With the help of Vanessa and Charlotte I moved out of Washington after a couple of days. They promised to cover up for me when Hector— the landlord and Señor Alonso's friend— asked about me. I wanted to go to either Nevada or California, but I couldn't make up my mind. When I asked Nessa and Charlotte, they had each picked a side between the two, so the day before I left Pullman, I flipped a coin over it; heads for California and tails for Nevada. It landed on heads.
That was settled.
Vanessa and Charlotte had tried their best to make sure I would be comfortable wherever I decided to stay, they had given me powder, some clothes, oil and Charlotte even insisted on giving me some foodstuff.
"No. I can't take it." I protested when they gave me an envelope containing some dollar bills.
"Don't be silly, girl!" They had scolded me.
I was in the fifth month of my pregnancy when I arrived in San Jose, California. In normal circumstances I would have been ecstatic about moving to the famous Golden State. But there was nothing normal about this so I was more nervous— or scared—than excited.
Charlotte had advised me to subscribe to the California newspaper so I would always be informed about any job opening available. I found a vacant room in a small lodge when I arrived.
"Are you sure you can live alone here?" The landlord asked, when I asked if there was space.
He was a tall, black man with very untidy hair and a big beard that always seemed to itch.
"Yes I can, thank you."
"Yeah. The problem is, the only place available is the smallest room and I don't think it's right to rent that to a pregnant woman." He said, scratching his beard for what seemed like the fifth time that afternoon.
"I'll take it, I don't mind that. I'll only be staying here for a while." I lied. I had no idea how long I would stay.
"Hmm." He said, staring pitifully at my baby bump. "Okay. But the kitchen door doesn't close, you'll have to manage." He said and gave me the keys to the house.
The house was smaller than the one in Pullman, it had a small living room, toilet and an even smaller kitchen and it didn't have a large balcony like the one in Crestview but it was something.
I had been checking the newspapers for available jobs for days and on a Tuesday, I found an opening in a candy shop downtown. My body was aching and my feet hurt a little but I had to keep going at least because of the baby growing inside me.
I took a quick warm bath and got into something less comfortable than the maternity gowns I had been wearing for the past week. I would have loved to wear them but… I had to look less like a vulnerable, jobless pregnant woman and more of a determined worker.
I arrived at Sugarys Candy Shop around ten in the morning. As I opened the entrance door, I saw my reflection in the mirror; the dark circles around my eyes were very visible and my face looked swollen. I took a deep breath, shook my head slightly and went in.
"Hello ma'am, how can I help you today?" A girl smiled at me as soon as I entered the place. She had blonde hair just like Vanessa.
"Good morning, I'm Alina and I'd like to see the manager please."
"The manager? Oh. May I ask why, please?" She asked, sounding a little surprised that I didn't come for a candy cane or something.
"Yes, concerning the job opening in the paper yesterday." I said and her eyes widened slightly.
"You want to work… here?" She asked, and her eyes slowly fell on my baby bump.
This was getting annoying.
"Is he here?" I was beginning to be irritated by all this staring.
"Oh. Yeah. Right this way." She motioned and I followed."
The last time I had a job interview, it went very smoothly thanks to Vanessa talking non-stop about me to her colleague. Her extroverted nature had literally gotten me a job but this was sure to be different.
The manager's office was at the far end of the shop, the blonde girl knocked twice and opened the door.
"This is Alina, she's here for the packaging job." She said, led me in and left.
"Thank you Madison." He said and put out the cigar he was smoking. "Please have a seat dear."
I obliged, then took out the file containing my credentials and handed them to him. He glanced at my belly and collected the files.
"I see you worked at Grocery Outlet before?"
"That's right." I nodded. Was that a good sign?
"How many months pregnant are you? If you don't mind"? He asked, studying me.
"Five months."
"Hmm. It looks a little bigger than that don't you think?" He asked, still staring at my belly. Didn't these people know it was rude to stare?
"Is there a problem sir?" I asked, keeping my face as straight as possible.
"Hmm." He grunted again. "It says here that you're not married. What about the father?"
"What has that got to do with me working here?" I said, staring him straight in the eye, forcing him to look away.
He closed the file and got up.
"Your files are good."
"Thank you sir."
"But I don't think we can hire you ma'am. Your pregnancy will inevitably make you a burden to us and we can't cope with that right now, I'm sorry."
"No sir. I can work here, this pregnancy won't hinder my performance I promise." I said, getting to my feet. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, I—"
"This isn't about that. You were right, I shouldn't ask about that, it's not my business, but we can't employ you, not when you're this pregnant." He said without flinching.
"I promise this won't get in the way, I'll do my best." I said, bent on keeping my feelings positive.
"Please leave my office."
"I could—"
"Please ma'am." He said firmly.
I took a deep breath and left the office. I knew this would happen but somehow it still hurt.
"Wait, Alina." Someone called when I was at the door.
I looked around and saw that it was the blonde receptionist. She had a sad look on her face, like she understood the way I was feeling.
She moved towards me and handed me a flyer.
"This should save you money on hospital bills." She smiled, lightly.
I looked at the flyer;
SAN JOSE GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER
ARE YOU FIVE MONTHS GONE OR MORE AND DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR TESTS, MEDICATION, ETC? THEN BE THE FIRST TO ENROLL TO OUR PREGNANT MOTHERS' CAMPAIGN.
VISIT THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX NOW!
(DIRECTIONS AND ADDRESS AT THE BACK)
This would have made me smile if I hadn't been so disappointed about not getting the job but here we were.
"It's just some blocks away from here." You should try.
"Thanks." I said, managing a smile. And without another word, I left.
I hadn't eaten anything since morning, part of the reason was because I wanted to get the job and use the food as a bit of a celebration. The second reason was because I was trying to manage the remaining money I had, therefore I had been surviving on cheap bread and milk; yes it saved money but I was pregnant and eating bread everyday was starting to make me disgusted. But then, I had no choice.
On my way back, I saw an advertisement on the roadside showing a vacancy at Gulliver's Bakery. I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up but I still did. I turned left and headed inside, I just had to believe.
"I'm sorry ma'am, I don't think I can give a cleaning job to a pregnant woman in good conscience." The bakery head said after taking several minutes pretending to read my file.
"I really don't mind sir. I promise I will try my best not to be a liability to the company."
"It's not just about the bakery, this also affects you largely, all this stress could affect your pregnancy and if anything were to happen, it would be my fault. So I'm sorry, I can't." He said, shutting the file and handing it back to me.
I walked back to the bus stop more miserable than before. I shouldn't have gone through the trouble. I stopped on my tracks when I got another of my dizzying feelings.
Not again.
I held on to a streetlight pole, just in case. It usually went away after some minutes but this was getting worse. I held on tighter. I felt my stomach churn and knowing what was coming next, I ran to a gutter and threw up; once, twice, three times. I had tried to ignore the fact that I was getting sicker by the day but this time it was much worse.
"Are you okay?" Someone asked from behind. I lost consciousness before I could see who it was.
I woke up to the beep-beep sound of a clinical monitor. I turned on the bed and saw someone in scrubs scribbling something on a piece of paper.
"You're awake, Miss Alina. I'm Dr. Audrey Brown." She smiled when she saw me open my eyes. She looked too beautiful to be a doctor.
"Where am I? What happened?"
"This is San Jose General. The lady that brought you in said that you fainted on a sidewalk and the only thing she could find was the hospital flyer and your ID."
"I fainted? My baby! Did anything happen to…"
"Nothing happened, your baby is fine, but you were suffering from severe dehydration. We'll run a scan and a few tests just in case, to make sure you're in optimum condition." She said, adjusting the drip bag above me.
"I'm not sure I can afford—"
"It's all free dear, you qualify for free treatment so the government will be covering everything, don't worry." She said, reading my mind. "Is there anyone you'd like to call to inform them where you are or anything?"
"Nobody." I said quietly.
A nurse came in with a tray just then, kept it in my bedside table and left.
"You might not have much of an appetite but you'll have to eat." Dr. Brown said when the nurse was gone.
I looked at the tray and smiled when I didn't see bread, that was a start. Baked beans and bacon would do nicely.
"Thank you, Dr. Brown." I said, taking a scoop of beans.
"Call me Audrey." She smiled.
"How much longer do I need to stay here?"
"Well technically you can go when your tests come back. You can also choose to come for check-ups every week but I would recommend you stay here till you deliver, that's the safest way and it also helps avoid any complications during labor."
*****
I had been two months since I first got admitted into the ward and my tummy was now bigger and heavier than ever, but thanks to the doctors, I had been put under the best care, all the pregnant women in the ward did some little exercises and physiotherapy everyday to loosen the strain on our joints and muscles, it really helped.
I had made some friends too; Jennifer and Gwen but Jenny gave birth to twins last week and Gwen was already nine months gone. It was nice watching them hold their babies in their hands for the first time. Mine had begun kicking after some weeks since my first physiotherapy. Those kicks were very beautiful.
"Would you like to know the gender?" Dr. Brown asked later that day.
I was nervous but I agreed. I had to find out.
"It's a boy." She said after looking at the diagrams. "A boy with a strong heartbeat, that's very good." She smiled.
I couldn't help my joy. Yes this baby didn't come into my life the way I would have dreamed but I will do anything in my power to keep my boy safe. I won't let him pay for my sins. I won't stop fighting.
My water broke two months later, on a Thursday afternoon. After a long bout of pushing and screaming, I heard it—The cries of a baby, my baby— I was extremely exhausted but just that brought me comfort."He's a bouncing baby boy!" I heard Dr. Brown say happily."Can I hold him?""Of course." She wiped the blood off him with a clean towel and put him in my arms.I couldn't describe the way I felt holding my baby in my arms, he had caramel skin and beautiful brown eyes just like mine. He really was a gorgeous baby."What's his name?" A nurse asked with a register in her hand."Niguez." I said without thinking. It was as though the name had been on my mind forever. But I liked it. "His name is Niguez Dias."She nodded, wrote it down and asked me for Niguez so she could check his weight. He weighed exactly 3.2 kilograms.I waited patiently for her to finish so I could go back to holding my baby in my hands."You'll have to rest, Alina." Dr. Brown said when she saw me watching the nurse cu
It was a nice peaceful Saturday. Niguez was still sleeping, he had outgrown his cradle and was sleeping on the small bed in the centre of the room. I folded the little mat I had used to sleep on the floor got up and tucked him in so he would feel more comfortable. He had grown so fast, a few days from today he would be two, meaning it would have been two. Two whole years since I gave birth. Wow. I felt a bit guilty when I got up and saw him lying on the bed. I couldn't provide for him as well as he deserved, the dish washing and laundry job I was working didn't provide for any more than little food and rent. I had tried to start doing delivery services for a small firm some time ago, but it was a disaster because I had to pay for my own transport wherever I was going to deliver, at the end of the day the money I was paid and what I spent on transport was almost the same. I quit the following week. I opened the door and picked up the mail on the porch, the newspapers were always i
TRENT POV"What are you wearing sir?" Clarence's voice came from behind me."I think you mean just Trent, Clarence." I smirked. "You scared me there. What's up?" He looked confusedly at me. Probably wondering what I meant. Then continued;"I called you all day, sir. I have been looking all over for you since the afternoon. I had to hold a meeting between Otega Group and our board myself." He said frowning."And how did it go?" I asked seriously, even though I knew what was coming."We secured the deal sir, but it wasn't easy, I could have really used you there today.""Yes. But I wasn't there and it seems like you had everything under your control. That's impressive Clarence, I know I can count on you any time." I said, giving him a slight pat in the shoulder. He smiled warmly, Clarence always beamed when he was complimented for a job well done and I always appreciated his efforts.I had known Clarence for a while now. We had graduated together in the University Of England, and when
ALINA POV"Can I get everyone's attention please." Clarence Jacobs said as he stood in front of the crowd of workers in the firm's large hall. "Some of you might be wondering why I we are all gathered here today. The company will be throwing a party to celebrate the completion of our latest high-speed, 4G telecom tower in San Jose!" He announced.There was a loud round of applause from the audience including me. When the applause had died down he continued."This new tower will enable a faster, stronger and more secure connection for us to work better and more efficiently while also serving our customers better. It is a major breakthrough here in the minority part of California. There is no doubt we will be having more investors from far and wide and eventually overseas. So the management has decided to throw a bash tomorrow evening in honour of this achievement. You all deserve it." He said and there was another round of applause, and cheers from the crowd."Be sure to attend the par
TRENT POVGilbert had proposed that I moved out of the mansion for now go keep my cover hidden."Move out?" I asked, bewildered when he came up with idea."Not technically move out, just to find a place to lay low now that you want to keep your identity hidden." He said."That doesn't sound like a very good idea.""Just think about it. Imagine if maybe someone followed you and you were unaware of it. You'd lead them straight to this multi million dollar mansion here in the GRA. I don't think that's a good idea either." He pressed on. "Trent Williams is a technician working at Suntech right. But Trent O'Neil is the CEO, the main man, the alpha of the company. Keeping your identity a secret will not be easy but at least we can try. First off, you'll need to move to someplace less… exotic." He said, motioning around the living room.I thought about it. He was right. As always.If I stayed here, it would pose a bigger threat to revealing my true identity and as soon as it was out, the med
ALINA POV"Hey are you okay there?" He asked, racing across the street to help me up.I closed my eyes in embarrassment, he hadn't seen me yet but there was no escaping now. My hair was messy, I was in my pajamas and worse? I didn't have a bra on. How delightful.He helped me up to my feet. His eyes widened when he saw my face."Alina?!" He asked, visibly shocked. What… what are you doing here?" "Oh, Trent." I said, forcing a smile. I was embarrassed and I couldn't help feeling annoyed that he had seen me just when I prayed he wouldn't. "Uhh.. I live in Gordon's Drive, that's about two blocks away.""Wow." He said smiling. "So, What's up? No work today for either of us huh?""Nope." I smiled. Uh.. Trent?" "Yeah?" He answered."You said you live here but I don't think I've ever seen you around this area before." I said. That part didn't quite make much sense to me."Oh, that. I just moved in. Actually I just moved in this morning." He smiled. "Soni guess we're kind of neighbors now o
ALINA POVOn Monday morning, I got to work later than I usually did."You're a bit late, Alina." Gloria, my coworker said when she saw me."Sorry about that, I think I overslept." "We shouldn't form a habit of arriving for work, there's always someone watching and if you keep it up, you could be leaving here far sooner than you think." Gloria said."Noted." I said and gazed around the floor I was in. The offices were full, employees were already in their offices working, with a laptop in front of them."Hello there." an unfamiliar voice said from behind me. I turned around and saw a man in a suit, probably a department head or assistant judging by his suit."Good morning." I replied.He smiled, showing a bright set of teeth. I had never seen him before. He had black hair, brown eyes and was about my height, he also had a very deep voice when he spoke. He was obviously an important person in the company so why was he talking to me? Was I in trouble already?"You must be Alina." He sa
TRENT POV"Trust me these burgers are good." I said as Alina and I took our food trays over to a free table in the cafeteria. "They do look pretty big don't you think?" She said as we sat down on a table and began to eat."This is just the normal size. I once had a triple decker. It was fantastic, although I needed about an hour of rest before I could do literally anything." She laughed as a few crumbs of bread landed on me."Oh my God! I'm so sorry." She apologized, getting up with a napkin."It's alright." I waved it off. "No biggie as long as it's not ketchup."After slapping off the crumbs from my jacket, I got back to destroying my burger."It's nice." She said."My shirt or the burger?" I joked."Your old looking shirt?." She chuckled. "I meant the burger.""The first time I ordered these, I had to order extra. When I was done with that, I went for one more but it was already finished. I remember being grumpy the entire day." I recollected.The entire day? Just because you cou