Shadow of love episode 69

i turned to Greg and he too had surprise written on his face.

Greg: Uhm. Gab, we're actually here to tell you that .....

Gab: You're getting married?

Me: No, not .....

Gab: Why not?

There was silence in the room as Greg and I searched our souls for answers to give this little girl who's got brains.

Gab: Dad?

Greg: Yes honey.

Gab: Why not?

Greg: Baby, it's not like it's not going to happen. Pamela and I just started courting, and we hope and sincerely pray we walk down the aisle together.

Courting? I didn't see that one coming.

Gab: So, it's going to happen but not yet.

Greg: Exactly.

I started going through the picture album she had given me earlier, distracting myself from whatever they were saying.

Greg: Baby, I'll leave you and Pamela for now, I need to freshen up

Gab: Alright dad. Come soon.

He pecked his daughter, then gave me a kiss before leaving Gab's sitting room.
The little girl was beside me the next moment, explaining each picture and the people in it. She was so intelligent.

Gab: Aunt, do you live around?

Me: No dear. I live in Anambra, I just came with my friends to be with Greg for a while.

Gab: Yes. My mum said grandma went to heaven and she's not coming back.

Me: But she'll be praying for us from there.

Gab: I believe you, because my grandma was .....

Yvonne: Gabriella, have you washed up this morning?

The little girl stood up and her expression changed to that of fear.

Gab: Yes, I have.

Yvonne walked into the sitting room with her eyes fixed on me.

Yvonne: And you've got nothing better to do with your time? You should be reading or sketching something, now, be in your room before I count down to ten.

The little girl ran off but I could hear her sobs. I stood up and turned to Yvonne.

Me: That was harsh.

Yvonne: I know. She's my daughter, isn't she?

Me: I know she's your daughter but Yvonne you're just being wicked or you don't want her talking to me.

Yvonne: Don't care what you're thinking. She's got to act like the child she is, not mingling with overgrown adults who only knows how to take people's man.

Me: Let's keep aside the overgrown adult thing. We're talking about Gabriella now. What you just did, is wrong. What are you trying to teach her? That it's right to walk into two people who're chatting and dismiss one of them? Or you're trying to turn her into an introvert? Parents love their children to be outspoken, to know how to interact with the public and not ......

Yvonne: Wait a minute! Are you trying to teach me how to raise my child? Is that what you're trying to do? And so, Queeneth and Greg over pampered her, turned her into some icy princess and you want me to follow that line?

I smiled.

Me: If Gabriella is pampered, with all her intelligence and level of reasoning, I'll pamper my kids to stupor. If the girl I just spoke with is an icy princess, then Greg and Queeneth really need to give me recipes on how to do that. Yvonne, what kind of woman are you exactly?

Yvonne: A woman, who's man you stole.

Me: Because of your inability to keep him.

Yvonne: You say?

Me: You heard right. All I'm asking is that you stop treating Gab that way. If you'll excuse me, I've got someone that needs me.

Yvonne: You don't make her disrupt my orders.

Me: Your orders? Yvonne you should be thankful your daughter is the way she is. Look at you, its not ten yet and you've downed half a bottle of spirit. Is that what you want your daughter to be doing?

Yvonne: My life is none of your business.

Me: Then leave the people with clear head to raise your child for you.

Yvonne: Are you insulting me? Wait, did Greg bring you to this house to insult me?

Me: Excuse me.

I shook my head and walked out, taking the way I had seen Gab run into. There was just one door before the hallway came to an end so I just opened it. Her room was beautiful, pink and blue and a little touch of white adorned the room. There were pictures of her on the wall. There was a shelve filled with toys on the right and then beside her bedpost, there was a smaller shelve which contained books. The little girl was on the bed, cuddling a big teddy. She was humming a song.

Me: You okay?

She sat up and a smile appeared on her face. She wasn't crying anymore but the dried white lines on her face proved that she did cry.

Me: Your room is beautiful. Who decorated it for you?

Gab: My grandma did.

Me: It's beautiful

Gab: Thanks.

I sat down beside her and placed her head on my laps.

Me: When are you resuming school?

Gab; Monday

Me: Will you come visit me when you're on vacation?

She raised her head and hugged me warmly. I was surprised.

Gab: My mum said I'll go to school from her place. I don't want to. My friends are here and I don't want to leave them, I don't want to go away from here.

I could feel her tears wet my nightie and I held her head, rubbing her hair and looking for the right words to say to her