Annie walked towards them unsure of who the man was. She was so close to them when she heard a voice call her name. She looked at them for the last time and went to meet the person who called her.
Christian ruffled Christine's hair, "Bye sweetie I have to go."
"Okay." She grinned and kissed his forehead.
He also kissed her forehead.
He stood up and got in his car and ignited the engine.
"Till tomorrow then." He smiled and winked.
Christine laughed and aso tried winking.
Christian shook his head and laughed.
"Bye Mr. Handsome."
"Byee." He waved at her for the last time and drove off.
Just then Annie crossed over to the other side of the road where Christine stood. She looked at the moving car and her heart skipped.
"Who was that?" She looked at Christine.
"Mr. Handsome."
"Mr. Handsome huh?" She arched her brow.
" I know his name now."
"What's his name?"
"His name is..." She was about saying it but Mr. Thompson cut her short.
"Annie don't just stand there. Go to the kitchen, we have hungry customers to feed. I don't pay you to stand idle all day." He yelled.
"C'mon sweetie go play. I'll continue my cooking Okay?"
"Okay." She twisted her lips.
Annie rushed into the restaurant.
Christine sighed, "She didn't even want to hear his name."
That evening Annie was preparing dinner. Her phone rang.
"Go get it Christine." Annie said.
Christine answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Hello? Annie?"
She giggled, "Mommy's preparing dinner. It's me, Christine."
"Oh Christine dear. How are you?"
"I'm fine Uncle Robert."
"Go give it to your Mom, okay?"
"Okay. Mommy, Uncle Robert's on the phone!"
"Okay. Bring it here."
Christine ran to the kitchen. Annie was wiping her hands. Christine handed over the phone to her and ran out.
"Hello?"
"Hey Annie, how are you?"
"I'm good."
"Hey Annie, he's finally agreed to the marriage." He sounded excited.
"Marriage? What marriage?"
"Your marriage of course. The Roger's finally convinced their son to marry you."
Annie gasped, "What?"
"Yeah. But..."
"But what?"
"He said he's not gonna accept Christine as his child." He sounded uncertain of her reaction.
There was silence. Annie broke down laughing hard. She laughed for a minute or two.
"What's so funny?" Robert asked confused.
"Robert don't you know me? You think I'll leave my daughter just to marry some guy huh? I won't do it Robert." She was firm.
Robert slapped his head frustrated, "Annie he's the only guy so far who agreed to marry you and you're being stubborn?"
"I won't leave my daughter! I can't do it Robert, I won't do it."
Robert smiled, "It's okay. I'll be waiting for your reply when you come to your senses." He hung up.
Annie's face had gone hot red from fuming. How could that son of a gun not want her to stay with her child? She wasn't gonna marry him and that was final.
"Mommy? What's wrong?" Christian asked notice her mother's mood.
"It's nothing my dear." She tried smiling at her but her expression failed her.
"Mommy you're lying aren't you?"
Annie stared at her, she bent down and cupped her face, "I'm sorry baby but I can't tell you. You won't understand, you're too young."
Christine looked at her, "Who's getting married Mommy?"
Annie faked a smile, "No one is getting married sweetheart."
"Okay. I'm hungry Mommy, can we eat now?"
"Of course. Go sit at the dining table." She stood up.
"Finally." Christine rolled her eyes and walked out of the kitchen.
Annie chuckled.
She quickly served dinner and set it at the dining table.
"Mommy?"
"Yes dear?"
"We have an excursion next two weeks. We'll be visiting the zoo."
"Okay?"
"The fee is $200." She pursed her lips.
"$200? Oh my, Christine I can't pay for that. I have you and other needs to take care of." She said.
"Oh Okay. I understand Mommy."
"I'm so sorry dear."
Christine faked a smile, "No problem Mommy."
******
"Bye sweetie." Annie kissed Christine's forehead.
"Bye Mommy." She ran off to school.
Christian ran till she got tired and she had to walk. Remembering she wasn't gonna go with the other kids on excursion made her sad.
"Hey Christine."
Christine looked in the direction of the person calling her. It was Christian.
She ran towards him, "Mr. Handsome. You waited for me." She giggled.
He kissed her head, "How are you my dear?"
Christine expression changed, "I'm not fine." She pouted.
"Hey what's wrong?"
"My Mommy doesn't have the money to pay for the excursion. Other kids are GOI except me." She bent her head.
"How much is it?" He asked.
"It's $200. Mommy says she has me to take care of and she can't pay." She sighed.
Christian smiled, "Don't worry baby. You'll also go on that excursion okay?"
"But how?" She asked confused.
"Mr. Handsome's a wise man right?"
Christine nodded, "Yes he is."
"He'll think of something okay? So don't worry." He kissed her hair.
"I love you Mr. Handsome." She smiled.
Christian pressed his lips. He didn't know why it felt so good hearing her say she loved him.
"I love you too." He said it almost whispering.
"I have to go now bye." She walked towards the gate. She stood as she had forgotten something and ran back.
"Hey Mr. Handsome, come back when my school closes. I asked my Mom to take me home from school today so you'll get the chance of meeting her."
"Oh. Okay. I'll love to see your Mom and thank her for such a wonder gift she gave to the world."
Christine blushed, "Aww. Thanks Mr. Handsome."
"You don't need to thank me for the truth." He tugged her cheeks.
"Bye. Don't forget to come back. It closes by 2.30 pm everyday."
"Okay. I won't forget. I promise."
Christine waved at him and ran off to join her classmates.
Christian smiled watching her run. If he hadn't pushed Annie away, he'd be watching his child run to school just like Christine.
He looked at the sky, "Please help me find Annie. I really need to apologize to her. Please."
He walked towards the school gate and entered the school, going straight to the head office.
The secretary stood up on seeing him, "Good morning sir, how may I help you?"
"I wanna pay Christine's excursion fee."
"Christine Larry?"
"Uh... I don't know her surname but she must definitely be in kindergarten."
"Well that should be her then. Let me get her class teacher sir. Please sit." She went out of the office.
Larry? His heart skipped. Annie also bored the surname Larry. How come Christine bore that surname too?
'There are a thousand other people named Larry.' He thought. He closed his eyes. If Christine was related to Annie somehow.
Mr. Cole came in with the secretary. Christian paid for Christine.
"Don't tell her I paid for her." He told Mr. Cole.
Mr. Cole agreed. Christian walked back to his car. Was Christine related to Annie in anyway? If yes was Christine his daughter then? His heart raced and he silently prayed for a miracle.
*******
Christine ran to meet Annie.
"You kept your promise Mommy. You came!"
"Why would I break my promise to my darling Angel?" She kissed her hair.
Christine giggled.
"C'mon let's go."
That same moment, Christian saw them both. His eyes caught sight of Annie and he felt his heart stop.
"Annie?"