"Alisha, could ..." Alfonso was saying as he stepped out of the bathroom, but the look on Alisha's face was priceless, his body was dripping water, his abs were looking tempting and there he stood in her room with just a towel wrapped around his waist.
"So sorry, let me give you a moment to get dressed." She swallowed and left the room.
"Sorry for bumping in on your earlier," she apologized when he came into the mini living room. "It's a good thing I have a sleep back, you can just move the table and lay it over there, and sleep in it instead of the couch, it should be more comfortable."
"Thank you" he smiled at her and watched her take her vitamins. Alfonso wanted to go close to her and hold her close to him. He wanted to kiss her head, and then her lips, he wanted to show her that he loved her more than the memories of Leonardo she was holding unto.
"Stop staring at me like you want to eat me up." She punched his shoulder lightly.
"If you'll let me do that, I'll be happy man."
"Good night Al" she smiled at him and went into her room.
Alfonso spent the night thinking of Alisha alone in bed, he contemplated maybe he should go into her bedroom, maybe she was also waiting for him to come to her, maybe she wanted him to be in her bed tonight, but she did not know how to ask him, and here he was fantasying over her.
The night was a long one for Al, but he later found sleep. The smell of toast woke him up.
"I never knew you were a late riser? Alisha smiled she was setting the table when she noticed he was up.
"I'm not, I am an early bird, let's just say your presence made me sleep well."
"Let's just say you wanted me to fix you breakfast, so you laid still in the sleeping bag and only got up when breakfast was ready."
"I love eating your food, and I must admit it was the aroma that got me up,"
They went on over small conversations while they ate breakfast. Alisha, Alisha decided she was going to spend her day downstairs in the bakery with her two new staff Alfonso had made her employ in her fifth month of pregnancy.
Alfonso on the other hand stated he had to be at the office.
TWO MONTHS LATER
"Alisha? Alisha?" Alfonso screamed while running into her apartment at 5:00am. She had called him, and when he took the call, she had screamed and disconnected. He had rode over to her place like a mad man.
He found her coming out of the bathroom in obvious distress written all over her face.
"Alisha, what is wrong?"
"Fucking take me to the hospital, my water broke." He took her bag down the stairs into the car, then he went back up the stairs to guide her into his car. Why would she be in labor now that everyone was still asleep.
He was angry with himself as he drove to the hospital, while contractions hit and she whined in pain.
He was angry because he was not with her when the pain started, he was angry because she would not stay with him, what if he had missed her call? Or what if she could not reach him and something happened to her?
"Al, you do know I'm having a baby, and it's not some deadly disease I am down with.
"I know, I just don't like seeing you in pain, and I am so mad I was not there when it started."
She was going to say something to him, but another contraction hit, and she concentrated on breathing instead.
As Alisha was taken to the delivery room, she shed tears, not because she was in pains, but she wished Leonardo was here, by her side, holding her hands, thanking her for having his baby, and praising her for being strong, but none of that was going to happen, because Leonardo did not care about her, and he did not know there was a baby on the way.
"Alisha breath, you can do it baby" For a moment she thought it was Leonardo, she could hear his voice in her head, but when she opened her eyes and looked up, she saw that is was Alfonso.
She was grateful to have him around when she needed someone, but he did not fill the void she was feeling within her.
Alisha was prepared for delivery, and all she could pray for was that her baby be safe, even if she did not make it through this natural torture.
For hours Alisha was in pain, waiting for the baby to come out, it was now 8:00am. Alfonso had never been so confused, he didn't know what to do or how to help. This was the best hospital in the state, and right now even all the money he had could not take away this pain "from the woman he loves.
"Prepare her for C-section" the doctor said exactly three hours of labor.
"No don't, I do not want you to cut me open, give me some chocolate and I'll be ready, no let's have some music." Alisha needed something to distract her from thinking about Leonardo and the pain he had caused her; she wanted to focus on bringing a new life into the world.
A nurse in the ward turned on her playlist, immediately the music started playing, Alisha could feel that the baby was ready to come out.
In a few pushes, the baby's cry filled the air. "She's a healthy baby girl" Alisha heard before she passed out.
"My love, please wake up" Alisha could hear Leonardo calling her and shaking her softly.
"Leo?" she whispered with her eyes still closed.
She saw Leonardo smiling at her, "I am here to take my little princess."
She panicked and woke up.
"Where is my baby?" she screamed at the nurse who was adjusting her drip in the ward.
"In the crib beside you ma"am"
The nurse picked her up and handed the baby to her. She held her as closely yet as carefully as she could.
"No one will take you away from me my love."
"I'm so glad you are awake." Alfonso said coming into the room with flowers and food in a paper bag.
"Thank you Al" she smiled at him.
He looked at the face of the angel and smiled. "She is so beautiful, have you decided on a name yet?"
"Ina"
"Hello Ina" Alfonso touched her cheeks.
"What is she supposed to call me?"
"I think it's too early for that" Alisha said uncomfortably
Later in the afternoon, she called her dad to inform him about their delivery, he was so happy he promised he was going to book a flight after the call and be there as soon as he could alongside Anna.
The doctor admitted Alisha and Ina at the hospital. Alfonso got them all they needed, the evening the next day her dad and Anna arrived Georgia.
While Alisha was at the hospital, Alfonso and her dad fixed the crib and set up the baby's corner in her bedroom.
Alisha's dad was at the hospital with Alisha and Ina while Alfonso went to pick up an item she had requested for in her apartment. Anna was cooking when he came in.
"Hi Anna, I need to get something for Alisha, I'll be in her room" Alfonso said and Anna nodded.
She stood by the door of the room and watched Alfonso. Alfonso found what he was searching for and turned around to see Anna looking at him.
When he got back to the hospital and was alone with Alisha, he had told her, "I think aanna doesn't trust me, or something, I've caught her staring at me a lot of times."
"Don't be bothered about Anna, she is probably thinking of something else but just has her eyes on you." Alisha assured him.
"I don't think you get it. She came to the door of the room while I was looking for what you asked me to get, it felt as if she thought I would take something valuable."
"I trust you Alfonso, and that is enough."
Two weeks later, Mr. Adams returned to California while Anna insisted she wanted to stay for a few more weeks.
Alisha noticed Anna liked being around Alfonso. Once he was going to the office and Anna said she would go along with him so she could get milk from the store. Even when Alisha told her there was enough milk I'm the house, Anna insisted she need Alfonso to drop her off at the store.
Earlier that day, she had insisted she needed Alfonso to take her to where she could get frozen yogurt.
Alisha didn't see anything wrong with it, she had the baby to attend to and the bakery to manage.
Anna had to return to California a month after Alisha's delivery so she could take some exams for a course she went through. Anna didn't seem happy about leaving, she was willing to forfeit the exams for a reason she refused to share with anyone. She insisted she wanted to look after Alisha and didn't want to be away from Ina.
Alisha had encouraged her to go for her exams and then return to Georgia afterwards.
Anna had agreed only if Alfonso took her sight seeing through the city before her departure. Alfonso was not willing to skip work at the office because of Anna, if it was Alisha he could go off work for even a year, but he wanted Anna gone, she never allowed him have a time alone with Alisha.
When he realized a day out with Anna would get her to go back to California and give him space with his beloved Alisha, he decided to create the time.
Anna was not a boring companion during the time Alfonso had with her, but he would have preferred it was Alisha instead. Anna insisted they did everything together, share a cup of ice cream, share a plate of pasta, try out couples outfits and a whole bunch of ideas she had in her head.
Alfonso had to play along to make her happy so she would be willing to leave the next day.
At the end of the sight seeing, Anna decided the moment she was done with her exams she would be back. Alfonso was more than happy to know she would be gone for a while.
The next day Anna had insisted that Alisha stay home with Ina while Alfonso drive her to the airport. He had offered to send his driver instead, but she insisted she wanted him.
She checked in and got ready to wait for her flight, after she was settled, Alfonso said his goodbye and wanted to leave, but Anna insisted he waited until her flight was ready for take off.
"What is wrong with this girl?" he asked himself inside his head, yet got no answer.
Maybe she was just lonely because she didn't have her only sister around, or she saw him as a brother figure and wanted to be around him.
"Bye Anna, your flight is been called."
"I think you should forget about Alisha and look at some other woman standing right in front of you, Alisha will always love Leonardo and it's better you don't waste your time and emotions on her. Look in front of you, some other woman is here, right before you, and she is in love with you." Anna was saying with a seriousness that Alfonso knew she was certain Alisha was not in love with him yet.
"Thanjs for the advice Anna, but I know eventually Alisha would fall in love with me and we will get married to each other." he didn't care if another woman loved him, it was Alisha he wanted.
"You are so blind" Anna raised her voice at him and he could swear he saw a tear drop before she turned her back to him and went to the plane not turning back to look at him.