“Have you named her yet?” I turn to look at Nurse Viola and smile then look back at my tiny baby that laid in the incubator.
“No, I haven’t. I’m trying to come with names. The other moms have been trying to help me, as well.” I’ve become friends with other mothers with premature babies, they’re all nice, and they understand what I’m going through. Premature babies are at risk all the time, and so we’re always worrying.
Nurse Viola chuckled, “That’s sweet of them, let me guess Crystal wants you to name her Crystal?”
I laughed, “Not really; she wants me to name her Diamond.”
Nurse Viola laughed, “She’s such a trouble maker.” Crystal has been in the hospital for a month with her son, Christopher. He was born premature and has done over ten surgeries so far, but he’s so strong and so his mother and father. Crystal stays at the hospital with him, and her husband visits them every day.
“Are you talking about me?” I turned in the direction of the voice and smile.
Zuria wrapped her hands around me and pulled me in a hug, “How are you?”
“I’m okay. Staying strong.” I said with honesty. I am okay; I don’t feel depressed because I have the support of so many wonderful people.
“Great, because I have good news,” she said excitedly.
I smiled, “Really, what type of news?”
“So one of my neighbours is moving out, so I got you the apartment,” I said with a big grin, but the only expression on my face was shocked, “I thought since the baby is here, you’d want to have your own little apartment but based on your expression I’m guessing you don’t want to move.”
I scratched my head, then smile, “Thank you so much. Probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.”
“But?” she said with a smile. How can she be so happy and I’m saying no to her offer?
“I really like it at Valdo’s place. He’s super nice to me, and so is his parents.” Is that really the reason I’d want to live with a man I met only two weeks ago?
“Hmm.. are you sure it’s the not the man you like?”
I turned my head to blush, and I noticed Nurse Voila smiling at the corner of the room. I turned to look back at Zuri, trying to hide my blush.
“It’s completely fine to like him. He’s handsome, and he’s so sweet,” she said with a smirk.
“It’s just that he’s been extremely nice to me; he opened his home and family to me.” I tried to ignore the part about me liking him but failed.
“If it makes any difference, he likes you too.”
“Really?” I asked way too enthused.
Zuria laughed, “I knew it! And to answer your question, yes. He likes you. If he didn’t, you wouldn’t be staying in his apartment; you’d be staying in one of his mother’s private shelter. The fact that he’s kept you with him all this time shows exactly how much he likes you. The roses in your room who bought them?”
“He did.”
Zuria nod with a grin, “Yes, he did. If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t bring roses every time he comes to visit, which is every day by the way.”
I smile at her words, “Maybe he thinks of me as a little sister. His parents think of me as a daughter.” As I said the words, I knew it a lie because brothers don’t kiss sisters on the lips and if they do then gross.
Zuria, “Yea, of course, but not daughter, daughter-in-law.”
I frowned, “But I’m not their daughter-in-law.”
Zuria smirked, “Not yet.” then she winked.
The idea of being Valdo’s girlfriend made me a little happy. He’s an amazing guy who wouldn’t want to be his girlfriend, but there’s just one problem. “What would people think?”
Zuria frowned, “Think about what exactly?”
“Well, I was a homeless pregnant teenager he met on the streets of New York, I don’t..”
Zuria raised her hands to stop me, “Stop right there. I was homeless too, a pick-pocket and then one day I picked the wrong pocket next thing I know I’m walking down the aisle. Love is Love. It doesn’t matter where you come from; what matter is what the heart wants. My husband saw something in me, and after me giving a hell of a time I finally fell in love, and I don’t regret picking his pocket because he made me the happiest woman alive when he was alive. So let’s not worry about what people will say.”
I smiled at her sadly, “It’s not just that; he’s nine years older than me.”
Zuria laughed, “Oh honey, Gabriele was ten years older than me, but it didn’t matter because age is just a number.”
“Not when he’s fifty-five, and you’re twenty. If that’s the case, he’s your Sugar Daddy.” Nurse Viola said from across the room, causing Zuria and I to laugh.
“I like older guys, but I don’t want no Sugar Daddy.” I chuckled out.
“Good to know.” My heart jumped when I recognised the voice.
I turn to look at Valdo, “We were just hmm…”
“We’re just stating our preference for men. What do you prefer?”
“Women,” he said with a smirk. Nurse Viola laughed from her corner and whispered, “Me too.”
My eyes widen at the statement, but it quickly left my mind when Zuria spoke, “What type of woman?”
“I like a strong woman.”
Zuria nods her heads, “Interesting and does age matter to you?”
Valdo shrugs, “As long as she’s legal and not more than fifteen years younger, she’s fine.”
“Wow, interesting.” Zuria looked over at me and smirked, “I know someone who fits the profile.”
Valdo looked and smirked, “You’re beautiful and strong woman Zuria, but I have my eyes set on someone already.”
Zuria and Nurse Viola laughed, but I stayed silent, he isn’t interested in Zuria, but he is interested in someone else. Is that person me?
“You flattered me Valdo and broke my heart a little bit too,” Zuria exclaimed with her left hands over her heart.
“Well if it makes you feel any better, I’ll send you some roses.”
She shrugged, “Do you send Roses to all your female friends?”
He smirks at her then looked at me, “No, just the ones I care about.”
Zuria and I both blush at the same time. Zuria didn’t have any sort of romantic feeling towards Valdo, but when a man as handsome as him compliments you, you can’t help yourself.
Valdo looked between Zuria, and I then asked, “So what are you guys up to?”
“I have to pick Alessandro from school, so I’m going to leave.” Zuria stepped closer to me and gave me a quick hug. “Bye.”
I frowned after her because it’s only 8:36 am based on the clock on the way and that meant she just dropped him at school. Then I realise what her plan was, and I smiled. She wants to give us some time alone to talk.
“Have you eaten yet?” Valdo asked.
I shrug, “If you consider hospital food as eating then yeah.”
He laughed and held his hands up, showing me a paper bag, “Great. I brought you breakfast.”
I smiled thankfully. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
He held on my shoulder, “Let’s go to the cafeteria.”
I turned and waved to Nurse Voila before leaving, “See you later.”
We walked out of the room and started walking to the elevator. “So how is everything with the baby?”
I shrug, “She’s okay. The doctor said she’s progressing. She might be out in a few weeks.”
“How are you holding up?” he asked when we stopped waiting for the elevator.
“I’m okay. I have the help and support of so many wonderful people, what more can I ask for?”
Valdo smile, “So have you named her yet?”
I shook my head, then an idea came to me, “What If I named her Uvalda?”
Valdo laughed and shook his head, “No. As much I appreciate you thinking about naming her after me, no. That is one ugly name, and I hated it all through school. I used to beg my mother to change my name, and of course, it didn’t happen. I want you to give her a beautiful name, some that won’t make persons laugh at her at school or bully her.”
I smile, “Thanks. I’ve been thinking about names for days, and I still can’t find the perfect one. I even tried books.”
Valdo smile, “You’ll find the perfect name for her, and when you do I’ll be here to rate it on the how likely am, I get to laugh at because of my name scale.”
“What did you get on your scale?”
He smiles, “Well, it was a scale of 10, and I got 20, so you know I got made fun of a lot. Puberty helped, though. By that time I was so handsome no one cared about my name.”
I raised my brows, “What exactly did they care about then?”
He smirked, “Well, you’ll have to find out on your own.”