Chapter Forty Four

"What..." Christopher was about to say but Rose placed her hand on his and stood up to serve the newcomer. Christopher looked at her curiously and she shook her head at him. Mrs. Rita smiled at what Rose was doing while Princess who had never met the new person was surprised. The only person waiting for some drama was Uzo.

No one spoke a word as Rose served him. "I didn't know you will be joining us for dinner but, thank God I made enough. I hope you like it." Rose said and took her seat.

"Dad," Princess moved closer to her dad and called. "Who is he?" She whispered.

"That's my dad and that makes him your grandpa," Christopher whispered back to her. He didn't know why his father visited so suddenly and he still doesn't know what his reason for visiting is.

"Wow!" Princess exclaimed.

Before Princess could say any other thing, Rose said. "Why are you all so quiet? Let's eat!" At her command, everyone washed their hands and started eating. "Princess, this is your grandpa," Rose added.

Mr. Allen hadn't even gotten the chance to say a thing. He was watching the little girl who was sitting at the table with them. He came with a plan but, looking at the little girl who is supposed to be his granddaughter, he couldn't say anything. He finally decided to ignore the presence of the child and that was when Rose told the girl he was her grandfather. He watched as the little girl looked at him with surprise then, excitement before she stood up and ran to his side. "Are you really my grandpa!?" She asked him.

He couldn't say a thing. He was lost starting at the child and the Princess was looking at him with a bright smile on her face. "Father-in-law, meet your granddaughter. Her name is Princess." Rose said which pulled him out of his thoughts. Princess was looking at him with happiness and she wanted to ask him a lot of questions but, her grandpa wasn't saying a thing.

Her smile began to fade gradually and Christopher who couldn't bear to see his daughter so heartbroken said. "Dad!! Say something to her. Can't you see how happy she is to meet you?"

Mr. Allen was still in shock. The granddaughter in question wasn't what he was expecting. She had such a bright smile on. He tried to say something but, his words refused to come out. He watched as her smile slowly left her face and tears began to well up in her eyes. Princess was waiting for a word from him and when he didn't say a thing, the only thing she could think of was that he didn't like her. With that thought in mind, she ran to her mom and started crying. "Grandpa doesn't like me!!" She said as she sobbed. "Is he not my grandpa?" She said with tears running down her cheeks.

The table was quiet. The only noise was the sound of Princess's sobs. Christopher looked at his father with anger boiling through him. If it were to be someone else, he would have punched that person as hard as possible. Mrs. Rita couldn't take it anymore so, she got up and went to Mr. Allen. "Can I have a word with you?" She said to him. She didn't wait for him to answer before walking away.

Mr. Allen got up and followed Mrs. Rita out of the dining room and as they walked out, Christopher continued to glare daggers at him. "Shhh, stop crying, my baby!" Rose consoled Princess. "I am sure he loves you as much as anyone of us here," Rose added.

"Really?" Princess asked her mother hopefully.

"Come here," Christopher said as he opened his arms for her and she ran to him. "You shouldn't cry because of such a small issue. It's his loss if he doesn't love my beautiful daughter." He added as he carried her.

"Listen to your dad. Your grandfather loves you. I am sure he is just under shock." Rose added.

"Yes, your parents are right. Who wouldn't like you? You are an amazing girl even tho you talk like your father." Uzo added.

"Grandpa doesn't think so, did you see the way he looked at me?" Princess said between sobs.

"Listen to me," Christopher said and cupped her face in his arms. "This should be the last time you will cry because someone doesn't like you. If he doesn't like you then, it's his problem. You are my child and I love you. Your mother loves you and Mrs. Rita loves you. Even your uncle Uzo loves you more than you can ever imagine." Christopher said to her.

"Yes, we love you and that's all that matters. Stop crying and put a smile on your face. You look ugly when you cry." Uzo said and smiled when she looked at him.

"Yes, you look so ugly when you cry. Your grandpa will come around. Let's eat please. The food is getting cold." Christopher said. "I don't want your mother's special cooking to go in vain. Let's eat and then, I'll tell you a story." He added.

Their words worked on Princess and she eventually stooped sobbing and they started to eat.

Mrs. Rita walked in front while Mr. Allen followed behind her. They walked far away from the dining room and Mrs. Rita stopped walking. "What is wrong with you?" She said immediately she turned to face him.

"Am I the one you are using that tone on?" Mr. Allen asked angrily.

"Who do you think I am talking to?" Mrs. Rita asked angrily. "What is the meaning of what you did to that little girl?"

"Will you stop using that disrespectful tone with me? What has come over you?" Mr. Allen asked her angrily.

"You better stop raising your voice at me. How can you act so cruel to a child?" Mrs. Rita said with a frown on her face.

"Who gave you that right to question me? What has come over you?" Mr. Allen shouted. "How I treat my family is none of your business and besides, you are just a maid In this house!!" He added angrily.

"Yes, I might be a maid to you but, your son doesn't take me as a maid. That child in there is like a child to me and I won't have you make her feel bad about herself. What is wrong with you?" Mrs. Rita asked him.

"Listen and listen attentively." Mr. Allen said pulling his ear. "You might have been given a higher hand in this house but, you should never forget the hands that fed you. Don't ever open that stinking mouth and ask me questions again. This is my son's house and I can get you sacked!!" He threatened her.

"This is not your house where you can behave as you like. You can't threaten me anymore. That girl there is your granddaughter and if you know you can't treat her well, don't come here anymore.!" Mrs. Rita said angrily. "I have heard what you did yesterday. You came here with that snake and offered Rose money to leave your son. You are a disgrace for a father." Mrs. Rita said.

"Who is a disgrace? Me?" Mr. Allen asked beating his chest. "What is your business with how I handle my son? Maybe you should go and have a child first before telling me how to take care of my own!!" He added angrily.

"I feel pity for you. You have a great son, God still blessed you with a great daughter-in-law and granddaughter but if you are not careful, you will lose all these within a blink of an eye." Mrs. Rita said with pity.

"The first person who will lose everything here is you. Just wait and watch! Useless barren woman!!" He cursed.

"You can call me whatever you like but, just try to act like a father to your son and a grandfather to your granddaughter. What kind of a father sends his son away from home immediately after he was born?" Mrs. Rita said.

"It's none of your business. You don't know anything and that's how it will remain. This is my family problem and I will solve it in the best way that is seen fit!. Who knows if that child is even Christopher's child?" He said. "Now listen and listen attentively. Never in your life, call me out for such nonsense!! Go and have your family and then treat them the way you want! Stupid poor idiot!!" He cursed and walked back in the direction of the dining room.

"Hmmm, this man will never learn." Mrs. Rita said with a shake of her head. "What does he stand to gain from all these? How can a man be this stupid?" She said and walked in after him.