Chapter Twenty Seven

Mrs. Rita pushed them all out of the kitchen except Princess. She played Princess immediately she set eyes on her that morning. She had just come out of her room when she heard a little voice talking to Audu. She wasn't expecting Christopher to be back so soon. She was thinking that he will spend weeks before coming back so, when she heard the little voice talking to Audu, she walked in that direction. She got close to the dog house and found the child talking to Audu. They were talking about the puppies and she was smiling. Mrs. Rita was captured immediately. She walked to them and said, "good morning Audu." She greeted Audu and looked at Princess who was also looking at them before asking. "Who is this?"

"Good morning Rita. This is Princess. Christopher's child." Audu the Gardner introduced Princess to Mrs. Rita.

"Good morning ma," Princess greeted.

"Wow!! She even had manners. I love the mother already." She whispered to Audu but said out loud. "Good morning princess. Do you know who I am?"

"No ma. I don't know you." Princess answered looking at her curiously.

"Didn't your father tell you anything about someone named Mrs. Rita?" She asked.

"No," Princess answered and shook her head as well.

"He didn't? That's a shame. Anyway, I am Rita. But everyone around here calls me Mrs. Rita and you can do the same" Mrs. Rita said.

"Ok. Ma. My name is Princess and I look like my mom." Princess said.

Mrs. Rita chuckled at her statement and said, "how do you know you look like your mom?" She asked.

"Everyone says I look like her and, I want to look like her. My mom is very beautiful and I want to be as beautiful as she is. She is also a great cook and I want to cook like her as well." Princess. Said.

"Your mom is a great cook?" Mrs. Rita asked and Princess nodded her head.

"Yes. She cooks the best and most delicious meals." Princess answered.

"Is that so?" Mrs. Rita asked in amusement.

"Yes, and did I forget to tell you that I have superpowers?" Princess asked.

"You did. What kind of powers do you have?" Mrs. Rita asked. Audu was ignored immediately Mrs. Rita appeared. He was only left to watch as Mrs. Rita and princess enjoyed their conversation.

"I don't know yet. Daddy said it will manifest the more I grow." Princess said happily. "I was angry at my daddy that he doesn't know what my best food is and had said he knows. I asked him to tell me and he did. He knew without asking. He said, one day I will be able to do that as well." Princess explained.

"Wow! You really have super powers. You just used your powers on me." Audu said.

"Really? What did I do?" Princess asked with confusion.

"You don't know? I think one of your powers is making people love you. You just stole my heart after meeting you for the first time.!" Audu said and ruffled her hair.

"Did I really use my power!?" Princess asked with a shocked expression. Mrs. Rita and Audu nodded and she began to dance around happily and chanting, "I used my powers!! I used my powers!!"

Audu and Mrs Rita chuckled as they watched her. She came back to sit with them after a few minutes and they got talking. Audu excused himself after sometime and left Mrs. Rita and Princess to talk. Mrs. Rita found out that Princess was just three years plus but, she talks like a five-year-old. She was able to learn a lot about Rose from Princess who wouldn't stop gushing about her mother. They were still getting to know each other when Christopher came out and told them that Rose had woken up and was ready to meet them all. She had already made Princess get comfortable with her to the extent of calling her grandma. She was so happy when she heard the word grandma from Princess. She was not lucky to have given birth to a child. Her husband died before she could get pregnant and she didn't remarry so, she never got to be a mother.

They all walked into the house behind Princess who had rushed into Rose's arms. Immediately Mrs. Rita saw Rose, she knew they would hey along. There was a gentle and loving smile on her face and she had that smile on while she was being introduced to everyone. She wasn't as rude as Cindy and that Mrs. Rita was sure of.

After the introduction, she left with Audu. She prepared lunch and was disappointed when they didn't eat the food she prepared. She had wanted to see Princess taste the vegetable soup and had prepared. The young girl had bragged about her mother's cooking all afternoon so Mrs. Rita wanted to hear what they all had to say about her cooking.

After she was left alone with Princess after chasing the other three out, she said "what will I have you do?"

"What are you cooking?" Princess asked.

"Fried Rice and chicken. Do you like that?" Mrs. Rita answered.

"I love fried rice!! Mom makes it for me sometimes." Princess said happily. "Can I help you wash the chicken?" She volunteered.

"I would have liked for you to help and with that but, your mom has already done that. How about you help me open the Maggi rappers?" Mrs. Ruta said as she placed a small place in front of Princes. She had already put Princess on one of the chairs around the table in the kitchen.

While Princess concentrated on doing what was assigned to her, Mrs. Rita went about in the kitchen doing one thing or the other. She boiled the rice till it was half done and started frying the chicken. Princess heard the sound of the sizzling got oil and forgot about the seasoning she was opening. "Grandma!! Can I out one in the oil?" She asked.

"Does your mom allow you to do that?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"No. Mommy said I am too small that when I am big enough, she will allow me to do that," Princess answered.

"Your mom is right about that dear. You are too small to do this. Just continue to learn how to do it for now." Mrs. Rita said.

"Please..." Princess pleaded.

"No my dear. It's too dangerous for kids. When you grow older, I'll personally let you handle all the frying." Mrs. Rita promised.

"Please grandma... Only one and I won't ask again..." Princess pleaded and pouted her lips.

Mrs. Rita was almost swayed by that act but, she stood her ground and said. "It's too dangerous Princess. How about I allow you to add oil into the pot when I start making the Rice?" She suggested.

Princess was disappointed that she can't be allowed to put the chicken into the oil but she was happy with pouring the oil into the pot for the rice. "Ok, grandma." She answered.

Mrs. Rita and Princess continued to talk till the food was ready. With Princess around, she enjoyed cooking even more. Princess did not fail to tell her bout her friends and her teachers. She even told the story of the girl she beat up. Mrs. Rita found her cute and said it. Princess was not short of stories to tell. She even told Mrs. Rita how Rose made Christopher beg for food when they were coming to Lagos. "My dad looked so pitiful when he was begging mommy. I knew my mom was teasing him because she was smiling secretly." Princess said.

"I would have loved to watch that," Mrs. Rita said. Who wouldn't live to watch a billionaire like Christopher begging for food?

"I am so happy that dad came and brought us here!" Princess said.

"I am also happy he brought you and your mother here. If he didn't bring him here then, his would I have gotten to meet someone as beautiful as you and your mother?" Mrs. Rita said and tapped Princess's nose.

Princess giggled at that and they went about putting the food into the serving plates. They both set the dining table and after setting it, they took food out to all the security workers while some came in through the back door to collect their find themselves. After giving out the food, Mrs. Rita and Princess set out to look for Christopher, Rose, and Uzo. "Now, it's time to call your parents and your uncle Uzo. Let's go and look for them." Mrs. Rita said and they left the kitchen.

They met one of the cleaners and when they asked if she had seen Rose or the other, she told them that Rose was probably in her room because she saw Rose going up the stairs earlier. Mrs. Rita thanked her and walked up the stairs with Princess. They had not even gone far when Christopher and Uzo saw them.