Chapter Twelve

Rose when to get the photo album and she came back out with it and the marriage certificate that Christopher gave to her the night before. She gave him the album and while he was looking through it, she signed the marriage certificate. She didn't even read through it, she just signed it and waited for him.

Christopher opened the first page of the album and felt like his heart will burst. The album started when their daughter was very little. Looking through each page was like watching her grow up. Each page had a write-up attached to it. It was so detailed that after looking at it all, he felt like crying. It was like he was just given the opportunity to watch his daughter grow up. "This is, I felt like I was watching her grow before my eyes... It's very detailed. It's like I haven't missed a day in her life." He said.

"That's the idea. I knew a day would come when we will cross paths. I just didn't expect it to be so soon. I was scared of two things when I found out I was pregnant. Do you know what those things are?" Rose asked him.

"No. What are they?" Christopher said. He knew she would have a fear deep down in her heart and like she said yesterday, she was scared to appear before him.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I was preparing to take my JAMB exams. I wanted to get rid of it but I was scared of killing an innocent child. I felt it was my punishment for what I did. My second fear was when I was about to give birth. I was scared that a day would come when you will find me and then take my child away from me. I have had that fear in me for years now." She said.

"Listen to me Rose," Christopher said and turned her to face him. "You don't need to have that kind of fear anymore. A lot of people would have taken that measure but, I will never separate you from your child." He assured her.

"What if I insist on not marrying you?" She asked him.

Christopher pulled her into his arms and said, "I will continue to chase you till you accept my proposal. There is no room for escape this time around."

She smiled and looked into his eyes before reaching for the marriage certificate and said, "then, I guess you'll have to start calling me MRS Rose Allen." She said and gave it to him.

He collected it and when he saw that she had signed it, he laughed happily and pulled her into a tight hug and said, "Oh my God Rose!! You just made me the happiest man alive. I had planned so many ways to woo you. Thank you so much."

She pulled away and looked into his eyes and the happiness was visible. It was clear in his eyes how happy he is at that moment. "What about love, what if I don't fall in love with you, what happens then?"

"Let's take it a step at a time. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it." He assured her.

"Ok, but don't rush me into anything. I feel something for you but I don't know what it is and I am not in a hurry to name my feelings. If we want this marriage to work and grow, we need to be honest with each other at all times. No matter what it is we need to tell it to each other." Rose said to him.

"Hmmm, no problem." He said and pulled her back into his arms. "We need to tell each other everything that happens and I support that. Our marriage will not be smooth but, I can assure you that I will not disappoint you." He kissed her forehead and continued, "my father will surely give us problems but I know we will scale through." He kissed her eyes and said, "I know every lady wants to be courted and then have a very big wedding but, am sorry you had to get married like this but if you still want a big party then I will do that for you."

Rose was just lost in the kisses he was placing on her face. His lips felt cold to her skin but she wanted more. She doesn't remember what it feels like to be kissed on the lips and she is dying to have his lips on hers. She waited but he didn't do that. He just kept placing kisses all over her face but he didn't kiss her where she was dying to be kissed.

Christopher who didn't know what she was thinking about thought he was going too far and stopped himself. He wanted to kiss her lips that has been calling out to him since when he saw her. Those lips kept calling out to be kissed but he didn't want to come off as someone who was only after her body so he just kept placing kisses all over her face. It took all his self-control to stop and he had to find some form of distraction so he said, "How do we celebrate this? I mean this is our first day of being married. How do we celebrate?"

Rose who was thinking of being kissed was disappointed when the kiss didn't come. She was still trying to get over the feeling when he asked the question. She hasn't even thought of that. "I haven't thought of this." She said. "Why don't we leave whatever celebration we want to have till later, let's just assume we are married on paper but in reality, we are just starting our relationship." She said with her head placed on his chest. Listening to his heartbeat is becoming something she likes. "When do we leave for Lagos?" She asked.

"We leave tomorrow." He said, "I don't want to allow my dad to do more harm." Christopher was relishing the feeling of having her in his arms and said, "this feels good. I have always dreamt of having you in my arms like this and who knew it will take years for this dream of mine to come true?" He said and smiled.

Rose raised her head and looked into his eyes. The moment she did that, she forgot what she wanted to say. She was lost staring into his eyes and forgot what she wanted to say. She only got herself when he pinched her nose and chuckled.

"You will give me ideas if you keep staring at me like that!" He said.

"Oh, you have beautiful eyes. I mean, hmm..." She stuttered. "I mean, if we leave for Lagos tomorrow then, don't I need to settle some things in my office. Don't I need to put someone in charge?" She asked.

Christopher smiled at her and said, "you need to do all that. How about we go there now? I know you have someone whom you can put in charge of the business over here. You have three branches here right?" She nodded to confirm his question and he continued. "My wife is a rich woman oo!" They both laughed at his statement and he continued. "How about you pick one person who will act as the general manager and then you pick one person from each branch and let them account to the general manager. That way only the general manager will know you are not around. She will give accounts every weekend and she can always send them through the mail." He suggested.

"Let's go. If you put it this way, it makes me feel like I can't do it all today. The earlier the better." She said and got up. "You can wait for me in your car. I'll just get my phone and lock up."

"Yes ma'am!" Christopher said and walked out with a smile dancing on his lips.