Valerie

Valerie
Chapter 101 Valeria

Dubois hasn't gone to work. He says he's going to take a few days off and if he needs to go, he'll do so sporadically or when necessary.

All I do now is sleep and rest. When he lies down with me, he just caresses and kisses me, but it bothers me that he doesn't do anything more. I know he desires me; his body shows it, but he does nothing more than caress me.

I don't think I look ugly. My belly has grown beautifully, I haven't gained much weight, and I look good. I've even told him that making love is advised to help the baby come faster. He smiles, kisses me again, and tells me to rest.

He doesn't let me go out. Even when I go to the garden, either he or Renato accompanies me, and when he's not around, my mom and Renato have to be with me.

All these precautions are a bit boring. I know it's for my own good, but Dubois is fanatical about it. He says it's dangerous for me to go into labor while I'm alone in the garden. He even makes me carry a cell phone.

Last time, he called the doctor and asked if it wouldn't be dangerous for me to give birth naturally. He thought a C-section might be better. The doctor indicated there were no clinical reasons for a C-section, but that we should discuss it.

"What do you think, sweetheart?"

"I think it's more dangerous to give birth, and I want you to drop that obsession."

"I just want the best for you."

"The best is what my doctor says. Please, stop making things up. Dubois, is something else going on?"

"Something else like what?"

"I don't know, you seem anxious."

"Sweetheart, we're waiting for the birth. We have no idea when it's going to happen. Do you think I shouldn't be nervous? But you're right, my love, I should relax more, sleep more. Everyone says that once the baby is born, parents don't sleep well."

"I don't think we can sleep now, and that won't help us later. Let's enjoy this moment of anxious parents; it's normal."

"Well, yes, if that's what we have to do now, we have to live it." We both smile. "I love you, darling. Thank you for everything we're experiencing," Dubois says. "This wait is exciting, though stressful, but it's worth living."

"Yes, it's worth it." We're in the garden in front of the house. "We've walked around the house and almost reached the front door without realizing it. I was about to mention it when we heard a voice. 'Michael.' We both see Daniela standing in front of the gate."

"I need to talk to you," she says, looking at both of us, and I feel like she's looking at me with anger.

"You can't be here, Daniela," Dubois says, practically placing me behind him.

"I really need to talk to you."

The Daniela we see looks worse. She's well-dressed, made up, and groomed, but she looks nervous, and her voice sounds quite agitated.

After a while, Renato and some other men appear. I don't know where they came from. They say to me, "Come with us, ma'am."

"Go with them. I'm going to talk to Daniela from here. Obey, Valeria." We don't go very far when I hear Dubois's voice, who has stayed with some of the security men. "What do you want, Daniela?"

"I want to come in and talk to you." Her voice is softer.

After that, I couldn't hear anything else. When we got to the house, I said to Renato, "Please, go support him. She's not well."

"My orders are to stay by your side. Mr. Dubois is with his own security personnel right now. I don't have authorization to leave your side, ma'am."

"I promise I'll stay in my room, but go support him."

"No, ma'am. My orders are to stay by your side."

"I thought I was the one giving you orders."

"Those are Mr. Dubois's orders."

"Fine, Renato, I'll wait for him here."

I sit in one of the chairs outside the house. Renato and four other men are by my side. I don't understand why there's so much security around me.

I trust that Dubois is okay. I didn't like the look and gestures of that woman. She's agitated again. What's going on?

After two hours, I'm very anxious. I don't know why it's taking so long, but finally, I see him in the distance, and he approaches quickly.

"How are you, my love?"

"Fine, and you? What happened?"

"She just wanted to talk to me. They've been waiting for me to appear because she's banned from entering here and the company due to the restraining order."

"What's wrong with her?"

"I'll be honest with you. I suspect Daniela has been following us. I saw her once at the clinic when we were leaving, and we've been following her to see what she's up to."

"What have you found out?"

"She's not doing well. She's engaged to an older man with a very bad reputation. I imagine her father forced her, threatening to leave her in misery."

"Oh my God!"

"I'm sorry, my love. I didn't want you to know about this, but I'm afraid to tell you. I don't see her doing well."

"What did she say?"

"She wants help, specifically money to leave the country. A lot of money because she doesn't know how to live in misery."

"What will you do?"

"I don't know. I really don't want that sword hanging over our heads. I need to think about what to do. That's why I didn't want to tell you anything about her."

"Don't worry about me. If she's in that crisis, you should help her."

"We know what she's going through. We can't leave her like that, and you have the money to help her. No one should go through what she's going through."

"It's fear of life, Valeria. Fear of earning her own living. Don't be mistaken about her."

"Besides, according to Hana, I can't keep indulging her, making her go from one dependency to another. Maybe she'll never leave us alone. She's afraid of misery. Unfortunately, she's like a vase, she doesn't know how to do anything, and that's her great fear."

"She's not prepared for that, Dubois. You can set conditions, have her prepare for something she likes. She must be good at fashion, I don't know."
"I don't want to be near her, Valeria."

"You can tell someone you trust, like a lawyer. It could even be done discreetly, like setting up a monthly income for her in another country on the condition that she learns a trade."

"I'll think about it, love. It's not a bad idea, it's like a scholarship."

"You're a tech genius, find a way."

"I love your admiration, my love, but I'm not a genius," he smiled. It amused him, but it was true. "I'll sort this out, Valeria, I promise. Though sometimes I wish I could turn back time and avoid this mess."

"I know, but you're a kind man. I know you can fix it or at least try."

"Thanks for believing in me, love, but I have to think about what's best for the three of us. Daniela is afraid of independence; she wants to cling to comfort and luxury. I can't support her forever; she's not a young girl."

"I know, but think about what I said. You can condition the help and be discreet."

"Or I could do nothing and just continue with our lives, not exposing our family to any more problems."

"That's not like you. And besides, she still sees you as the solution to her problems. She'll keep showing up when we least expect it. Do you want that?"

"I'd like to believe she'll get tired."

"I wouldn't bet on that," I said. "In any case, she's a person suffering, a young woman. What would you do if it were Sofí?"

"Sofí, at her age, would never be in a similar situation. You've taught her to fight and earn a living. She knows how to work, and she has family support."

"Exactly, Daniela doesn't have that. She lacks a family structure to back her up."

"Why are we talking about this?"

"You must remember that at some point, you liked her. I don't know if you loved her, but something about her caught your attention. Could you help her? She's a woman in distress."

"The problem is that every time she's in trouble, she'll react the same way. I think she needs to mature on her own, make decisions. We can't make things easy for her."

"She won't do it without a push. She's defenseless."

"I'll think about it, but I insist, I don't understand why we have to get involved in her life. It's her story and her parents'."

"I'd like to think that if we ever drift apart for any reason, I could still count on you and not hear you say that."

"It's not the same, Valeria, and it bothers me that you think we might ever drift apart."

"I'm just presenting a hypothetical situation."

"I understand your point, but my relationship with you could never compare to the one I had with Daniela. Remember, we live together, and we're going to have a child. Our relationship is different."

"I know, Dubois, but I can't help thinking she's a woman in crisis. My love, you're a good man. Please think about how to help her."

"You like that I help people I don't think deserve it. First my uncle, and now Daniela."

"It's not about them; it's about you. We have so much to be thankful for, and being grateful, we can help those in need."

"Alright, I'll think about it. I'll see how I can help her."

"Thank you so much, my love. You're wonderful!"

"You always get your way with me. Let's go, I'll give you your foot and back massage."

"You know what I want."

"Well, the massage is what you'll get."

"You're really mean, very mean."

...

That night, I didn't sleep well. Daniela's situation and her attitude worried me. I have so much to be thankful to God for that I feel the need to help those I can, and she seems to be going through a hard time.

It's not her fault she's lived the way she has, and she's scared of financial insecurity. But I believe Dubois can help her.

I won't insist again. He has to think about it himself and see if he can help. It's not about making Daniela dependent on Dubois either.

I also want her out of our lives, and the best way I think that can happen is by giving her conditional help.

I can't talk to Mom about this; it would make her nervous. But Hana can help me, see if I'm wrong or not, maybe guide Dubois. We need to find a way to live peacefully without her presence always between us.

"Hello, Hana."

"Valeria, what a pleasant surprise!"

"How are you?"

"Pretty good, and you? And the baby, how's everything?"

"We're doing well. You know, Daniela was here."

"What?"

"Dubois was walking with me, and without realizing it, we reached the gate, and she was there. She looks as elegant as ever but a bit worn out."

"And what happened?"

"She wanted to talk to Dubois, and he told me to go inside."

"I see."

"Hana, I don't know if I'm wrong, but she's having a hard time, and I'd like Dubois to help her."

"That would imply a new dependency. I don't know how she is right now, but it's clear we can't encourage another dependency."

"I think Dubois can help her discreetly, and the help can be conditional. She'd receive it for a while, during which she'd have to study a trade, something like that."

"I don't know what to tell you. I don't know her current mental state, but she must be under a lot of pressure, and I don't think that would work much."

"And what if one of the conditions is therapy with a psychologist? She came to ask Dubois for help."

"They could try it, but it's not definitive. If Dubois agrees, let's hope it's something like what you're suggesting."

"I really don't want to think about Daniela anymore, but I also don't want to think about her suffering."

"I know, Valeria. Her situation isn't easy, and she's quite young. Without a support structure, she could collapse. Let's hope not, but you can't force Michael. He'll make the decision that's best for you. You need to stay away from her."

"Alright, Hana."

"Take care. Don't forget to let me know when the baby is born. I love you."