Chapter Eighteen

Christopher concentrated on driving and left Rose and Princess to do whatever they wanted. When Rose stopped talking to him after her little teasing of earlier, his mood was lifted up. He looked at Princess who was sitting at the back set through the mirror and saw how concentrated she was on what she was doing. Rose was also lost in her own world. 'What are you thinking about Rose?' Christopher asked himself. Her side profile looked so beautiful. He watched as she had on a thoughtful expression on. "A penny for your thought?" He asked her as he could not control his curiosity anymore.

"No. It's my thought so, concentrate on the road." Rose answered him.

"Come on!!! I just want to know what is making you look so lost. You look like you have a lot in your mind" Christopher said to her.

"So, what do you think? Do you think I have a lot on my mind?" Rose asked him.

"Why don't you tell me. I have said you look like you have a lot on your mind so tell me. What is it?" Christopher said.

"It's nothing tho. Concentrate on the riad, please. I am not ready to die yet." Rose said to him.

"Do you think I am ready to die now? Just tell me what's on your mind and don't try to change the topic." Christopher said and looked at the road.

"Who knows? You might be tired of living and want to die." Rose answered without looking at him.

Christopher laughed at what she said and answered. "How can you say that? Who would be tired of living immediately after they get a beautiful wife and the cutest daughter?" He asked her.

"You might be. Who knows?" Rose asked and glanced at him.

"I know what you are trying to do and I will not allow it. You are trying to change the topic." Christopher said.

"Am I? What topic am I even trying to change? Because I do y remember any." Rose answered.

"Really? Is that what you want to do? Come on, tell me what you were thing about..."

"I am not thinking about anything. I was only keeping quiet so that you will concentrate on your driving. We still have about ten-hour to spend on the road and I will not help you out." Rose said.

"Are you for real!?" Christopher asked her. "You won't help me out if I get tired?" He asked her and she nodded her head. "That's mean." He said. "I thought you sometimes travel to Lagos to get some things for your business," Christopher stated.

"Yes, why?" Rose asked.

"How do you go? By air?" Christopher asked her.

"What has that got to do with what we were saying?" Rose asked because she was confused.

"Can't I ask you something?" Christopher asked instead of answering her question.

"You can but, I am confused as to why you would ask that," Ross said and turned to look at him. She caught him unaware so, she used the opportunity to stare a little.

"I know that I am handsome but, you don't need to look at me for that long. It'll give me ideas if you keep staring at me." Christopher said without looking at her. The truth was, he saw her through his side-eyes.

Rose quickly averted her gaze and said, "who... I mean, I... What's there to look at and what kind of ideas are you talking about?" She asked him.

"Oooooh, adults are so noisy. What are you people even saying?" Princess who has been quiet ever since she was given the phone finally said.

"Are you calling us noise makers?" Rose asked while Christopher chuckled.

"No. You and daddy asked me to keep quiet but you have been talking." Princess complained.

"But you were busy with the phone so, why are you complaining?" Rose asked her.

"I want to talk to daddy but you asked me to use the phone. Can I talk to him now?" Princess asked.

"Sure, I didn't ask you not to talk to him. I only said you could do what you want on the phone. I didn't say you should not talk." Rose defended herself.

"It's ok. You could have just asked for permission. What do you want to say?" Christopher asked her.

"I just want to talk to you. I want you to talk to me as well. You haven't even asked me what my favorite color is." Princess said and put the phone down.

"I haven't?" Christopher asked.

"Yes. You didn't ask what I like eating and what I don't like." Princess said and pouted.

"But I know what my baby like. I don't need to ask." Christopher said.

"Really? Do you know? How?" Princess asked at once.

"I know because I am a magician. I have special abilities and it helped me to know what kind of food you like." Christopher said.

Princess was intrigued by what he was saying so she asked eagerly. "Fine. Tell me what I like. I want yo know if you really have such powers."

"Ok... You like your mother's food." Christopher said.

"What?" Rose said.

"That's not the answer dad!! Mom's food is not a name of any food." Princess complained after he said that.

"Don't you understand what I said? I said your favorite food is your mom's food and I know I am right." Christopher said.

"No!... You are wrong. My favorite food is white rice and stew." Princess answered.

"And who cooks that food?" Christopher asked after Princess said what her best food is.

"It's mom of course!" Princess answered.

"That's what I am saying. You like your mom's food. There are many people out there who would cook Rice and stew but you will not like it." Christopher explained.

"That's true!! You are right dad! I like mom's food the best." Princess agreed happily.

"Do I have superpowers or not?" Christopher asked with a bright smile on his lips.

"Daddy is the best. I now know what my best food is. It's food prepared by mom." Princess said and removed her seat belt so that she could hug her father. "Can you share your superpowers with me?" She asked still hugging his neck from behind the car seat.

"Sure!! I'll even give you all my powers." Christopher said and held her tiny hand that was hugging his neck.

"It's ok. Go back to your seat and put the belt on. It's dangerous to drive without your seat belt on." Rose said to princess.

"Your mom is right Princess," Christopher added and glanced at Rose.

"Ok," Princess said and sat down. "When will you give me the powers?" She asked after putting on the belt.

"You have them already dear," Christopher said.

"Huh?" Princess said with confusion written all over her face. "When did you give me such powers and I didn't know?" She asked after thinking for a while.

Christopher laughed at her confusion and said, "it was given to you when you were born. The more you grow, the more it will manifest. Just make sure you grow well and your powers will show."

"Wow!!! Did you hear that mom? I have superpowers. I will get to know different things the more I grow!!" She said happily.

"I heard him honey and it's true, the more you grow, the wiser you become," Rose said and smiled at her. After saying that, Rose faced outside the window and left Christopher and Princess to talk about whatever they wanted.

Christopher and princess continued to talk without Rose interfering. They talked about Princess's friends and her teachers. Princess told him stories of what happened in her school and made him say his. She also forces him to sing along with her. She tried to force Rose into singing but Rose smiled and said, "I like listening to your voice while you sing so, sing while I listen." Princess who loves to hear praises from her mother left her alone and sang happily with Christopher who was happily singing along.

After three hours of driving, It was almost two in the afternoon. Christopher parked somewhere and Rose brought out the food she prepared. She gave some to Princess and covered the rest. "What? Are you for real? I can't believe this. Are You are keeping your promise of not giving me?".

"Yes. I told you that I didn't add your share to it." Rose answered.

"This is wickedness. How do you expect me to watch you two eat and I don't? Do you want me to start begging the two of you?" Christopher asked.

"Don't worry dad. You can eat with me." Princess offered.

"Wow! My baby is so nice while the mother is being selfish. How selfish. She couldn't even ask me to join her." He complained.

Rose couldn't keep a straight face again si she burst into laughter at his drama. After having a good laugh at his expense, she dished out his portion and gave it to him. "Take abeg. Don't kill me with your drama. Longthroath!!"

"Did you just insult me?" Christopher asked as he collected the food from her.

"What did you hear? Did it sound like an insult?" Rose asked him.

"No. It sounded like you praising me." Christopher said.

Rose just shook her head and him and concentrated on eating. The smile that she had on never left her face as she ate. She was enjoying the journey and the company. If someone had told her that, she would get married to the person she stole from, she would have argued over it but, here she was. Going to Lagos as a married woman.

They finished eating their food and continued on their way. Princess fell asleep not long after eating and Rose who has been waiting for that to happen said, "when will she resume school after we arrive?"

"She will resume when you want her to. I have found a school for her and it's only left for you to accept." Christopher said.

"Ok. That's good. I don't want her to stay home for long. Monday will be fine. She should resume on Monday. What do you think?" Rose asked Christopher.

"Monday is fine by me. Won't you ask me where in Lagos that I reside?" Christopher answered her and asked his own question.

"Do I need to ask? I will find out then we get there. Besides, where else will you stay apart from places like Lekki, Ajah, Victoria Island, Banana Island, and places like that?" Rose asked.

"You are right tho. You'll find out when we get there." Christopher answered with a smile.

"What's funny?" Rose asked after seeing the smile on his face.

"Nothing. It's just that I like smiling. You make me smile." Christopher answered her.

Rose didn't know what to say after hearing that but a smile also spread across her face. She averted her gaze away from him and continued looking outside the window. "You don't need to hide your smile. By the way, aren't you going to ask about when you will start working?" Christopher said to her without taking his eyes off the road.

"Why? Is there a change in plans? You told me that I could open up immediately I get to Lagos." Rose answered him.

"Oh, I didn't know you remembered that. So, when do you want to start working?" He asked her.

"I'd like to start on Monday. Will that be okay?" She answered him.

"That will be great. I will have everything ready by Monday." Christopher answered.

"Thank you!" Rose said.

"For what?" Christopher asked glancing at her and back to the road.

"For all of these. Thank you..." Rose said.

Christopher used one of his had to hold her hand while the other was in the steering wheel as he answered. "Thank you too. Thank you for keeping my child and giving her a good life. Thank you for giving me the chance at being a father and thank you for giving us a chance as a family. Thank you, Rose."

Rose looked at their hands and took a deep breath before returning the hold. She relaxed into the chair and closed her eyes. Christopher watched her for a while before concentrating on the road.