Chapter Thirty Nine

Rose watched as Princess and John walked out of the door. "Are you sure Princess will be fine with him?" She questioned when Mrs. Rita locked the door behind them.

"She will be fine with him. He is one of the few people that I trust around here. Just be rest assured that, he would keep Princess safe." Mrs. Rita assured her and took her seat. "So, where were we?" She asked.

"I asked if you could tell me some things about your past." Rose reminded her.

"Oh, so what do you want to know? There are many things about me that when I remember it makes me think." Mrs. Rita said with a sad smile.

"Hope I didn't say anything to bring back such memories?" Rose asked.

"You did and you didn't." Mrs. Rita said. "You did because you made me remember that a child is what I want the most and you didn't because of the same reason." Mrs. Rita said with a sad look and smile.

"I don't understand," Rose said.

"Well, I got married at a very young age. I got married at the age of twenty. I had a lot of expectations when I got married. My husband used to work as Mr. Allen's driver and that's how I got a job in their house. We were married for five years and I never had the one thing I wanted the most. A CHILD. I wanted a child so bad even before I got married. I lost my husband before our sixth wedding anniversary and I never remarried. I wanted to adopt a child but, it was very hard and I had to give up the idea." Mrs. Rita explained.

"Sorry about that. So, what happened next?" Rose asked with caution. She didn't want to sound or look like she was prying.

"Well, when you said you needed a mother, I just imagined what it would have looked like if I had a child. Would it have been a boy or girl? How would that child be now?" Mrs. Rita said.

"Oh, am sorry I said something to trigger you. I didn't know. So, what happened to Christopher's mom? How did she die?" Rose asked.

"Her death was a mysterious one. She was a very lively woman and Christopher looks like her in many ways. She used to always have a smile on her face. When she got pregnant, she was very happy. She would go for baby shopping almost every day." Mrs. Rita said with a smile at the memory. "She would always come to me and we would sit for hours talking about what we will do once the baby was born. Christopher's mom, myself, and his dead nanny. God rest their soul rest in peace. Became close during her pregnancy. Like I said, her death is still a mystery to us all. We were told she died after giving birth. Mr. Allen made us understand that there was a complication with her pregnancy but I swear she was fine. We didn't even get to attend the funeral and after her death, Christopher was shipped out of the country and his father sacked us all after that. He sacked every one of us that was close to his wife or knew his wife." Mrs. Rita said.

"That's strange... Why would he sack you all? Did something happen?" Rose asked.

"Nothing that I know of but, one thing I am sure of Is that, he had his reasons. He..." Mrs. Rita started but stopped and said. "Never mind. Back to the reason why you came here."

Rose didn't want to push her so, she said. "Yes, back to the reason why I came here. Would you like to move into the main house? Just to be closer."

"I would have loved to but, I like my space. I like this place." Mrs. Rita said pointing at her apartment. "It's comfortable for me," She added.

"I know. I just want you closer. Ok. Let's do it this way, how about you adopt me?" Rose said.

Mrs. Rita was shocked at that suggestion. "What? Why?... I mean, what did you say?" She stammered.

"You heard me. I said how about you adopt me?" Rose said again without missing a beat.

"Why would you suggest that? You don't even know me! What if?... I mean, why?" Mrs. Rita said.

"I need a mother and you need a child. You have accepted my daughter as your granddaughter so, why can't you see me as your daughter?" Rose asked.

"You and your daughter are different. We just met and you don't even know anything about me. How are you sure I won't be a bad influence?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"I will only know if you are a bad influence when we try. I like to take chances and my whole being is telling me that I am making the right decision. It will be hard getting used to it but, I want to try. I also want to know what having a mother feels like." Rose said.

"What if I don't meet your expectations?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"I don't have any expectations. I have stopped having that a long time ago. What I have now is hope. I have the hope that we'll make good use of what we are about to start." Rose said.

"I would have loved to have someone as beautiful and as kind as you as a daughter but I am scared. What if I am not good enough?" Mrs. Rita said. "What if I am not even worthy of that privilege. Maybe that's why God didn't give me a child." She added.

"Fine. If you are so scared of acting as a mother then, let us be friends. Let's start from there." Rose said.

"Ok. But I can't move in with you guys. Let me think about that. It's hard to say no to you." Mrs. Rita said and chuckled.

"Come on, Mrs. Rita. It's not that hard to decide. Besides, there is enough space in that house that if we don't want to see each other we won't. Ok, think of it this way. You are not doing it for any of us but for Princess." Rose decided to use her last resort. "How about that? You won't be moving in because of me or yourself, or even for Christopher. You will be doing it for Princess. Think of how happy it will make her. You two seem to have hit it off yesterday and I know you want to be closer to her. What do you say?"

Mrs. Rita chuckled at what Rose said. She didn't have any argument again. "If you put it that way then, his can I say no? But, there is a problem. I don't want to be idle. I'd like to still have my work."

"Oh, I even have a better idea. Christopher wants to open a Mall and it's for me. It will open on Monday and Princess resumes school on that day as well." Rose started with a smile on her face. "How about, we make you her nanny? That way you will be with her and you won't be idle. What do you say?" Rose suggested.

Mrs. Rita shook her head from side to side and said, "this girl sha!! You are giving me all the options that you know I can't say no to. How can I say no to such an offer? I get to take her to school and bring her home. I also get to spend most of my time around such a great child. That's one offer I can't afford to refuse." Mrs. Rita said.

"Great!! That's settled then. Since you want to come in as her nanny, you'll have to stay in the room closest to Princess's room. I'll have the maid clean it up and we'll move your things there." Rose said happily. She had finally gotten what she wanted and she felt very happy about it.

"Ok. But, if I may ask. Why don't you just employ another person to be her nanny?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"Like I said earlier, I can't just leave my daughter in the hands of anybody. Before coming here, I used to take her to school and in the afternoon, I have a worker who is like a sister to me. She goes to her school and picks her up and then brings her to meet me." Rose explained.

"Why can't you just do the same thing now? What changed?" Mrs. Rita questioned.

"What changed is that, we are no longer who we used to be. Nobody knew who her father is but now if words should get out that Christopher is married and even has a child, imagine what it will be. Everybody will want to know who the wife and child are." Rose said. "I don't want that. I want my child to have her own life. I don't want her coming to the mall every day after school. That's why I need someone I can trust to always be around her. That's why I want you, to be with her. I haven't had the chance to know everyone here but I am sure you are the right person to leave my child with." Rose said.

"Ok. That's fine. I accept. You don't need to convince me anymore. I will do it." Mrs. Rita said.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Rita!! This puts my mind at ease. Thank you!!" Rose said happily. "Princess will be so happy," Rose said and giggled.

"So, Princess will start schooling on Monday as well?" Mrs. Rita asked and stood up. "I need water. What about you?" She asked Rose.

"I am fine for now and, yes. Princess will start her new school on Monday. She doesn't even know yet. I will tell her later." Rose answered.

Mrs. Rita went into the kitchen and came back out a few minutes later with a glass of water. "I imagine you have accomplished what you came for. Right?" She asked Rose and took her seat.

"I have accomplished one. The other reason why I came here is to ask for your opinion. I don't want the maids cleaning the private rooms. I don't know if it's right to tell them or not." Rose said.

"Why do you need to ask? It's your house and you get to do whatever you want. Don't tell me the Rose I saw yesterday is not the real you." Mrs. Rita said.

"Which Rose did you see?" Rose asked with a confused expression.

"The Rose that shut Cindy up with a few words. I even heard that you managed to get 7million from your husband's father. Is that not you?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"How did you hear about that? Who told you about what happened between Mr. Allen and me?" Rose asked with exasperation. "You were not there so, how did you know?"

"Someone who was very happy about what you did came here this morning and told me." Mrs. Ruta answered with a smile.

Rose thought for a while and said, "it must have been Uzo who told you. Right?"

Mrs. Rita laughed and said, "you are wrong child. Your husband came here before leaving for work and told me all that happened last night. He was very proud of you."

"Christopher did? He told you?" Rose asked.

"Yes dear, he told me and he said it with a very happy smile. I haven't seen someone so happy that his father was cheated. If you can do that without blinking then, why do you need to ask for permission before making rules in your house?" Mrs. Rita said. "You know what? Let's go and meet with them now. While we are at it, you can take note of anything you want to change in the house."

"Ok, thank you. I will be more comfortable with you around." Rose said.

"Ok. Let me clean myself up and we'll get to work." Mrs. Rita said and went into her bedroom to get changed.