Chapter 47

"Good morning, husband," I said squeezing Valdo's butt cheeks. I wrapped my hands around his waist and rested my head on his back.

He chuckled, "Good morning, wife." He turned around and gave me a soft kiss. "How did you sleep?"

"It was short, my husband kept me up all night, but I'm not complaining." It's been a week since we consummated our marriage and we've made love every night since. It was too good not to. The best thing was that every time we made love, it got better and better.

He chuckled, "You can spend the whole day resting."

I shook my head, "No. I promised Hannah I'd come by the Center. Can you drop me there on your way to work please?" I asked, looking into his enchanting blue eyes. I haven't been to the Center in a while, and it would be good for me to see the girls again.

"Of course," he rubbed his hands down my arm, "What do you want for breakfast?"

"You." I wanted him all day, every day.

He grinned, "You're such a bad girl." he placed his lips on mine and kissed me softly then pulled away. "I wish I could spend the entire day with you, but I don't have much time to spare. I have a meeting at eight." Valdo was very strict when it came to his business meetings and other people's time and I admired that about him.

I ran my hands over his chest, "Okay, so let's skip homemade breakfast and satisfy of our other needs, we can share a shower, and on our way, we can pick up breakfast at a Mcdonald's drive-thru. That should give us around thirty minutes, less if Jamaica wakes up." Somehow we've always successfully made love when Jamaica was asleep. She's never bothered us while we were engaging in the act, but they were plenty of times she kept us busy doing other things.

He laughed, "You have a solution for everything." He picked me up, bridal style and carried me into our bedroom.

..

As correctly calculated, we got thirty minutes of pleasure. Jamaica is a good baby for waking up when we were getting ready. It didn't take long for us to get her ready as well. As planned, we got breakfast at a Mcdonald's drive-thru, and we ate on the way to the Center.

The last time I ate McDonald's was when I was homeless. There were times when I only could afford an Egg McMuffin and a small peppermint tea for breakfast, and there were times when I couldn't afford breakfast at all.

If being homeless for six months taught me anything, it sure taught me how to be grateful in life. My mother wasn't rich, but she made sure breakfast was on the table every morning. I never knew the value of her sacrifices until I was alone and homeless with food and shelter.

Valdo parked his car outside the Center and turned to me, "Can you ask Zuria to drop you home? My meetings might last longer than expected."

"Sure." Zuria is a sweetheart, and I knew she wouldn't hesitate to bring me home if I asked her.

"What would you like for dinner tonight?" As his wife, I tried to make sure I had his dinner ready for him when he got home. Sometimes we switch the roles, and he'd prepare dinner.

"I was thinking we could ask your mom to babysit Jamaica and we go out for dinner."

I smiled, "That sounds great. Should I wear casual or date clothes?"

He shrugged, "It doesn't matter what you wear. You look gorgeous in everything. I'll pick you up directly after work so I'll still be in my suit."

"Okay." I chirped. "I'll surprise you." Valdo's favourite colour is red, and he'd go crazy when I wore red undies, I might be able to get the same response from him with a red dress.

He smiled and checked his watch, "I have to go now." He leaned over and kissed me softly, "I love you."

I smile. I'll never get tired of hearing him say those words. "I love you too."

I pulled the seat belt and opened the passenger door. I exit the car and close the door. I opened the back door and lifted Jamaica's carrier out of the car seat then I took up her diaper bag. I close the door and stepped away from the car.

"Drive safe," I commanded my husband.

He waited for Jamaica and I to enter the building, before driving off.

I grinned.

God was so good to me.

He gave me the best husband any woman could ask for. Valdo loves me, and it wasn't just his words that assured me. It was his actions.

I walked in the building, ready to spread my happiness. But something was different. The mood of the room was dense instead of its regular welcoming mood.

The smile was slowly wiped from my face when I noticed the look on everyone's face. Emily was crying and shaking her head. Zuria had her head bent, and Hannah was talking to them both.

"What's wrong?" I asked, walking farther into the room.

Hannah lifted her head, "Christina is gone. She's no longer with us." I could see the hurt and pain in her eyes.

I frowned, "What do you mean by gone?"

"Her parents moved her to Canada. They said we weren't motivating her to give up the baby, that we were encouraging her to keep the baby. They cut all connections we have with her. We have no idea where they took her." I heard the pain in her voice as she spoke and something in me sank.

I took a seat in one of the chairs. Christina and I had become close these past few months. She always found a way to smile, even though she was sad. She never wanted to give her baby up, but her parents were pressuring her.

"Why would they do such a thing?" I asked rhetorically.

"They don't want her to keep the baby. They think that her keeping the baby will ruin her future." Emily answered.

Fourteen-year-olds get pregnant all the time. It wasn't the end of the world. They were so many options for her if she decided to keep the baby.

Life doesn't end after having a child.

But why did they move her to a different country?

All her friends were here. Why would they take her away from persons who loved her? People who only wanted the best for her? People who could set great examples?

I looked around the room, "Did any of you get to speak to her before she left?"

"She called," Hannah responded. "Around 2 am last night, she called me begging me not to let them take her away, but I couldn't do anything. I had no area where she was. When I called her parents, they told me we were ruining their daughter's life. They took away her phone after that." How were we ruining her life? She came to the Center to learn a skill while she was out of school. She was great at baking and even better at painting.

"How could they be so cruel?"

"They're a super religious family. It was a shame to have their young daughter get pregnant in the first place. It would be a disgrace to let her keep the girl that was born out of wedlock. I was somewhat in the same situation, but my family didn't want me around. They told me to leave." Hannah had told me her story, and it was a sad one. It's so sad what persons could do in the name of religion.

Religion should have motivated them to draw closer to their child instead of further.

"It's never good to be extremely strict to a child," Zuria muttered.

"It's never good to be too loose either," Hannah stated.

"I never had parents so I wouldn't know." I looked at Zuria with my eyebrows raised, what did she mean by that? "I grew up in Foster homes, one after the other. I was just a paycheque." She added when she noticed our looks. This was the first time she's told us anything about her past other than having a dead husband.

"I was homeless, too, for four years, actually." She looked at me, "That's why I can relate to you. I was a homeless teen, minus the pregnant part." I could hardly believe Zuria had been a homeless teen. She was so well kept. I was even more curious to know her story now. How did she make it? "My husband, Gabrielle, saved my life."

"Like how Valdo saved me?"

She chuckled, "Something like that."

"I'm going to miss that kid." Emily expressed with a sigh. "I hope they treat her well in Canada. I hope she heals from this and I really hope that we get to see her again one day."

"I hope so too." Hannah stood from her seat, "I really do."