Freddie, in as much as he was a loving husband and a caring daddy was also a hard working business man, business to him was a big deal. He loves to work considering also that he benefit a lot from his winery business in that he can provide for his family basic needs. Being in the business for sometime as now has made it a huge part of him such that he talks about business all the time.
Aimee even as a child could understand what the business was for her daddy, he would always discuss about one business meeting or trip he had attended or the other at dinning hours, Aimee would listen so keenly as an adult although she often times finds it so difficult to understand anything her daddy says she will ask him questions upon questions just to get her curiosity quashed. She doesn't just understand why her father goes for business trips and meetings, when he could just tell his workers what to do without even going to work.
"Dad" Aimee had called out one of those evenings he discussed about his experience at work "Must you really go for trips and meetings when you can just tell your workers what to do and they will do it that way?." Freddie smiled in a style that suggest his lack of words.
"Dad, I want you staying by my side everyday so I don't get to miss you too much" Aimee requested in her tiny innocent tone that would make the hearer agree at the spot.
"Aimee, but I have always been here" Freddie tried to prove.
"Yes dad, but I want you more here" Aimee furthered on.
"My little sweetheart there are things I can't explain to you now because your little mind is so tender to understand, but just know that dad loves you so very much and he means it a lot" Freddie said with a peck on Little Aimee's cheek.
"Time for bed" interrupting the beautiful interaction of dad and daughter, Emily beckoned on Aimee to bed.
"Oh! darling can't you see I'm having a beautiful time with my little angel" Freddie jokingly stated with a smile. Emily carried little Aimee from her chair heading towards her room.
"Oh mum, I think I'm grown up now, I can walk on my own" Aimee tried to come down from her mum's arm.
"Okay my dear" Emily let her go from her arms with both parent smiling as she runs her way to her room with Emily following her from behind. She gets on her bed with her pink lovely teddy bear wrapped up in her arms, she lied on her bed with her face upwards as if she was searching for something up the ceiling, lost in thoughts, her mum's voice called her back present in the room.
"Dear, I heard your conversation with your dad earlier on, I know you may think he doesn't spend much time with you especially lately, but I want you to know that he loves you so much and will go to the moons for you." Aimee listened this time with her eyes as if it never did blink all fixed gazing on her mum.
"I know mum, and I love him too" she said this time siting up straight on her bed with cracks in her voice, she raises her hands to embrace her mum goodnight. As she lay back in her bed with her blanket covering her feet to her neck point, her mum kissed her goodnight.
Frederick was so full of what his daughter thoughts were towards him, he could remember how he once held her in his arms, how time flies, he smiled to himself. He really doesn't want to be a bad father and certainly not one in the future, of a truth he could see reasons with Aimee why she thought he wasn't always around especially lately. He has been so busy with work, trying to see that everything and every one is okay, but his activities lately have been creating a distance between the father and daughter relationship which if time permits would become a major gap he wasn't ready to face. He made a resolve to act on speed.
"Darling what's the matter?, you are looking all pale." Emily asked her husband as she joins him in their bedroom.
"Dear, I was pondering on something" he replied.
"Something we can talk about?" she questioned in her inclusive manner.
"Darling... " he made a move towards her holding her with both hands and his steady eyes all fixed on her like new lovers who just got recently wedded.
"I think Aimee has been feeling my absence for some time now due to my commitment to the business" Freddie said not knowing what next to do.
"I understand dear, but she is only but a little girl, I think when she comes of age she would understand" Emily tried to assure him, but he still wasn't convinced as she could guess it all from the looks his face showed.
She was beating her thoughts so fast, thinking on what to say that would relaxed his mind. She really hated to see him in such condition as he was in that evening. She loved her husband and her daughter so much and was never ready to surrender any of them for anything, whatever it takes she would do to ensure her home and marriage is fine. After racing her mind for a better solution, she twist her fingers in a manner that suggest she had found what she was looking for, smiling so boldly she reached her arms to Frederick.
"Freddie dear, I think I know what we should do" she finally spoke out.
"What is it sweetheart?" Frederick asked curiously.
"I think what our baby girl needs is a vacation" She spoke out.
"A vacation?" He soliloquised.
"It's been like ages we went for one since her birth, I think if we all go out on one, she would feel the bond again" Emily said.
"Yes, I think so but where are we going?" he asked.
"Don't worry I got everything figured out" she assured him. He was not burdened on any issue Emily confirmed to have figured out, she was one of her kind, a specialist in organizing and planning especially on events. He had often times thought if not her interest in wine she may have found herself as an Event planner or manager, she was always perfect in handling event matters, this made him loved her even the more.
"come here, sweetheart" he called her standing up from a chair he sat on to where Emily was trying to get herself in the blanket, they hugged themselves before kissing Goodnight, both in bed.
The long night soon became day, he had tried forcing himself to sleep but it was as if the spirit that controls men to sleep didn't come for him that night, he tried all possible means to catch a sleep but to no avail, sleep was just too far from his eyes. He rolled on the bed all through out the night. Luckily for him, Emily was a deep sleeper, she had slept through the whole night without knowing her husband on the other side could not. His problem was how he was going to tell her of the major problem at hand. He really does not want her to be bothered especially now that he is seeking for help and solution, he just prayed help and solution would come before the problem would become so pronounced such that he will not be able to hide it anymore.
"Good morning sunshine..." he tried waking Aimee from her bed, it was some minutes past five o'clock and it was a Monday morning.
"Good morning dad" Aimee greeted as she opened her eyes to realize her dad sitting on her bed staring so dearly at her.
"Good morning sweetheart, how was my darling's beautiful night rest?" he asked this time in a more fatherly tone.
"Fine dad... Are you still angry with me dad?" Aimee managed to say in a sleepy tone.
"And why should I be? you really haven't given me a reason to get mad at you Aimee Malcolm" this was one of the few times he had called her by her full name.
"I'm so sorry for speaking that way to you yesterday, I shouldn't have, please forgive me" Aimee begged.
"Oh my little baby, you are such a darling and you are right when you said you have grown up" Fredrick replied with both persons smiling, he offered his hands to her and she jumped out of bed reaching for his hands, he carried her out humming a popular song Aimee loved but she just could not get the right lyrics of the songs, she hummed along side her dad.
"Dad when will Grand ma visit again? I really miss her a lot, her bed time stories and songs."
"She will visit soon Aimee, now let's get you cleaned up for school" Frederick tried to reposition his daughter attention to the business of the day just before he thought he had achieved his goal Aimee broke the silence with yet another question.
"Dad, where is mum?"
"My God, Aimee too many questions this morning is not healthy for dad, nevertheless your mum should either be in our room or in the kitchen making breakfast for my lovely damsel" he smiled at her. After bathing her, he carried her back to her room as he wrapped her body with a cotton towel absorbing the water remnant from her tiny soft body. She fixed her eyes more closely at her dad, he was looking so slim with his eyes looking so tired as someone who works at night watch.
"Dad, is everything okay?" so shocked, Fredrick managed to respond.
"Yes dear, but why...?" he really wasn't expecting this question as it left him off balance.
"Nothing dad, only that your eyes look so tired"
"I'm fine dear, I must have gotten dirt into my eyes" he defended. He really must be careful now so no one notices his dilemma.
"Aimee..."
"yes dad"
"I have a little gist for you"
"What is it dad?"
"I have been wondering, I want us all that is you, me and mum to go out for a vacation"
"Wow! Dad that would be great, I would love it too but when so I can tell Marie and Clive too" Now Aimee fully dressed in her school uniform, he carried her on his lap.
"Dear I don't want you telling Marie or Clive about it because the vacation will just be for you, me and your mum so we can catch up the times we have missed out on"
"Okay dad if that's fine with you it's okay with me" he looked up at her but this time wondering her level of intelligence even at her age, he was so blessed to have her as a child he was so sure his legacy will be in good hands.
"And what are my babies planning on this time?" Emily asked without waiting for an answer, it seemed she has been standing there for quite some time.
"Good morning mummy" Aimee raced to her embrace as she pecked her on her cheek.
"Good morning beautiful, I can see dad has dressed you up already for school"
"Yes mum."
"Time for breakfast family" Emily announced.
"What are we having today for breakfast mum?" Aimee wondered.
"Go check it at the dinning table"Emily said.
"Oh" Aimee raced towards the dinning.
"A beautiful morning to you sweetheart" Frederick made a move towards Emily pecking her on her cheek.
"Let's go to the dinning" Emily said.
"Wow pickled eggs and bread, my favorite" Aimee yelled in excitement, she tried to get her food into her stomach as her dad dashed back into his room to prepare for work. Soon he came out with his black designer suitcase. Aimee often wondered on how special her dad's suitcase must be, it was always so full of white papers, either with typed writings on it or with ink pen hand written on it. Off the both of them zoomed in Frederick car waving bye to Emily.