Chapter Forty Two

Rose tried the first pin that came into her mind and it was wrong. She tried another code and the light turned green instantly. "I knew you would be able to guess it. What's the code? What did he use?" Mrs. Rita asked like an excited school girl.

"It's really something we both share. He used Princess's birthday." Rose said with a smile.

"Well, what are we waiting for? I am dying of curiosity right now." Mrs. Rita said and pulled Rose into the office. "Hmmm, this place sure looks different." She said while moving into the office proper.

"Why is everything in this house so different from what I expected. This looks almost like my office in Benue state. When did you say he remodeled this place?" Rose asked as she looked around.

"He did it six months after finding out where you are and that Princess existed." Mrs. Rita explained. "I think he did this for the two of you." She added after seeing that there were two tables in the office and were placed at an angle that if people were sitting there, they would be facing each other but they wouldn't get in each other's way.

Rose felt a tingle in her heart after hearing that and she didn't even know she was smiling. Mrs. Rita looked and her expression and knew that Christopher had not worked in vain.

They walked around the whole house and Rose was amazed at everything in the house. There was even a gym in the house. Ross wasn't someone who loved to exercise but she was amazed. She and Mrs. Rita both went into the kitchen and cooked lunch. After cooking, they sent Blessing to call Princess and they ate together. After they finished eating and cleaning the plates that they used, Rose announced to Princess that she would resume School on Monday so she should get herself ready.

The afternoon passed in a blur and it was already 6 pm. Rose had asked Mrs. Rita for permission earlier to be the one to make dinner and that was where Christopher met her and Princess. In the kitchen preparing dinner.

Christopher who went to work has been waiting for the day to end so that he could rush home to meet his wife and child. He couldn't remember the last time he had rushed home or the last time he had been so eager to go home. While at work, he did everything possible to keep Uzo busy and away from himself. When the time clocked 5, he made sure that Uzo didn't get a chance to follow him out or, leave early and then rush out. On his way, he got Princess the apples he promised and he didn't forget to buy a box of chocolates for Rose even if she told him not to get her anything. He got home a few minutes after 6 and was told by one of the guards that, Rose was in the kitchen. He hurried there without stopping and the sight he met pleased him a great deal. He met Rose cooking and Princess helping out and then talking happily. What he heard when he got to the kitchen door was, "we need to hurry up because your dad will be back any moment from now." Rose was talking to Princess.

"So, are we making dinner in a hurry because of him?" Princess asked with a smile.

"Yes, we are making dinner because your dad will be back soon and he will be very hungry," Rose answered.

"Hmmm, so that's why we are making vegetable soup and semolina. Right?" Princess asked again.

Rose looked at her after she said that. "What are you trying to say?" She asked Princess.

"Nothing mom. I just said hmmm, that means I was thinking of something." Princess answered.

"What were you thinking of?" Rose asked her.

"Nothing oooo. It's nothing important. Let's just continue making the food because my daddy and your husband will soon be back." Princess said and walked two steps away from her mother.

Rose couldn't help but shake her head. What is this girl thinking? "What's always running through that head of yours? Please, pass me the salt." Rose said to Princess. Christopher who was watching them quietly smiled at what they were saying.

"Nothing is running through my head. I am only saying that we need to make dinner as fast as possible because daddy will be back soon." Princess said innocently. "Isn't that what you said?" She asked after a while.

"Yes. That's what I said and you better wipe that smile off your face. It looks like you have something creepy running through that head of yours." Rose said.

"It's ok mom. The only thing running through my head is that, you are cooking what your husband likes and, I am happy to see that." Princess said.

Rose didn't want to answer her so, she just kept working on what she was cooking. Princess saw that her mother didn't want to reply so, She also decided to keep quiet. "Wicked soul! Simply because you didn't want me to come to your house, you had to kill me with work!!" They all heard a loud voice complaining.

Christopher felt like killing Uzo who had just arrived while Rose and Princess turned towards the entrance at once. Princess was the first to react as she ran to Christopher and threw herself at him. "Welcome, Daddy!" She said and Christopher who was thinking of ways to kill Uzo immediately forgot about that.

"Thanks, baby. How was your day?" He asked and looked at Rose who was watching them.

"My day was great, how was yours?" Princess asked.

"My day was so dull without seeing you and your mother," Christopher answered and hugged her tighter before pulling away and handing her the apples he bought. "Here. I bought you the apples. Just as I promised and with a little something extra." Christopher said.

"Thanks, dad! You are the best!!" Princess said as she collected the bag happily.

Christopher smiled and ruffled her hair before saying, "you are also the best daughter anyone could wish for."

Uzo whose presence had been totally ignored by father and daughter decided to go and talk to the only person he felt will listen to him but, he hadn't even taken two steps towards Rose before Christopher pulled him back. "Where do you think you are going?" Christopher asked him.

"Where do you think I am going? I want to say hi to my friend. Is that bad?" He asked Christopher.

"It wouldn't have been bad if that friend of yours is not my wife. Now, get out of my kitchen and out of my house!" Christopher mumbled and walked past him towards Rose.

"Hi," Christopher said when he got to Rose.

"Welcome back. How was your day?" Rose said and quickly turned to check the soup that she was making. She turned it and then put off the gas.

"My day was so stressful but now that I am here, I feel rewarded," Christopher said. "Here, I got you something as well." He added and handed her another bag.

"What's this? I thought I asked you not to buy me anything?" Rose said but she still collected the bag from him with a smile.

"Do you see that uncle Uzo?" Princess who was standing behind Uzo whispered to him. "That's why my daddy is the best. You better learn from him or you will remain single for life." She added.

"Yes, your daddy is the best at bullying employees and his best friend, and you are almost Turing into a mini him." Uzo answered her.

Rose looked into the bag and couldn't help the smile that spread on her face. "Thank you. It's been a while since I have had chocolates." She said.

"It's nothing. If I can't make my family happy then, I am not worthy to have that family." Christopher said and wanted to pull her into his arms but, Rose dodged him.

"Go and freshen up and then, come back. Dinner is ready." Rose said.

"You should hurry up dad, mommy made dinner specially for you," Princess added from the door way which earned her a glare from her mother.

"What are you talking about young lady?" Rose asked shyly. "I made dinner for everybody." She quickly added. But not without warning Princess to keep quiet with her glare.

"I know mom. I know you made dinner for everyone but, you made it specially because of dad. Am I right?" Princess said totally ignoring the look her mother was giving her.

"This girl talks too much," Rose mumbled under her breath but said loudly. "Why don't you go and inform Mrs. Rita that dinner is ready?"

Princess smiled and nodded her head but when she wanted to leave, she used all her strength to pull Uzo out with her.

When they were left alone, Christopher wasted no time in pulling Rose into his arms. "Please, let me hold you for a minute, okay?" he said.

Rose was hugged unawares but she didn't want to pull away. She allowed him to hug her but, she pulled away sooner than Christopher wanted. Rose couldn't take the way her heartbeat increased and how loudly it was beating. "Go and... Hmm, go and freshen up and then, come back. I will have set the table by then." Rose urged him to leave so that she could calm her heart down.

"Ok, ma'am. I will be back shortly." Christopher said and walked out of the kitchen. He wanted to stay a little while longer with her but, he also didn't want to rush her. After he walked out, Rose placed her hand on her heart and grinned.