Chapter 99: Valerie

Chapter 99 Valeria

Margaret and my mom picked me up from the office to go to the mall. I need to decorate the baby’s room and buy some things. I still remember the beautiful woman who went to Dubois' office. Women used to visit him before, but back then it didn’t matter to me and felt out of reach.

She is the kind of woman who fits perfectly with Dubois—tall, elegant, and beautiful. She’s also a businesswoman, very confident. She walks with enviable confidence, and I watched her as she left. She was flirting with Dubois, and he smiled as he saw her off at the office door.

“What’s wrong, Valeria?” Margaret asked.

“A stunning woman came to the office today, very beautiful and elegant. She showed a lot of confidence and was flirting with Dubois, and he even saw her off with a smile.”

“Who was she?”

“A representative of a new client of the company.”

“And you wanted him to treat her badly?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that she’s the kind of woman who suits Dubois. She’s impressive.”

“I imagine Michael has been surrounded by those kinds of women for a long time, and he didn’t pay attention to them. Why would he now that he has a home?”

“Well, that’s true. Businesswomen used to visit him too, and some of them were very beautiful.”

“And you saw him flirting?”

“No, he has a rule. He doesn’t mix pleasure with work.”

“Why would it be different now?”

“I don’t know. I just felt bad when I saw him seeing off the client. She was flirting, and he had that smile that makes him more handsome.”

“Valeria,” my mom said, “you have to trust him. Your husband is attractive, and there will always be women who like him. Focus on you as a couple and remember he chose you.”

“I know, Mom. I couldn’t help it.”

Margaret took my arm and led me to a bench at the mall where we sat down. “Listen, Valeria, just like you see Alfred and me now, we once had a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes, back then I was very young and pregnant. I felt ugly, and Alfred was a very attractive man.”

“And then?”

“There was one of those women who didn’t respect boundaries. We were already married, and the woman knew it, but she didn’t care.”

“What happened?”

“There was a rumor that there was something between them because the woman spent a lot of time at the company for work. Sometimes women can be the worst enemies of other women, and I heard the rumor. But I was afraid to ask him. Back then, I didn’t have the confidence I have now, and for a long time, I suffered in silence and distanced myself from Alfred.”

“He asked me what was wrong, and I always said nothing, but the relationship wasn’t the same. He never stopped complimenting me, and our intimate relationship was just as intense, but the doubt was always there.”

“What did you do, Margaret?”

“A much older friend gave me bad advice.”

“She told me to leave him and confront him first. I was going to follow her advice because I didn’t want to torture myself with doubt anymore. She even called me one day when she saw them at a restaurant and waited for me there so we could see them. She said it was the proof I needed, so I went with a heavy heart, crying, and got there.”

“So the rumor was true?”

“Let me keep telling you.”

“The friend I thought was my friend wanted me to tell Alfred off that day, but I didn’t.”

“I didn’t stay long at that restaurant. I saw them and left. In reality, Alfred was only having lunch. I didn’t see him doing anything else, even though my friend was seeing something different. Thank God I left quickly. Suddenly, I felt unwell. My pregnancy was almost full-term.”

“I walked away, leaving the car because I was suffocating. On the way, I ran into another friend from school, and when she asked what was wrong, I told her everything.”

“She looked at me and said, ‘Do you think he’s capable? Has he given you any reason to think he might cheat?’”

“Of course, I had to answer no. Alfred was and has been a tender man, dedicated to his home, and he never failed in his duties as a husband. He always made time for me and our home.”

“So what did you do, Margaret?” I asked.

“I decided to trust him and follow my friend’s advice. I talked to him about the rumor.”

“What did he say?”

“He was very hurt by my distrust and told me he was rushing the contracts with that woman to avoid more rumors. She had made advances several times, but he never gave her any reason to think he was interested.”

“Did you believe him?”

“I decided to. My friend also told me not to throw away such a beautiful relationship and to think more about the baby. For him and our relationship, I had to clear things up.”

“So you believed him?”

“I decided to. I had to trust him, or I would lose everything—my husband, the father of my child, and I would be alone. Did I want that? No. Did I have reasons to distrust him? No. Did I need to improve my self-esteem and confidence? Yes, I did. And let me tell you, Valeria, I have my own charm, and that man is still in love with me after years of marriage and two children.”

“I found a good man, and the first friend who gave me bad advice did so based on her own experience.”

“We’ve had our difficulties. I don’t have an easy character, but we complement each other. We’re best friends, and he still inspires a lot of feelings in me. But when I decided to appreciate myself more, our relationship improved.”

“That’s great, Margaret! You can tell you’re an enviable couple.”

“And you think it’s always been like this? No, Miss. We’ve worked hard to be a stable couple. We always spend time together, clear up doubts. You don’t get to have years of marriage just like that.”

“What great advice, Margaret,” Mom said.

“Valeria, you’re a woman with many virtues, and you’re not kids. You’re adults, and I truly don’t think there’s any chance Dubois would risk his relationship with you for anyone.”

"I hope so. Maybe I'm just speaking from my eternal complex or low self-esteem. He is an attractive man, and I've always thought I'm not like the women he used to date."

"Those were just girls he used to distract himself with until his true love came along. It wasn't easy for you two to get here; you weren't even friends. Finding the right path was slow, but now I think you make an extraordinary couple. Enough with the doubts, Valeria."

"Daughter, Dubois has shown you that he loves you. Let go of your complexes and make him happy. Don't distrust him; he's proven his love for you."

"You're right, Mom."

"Dubois is an attractive man. You can't hide him so others won't look at him. Besides, he's not blind; he can see but, as they say, not touch. And you have your own charm too, believe it," Margaret says to me. "And enough talking about that. Let's focus on why we came here—to buy the crib and other baby furniture. Did you clear out the guest room?"

"Not yet, Margaret."

"That's another thing we need to handle. While they deliver the furniture, we can clear out the room."

"Sounds like a good plan."

We walked around the mall. Shopping with Margaret is challenging. As Dubois says, she's a compulsive shopper. I had to assert myself, but I can't deny she has good taste and knows what to buy. Plus, she knows how to negotiate. Everything we bought would be delivered to the house, and then we'd handle the decorating.

"Don't worry, Valeria. Rosalía and I will take care of it, and the security staff will help move the furniture. You just watch and tell us where things go. By tomorrow, the guest room will be cleared out."

"The thing is, Margaret, I want a crib in my room."

"We can put everything we bought today in the guest room and get another crib for your room. How does that sound?"

"I like that."

"Though, there will come a time when you'll have to put the baby to sleep in the other room, dear."

"I know, Mom, but I want to wait."

"That's why I bought you a baby monitor so you can listen to the baby when they're in their room."

"Margaret, you think of everything," Mom says.

"My kids are grown, and I confess I'm excited about Alejandro or Alexandra. I've checked out all the latest baby gadgets. So, thank you for sharing this moment with me. You've made me very happy."

"You deserve it, Margaret. We love you so much, and the baby will too. You'll be an exceptional godmother."

"Godmother? I'm the godmother?"

"Who else would it be?"

It was an emotional moment. Margaret is a blessing to us, so enthusiastic. Mom and I gave her a big hug.

My phone rang; it was Dubois. "Hi, love. How are you?"

"Hi, Dubois. I'm good. Still at the mall, though we're done shopping."

"I'm on my way to pick you up. I'm inviting you all to dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Yes, please wait for me in the lobby. I'll be there soon."

"Okay, we will."

"What's up, Valeria?"

"Dubois is inviting us to dinner, Mom. He's coming here and wants us to wait in the lobby."

"Let's go then. I was planning to invite you, but since Michael is inviting us, that's fine."

A while later, Dubois arrived. He greeted me and Mom with a kiss on her head as usual and asked Margaret, "Did you buy out all the stores?"

"You say that jokingly, but I'm happy buying for my godson or goddaughter. I was telling Valeria that I'm excited about this baby."

"Thank you, Margaret, for loving the baby so much. We love you too. Now, let's go eat."

"Where are we going?"

"To a very special place nearby. Let's go, ladies."

...

Later, in our room, watching TV in our pajamas, I told Dubois about our purchases and the plan to clear out one of our extra rooms for the baby tomorrow.

"You're going to have the baby sleep separately?"

"Not at first. We bought two identical cribs; one will be in our room."

"That sounds good, baby. That way, the baby will sleep in the crib but close to us."

"I can't imagine having the baby far away."

"Alright, let's try that."

"My only concern is that you won't be able to sleep."

"It doesn't matter. If you can't sleep, I won't either. We're in this together."

"But you'll have to go to the office. You'll be tired."

"It won't be like that, you'll see."

"Dubois, I'm sorry about this morning."

"Not at all. I loved your jealousy."

"It wasn't jealousy."

"Of course it was! You're jealous!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are. How could you think I'd be interested in another woman?"

"She was flirting with you, and you smiled at her from the door with that charming smile of yours."

"I have a charming smile? How so? I didn't know."

"You know, your half-smile."

"That's a normal, confident smile. It says, 'I know what you're up to, but I have a jealous, beautiful wife who's the future mother of my child who would hit me.'"

"And what is she up to?"

"I can't help that girls like me. I think she likes me, but she doesn't know me. She likes what I represent, what I appear to be, and nothing more. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but I still don't like it."

"You know how long I waited for you, for a woman like you, to come home to a family? Do you think I'd risk everything I've achieved for someone who only sees my exterior? Haven't I shown my love for you in many ways?"

"Yes, forgive me. I couldn't help it. She's so beautiful, elegant, and confident."

"So what? There are many women like her, but there's only one Valeria, my woman."

"You're a rascal. You know just what to say. But don't smile at another woman again. It's forbidden. You used to be serious and didn't smile like that."

"You taught me not to be bitter, baby, and now I have reasons to smile."

"It's forbidden to smile at those women."

"Baby, I love those jealousies. Come here, I'll show you why you don't need to be jealous. Come here, my little doll."