Chapter Eighty

"Oh, God!!! Christopher! You have managed to take away every single part of me..." She whispered. She was sitting in that position for a long time thinking of what to do now that she has finally given a name to the feelings that she has for him. She thought of calling him and telling him how she felt but, decided against it. She thought of just giving him a reply whenever he would tell her that he loves her but felt it won't be special. She was thinking of calling Mrs. Rita so that she would explain what was wrong with her but she realized that she doesn't have Mrs. Rita's phone number. The only person she could think of calling again was Ada. She picked up her phone and was about to call Ada when her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number that was calling her. She wanted to ignore the call but later decided to answer It.

"Hello, mom!!" She heard Princess's voice from the other end.

"Princess? Why are you calling? Is there a problem? Aren't you supposed to be in school?" Rose was surprised to get a call from Princess so she asked in one breathe.

"Mom... Calm down! I am in school and I am not in danger!..." Princess answered. "We are on lunch break that's why I have the opportunity to call you." She added.

"Oh, how are you?" Rose asked.

"Am okay, how are you?" Princess answered and asked her mother.

"I am fine. How is school?" Rose replied.

"Are you sure you are ok?" Princess asked after Rose had answered.

"I am fine. Why do you think I am not ok?" Rose asked her.

"I don't think you are not ok. I know there Is something on your mind. You sound as if I called you when you are thinking about something serious!!" Princess answered.

"Are you serious!? Is it that obvious?" Rose asked.

"Yes, it is that obvious. So, what Is wrong with you? Are you thinking of canceling the dinner at grandpa's house?" Princess asked. Hoping that Rose will say they won't be going there for dinner anymore.

"No, that's not what is on my mind. The dinner is set and we are going there. What is on my mind is a different thing entirely." Rose answered.

"Okay... It's very obvious that you will not tell me what is on your mind and you don't want to change your mind..." Princess answered sadly.

"Come in baby, why are you making it sound like I am keeping secrets? What is on my mind right now is something I won't like to bother you with and going to your grandpa's house is very important." Rose said. She had forgotten that Princess could always interpret her mood. She had forgotten that Princess was always able to see and know when something is wrong with her. She also forgot that Princess is a very brilliant child who doesn't act her age at all.

"Okay, can you tell me why going to grandpa's house is very important? If you can tell me then, I will stop asking you to cancel. If you can't tell me that then, maybe you should tell me what's on your mind and I will also stop asking you to cancel." Princess said. The main reason why she was calling her mom had been achieved already. When. She got out Of class, her friend Mirabel was watching a live show that her dad was in. She listened to everything her father said and wanted to see how it affected her mother. She knows that Rose was yet to fully open up to Christopher and she wants that to happen. When she heard how Christopher said he loved her mother in front of the camera, she realized that he was confessing his love for Rose.

"Why are you trying to put me in a corner?" Rose asked. "Okay, going to your grandfather's house is very important because I want your grandpa to realize something very important.!" She added.

"I already know that part mom!!. How about you tell me something more believable? Okay, I will ask you one question and you must answer me honestly. Can you do that?" Princess asked.

"Hmmm, what kind of question is that? I usually get scared when you talk like this. You always begin to sound like you are my mother and I am your child." Rose said. She didn't want to accept Princess's condition because she knows what kind of a daughter she has. She might accept that condition and the next thing princess will ask would be something she doesn't want to say.

"Don't try that trick again mom!! I already know what you want to do... Remember, you always tell me not to lie. You always tell me that lying is the beginning of all vices!!" Princess said. She knew that was the only way to get Rose into answering her question so she decided to do that.

"Okay, fine... Ask your question but please, make sure you don't ask me something that you know I will not want to answer. I don't like how you always manage to trap me into answering your questions." Rose complained and that got a laugh from Princess. "What?? Why are you laughing at me.?" She asked when she hears Princess's laughter from the other end of the phone.

"I am not laughing at you!! It's just that, this is not the first time you will try all that it takes not to answer my questions... I know you like the back of my palm." Princess said with a giggle. "Now, this is my question. Are we going to grandpa's place because he was part of what happened yesterday?" Princess asked.

"What... What happened yesterday..." Rose asked.

"Don't pretend mom!! I am not a kid anymore. I know that we were being chased yesterday. I saw how dad was always looking behind and beside and I saw the fear in your eyes when you realized. That's why we changed car yesterday." Princess explained.

"Geez, can't something be hidden from you?" Rose asked.

"Some things can't be hidden from me. Just like how you can't hide your love for dad from me." Princess said.

"Princess!!!!" Rose called. "What are you talking about?? What are you always cooking up in that head of yours? Do you even realize that it is your mother that you are talking to?" Rose asked shyly. How can her 6 years old child always act 15?

"Just answer my question mom!! I don't know how many times you want me to tell you that I am not a baby? I am a big girl and you should know that by now. I will be seven in a few months and you are still calling me a baby? So is grandpa involved or not?" Princess asked.

"Well... Ehm..." Rose tried to answer. "I don't know." She finally answered. She felt that it would be bad to tell Princess that her grandfather is trying to have her killed. It is bad enough that she doesn't like him. She could bring herself to tell Princess that her grandpa was the person who wanted to have them killed.

"You don't need to lie. I have already gotten my answer. Don't worry, I will be fully ready to meet grandpa this evening. He tried to harm my daddy and you. I will make sure he doesn't get to me like he did the last time.!" Princess said confidently.

"Okay... What answer did you get? Don't tell me you think he is involved?" Rose asked.

"I don't think. I know... I think it's high time you call your husband. I watched what he just did on tv and it was wow!!! That's how a real father should be. I just realized that my father is super cute.!!" Princess said with a smile in her voice.

"Gosh!! Are you the adult or I am?" Rose asked.

"We are both adults. It is just that you are my mother and I am your child. We are both adults in our own way." Princess answered. "Alright mom, see you in a few hours. The lunch break is almost over and I haven't touched my lunch. I love you!!"

"Okay dear, go ahead and have your lunch. Remember, don't mention any of these to your dad. Especially, the part about..."

"The part about you being in love with him? Okay... I won't." Princess cut into what Rose was saying.

"Ha!! You are just like your father sometimes... See the way you just answered me like it's nothing. Well, yes. Don't mention a word to him. Bye!! Love you!!" Rose said and hung up the call. Who would have thought that Princess would notice her feelings before her? She was acting confused and her daughter was able to see and point out her feelings clearly. What an irony! Rose felt better after talking to Princess. She was looking for who to talk to and forgot that Princess was the closest thing to a best friend that she has ever had.

When Christopher left the Tv station, he decided to just go straight to Rose's office and have lunch with her. He was hoping to see that his interview had gotten to her and he did that to make her see that she is the only woman he would choose over and over again.

When he got to her place of work, it was already 2 pm. Due to traffic. The journey that was supposed to have taken him only an hour took 2 and a half hours. He parked his car and went into the mall. The place was busy with activity. People going here and there. He could see that the mall was going to be a very busy place. He took the elevator up to the 10th floor and knocked on Rose's door.

Rose had already seen Christopher coming and she was preparing herself to face him. She didn't want all of her emotions to be visible to him because she knows that his observation skill is a hundred times better than that of Princess. If Princess could notice that something was wrong on the phone then, if she doesn't compose herself, before he comes in then, Christopher will see it at a glance.

When Christopher got to her door, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "Come in!!" He heard Rose say from inside.

He took another deep breath and opened the door. When he walked in, Rose almost ran into his arms. It took almost all her strength to sit still and watch him walk to her. "Hey," Christopher said as he got to her and placed a peck on her forehead. "Before you send me back to work, I don't have anything doing and I cane here so that we could have lunch together. I am sure you haven't eaten a bite." He said.

Rose let out a smile at what he said. If only he read her thoughts then he would know that sending him back to his office is the last thing on her mind right now. "No, I haven't eaten and I am not hungry. I also know that you are not hungry. You just wanted to come over. Right?" Rose asked.

"Okay... You've gotten me. I missed you and I wanted to see you that's why I am here." Christopher answered as he took a seat.

"Hmmm," Rose let out. "Well, since you are here and I am not busy, I think we should just go out and get what we need to cook at your father's house. What do you think?" Rose suggested.

"What do I think? Anything that will allow me to spend time with you is an amazing idea. I'll gladly go with you!" Christopher said happily.

Rose smiled and picked up her purse and phone from the table then said, "let's go.!"

"Where are we going? I thought we would just get whatever we need here so where are we going?" He asked as he also stood up.

"We are going to the market. I thought you wanted to spend time with me?" Rose asked and Christopher nodded his head. "Good, this is also called spending time together. Let's go and get you some disguise..." Rose said and pulled him out. They got to the boutique in the mall and Rose and Christopher picked face caps and sunglasses to wear. "Now, we are ready to go to the market.!!" Rose said with a smile on.