Chapter 47
1011words
I nod my head before she could continue. "Yes, that's your grandbaby."
My mother moved closer to Valdo and bent to look at Jamaica. "She's so beautiful. What's her name?"
"Jamaica Gizelle Taylor."
She turned and looked at me for a brief second; then another tear fell from her eye. "Thank you."
She wiped it quickly then looked up at Valdo. "I'm Gizelle Taylor." she held her hands out, and he shook it. "Uvaldo, Dakoda."
"Nice to meet you, Mr Dakoda."
"You can call me Valdo."
She smiled, "Valdo, it is."
She looked around then at us, "We should probably go inside before one of those nosey neighbours starts gossiping." She moved away from Valdo and left to open the door wider for us to enter. As I entered, I realised that nothing changed. It was exactly as it was when I left. "You can have a seat on the couch. Is there anything I can get you guys?"
"I'm okay." Valdo and I said simultaneously as we sat on the couch. My mother nod then took a seat on the opposite couch.
She looked at between Valdo, and I then asked, "Are you two...together?"
I looked at Valdo as he smiled, "Yes." we answered simultaneously once again.
"Is he the father of the baby?"
I shook my head, "No. William is Jamaica's father. I told William I was pregnant the same day I told you and he rejected me saying that she wasn't his. I haven't seen him since. " I looked across at Valdo and smile. "I met Valdo when I was seven months pregnant and homeless. He took me in. His family became my own. We've only been dating for a few weeks."
My mother bent her head in shame. "I can't tell you how sorry I am. I tried looking for you. When I calmed down, I tried looking for you, but you were nowhere to be found. I even reported you missing, but the police said it wouldn't be a missing report since I had told you to leave and it was too early. I tried a few more times, but nothing came of it. "
She sobbed, "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, ma'. I'm okay. I survived. I met Valdo, Hannah, Kevin, Zuria and some other wonderful people. I know what the real world is like now. If I had stayed here in this town, then God knows the type of scandal that would surround both of us. I would have never been able to experience other types of love and family relationship."
"You leaving still caused a scandal. Word got around as soon as I reported it to the police the next day. Dalton can't keep his mouth shut, has to tell his wife everything." Dalton and his wife, Melissa, were the town's renown chatterboxes. They couldn't keep anything to themselves. I don't know how he's been a cop for so long.
I shook my head, "It doesn't matter. We both know how toxic this town is. They hear what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe."
She smiled, "When did you become so wise?"
"Living on the streets teaches you wisdom."
She sighed, "I'm sorry you had to go through all that before you were ready."
"The funny thing is, I don't regret any of it. I've learnt so many things from that day. I wouldn't have met Valdo if things had turned out different."
"I think fate would have allowed us to meet eventually," Valdo spoke up. I smiled at his sweet words.
She looked at Valdo, "So you're my daughter's boyfriend?" This is my first time introducing my mother to my boyfriend. She had found out that William and I were dating through one of her co-workers. Her only advice was to be careful. The Nectar family was known for not only their wealth but the scandals that occur within the family.
He answered, "I am." "You've been taking care for her these past few months?" I hope Valdo don't mind my mother asking him questions. Any mother would want to know what her child has gotten herself in.
He nodded, "I have."
"You don't mind that Jamaica isn't yours?" she asked curiously.
He shook his head, "I don't. I know she isn't mine biologically, but I've been with her since the day she was born and before that. I'm the only father figure she knows." I smiled at how easy he answered my mother's question.
"You want to be her father?" my mother asked curiously with her eyebrows raised.
Valdo looked at me and smile, "I do."I blushed at his words. "And maybe one day, if Jacoby gives me a chance, I'll marry her and adopt Jamaica legally." I blushed at his words. If Valdo even asked me to marry him today, I would say yes. I didn't need more time to tell how great he is.
"That's a big commitment." she pointed out.
"It is." he agreed.
"Are you sure you're ready to be a father to someone else's child?" That was a good question to ask, and I knew exactly why my mom asked it. When I was around ten, she met a guy, but he only wanted her and not the child that came with her.
"I am. I don't consider Jamaica someone else's child. From what Jakobia told me, William denied being the father. He has no claim over her."
My mother nodded and smiled, "How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-eight," he answered honestly.
She chuckled, "You're closer to my age than hers." she quickly looked at me, "Not that it matters. I can see that you truly care about my daughter, and that's all that matters."
