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. 

CHAPTER 5

"Travis, you mean, you're going to kick me  out of the house?" She asked, surprise visible on her face.

“So now, I'm at fault here? I was married to your father. I may not be your real mother but I took care of you and treated you like my own son and now you want to treat me this way because of that filthy woman." Aunt Clara said. 

Emerald walked in with a glass of water to her grip, she was unhappy and felt bad. It was all her fault that her mother and brother were having a big fight. 

"You brought this upon yourself," Travis muttered out angrily. 

"Travis please stop," Jessica let out trying to pull him away but he was just too strong. 

"I'm doing this because I want a much better life than this for you Travis. Instead of you using your brains, you went out and married someone who is as poor as we are. Our lives is supposed to be getting better but it seemed that we are bound to suffer because of that stupid woman you call your wife." Aunt Clara let out. 

"Get out of this house aunt Clara before I lose the respect I have left for you, and if you can't get along with my wife, then I want you out of this house. We all don't need a bad egg around so just leave us alone." Travis muttered with rage. 

"I hope you don't regret this Travis," Aunt Clara said. 

"Get the hell out of this house this minutes before I do something bad to you," Travis yelled at the top of his voice. Emerald couldn't help it as she kept crying, if she hadn't told her brother about what her mother was doing! They might not have ended up in a big fight. 

"Brother please," Emerald begged but Travis had turned a deaf ear, Aunt Clara left for her room to get her things. She was angry and in full rage. 

The night wind was beautiful but Jessica seemed to be in a lot of thought since the argument between Travis and his stepmother. She felt she was the cause of the fight, her poorness had inflicted all this dispute between them. 

"Love," Travis called, clearing his throat to get her attention. 

"It's getting late and you're still awake, you might catch the cold out here," Travis said before wrapping his arms around her. 

"I'm not sleepy yet," Jessica muttered.

"I feel bad about what happened earlier today, You only got into a huge misunderstanding with Aunty because of me, she is the only family you and Emerald have left." Jessica let out worriedly. 

"Love, you're my family. You, Emerald, and our first baby. I only did that to her because I don't want her to hurt you or the baby. The truth is, I didn't like what happened either but you know how much I love you and I hate it if anybody would chose to hurt my family," Travis let out before kissing the side of her cheeks.

"Let get to bed, it getting late." Travis said before leading his wife to bed. 

SEVEN MONTH LATER

"You know I don't like leaving you alone because of your condition but we have to deliver some wine to the city, I promise that I won't be gone for long love! It's just for few days." Travis said clutching his bag on his back, Jessica gave him a small chuckle before rubbing her tummy gently. 

"Babe, the baby wouldn't be coming out today. I would be due in next two month, don't worry about me! I would be waiting for your return as long as you are careful in the city." Jessica said. 

"You should also be careful around the house, I don't want anything to happen to you or our baby." Travis muttered. 

"Of course. Emerald is here and she takes very good care of me," Jessica told, making Travis nod

"Emerald, I'm leaving you in the care of my wife," He let out. "I won't allow anything to happen to her brother, i would make sure she eat all the food in the house and get bigger before you come back." Emerald let out earning a raft of laughter from both Travis and Jessica. 

"Thank you so much Emerald, I won't mind if you make her put on an extra pounds but not just too much for me not to recognize my wife any longer," Travis said with rubbing Jessica's stomach softly. 

"I have to go now," Travis said hugging his wife tightly and dearly before kissing her on the lips. He bent his face close to Jessica's stomach before whispering.

"Well, bye baby," 

"Take care of yourself too Emerald," Travis said hugging his sister and pecking her forehead before leaving. 

"Why do you look so sad," Emerald asked Jessica as they made lunch. "You're missing my brother, don't you?" Emerald teased. 

"You can't blame me for feeling this way, this would be the first time of being apart from Travis since we got married, it been four days since he left for the city." Jessica let out standing up to check the food they where preparing. She felt a sharp pain close to her abdomen as she let out a painful growl. 

"What? What's wrong with you Aunt Jessy?" Emerald let out worridely but Jessica said nothing but whimper more from the blinding pain.

"Wait here, I need to get help." Emerald muttered.

"Emerald wait! I think my baby just happen to kick." Jessica let out happily. "Why don't you take a seat, I would get you a cup of water." Emerald let out, earning a nod from Jessica. 

"I have been having different thought ever since the bleeding. What if my child grows up unhealthy?" Jessica said after gulping down the whole content from the cup. 

"I don't think so, I'm sure that my Niece\nephew would grow up healthy," Emerald let out. "Oh no, the food." Jessica stood up hurriedly before putting of the food that had begun to get burnt. 

"How did we not notice?" Emerald let out.

"Emerald, I think my water bag just broke," Jessica let out panickly. "Oh no, we need to get you to the hospital real quick! You're definetly going to give birth to my Niece\Nephew today," Emerald muttured out. 

"Emerald, you need to call Travis. I need him now more than ever." Jessica pleaded.

"I've been calling him aunt Jessica but he seemed to be busy," Emerald let out as they entered the hospital.  

"He kept me in this condition, He really needs to be here." Jessica let out. "Don't worry aunt Jessica, I have made a promise to take good care of you," Emerald let out as the nurses rushed to help Jessica out. 

"You should push harder Jessica," the doctor pleaded making Jessica hold the hospital bed before letting out a huge grunt to push the baby. 

She was soaked in her own sweat as she grit her teeth together in pain. 

"Push, push. Jessica you should push more harder! I trust in you." The doctor said as a heavy grunt escaped Jessica's lips. 

"Your baby's head is starting to come out, push harder Jessica." The doctor ordered. 

"Doctor, her blood pressure is beginning to get high. What should we do?" the nurse muttered. After much pushing and effort from Jessica. The crying of a baby filled the hospital air, the baby's body was covered in blood as the doctor stared at her in panic. 

"Jessica your baby isn't well, she was born premature," The doctor muttered, "why, what happened?" Jessica let out panickly. 

Before the doctor could explain anything further, Jessica's eyes slowly shut down.