tips are added automatically to the bill so no need to be friendly."

"Not everyone has that special charm like you Gizelle."

She blushed at Valdo's words.

"Likewise, Valdo. You're a real gentleman. Do you, by any chance, have a big brother?"

He laughed, "No. I'm an only child."

She sighed, "What a shame! What about a best friend?"

He laughed, "Trust me when I say, he's not a gentleman. He's a total playboy. He's not interested in anything longer than a night."

"Sounds fun," she responded sarcastically. She's had her heart broken a few times by guys who were nothing but liars and cheats. She didn't like the playboy lifestyle.

"Even with his womanising personality, he's a good guy. He wouldn't be my friend if he wasn't." I smiled at Valdo's response. He was so great at defending his friends and family.

"Oh, my God." My mom said with her eyes wide, looking behind me. "Don't turn around."

"Really? You know telling me not to look around will only make me want to look more right?" The look on my mother's face made me a little scared. I looked at Valdo, who had a blank expression on his face.

"Just don't look around Jakobia." she insisted.

I sighed and turned my head. It couldn't be that bad.

When I turned around, my eyes made contact with chocolate brown ones. My heart jumped. What was he doing here? Why isn't he off at college?

"Well, well, well, If it isn't the Runaway Slut?"