Chapter 2 .....

Days grew into weeks and weeks into days and there was no news from Don Alejandro. Zayd was beginning to think that the Don might have gotten angry when he told the Don that his daughter needed a week to get ready before she finally became his son's wife. Knowing the Don well, he knew he wasn't one to go back on a request especially when he had already kept to his own part of the deal and helped Zayd out of the mess he was.

********** "I'm worried sweetheart," Zayd said to his wife one evening as they took a stroll.

"About what?" Rosa questioned, noticing the worried lines etched on his forehead.

He stopped in his tracks and his wife did the same. "Don Alejandro. Ever since I told him that Aaliyah needed a few days to get ready, he hasn't given me feedback until now, and I'm afraid he might not want to keep the deal and come for something else instead... " he paused and looked up slightly to his wife who was two feet taller than him. Reading her emotions, he looked back in front of him and continued, ".... which I might not be able to give him."

His lips quivered as he spoke. At that point, he was beginning to rethink his past decisions. "I made a terrible mistake sweetie, I should have listened to you all,"

"I was so stupid, thinking that I could improve my company by getting involved with the wrong people. Now my poor baby is the one paying for all this. How is Aaliyah going to ever forgive me? I should have... "

Rosa put her finger on Zayd's lips, stopping him from finishing his sentence. "It's okay. You made a mistake, we all make mistakes. Instead of crying over spilled milk, let's figure a way out."

Zayd brought out a rag and wiped the sweat off his face with it. "What do you suggest we do?"

"That we do nothing," She responded.

"What do you mean by nothing."

"If it's Don Alejandro I know too well, that he definitely is not going back on the deal and you know what he does to people who don't keep their bargains... "

Zayd nodded his head absentmindedly as she spoke.

"let's leave Aaliyah to it instead. She's deeply in love with Jason and when Don Alejandro's son sees that she's not complying with him, he's going to send her back to us."

Zayd heaved, deciding to trust his wife's words. "Okay, I hope that works." he reached for her hands as they resumed walking and headed back to the house.

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

When they got back to the house, Rosa made her way upstairs to Aaliyah's room to talk to her about what she and Zayd had decided. Rosa knocked on the door but she got no response immediately. When there was no further response, she opened the door and strolled inside.

"Aaliyah," she called but there was no response. She didn't remember Aaliyah leaving the house so she called out her name again. Rosa heard noise coming from her daughter's bathroom so she went to check what it was.

She opened the door and saw Aaliyah crouched beside the toilet seat, with saliva running down the corner of her mouth.

"Aaliyah!" Rosa screamed as she rushed towards her. Rosa took Aaliyah's face into her hands. "Are you alright, baby," Rosa asked with concern etched on her face. She stood slightly and dipped one hand in the sink while still holding Aaliyah. She took some water and cleaned her daughter's face with it.

"Mum?" Aaliyah managed to utter.

"C'mon let's get you up," Rosa said as she lifted Aaliyah and led her back into the bedroom. She dropped her on the bed and tried to get her in a comfortable position. Rosa got into the bed and lay beside her as she placed her hand on her cheek.

"Are you alright, baby," She asked again.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Aaliyah tried to sound casual as sat up.

"No lay back down," Rosa said, trying to get Aaliyah to lie back on the bed.

"No mum, I'm fine," she pushed her mother's hand as she got up and went over to the other side of the bed and sat. "I've just been having some stomach upset."

Rosa tried not to read her daughter's actions as she inquired about her daughter's health. "Stomach upset since when? Has Jemima been microwaving your food again?"

"No mum, she's not."

"So what's the problem?"

Aaliyah kept mute as she stared into oblivion. Rosa sighed as she got up and went over to where Aaliyah was, she stood in front of her for a while before she reached out and caressed Aaliyah's cheeks.

"I know you're mad at us, baby. Your father made a grave mistake and he regrets it."

"It doesn't seem like he cares about me,"

"He does and he's ready to make amends."

"Oh mother, please. I don't want to go into that. Jason won't pick up my calls again since he heard about it, all thanks to Dad,"

Rosa knew that there was nothing she could say that would convince her daughter to be happy and go on with the marriage so she decided to change the topic. "Since when have you had this stomach upset?"

Aaliyah reluctantly responded. "I don't know, maybe about a month and a half?"

"That long? Why didn't you let me know about it? Aaliyah took her gaze off her mother and looked away.

"Look I know that we've not been the best parents, but that doesn't mean that you should keep things from us."

"I noticed that you haven't been to the store to get more pads..."

Aaliyah's eyes widened.

"When last did you see your period?" Rosa questioned.

Aaliyah kept mute and her eyes trained on the floor. "What does it matter?" She finally responded.

"Oh it does matter, Aaliyah, you've been throwing up for a month now and you haven't seen your period. We're going to the doctor's tomorrow morning."