“All right, on my count. One… Two… Three…”
I smiled into the camera for the tenth time.
Valdo sighed and removed the camera from his face. “She still didn’t look or smile.”
I took a deep breath and released it, “Well, we can cross model off the list of professions that she’ll be interested when she gets older.” For the past thirty minutes, Valdo and I have been trying to take a picture for Jamaica. She smiled for the first time this morning when Valdo went to pick her up. I missed her first smile, but Valdo was convinced she smile again soon. So we put on our best clothes and took out the digital camera.
She hasn’t smiled once.
“I think I should try. Maybe she likes me more.” Valdo joked.
“If she liked you more she wouldn’t have been crying for my breast forty-five minutes ago.”
Valdo smirked, “Those are some good breast.” he winked, “We both know she isn’t the only one who has cried for those breasts.”
I face turned in a shade of pink, and I laughed, “Can you just take the photo, please?”
“Okay, I’ll try a few more times but is she still doesn’t smile we’ll have to find another solution.” Valdo placed the camera over his eyes.
My jaws were hurting from all the smiling, but I tried to smile one more time.
“Perfect,” he whispered.
“Did she smile?” I moved my head and looked down at Jamaica. Her face was still expressionless.
“No, she didn’t, but you did, and your smile is perfect,” he responded.
I rolled my eyes and smile. “This won’t work. We’ll have to wait until she gets older.”
He shrugged, “Okay, fine. It’s my time to take pictures with her.” Valdo walked towards me and gently lifted Jamaica out of my arms. When she was securely in his arms, I gave him the seat.
I looked at him, “Fix your shoulders and tit your head to the right a bit.”
“Mhmm… I love it when you boss me around.”
I chuckled.
Where did I get this man from?
“You’re a trouble maker.”
Valdo started moving one of his eyebrows up and down, “You’re the only person I trouble.”
I shook my head and lifted the camera off the stand.
“Smile for the camera.” I lifted the camera and placed it over my eyes. I look through the lens as it focused. “One… Two… Three.” As I pressed the button on three, a big smile came on Jamaica’s face.
I lift the camera away from my face with a big grin on my face. “She smiled! Valdo, she smiled!” I laughed and started looking for the photo I just took on the camera.
I smiled at the photo.
Jamaica and Valdo were both smiling at the camera. I walked over to him and showed him the picture.
He chuckled, “I thought you she likes me more.”
“She smiled because she was looking at me.”
Valdo shrugged, “Whatever makes you happy.”
I turned the timer on the camera to fifteen seconds, then placed it on the tripod. “Time for all three of us.”
I quickly sat beside Valdo and wrapped my arms around his waist.
I heard the click, which meant the photo was taken. I moved back to the camera and looked at the picture.
“Beautiful,” I whispered. I walked over to Valdo and showed him the picture.
“We can have that blown up and displayed in our house.”
I looked at him, “We haven’t got a house.”
“I..” Valdo didn’t finish his statement because my phone started ringing.
I moved away from Valdo and walked over to the table where my phone lay.
It was my mother calling.
I lifted the phone to my ears, “Hi, mom.”
“Are you watching the news?” she asked immediately.
“No,” I said with a frown. I haven’t watched the news in months.
“Put your TV on CNN right now.”
“Why?” What’s so special about CNN at this time?
“Just do it.”
“Okay.” I took the Tv remote from the side table and turned on the Tv. Surprisingly it was already on CNN.
“William Morgan, son of Ohio Millionaire, George Morgan was found by police in his rented apartment when they went looking for him. Morgan body had multiple gunshots and stab wounds and his limbs were severely broken. Morgan was taken to the hospital, and he is currently undergoing surgery. Morgan broke many road violations including, reckless driving, driving without a seatbelt, driving over the speed limit and ignoring traffic symbols. Witnesses say he was trying to kill Zuria Giovanni, wife of the late Gabriele Giovanni, suspected gang leader. Mrs Giovanni and the other passengers were taken to the hospital.”
“Street cameras at Crawford and Banes also shows when Morgan hit a homeless woman, Maria Vasquez. Vasquez died instantly. Vasquez was five months pregnant. It’s suspected that William was attacked by angry residents who wanted revenge for the killing of Maria. Here’s what the residents had to say.”
“I can’t believe she’s gone. Every time I passed, she always smiles at me. She was a sweet and loving individual.”
The camera turned to a man whose eyes were filled with tears, “She was pregnant with my baby. We were going to move. I got a house to rent yesterday.” he bawled, “We weren’t gonna be homeless anymore.” The pain on his face was heartbreaking.
My tears ran down my face. I felt his pain. Just when he thought his life was going improve, William took his girlfriend and his baby way.
Maria was pregnant and homeless, just like I was a few months ago.
That could have happened to me.
I could have lost my life because of someone crazy.
The clip went back to the news channel, “William will face with multiple charges, including double murder and attempted murder. If Morgan survives will face a minimum of fifty years in prison. This is Antoniette Miller reporting for CNN news.”
Valdo switched off the tv and pulled me in his arms. “Shh… It’s okay. He won’t ever hurt you or anyone ever again.”
I wrapped my hands around his neck and cried. My heart was hurting, not for me but for the innocent who died while he was trying to kill me. I’m the reason why a homeless pregnant died.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. It’s not your fault. If he wasn’t driving recklessly, then she wouldn’t have died. Don’t blame yourself.”
It was hard not to, but I tried.
William was a psychopath, and if he had valued life, then he wouldn’t have tried to kill me. He wouldn’t have sped away when he hit Maria. He would have tried to help her, brought her to the hospital. He had no sympathy.
They should have killed him.
After a few minutes, I calmed down and pulled away from Valdo. “Why did Niccolo not kill him?” If Niccolo was so dangerous, why didn’t he just kill William?”
Valdo ran his hands through my hair, “Niccolo has a sense of humour. He likes to see people suffer. If William survives, then he’ll spend life in prison, a prison that Niccolo will most likely choose. If he survives, he’ll be tortured every day as long as he lives.”
That sounded good to me.
“I never want to see him ever again.”
“I won’t,” he assured.
I sighed. We were so happy ten minutes ago.
“What’s wrong?”
“We went from talking about blowing up pictures to talking about William. He always tries to find a way to break our special moments even when he’s not here.” I hated him. I hope he dies, but I also hope he suffers.
He deserves it after all he’s done.
“Let’s forget about William.”
I closed my eyes for a second then opened it. “Forgotten.” If my husband wanted me to forget about my ex, then I don’t need to hesitate.
“Good,” he replied with a smile. “Remember what we were talking about before your mom called?” my eyes widen as the words mom. She must have hung up by now. I’ll call her later to apologise.
I nodded at his question, “You were going to say something about a house.”
He smiled and nodded, “Yes. I was.” he stood, “I’ll be right back.”
While he was gone, I looked at Jamaica who had fallen asleep on the rug beside me. Thankful that she’ll never get to know that crazy man.
Valdo walked back in the room with an envelope in his hands. He took a seat beside me and handed me the envelope.
“What is this?”
“Just open it,” he instructed.
I opened the envelope. There was a single sheet in it. I took it out and started reading the words written on it. I lifted my head and looked at my husband. “Why?”
He smiled, “So you never have to be homeless ever again.”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
He pulled me out of the hug and looked at me, “You can thank me later.”
I smirked, “Oh, I will.” I smiled and looked back at the paper. “Why seven acres, isn’t that huge?”
“Don’t you want our five children to play?”
I chuckled, “You said four the last time.”
“Seeing Jamaica smiled at me this morning made me want more.” He said with a pout.
“So you want me to get pregnant every year then?” I joked.
He shook his head, “No. You’re still young. I want you to finish university first, and then we start having more babies.”
“Maybe I can start university next year.” Jamaica would be only enough to leave at daycare. I still haven’t decided what I wanted to do with life. I have plenty of time to decide my next step.
He shrugged, “Whenever you want. I’ll be here to support you. Always.”
I looked into his enchanting blue eyes, “I can’t wait to start making babies with you.”
Valdo smirked then placed his lips over mine. “We can start practising.”