Chapter 113 Be My Valentine

• Tamara was at His Glory hotel having dinner with her best friend, Zion White. He was the Area Commissioner at Pretoria Correctional Centre and the youngest Area Commissioner in the country. He was handsome and kindhearted. He smiled at Tamara and asked, “How is your gorgeous sister-in-law? I was shocked when I heard that Auntie Grace tried to kill her. I didn’t know that she was so cruel.” When Tamara heard Zion’s words her face darkened, “Auntie Grace is heartless, and I wish the inmates to stab her in prison. I hate her so much; my sister-in-law is a gift from heaven to the Anthony family. Since she joined the family, there is peace. Uncle Timothy and Brother Mark learnt to smile. My sister-in-law is everything to my brother. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if she succeeded. Auntie Grace is evil.” Zion White sneered, “Auntie Grace will regret what she has done for the rest of her life. After she was discharged from JHB General hospital, she was transferred to the prison cell where they have notorious inmates, who are serving either attempted murder or murder sentences.” Tamara was shocked she wasn’t aware that Auntie Grace was already discharged. Judge Harris didn’t indicate if she would serve her sentence concurrently, “Zion, why did you transfer her to another prison cell, I didn’t hear the judge mentioning that she would serve her prison term concurrently.” Zion replied, “When Auntie Grace fainted Judge Harris was about to tell her that she would serve both sentences at the same time, it was stipulated in her records. I don’t think she will survive the beatings. In her prison cell there is Beauty, who is serving a life sentence for murder. She is ruthless. She killed all the members of her family. We felt that since Auntie Grace wanted to kill her daughter-in-law, she should share the same prison cell with Beauty.” Tamara laughed out loud, “Serves her right, she thought money could buy anything.” Zion looked at his friend and asked, “What are you doing on Valentine’s Day?” Tamara shrugged her shoulders, “Nothing, Uncle Timothy asked me to bring my boyfriend to him.” Zion laughed out loud and said, “Really? Same as my Grandmother, she asked me to bring my girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. I’m only twenty-six years old but she is demanding great-grandchildren. She told me that her friends are showing off their great-grandchildren. When I told her that I didn’t have a girlfriend and I was not going to be married soon. She was so upset she clutched her chest and she was rushed to JHB General hospital. The doctor discovered that she has heart problem. She is seventy years old; and I don’t want to lose her. She is everything in my life. When my parents divorced she raised me up, I’m what I am today because of her. I will do anything for her; I need a fake girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. Will you be so kind to do me a favor, my dearest friend, to be my Valentine?” Tamara smiled at her best friend and replied, “it’s an honor my dearest friend, I don’t want to lose Grandmother White too. She used to bake delicious biscuits for me. I will introduce you to my uncle as my boyfriend. I hope your acting skills are good.” Zion was rendered speechless; he didn’t believe that Tamara would agree so easily, “Thank you Tamara, you are my lifesaver. My Grandmother will be thrilled, she loves you so much. What should l bring for my father-in-law?” Tamara smiled and replied, “Bring him anything except wine. I will be at Uncle Timothy’s mansion. Please fetch me around 10 am.” Zion was over the moon, and then they left the hotel. In the parking lot, Zion opened the car door for her. He waited for her to leave before he walked to his car. He sat in his car grinning from ear to ear, for the first time he was looking forward to Valentine’s Day. Then he drove away to his apartment. When Tamara arrived at her apartment she immediately called her uncle to tell him that Grace had been discharged from JHB General hospital and sent back to prison. She also told him about Beauty, Grace’s inmate.
• On Saturday morning at the Anthony residence, Jonathan was eating breakfast with his father, “Son, how do you feel about everything that has happened?” asked his father. Jonathan replied with sadness in his eyes, “I’m very sad Dad; my mother did what she did because she was trying to protect my inheritance. I don’t understand why she is always targeting my sister-in-law. I didn’t expect Judge Harris to be so harsh. I think ten years in prison was a fair sentence. Dad, I’m going to visit my mother at the JHB General hospital today.” His father replied, “Son, I received a call from Tamara indicating that your mother has been discharged from JHB General hospital, maybe you can go to the prison to visit her.” Jonathan was shocked he didn’t know that his mother was already in prison. “Thank you Dad, I will surely pay her a visit. I wonder how she is coping.” His father told him to ask Theodore about the visiting hours. He reminded him to buy cigarettes for the inmates. Jonathan quickly called Theodore, “Hello Theodore, I am going to visit my mother in prison, do you know the visiting hours?” Theodore told him the visiting hours and the case number. Then they hung up. He called His Wings restaurant to order food for his mother. Then he went to his bedroom to change his clothes, then he left. He went to the supermarket to buy two boxes of cigarettes, and then he went to His Wings restaurant to fetch his mother’s favourite food.
• When he arrived at the Pretoria Correctional Centre’s gate, he was searched to ensure that he was not carrying any unauthorized items. Then he was asked to produce his Identity Document. He told the police the case number of the person he was visiting. He was given a visitor’s tag to wear at all times. Then the policeman accompanied him to the visiting area. After a few minutes, he saw his mother coming with the policewoman handcuffed. Her face was swollen, and her eyes were bloodshot. He wanted to hug her, but he was told that he was not supposed to touch her. His mother sat opposite her; her lips were broken. Jonathan was heartbroken, “What happened, Mom? Who beat you like this?” His mother cried sorrowfully, “How did you know that I’m here? My inmate beat me up because I didn’t bring her anything when I was transferred to her prison cell. Did you buy anything for me?” Jonathan was so angry, “Dad told me that you were discharged from JHB General hospital. Hence, I’m here. I bought you two boxes of cigarettes and your favourite food from His Wings restaurant.” His mother was so happy, “Thank you Son, please give me one box of cigarettes. Please bring the other box of cigarettes when you are visiting me again. Thank you for the food. I haven’t eaten anything yet, my breakfast was eaten by my inmate.” Jonathan was shocked, “Is that allowed, you have to report her to the warden.” His mother shook her head and replied, “She will kill me if I report her. I heard that she killed all the members of her family, I’m so scared.” Jonathan promised to ask his father to request for his mother to be moved to a single room. Then the policewoman told him that they had five minutes left. Jonathan kept one box of cigarettes with him, then they bade each other goodbye, then he left with a heavy heart. He was searched again. He returned their visitor’s tag and left the prison.