ELEVEN

As soon as he left, the realization of what was wrong with me dawned on me ;I was pregnant. What else could be wrong if a woman vomits, feel dizzy, loses appetite and most of all misses her usually regular period.

By my calculations, I was probably nine weeks pregnant.

"Alright let's go " Jerry said in a stern voice.

We got to Hope Medical Center where my suspicions were confirmed that I was ten weeks pregnant. Jerry jumped in joy and even hugged the doctor. I smiled weakly and before I knew it, I was asleep.

When I woke up, I was in my bedroom back at hone and it was broad daylight. I saw Jerry making a call and beaming with smiles.

"Oh yes. I'm going to be a father " ... Was all I could hear him saying over the phone. I was glad to be the reason behind the smile on his face.

Just then I remembered my brother William and his son and started sobbing. My husband was at my side instantly.

"Darling what's wrong? " he asked compassionately.

I couldn't lie to him. He had seen my strengths and my vulnerabilities.

"I met my brother William today and judging by the way he looked at me and talked to me, I knew there would be no room for reconciliation. I don't even know what's wrong with me. I promised myself that I'll not cry over them again. That's what I'm still doing. What does that make me? A coward !!! " I cried out in sadness.

"No baby. It makes you a compassionate and caring human. You're the kind of person everyone wants to associate themselves with. You're a kindhearted and brave person, not a coward, okay? And besides, I think it's pregnancy hormones that's at work and is making you cry. You're the doctor here. You're supposed to know all these things. " he said smiling at me.

I nodded and smiled too and on instinct, I laid my hands protectively over my belly. Jerry eyes followed my hand and then he smiled again.

"My mum, your mum and that motherfucker all want to come but... Thank God they don't know the address to this place yet " .

We both laughed. I knew how overbearing and overwhelming my family could be.

"Although. I texted that motherfucker our address. Hope you don't mind "

"Not at all. It's even been long since I saw my best friend. Besides, aren't you going to work today? "I said, climbing out of bed.

"No. I took the day off to be with my family and one more thing Rosie... " Jerry said with a serious tone,

"What? "

"Don't let the thought of your brothers get in the way of your happiness "

I nodded and he left the bedroom. I quickly freshened up and combed my hair all back, leaving it to fall. Jerry loved it that way.

I managed to eat a little of the food he ordered after which I went back to sleep.

I don't know what woke me up.

But I was sure I heard voices coming from downstairs and they were getting closer. I sat up and listened.

"Where is she?!! "

"Oh man!! " I sighed. Julia was here already.

I checked the time on the wall clock and it was some minutes past three. I couldn't believe I had slept for so long.

The door barged open and my best friend strolled in. I stood up and hugged her excitedly.

"Oh Rosie. I've missed you so much.It's been very long"

"Yeah. I've missed you too darling. Where's Raymond? " I asked after glancing round.

"He's with Jerry. Let's go downstairs " She said and took my hand. We walked downstairs together chatting endlessly and filling each other in about the happenings. I noticed her baby in a stroller chattering excitedly. I bent down to him "Hi Ray. How are you? "

He opened his arms to me and I carried him "Hope you're not giving mummy any problems? "

Julia smiled "I can't wait to carry your child like this too"

Tears filled my eyes "So Jerry has broadcast the news to you too"

She laughed "You don't know your husband. I'm even surprised I've not seen the news on the radio and television stations."

That was when I noticed the gold band on her finger.

"Jesus Jules. Is that an... ?"

"Yes it is Rosie" She smiled broadly "I'm getting married next month on the sixteenth "

I put her baby down and hugged her "I'm so happy for you dear. But don't you think it's too early? Aren't you and Tony rushing things? "

"Actually. We had a date but I changed it when Jerry told me the news. I want my maid of honor looking regal and beautiful not with a whale-like stomach. " She joked and we both laughed.

Jerry came and sat beside me placing his hands round my waist.

"Jerry, Nana called this afternoon and said I should remind you not to forget the... Eerr... You know that thing... " Julia said, her voice trailing off.

I looked from Jerry to Julia and back to Jerry "Anything I should know about? "

Julia smiled.

Jerry faced me "It's my grandmother from my dad's side. She's worried that there has been no female children in the family. She wants to name one of the female children after herself. She had four sons and all of them had some too, except my dad who had two daughters but vehemently objected to the idea of naming any of them after her. My elder sister Jolene has three sons and a daughter ; Julia has a son and so she's waiting for me to have a daughter "

"Well" I sighed "what's her name? It wouldn't be so bad for my baby to have her great grandma's name. " I looked at Julia who had to cover her mouth to stop a giggle which had already escaped her lips.

"Amanda Meridia Felicia Winters " Jerry replied.

"Wait!! What?!! " I screamed in horror. The three of us burst into laughter.

"It's not a bad name but Nana should please wait for the next generation " I laughed.

"Isn't there anything to eat? I'm hungry or do I make myself comfortable? "Julia asked.

"No" both Jerry and I replied in unison. I stood up and made my way to the kitchen. The last time Jerry and I visited heron her house, she asked us to make ourselves comfortable and I made tacos and pepperoni dish using all her ingredients. It was a fun day though.

"So Jules. " I asked "How old is Raymond now ?"

Her eyes fluttered as it always did whenever someone mentioned anything concerning her son.

"He's five months old now and Tony and I are even planning on having another baby " She grinned thoughtfully.

"That's nice. That way you can have your Amanda Meridia Felicia "

We all laughed.

Julia stayed for some hours before finally leaving, reluctantly.

Jerry escorted her out and I stood up to go upstairs. On my way up, I kicked my legs against the staircase and it hurt so much that I winced. I remembered an African proverb that I read in High school, that if you kick your legs against something, it was a bad omen.

I immediately started having a premonition that something bad was going to happen but I couldn't pinpoint where or how it was going to happen.

****

I resumed work at Hope Medical services the following Monday. It was a great place with a lot of nice colleagues and a lot of modernised equipments. But the work load there was too much. No time for chit-chats. Lunch breaks barely last for thirty minutes before an emergency or incident occurs.

Not long after, stress started telling on me. I was always falling I'll to the extent that I was forced on an emergency maternity leave at seven months, which was unlike the usual eight months. The ultrasound showed that I was having twin girls.

Although Jerry was trying his possible best to look after me, I noticed that he had been worried about something lately. He started keeping late nights and also keeping secrets from me. I was also bothered about it too.

One day, I decided to broach the subject after he finished rubbing my already swollen feet.

"Sweetie, how was work today? " I asked trying to study his reaction. He forced a smile that was fake.

"Work is fine " he replied in a sharp tone that meant he didn't want to continue the conversation. I pressed further.

"Is everything okay, honey? "

"Everything's fine " he replied in the same tone. I smiled. Maybe everything was truly okay and it was just my imagination that something was wrong. I decided to talk about our baby.

"Okay so today is 9th ,which means... "

He put my legs down and stood up fidgeting with a shocking look on his face. "Today is the 9th" .

He repeated.

I stood up too, which was a very difficult task given the state of my body structure.

"Babe. What is it? What's going on? "

I looked at his face and I could only make out one expression; fear. Jerry was scared of something

I was still looking at him when I heard police sirens outside the compound. I became scared and agitated.

"Jerry. Talk to me "

Just then the door opened and two police officers barged in.

"Mr Jerry Winters " The tall officer said presenting his badge to us.

"I'm Detective Jones with the LAPD and this is my partner Sergeant Harrison ".

I looked at the other man, who happened to be no one else than my brother William.

This is getting interesting .

William looked at me and sighed "You're under arrest for the murder of a 19year old girl Shelby Tucker. "

I was stunned.

Jerry.

Murdered.

Young girl.

"I swear I didn't do it. This was a set up. I didn't kill her. I don't even know who she is " Jerry said in self defense but my brother didn't even listen. He just handcuffed my husband and led him away.

I stood rooted to a spot as if my husband wasn't just arrested by my own brother.