Chapter Seventy Six

"Thank God you guys finally decided to come back inside!!" Rose and Christopher heard Princess say immediately they walked into the house.

They both looked at theirself and Rose smiled knowingly before Rose answered. "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in your room!"

"Well, as the cute daughter that I am, I decided to wait for my parents to get back from their romantic night out!" Princess said and stood up from where she was sitting. "Did you guys have fun?" She asked as she walked up to them.

"Why are you sounding like you are our parent and you have been waiting up for us to get back?" Rose asked her.

"Technically speaking, I have been waiting for the both of you to get back so, it's right to say I am the parent right now and the both of you got back late From your date.!!" Princess answered and crossed her hands across her chest.

"Sorry, mom!!" Rose said after Princes finished speaking. "I wasn't my fault for coming back late. I begged him to bring me home but he insisted that there was still time." Rose explained and reduced the sound of her voice. Making it sound like a baby.

"Mommy please stop!! Your voice doesn't sound cook as a baby. It is ok!!" Princess said with a laugh.

Mrs. Rita and Christopher who had been watching them silently joined in the laughter. "So, we are sorry to have kept you waiting. I was trying to convince your mother to give you a brother as you requested." Christopher said after the laughter had died down.

"What are you talking about??" Rose asked and pushed his shoulder.

"What?? We have to tell her!! You are the one who is keeping her from having a younger brother!! I had to beg you... Right??" Christopher asked.

"Are you still repeating that nonsense!!?" Rose said and wanted to punch his shoulder again but he dodged her fist.

"Am I not saying the truth?!" Christopher asked again.

"Come here!!! I promise not to kill you!!" Rose said and rushed to Christopher who dogged her. She followed him and it turned into a game of her trying to catch Christopher while he did everything to evade her.

"They look so cute... Right!?" Princess who had gone to stand beside Mrs. Rita whispered.

"Yes, they look cute and happy. That's the best thing!" Mrs. Rita answered with a smile on her face as she watched Christopher and Rose chase each other around.

"Why are you running!? Just wait na!!" Rose said as she was still trying to get a hold of him.

"Catch me if you can!!" Christopher answered as he continued to evade her hand.

"I have never seen mom this happy and relaxed. I want her to always look happy and relaxed forever." Princess whispered to Mrs. Rita.

"Hmmm, she does look happy! Don't you think we should stop them? It's late and you have school tomorrow!" Mrs. Rita suggested.

"That's true!!" Princess whispered to Mrs. Rita. "Okay, children!! It's time for bed. You shouldn't stay up so late!!" She said loud enough for her parents to hear.

Rose and Christopher stopped at once, looked at each other, and looked at Princess who was standing with her hand on her waist. "Are we the children!?" Christopher asked pointing his finger between him and Rose.

"Yes, I am talking to my children!!" Princess answered and nodded her head. "Are you not children?" She asked them. "Okay, children. Come and see your mother off to her room." She said and turned away from them. After walking a few steps away and no one following her, she looked at them and said, "if I get to that room before the two of you eh!!! You will see what I will do!" She said pulling her ear at them. After that, she walked up the stairs like the boss of the house.

"The two of you should better go up before your mother comes back to meet you here!" Mrs. Rita said with a smile playing on her lips. Her voice pulled Christopher and Rose back from their daze. They both shook their head and went after Princess. Mrs. Rita who was left behind watched them all till they disappeared from her sight. "Can you see how your son has grown, Bridget?" She asked while facing upwards. "Can you see how happy he is? I know you are up there, watching over him and that's why he grew up to be such a great young man!" She added. "It's a shame you are not here. I just hope that this happiness that he has found will last forever!" She said. While she was talking, a tear had sneaked out of her eyes. She wiped it off and also took the stairs up to her room.

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The next morning, Rose woke up very early and prepared a breakfast of Akara (bean cake) and pap. When they all settled down for breakfast, it was already 7 am. They were almost done with their meal when Rose remembered that they haven't told Princess that they will go to her grandfather's house for dinner. "Oh, before I forget!! We won't eat dinner at home today." Rose said.

"Why? Are we eating out?" Princess asked.

"Yes, we are eating out. We'll be eating at your grandfather's house today!" Rose answered.

"What??"

"Why??" Princess and Mrs. Rita asked simultaneously.

"I know it's sudden but, married his son and it's traditional that I should be taken to him. I have not gone to see him and that's disrespecting!" Rose answered.

"But mom... I don't want to go. Grandpa doesn't like me!! Must I go with you??" Princess asked.

"Listen, baby, I know your grandfather acted like he hates you but, do you hate him?" Rose asked.

"No, I don't hate him but I don't like him either. Please, mom, don't let me go with you!!" Princess pleaded. From her last encounter with Mr. Allen, she knew that he doesn't like her and she doesn't want to be around him anymore.

"Look at it this way... We are just going there to visit him. It's not because you love him or hate it. You are going there because we just want to respect him as an elderly man. He is your grandpa and your father's father and there Is nothing anyone can do about that." Rose said trying to convince Princess.

"Why do you suddenly want to go and pay him a visit?" Mrs. Rita who had been trying to understand the situation asked.

"It's necessary that we go there," Rose answered and looked at Mrs. Rita straight in the eyes as if telling her something.

"Please say, something dad, I don't want to go to grandpa's place. Please..." Princess decided to implore her father who had been silent all along.

"I... Your mom made that decision not me... She wants to go there..." Christopher stuttered after being pulled into the conversation.

"But I don't want to go... The two of you can go while I just come back home and wait for you!!" Princess suggested.

"No, that's not going to work. We will go together as a family. It's just for dinner and besides, I will make the dinner myself. Don't worry, everything will be fine!" Rose assured.

"Let's just go there today. You don't have to be scared. I will be there and your mom will also be there. Just try to treat it as a normal dinner and you will be fine." Christopher said trying to persuade Princess. He also doesn't understand why Rose insisted on the sudden visit but, he was kinda curious.

"I will also be there. You don't have to worry. We will be there with you and it will look like our normal dinner at home!" Mrs. Rita added.

Rose and Christopher looked at her gratefully. "You see!! We will all be there. What could possibly go wrong?" Rose asked.

"Fine... But we won't stay long there. We will leave and come back home as soon as we finish eating. Right?" Princess asked.

"Yes!!" Rose answered.

"Ok, am full," Princess said and got down from her chair. "Thank you, daddy, thank you, mommy. Thank you, grandma!" She said and took her plate to the kitchen. "I'll go get my bag." She said as she came back into the dining room.

"Okay baby, don't forget to take your phone.!" Rose said after her.

"Okay... I won't.!" Princess answered.

"I hope you know what you are doing." Mrs. Rita said after Princess had walked away.

"I know what I am doing. Please, you will pick Princess up from her school and meet us at the mall. Take all her guards with you!" Rose said.

"Hmmm, this is unlike you... What are you plotting in that head of yours?" Christopher asked.

"You'll find out in a few hours. Just trust me. Okay?" Rose said.