Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Marta have been pacing up and down the living room all morning worried that something is wrong with her husband Antonio because he never showed up on their child’s naming ceremony which took place the previous day.

She called his cell phone all evening before the morning of the naming ceremony of their child to enquire something from him about the ceremony but he never answered or returned her calls like he always do.

“Something is definitely wrong.” She thought feeling very uneasy. “Alba, can you please hold the baby, she’s crying a lot and I can’t seem to make her stop.” Martha said to Alba her friend who is like a sister to her.

Alba have been with Marta since the preparation for her baby’s naming ceremony and have also been the one comforting her since her husband’s absence from the ceremony.

Marta was worried that something bad must have happened to her husband because few hours later after her husband Antonio left the house her little baby girl began to cry nonstop and her body temperature had gone up a little.

She has this believe that babies are little spirits, and that they can sense when something went wrong with their loved ones.

At first she never paid attention to it but when she called her husband to enquire something from him and he did not reply until late at night she became agitated and to confirm her agitation, Antonio did not come home at all up until now and have still not called, even his cell phone is now switched off.

“Calm down Marta, you’ll fall ill by worrying too much.” Alba said to her friend as she moved over to carry the baby from her cradle. “You know how your husband is, this isn’t the first time you know.” She added.

“Yes this isn’t the first time but at least he never missed to call back whenever he sees my call, this is unlike him and I have a bad feeling about this.” Marta replied still pacing up and down the living room.

“Sit down at least and relax, you haven’t eaten anything since morning.” Alba said rocking the baby in her arm.

“How can I eat, I have no appetite, I just want Antonio home Alba.” She said as she sat on a chair and folded her arms under her breasts.

“Have you called any of his friends?” Alba asked as she paced up and down still rocking the crying baby in her arm.

“Julio put that down.” Marta scolded her son. “That’s the point.” Marta said looking at Alba. “All his friends where here for the ceremony except Antonio my husband, and when I asked Rodrigo whom my husband said he was going to meet that evening before our child’s naming ceremony, he said he never saw Antonio.” She added her eyes filled with terror.

“That’s strange.” Alba said now looking a bit worried too herself. The baby has fallen asleep in her arms so Alba walked to her cradle and laid her down slowly in the cradle, then turned to look at Marta her face showing deep concern.

“You see my point Alba, and I’ve been calling him all morning but this time his cell phone’s not reachable, tell me what am I supposed to do?” she asked Alba who is now looking very worried. “I think I’m going to report this to the police. She said standing up again.

“Oh no Marta, this is very serious, have you tried contacting any of his friends again?” Alba asked, as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

”Let me call Emilio.” Marta said reaching her cell phone on the table, as she picked up her cell phone to dial Emilio’s number, that’s when she had the door bell ring.

“Antonio…” she called out and immediately ran to answer the door. Her face changed when she saw it wasn’t her husband but Lucio Affonso and two police officers at the door.

“No, no, no…” she said shaking her head, her heart dropped when she saw the look on their faces, she could guess why they are there, something really bad must have happened to her husband.

“It’s okay Marta, get a hold on yourself, your children needs you.” She could hear as Lucio’s deep voice echoed in her ears. Lucio reached out to hold Marta’s hand as she staggered a little unable to stand still.

“What happened to Antonio?” Alba said rushing to the door and getting a hold on her friend who seemed to lose her balance, her inquisitive eyes widened at the three men standing at the door.

“We found his body this morning.” One of the police officers said looking at the ladies.

“No, no, it can’t be…, I told you Alba something is not right, my husband can’t miss his daughter’s naming ceremony just like that. Marta said turning to Alba amid tears.

“My love…” Alba said hugging her friend, terrified at the news they just received.

“What really happened?” Alba asked, turning to Lucio and the officers still hugging Marta.

“He had an accident.” Lucio said slowly, finding it difficult to break the news to Marta. He knew how much Marta and Antonio loved each other and he still regrets taking Antonio with him on that faithful day. He wished he could turn back the hand of time.

“We found his car crashed to a rock by the high way early this morning and I think this accident took place a day before yesterday.” One of the police officers said. “We need you to come to the station and sign some documents.” He added referring to Marta.

“What do I do now, Alba, how am I going to raise two kids on my own?” Marta said still crying.

“It’s okay Marta, don’t worry about you and the kids, you are my responsibility now.” Lucio said to Marta who is still crying uncontrollably.

“And don’t worry about going to the station I’m going to take care of it, you just stay with the kids. He added and turned to the police men who left after a brief discussion, and then Lucio entered his car too and drove off.