Chapter Thirty Eight

After sending Chris off to work, Rose set about cleaning the kitchen with Princess tagging along. They cleaned the kitchen and Rose took Princess back into her room to get cleaned up. Earlier on, when Rose went into Princess's closet to get her clothes, she noticed that most of the clothes matched with hers. They both changed and princess asked, "Mom, can I go and see grandma?"

"Sure, let us go and see her together. I have something I want to talk to her about." Rose said and they walked out through the back door of the house. "How did you know there Is a door here and that it leads to Mrs. Rita's apartment?" Ross asked Princess who told her that they could get there through the back door.

"Grandma, showed it to me yesterday when we were giving food to Usman and the others," Princess answered.

"My baby is so brilliant!!" Rose said and ruffled her hair.

"Thank you, mom. Can we also check on sparkle when we are done?" Princess asked.

"Sure. Well, check on sparkle after talking to Mrs. Rita." Rose agreed.

"Thank you, mom. I can't wait to take her with me!!" Princess said.

They got to the door to Mrs. Rita's small quarters and Princess rushed to the door and knocked. "Who is there?" They heard from inside.

"It's me and my mommy!!" Princess shouted.

"Ooh, hold on. I will be there shortly." Mrs. Rita answered from inside.

A little while later Mrs. Rita opened the door with a bright smile on her face. "Wow! To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" She asked as she cleaned her hands on the apron that was tied around her.

"Well, good morning. Princess wanted to see her grandma and I am here to talk to you." Rose answered.

"Good morning grandma!!" Princess greeted and rushed in and then hugged her legs.

"Good morning sunshine! You look happy. What's the secret?" Mrs. Rita asked as she lifted Princess up and held her in her arms.

"I helped mommy to make breakfast and, daddy promised to buy me a lot of apples when coming back from work," Princess answered with a smile.

"That's great! Come on in," Mrs. Rita said and led them into her apartment.

"This place looks cozy, what are you doing?" Rose asked as they walked into the small parlor.

"I am cleaning the house. I just finished making breakfast tho..." Mrs. Rita answered and led them to one of the chairs in the parlor.

"Let me help you out," Rose offered.

"No, this place is too small for me to clean. Besides, this is the first time you are stepping foot here. How can I allow you clean?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"Ok. But the next time I come here, I will help in whatever you are doing. Agreed?" Rose said.

"Sure! That won't be a problem. I will gladly allow you. So, what brings you two here?" Mrs. Rita asked after taking a seat across from Rose with Princess in her arms.

"Like I said earlier, Princess wanted to see you and I also want to see you for something important," Rose said.

"Ok... So, what do you want to talk about? I hope I don't do anything wrong?" Mrs. Rita inquired.

"No. You didn't do anything wrong. On the contrary, I am here for something that you might not agree to. Do you I'm at to talk now or do you still have things to do?" Rose said.

"Let's talk. I am curious about what you want to say that you have to come here this early. Princess, can you excuse your mom and me for a minute?" Mrs. Rita who was still holding Princess on her lap said.

"No... Princess should stay. What I came for concerns her. She might even be the only one to make you accept what I want to say." Rose said. "Stay where you are Princess," Rose added.

"Ooook, fire on. Now, I am very curious." Mrs. Rita said with a smile.

"Ok. I spoke to Chris this morning about how things in the house are done and, he made me understand that you are in charge. Is that right?" Rose asked.

"Oh, is that why you are here? Silly girl..." Mrs. Rita said and chuckled. "You shouldn't have come all the way to ask me such a simple question. Well, I do mist of the things since he was almost always away," she added.

"That's not the only reason. I can't here mainly because I want to ask you to move into the main house." Rose said.

Mrs. Rita was quiet for a while before asking, "did that boy Christopher put you to this?"

"No," Rose said shaking her head from side to side. "He didn't put me to this. When I asked him he only said you refused when he asked you to move into the main house with him." Rose explained. "Now, I am hereby myself to ask you to please move in with us." She added.

"Hmmm, what can I say? I like where I am and I don't want to move." Mrs. Rita answered.

"I understand you but, I have my reasons. Do you want to hear it?" Ross asked her. She wants Mrs. Rita to move into the house with them at all costs.

"Fine. What are your reasons?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"First of all, the house is big enough to contain all of us without anyone getting in each other's way. Secondly, I am not familiar with the house yet and you are. I will need your guidance. Thirdly, I and my daughter find you comfortable to stay with so, we want you inside the house with us." Rose said.

"Are those their only reasons that you have?" Mrs. Rita asked when Rose stopped talking.

"No. I still have more if those three are not enough for you. Should I continue?" Rose asked and Mrs. Rita nodded her head indicating that she should continue.

"Ok. My daughter sees you as her grandma and as a grandma, you should stay with your family. If my daughter and husband see you like family then, I see you as one as well. The most important thing about all these is that" Rose took a pause before she continued. "I need your guidance. I need an elderly counsel and I want to assume that I can take you as a friend, mother, helper, adviser, and many other things." Rose said.

Mrs. Rita felt moved because she has always wanted a child but God never gave her the opportunity to be one. She was happy when she got married and had expectations but, God didn't give her what she wanted the most which was a child. As a deep-rooted Nigerian woman. Surrogacy was not an option for her and she never even thought of that. She wanted to adopt a child some years after her husband died but, she wasn't able to connect with the children she saw at that time. After a few more years of trying to adopt, she gave up the idea and decided to just stay alone. It was a miracle when Christopher came knocking on her door. She took the opportunity and moved in with him. She wanted to connect with him and she did but, Christopher was way overgrown. He was wiser and much more hardworking for his age. When she saw Princess yesterday, her heart melted immediately. She couldn't deny that, if given the opportunity she would want to be a parent to Princess. When she eventually Met Rose, her love for mother and child just stayed in her heart.

When Rose waited and didn't hear a thing from Mrs. Rita, she became scared. She thought she had said something bad so, she quickly apologized. "Am sorry if I am being too pushy. If you don't want to move in then, it is ok." Rose said. When she still didn't hear a thing, she began to panic. "Mrs. Rita??"

"Grandma!??" Princess who was also sitting on Mrs. Rita's lap called. "Grandma!!" She called and touched her cheeks.

That simple touch brought Mrs. Rita back from her world and she said, "am sorry! Did I scare you two?" She asked.

"Did I say something I shouldn't have? If I did I am very sorry." Rose quickly apologized.

"No. You didn't say anything wrong. I was just remembering something. You just brought back some memories." Mrs. Rita said.

"Did I bring back sad memories? If I did then I didn't mean to. I..."

"No... It's not that. It's just that, what you said made me remember somethings in my life. I remembered things u thought I had gotten over. It's not a sad or happy memory. It's just memories that prove that life doesn't always give you what you want." Mrs. Rita said.

"Can I ask what those things are?" Rose said.

"Sure, it's not something I try to hide so, why not?" Mrs. Rita said. "Princess, can you please excuse mommy and I for a moment?" Mrs. Rita said.

"Sure!! Can I go and play with sparkle?" Princess asked excitedly.

"Sure, you can but, let me call someone who will accompany you. We wouldn't want you getting too close and then hurting yourself." Mrs. Rita said and went to make a call. A few minutes later, a knock was heard on the door. "Come in John!" Mrs. Rita answered.

The person named John walked in and when he saw Rose, he quickly greeted them. "Good morning madam. I didn't know you were here." He said.

"Good morning. Why are you so flustered?" Rose asked after noticing how nervous he was acting.

"Calm down John. She is not like Cindy." Mrs. Rita said with a smile. "Anyway, I called for you so that you can accompany Princess around the house. Make sure she doesn't leave your sight!" Mrs. Rita added.

"Ok. Mrs. Rita. Let's go small madam. Where do you want to go?" John asked Princess.

Mrs. Rita helped Princess down from her lap and said, "she wants to go and play with LUCY and her puppies. Take her there and watch her."

"Ok," John said.

"Please be careful. Don't get too close ok?" Rose cautioned as Princess walked towards John who was waiting for her.

"Don't worry ma, small madam will be fine," John said and walked out after Princess.

"Don't worry Rose. John will take good care of her." Mrs. Rita assured.