CHAPTER 2

"I'm very happy that the two of us get to meet at last Jessica," Aunt Clara, let out before serving fried rice on her plate. "I'm also glad and honored, Aunty," Jessica replied with a smile.

"Your food is still as delicious as ever Aunt Clara, I have missed this so much," Travis muttered filling his mouth with another huge spoon of rice. "Well, thank God you are back, however," Aunt Clara said with sadness visible on her face. 

"However, what?" Travis asked, dropping his spoon to stare at Aunt Clara. 

"Now that you would be staying here. What kind of job do you think you would get? You know the jobs here aren't something you could get so easily in this town and seeing how your father left us a huge debt to pay. I'm just worried, how on earth would we be able to pay off such debt?" Aunt Clara let out her concern. 

"The debt we owe Mrs. Mary is to be paid off soon, how do we do that?" Aunt Clara asked again.

"You don't have to worry Aunt Clara, I have talked to Mrs. Mary and she agreed that I could work in her wine factory and all that we owe would be deducted from my salary," Travis told her. "But if what we owe is being deducted from your salary, nothing would be left to help here around the house," Aunt Clara said. 

"You don't have to worry about that Aunt Clara, I have some money saved up from England. It would go a long way for us and I would make sure I work some overtime to make sure we are okay and lack nothing," Travis explained. 

"What matters to me the most is that all our family are together and fine," Travis muttered with a huge grin. "Alright Travis, eat up before your food gets cold." Aunt Clara said with a smile. 

"Yummy, this banana tastes really nice! Have some of this Travis," Jessica said, trying to hand him a banana. "What are you doing? Take that away, don't you know Travis is allergic to Banana? I thought you should know that by now since you're his wife," Aunt Clara said. 

"No, that's alright! I wasn't able to tell Jessica about that, moreover, it's not a big deal," Travis said. 

"You should have more banana's Love," Travis let out to Jessica, "I'm really okay babe," Jessica said with a small smile. "How cheesy," Emerald squealed happily but Aunt Clara rolled her eyes before sighing at the boring show in front of her. 

***************

Travis had woken up early in the morning the next day to head to work.

After Jessica and Travis had their breakfast. They walked hand in hand as Jessica escorted him to the factory he was going to start work at, the factory wasn't far from where they lived. "Wow babe, where you would be working is beautiful," Jessica muttered with Amazement in her eyes. 

"I know right, the owner is really wealthy," Travis replied. 

"It's big, isn't it?" He asked. 

"Yes, very big," Jessica replied. 

Travis smiled before pulling Jessica into a big warm hug. "I don't want you to go but I have to work, you should head back home and I will see you when I get back," Travis said, kissing Jessica on the cheeks.

He was about to leave but Jessica stopped him. "What's it Love?" He asked. "Do you think I could work here too? I mean I want to help settle the debt we owe Mrs. Mary and help around the house expenses," she said but Travis only scoffed before laughing. 

"What's it?" She asked. 

"I just had a feeling that you were going to ask me that question but I won't let you love, I don't want you getting stressed out or tired. You should stay home with Emerald and Aunt Clara, follow them to the market, and help them sell some fruit." Travis Advised. 

"I just felt we would earn bigger if I worked here babe," Jessica said. "Don't worry, I promise that I have got this covered," Travis said before staring at her. He bent low before kissing her lips, he pulled away before pecking her forehead. 

"I will see you when I get back home," he said before leaving. 

Jessica had just packed Travis's clothes from the rope where she had spread them. She was about to leave to get them ironed when Aunt Clara called her. "Aunty, anything the matter?" She asked. 

"Nothing really, just curious! How long have you and my son been together before marriage?" She asked Jessica before eating from the pasta in front of her. 

"We have been together for four years," Jessica replied, shocked at the question being thrown at her. "In those four years, have you saved any money?" Aunt Clara asked. 

"No, nothing," Jessica replied politely. 

"What? I feel so sorry for my poor son, he is taking the responsibility of paying off our debt, and then another person adds up for him to support," Aunt Clara muttered harshly. 

"I can just help out in the Market," Jessica offered. "No, you should iron those clothes instead," Aunt Clara said before leaving. 

FOUR MONTH LATER

"The moon is really beautiful tonight," Travis said, hugging Jessica from behind. "Is something wrong Love? Do you have a problem? You seem a bit quiet," Travis asked worriedly.

  "You know that I haven't been feeling well lately. Well, I just got back from the health clinic close by," Jessica let out as Travis pulled away from the hug before swiveling Jessica to face him. 

"Yes, and what did they say love?" He asked. Rubbing her hands gently.  "Do you remember a wish that we both made?" She asked, making Travis nod. 

"Well, that wish finally came true," she muttered with a smile. "Are you telling me that I will become a father soon?" Travis asked with an enormous grin placed at each corner of his lips. "Wait, are we going to be a family soon?" He asked yet again. 

"You're keeping me in suspense, say, something love," Travis begged. "Yes, we are going to have a family together babe," she said as Travis carried her in a bridal style.

"Thank you," Travis said before pulling his wife into a hug. They were both happily rejoicing with no hint that Aunt Clara was eavesdropping on their whole conversation. 

CHAPTER 3

The breeze that blew fresh air was visible in the market as Aunt Clara tried to adjust her fruits from getting dusty, her friend Rita had just stopped by her stall to get some fruits. "Congratulations Clara," Rita, her friend, exclaimed. 

"Congratulations for what? Did I win the lottery?" She asked as Rita scoffed. "Common, I heard Travis got Married," Rita muttered looking at the fresh and tasty looking oranges. "That woman gets on my nerves each time I set my eyes on her," Aunt Clara said, fixing her hands on her waist before rolling her eyes. 

"Don't say that," Rita muttered. 

"I really don't know what Travis saw in that woman," Aunt Clara muttered furiously.

"Why say that?" Rita asked. 

"Travis didn't use his head this time, there are a lot of women out there but he chose to end up with someone as poor as he is," she muttered making Rita scoff. "Don't be like that Clara," Her friend insisted. 

"Isn't it the truth? Travis is a really handsome man! He could easily get a rich woman if he wanted to,``'' You know Rita, I had always thought that our lives would become better when he marries someone who had the money," Aunt Clara said. 

"Do you know that woman is pregnant?" Aunt Clara said, peeling the yellow part out of the oranges. 

"Pregnant? Oh, that good news," Rita said happily. "That's not good news Rita, it's not been long since they got married and she is already pregnant. That child would only add up to our responsibility, we're going to have another mouth to feed in our house," Aunt Clara explained. 

"Just forget all of that Clara, I'm sure Travis got everything covered. I guess you should learn to accept her as a family, moreover, I heard she is a nice lady," Rita muttered.

"I would give it a thought," Aunt Clara said. 

***********************

"Mother, you must be happy that you would become a grandmother soon and I also can't wait to be an aunt," Emerald muttered happily in the kitchen as they made dinner. 

"Huh, how can I be happy when we don't even have the money. What are we going to feed that child, especially now that things are quite expensive," Aunt Clara muttered, steering the food, she didn't care that Jessica was present in the kitchen and listening to her harsh words. 

"But Mother," Emerald said.

"Soon enough, there would be five of us living in this house. Oh my goodness, hurry up Emerald or dinner might take the whole night if we keep on talking about our added burden." Aunt Clara muttered before adding salt to the food she was making. 

Jessica sighed before dropping the onions she was peeling. "Aunty, I'm also going to help you in the market and around the house," Jessica let out. 

"What, you're pregnant and practically you don't have to do that because I don't want my nephew or niece to have any complications during birth," Emerald muttered wisely. 

"Emerald, thanks for the concern but I promise that I won't be stressed out." Jessica insisted with a smile. "Jessica, would you just listen to Emerald? If your husband finds out, he might get furious with me. It's best that you don't stress," Aunt Clara said, pouring the rice into the hot water. 

"I won't tell Travis about it, I promise you that I can handle it,'' Jessica said as her eyes began to get watery from the onions she sliced.  "Don't say I didn't warn you, you asked for this, and I didn't force you. Okay!" Aunt Clara clarified. 

*AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS*

"Jessica, what's taking the food long to cook?" Aunt Clara muttered, walking towards the cupboard. She wasn't going to get anything from the cupboard, she only wanted to intentionally push Jessica towards the hot pot she was steering.

"Ouch, my hands." Jessica muttered, painfully the minute her hands hit the hot plate. "Oh, are you okay? What happened to you?" Aunt Clara asked like she hadn't done anything. Jessica said nothing as a sob escaped her lips, 

"You burned your hands, I'm so sorry Jessica! I didn't mean to push you towards the Stove when I opened the cupboard," Aunt Clara lied. "Emerald, get the pain reliever so we can treat the burn,"  Aunt Clara let out. 

"No need, I would just finish off the cooking before it get burnt," Jessica said. 

*************************

"Here, have some of this milk love! It would make you and our baby stronger." Travis said, handing Jessica a glass of milk he had gotten for her from the kitchen. She pushed her hair behind her ear before collecting the milk from his grip. 

Travis sat close to her on the bed as he watched his wife sip from the cup of milk in her hand. "Stephanie, you know what?" Travis asked, placing a hand on Jessica's tummy. 

"Your father is very excited to see you and your mother and I promise that we are going to love you and take very good care of you," Travis muttered before kissing Jessica's tummy.

"You see love, I'm very happy that we are having a family together and I know that you grew up without a parent figure in your life," Travis said, staring at Jessica. She said nothing as her hands moved towards his cheeks before caressing them gently.

"I'm very lucky because you are the father of my child," Jessica muttered. Travis smiled before giving her hands a gentle squeeze. "Ouch," Jessica let out a girly hum.  

"What happened to your hand?" Travis asked worriedly as he noticed the burn. "That's nothing babe. I burned my hand this morning while I was cooking," Jessica said. "You know love, you shouldn't push yourself! It's not good for a pregnant woman to stress herself out." Travis said, rubbing the burn softly.

"But I can still do little household chores and I won't get tired," Jessica said. "Even so, I hate it when you get hurt," Travis said, staring at the burn before kissing it softly. 

"I don't like to see marks like this one," Travis insisted. "Babe, I want to help Emerald and Aunt Clara around the house! Besides, I won't keep up this way," Jessica said. Travis let out a big sigh when he knew it was a waste of time to keep arguing with his wife. 

"Well, you should be careful next time. This must not happen again," Travis said, caressing his wife's cheeks before pulling her in for a hug. "Yes, I promise," she said with a huge grin. 

CHAPTER 4

"You shouldn't do that Aunt Jessica, let me help you carry that bucket of water," Emerald muttered, running towards Jessica to help her with the bucket of water she was fetching. "What are you doing there Emerald?" Aunt Clara's voice filled the Air. 

"I need you in the house right now, how do you expect me to stack up all those fruits and carry them to the market alone? Get over here and help me," Aunt Clara said. "I'm just going to help aunt Jessica with her bucket of water inside the house Mother," Emerald said.

"You silly child, let her do it. Moreover, she can carry the bucket of water herself. Isn't that right Jessica?" Aunt Clara asked. 

"Of course," Jessica muttered with a small smile. "Since you heard her already, can you just come inside and help me out? Hurry up Emerald," Aunt Clara mumbled.

"Just go help her out, I will be fine," Jessica muttered with a smile. The minute Emerald had gone inside the house, Aunt Clara came back outside before pouring some liquid substance on the floor. She smiled a little before walking inside. 

Jessica lifted her bucket of water before walking inside the house. The minute she stepped on the slippery substances that were sprayed earlier, she lost balance and fell heavily on the floor with the bucket of water spilling everywhere. 

"Arhh, my tummy," she yelled in pain. 

"Aunt Jessica, what happened here?" Emerald asked, running towards her. "Let me help you get up," Emerald said, trying to lift her up but couldn't. "Mother," Emerald yelled as Aunt Clara came running towards them. 

"This is why I told you not to fetch some water, how did you slip? You have to be extra careful because you're pregnant, I hope you aren't hurt," Aunt Clara asked.

 "I hope you didn't break any bones, aunt Jessica," Emerald asked worryingly.

"Arhhh, blood," Jessica muttered as she stared at her clothes that were soaked in her own blood.

 "Aunt Jessica," Emerald muttered almost in tears.

"You're bleeding! Hurry Emerald. Go get some help or call the cab so we could get her to the hospital," Aunt Clara said. 

"Wait right here aunt Jessica while I get the cab, you would be fine," Emerald let out before running to get help. "Hurry Emerald before it gets literally disastrous," Aunt Clara yelled.

**************

"Nurse, where can I find Jessica Franco?" Travis asked, panic laced in his voice. "The first bed on your left sir," The nurse said, making Travis nod. 

"Brother?" Emerald called the instant she noticed Travis. "Emerald? Jessica?" He called before taking a seat close to his wife. "Babe?" Jessica called as Travis held on her hands tightly. 

"What happened to you love? how did you get here?" Travis asked. "Please forgive me, babe, I didn't mean for this to happen," Jessica muttered with a little sob escaping her lips. 

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Franco?" The woman dressed in a white laboratory suit asked as Travis sprang up from the chair. "Yes, doctor," Travis replied. "Well, your wife is out of danger," The doctor said. 

"Thank you, doctor," Travis said with a sigh of relief. "What about my baby doctor?" Jessica asked. "Both of you shouldn't worry, your baby is safe." The doctor let out, with a smile. "Oh, thank goodness," Jessica let out. 

"Next time Jessica, be careful and don't do heavy house chores. It is not good for you and the baby," The doctor warned. "Yes doctor, I won't," Jessica said with a nod. 

"Everything seems stable, I need to attend to another patient! Please excuse me," the doctor muttered before leaving. "Love, please would you stop exhausting yourself too much from now on?" Travis pleaded softly as Jessica wouldn't stop sobbing, the thought of losing her first baby scared her to death.

"Household chores aren't something that's hard Travis," Jessica let out. "Brother, I have something to say," Emerald said. "What's it, Emerald?" Travis asked gazing at her.

"I have been feeling guilty for a long time now, it's about my mother. She has been doing and harboring bad things towards aunt Jessica," Emerald explained. 

"Emerald, don't say that about your mother," Jessica said.  

"Is that true love?" Travis asked but Jessica couldn't stare him in the eyes.

"I don't want to ruin your family and the relationship you have with your stepmother," Jessica said.

"No, if she doesn't like you, she shouldn't involve our baby. I need to talk to her about this," Travis said with anger visible on his whole face. "No need, don't just mind her." Jessica pleaded. 

"Careful aunt Jessica," Emerald muttered as they walked inside the house. "Emerald please get Jessica a cup of water," Travis muttered, making her head to the kitchen. 

"Oh, I see you are back from the hospital Jessica! So tell me how you and the baby are doing?" Aunt Clara asked. "No complication, we are doing fine," Jessica replied. "Well, thank Goodness that both you and the baby are safe," Aunt Clara said, holding her chest.  

"Aunt Clara? Love? I need to get back to the wine factory. Please take good care of Jessica for me while I'm away," Travis said. "Of course Travis, I would take good care of her," Aunt Clara said. 

"Thank you," Travis said before staring back at his wife. 

"You should be careful," he warned before pecking her on the lips. He walked out of the room before lurking at the back of the door. "Nothing went wrong with your pregnancy? Oh no, that means there is no stopping another mouth to feed in this house. I just can't believe this." Aunt Clara said a little mad.

"Aunty, I know ever since I came to this house. You never liked me for Travis but I hope you would leave my child out of this," Jessica said. 

"Are you threatening me?" Aunt Clara asked. 

"I'm asking you with respect because I respect you and since my husband looks up to you as his real mother but if you ever threaten the life of my child again, I won't allow it anymore." Jessica let out firmly.

"What're you going to do? Huh, you talk asive you are someone high and mighty. If you feel you have grown tough now then let me warn you because I'm someone a lot tougher " Aunt Clara let out. Jessica felt it was a waste of time arguing with her as she turned to leave but aunt Clara hauled her by the hair. 

"Uhhh," Jessica wimps in pain.

"Where do you think you're going when I'm not finished talking to you?" Aunt Clara asked, hauling her grip harder on Jessica's hair. 

"Aunty please stop," Jessica begged. 

"I won't let you push me around, remember that," Aunt Clara let out as she put up her hand to slap Jessica but Travis held her hand tightly before she could succeed.

"Don't you dare hurt my wife aunt Clara," Travis muttered angrily. "You only act nicely towards her when I'm around and treat her badly when I leave for work. I can't take this anymore, I want you out of this house." Travis let out with finality in his every phrase.