Please, wake up Valerie

The audio stopped playing, followed by a mocking silence. He froze. His heartbeat stopped. Everything still. Chris felt his tears coming out. “Damn me! Damn it, Chris…damn you!” he argued with himself. “I should have at least checked on her, l should have tried to…aaah damn!” he shouted angrily at himself as he threw a fist on the wall. Since Chris had left, he had never called Valerie again. She would occasionally drop in a message asking where he was and when he would be back, but he never replied. Knowing now how much danger she was in, he blamed himself for leaving without a second thought, without considering that she was pregnant and she needed all the care she could get. Without sparing another second, he grabbed his car keys and paced to his car like the world depended on it. The sports car roared, tyres screeching and it took off at the speed of light.

For about three hours Chris drove the car as fast as he could. Finally, the high rise buildings started to show and he slowed down. There it was, the city! After spending months in the countryside, Chris had almost forgotten what it felt like to be in the city. Though he regretted not being there with Valerie, he had enjoyed every bit of his time away. The country was quite unlike the city. Life was simpler, the air was more fresh. Waking up every morning to the sound of the birds chirping was just for him living the dream. The nature around was fantastic and he’d made albums of nature photography.

It felt like he had been someone else completely. Every morning, instead of being in front of his laptop, he’d just watch the news. Instead of tuxedos and shiny back shoes he’d just wear his shorts or jeans with t-shirts. Every afternoon he’d switch to more entertaining channels. During the later hours, he would go out with his camera into the jungle or just walk about, capturing scenes of nature. He always wished he would capture the sunrise, but he’d always wake up when the sun is already high in the sky.

He passed through the city and drove straight to his house. The city was a reminder of who he was before his quest to become a cowboy. He was Chris Malvins, a billionaire. He stopped right in front of the gateway to his mansion

“Sir?” his gateman called.

“Which hospital is Valerie in?” Chris asked, urgency in his voice. He had not spared even a second to greet Frank.

“I’m not sure, sir. But l do know that the day before yesterday, she just went out with some lady. l didn’t know they were going to a hosp…” he did not finish as Chris was already driving off, frowning his face. He went to his own doctor, checked if Valerie was at his private clinic but she wasn’t. Then he went on another but she was not there either. For the umpteenth time, he tried calling her again but her phone would not go through.

He went back to his mansion again and this time he greeted the gateman as he passed through. He went into the mansion and a million memories flooded his head. The mansion held a great deal of nostalgia for him, from his childhood memories with Chase when were still just two twin boys who loved each other, who would chase each other down the stairs and their laughter would echo through the mansion.

“Will you two now give it a rest?” their father would complain. Now Chase didn’t even want to see his face. There were memories of Valerie too, from the day she had stepped in as helper to the last day of their orgasmic love making episodes.

Chris brushed off the memories and moved from the door. By then, it was almost midday and he was out of ideas. He had to wait until he could trace her location. He tried to take a nap but he couldn’t. He felt too stressed, he took four shot of whisky, dry. In the later hours of the day, he woke up with a slight headache. He looked at the time and was shocked when it was already five in the evening.

“Oh my God! Where did the time go?” he said as he got off the couch where he had slept on. He took a pill and took a bath. In no time the headache was gone.

“That’s better, ” he said to himself as he slumped down onto the sofa. “Now think, Chris…think,” he said and sighed deeply. For moments he was still, thinking of what he would do next, he didn’t even know if Valerie was fine or not.

“Aha!Now l got an idea,” he said as he stood up. He went to his gateman, Frank.

“Sir, long time. How have you been?” he asked.

“Been great and yourself? ”Chris asked.

“Great! So what have you been doing with yourself? ”Frank asked. It didn’t come out exactly like that. It came out as, “So wit hiv yi bin dun witche sef” but Chris had been used to his accent, he heard every word he said. Now, Frank had stood right in front of Chris, looking up at him as he was almost half of Chris’ height. His arms were crossed, his fingers caressing his chin. Chris knew that stance, he knew what it meant if Frank now stood like that. Knowing Frank like he did, he knew that if he entertained his chattering now, it would take hours before Frank shut up.

“Erm..tell me Frank, did you maybe take a glimpse of the woman who went out with Valerie? Do you remember how she looked or anything?” Chris asked.

“Sure l do. She is short, quite curvy, a bit loud and she has short black hair. I think that is about all I remember” he said.

“Okay, thanks Frank, you have been really helpful,” Chris said and ran back to the mansion. “Gracie? Could it be her?” Chris wondered. He took his phone and dialled.

“Sir?” she answered.

“You’re with Valerie?” he asked.

“Yes but…”

“Is she still in labour?” he interrupted.

“No she…”

“Is her baby okay?” he asked before she could answer.

“You are not giving me a chance to speak!” she complained. “Breath…and calm down, please.” Chris took a moment, breathing and he calmed down. “l am sorry, Gracie”, he apologized.

“That’s alright. I know you’re worried” she said.

“How is Valerie and where is she?” he asked.

“At Grange private hospital” Gracie told.

“Grange private hospital, but of course! I wonder why l didn’t think of that. l am so dump. She told me she was going to have an operation, how is she and the baby?” he asked.

There was a brief pause before she answered.

“Her baby? Oh, her baby is… is strong and kicking” she said.

“And Valerie?” he asked, bitting his lower lip nervously. She didn’t reply. She disconnected the call. He got confused. He called again and she picked up.

“Gracie, you’re scaring me” he complained, as Gracie sobbed loudly over the phone.