The stepmom

They entered the sitting room and Charlotte was shocked at the interior decorator of the sitting room, and the dinning table as well as the wall paint.

"Are you okay?" asked Adam gently, at the shocked on her face

"Em. No! em em Yes!" stuttered Charlotte

"Can you sit for a while. while I quickly rushed inside to change and come join you here later." said Adam softly

"Okay." replied Charlotte

"Mister," said house keeper quickly

"What's it Cynthia!" asked Adam softly

"Your dad is around." said the house keeper gently

"Really? So soon." said Adam amazed

His dad walked into the sitting room holding a newspaper on his hands and he was heading to his favorite chair

"Dad!" said Adam suddenly

"Son, You're back from school?" asked his father and he turned his sideways and was surprised to see his son standing on the stairs case

"Cynthia was just telling me about your arrival now. when did you get back dad and I thought you'd be spending a month?" asked Adam surprised at his father's sudden arrival from the U.S. He thought his father would be using a month as usual but now it was barely a week he came back.

"Some minutes ago dear." replied his father chuckled and he caught sight of Charlotte standing timidly on the floor and he raised his eyebrows at her questioning

"Good afternoon sir!" said Charlotte politely

"Afternoon dear and who're you young lady?" asked Adam's dad softly

"That's my class mate dad." Adam cut in immediately

"Oh! Really but you rarely brought your friends home." said his father bewildered, and he raised his eyebrows at Adam suspiciously

"Charlotte is a good friend of mine. and we're here to study together." said Adam cheerfully

"Really?" asked his father suspiciously, it was unlike Adam bringing someone to the house most especially a female friend.

"Yes sir, " Charlotte quickly cut in him "I'm here to study with Adam for the upcoming quiz." said Charlotte charmingly

"Quiz?" asked his father stunned

"Yes sir, Adam has been the only bright and intelligent boy in my class.Through his help I was able to passed the essay test. I must commend sir, you have such a intelligent and bright son." said Charlotte enthusiastic

"Wow Wow! I'm happy to hear that about you son." said his father cheerfully and Adam was applauded "I think I need to be more closer to you these days Son and I'm sorry for not being there for you all this while. Please come closer to me Son." his father hugged him tenderly and Charlotte was moved with tears on her face, she wished her father would hugged her that way and said those words to her.

"I'm sorry for not being there for you, please forgive me." said his father regretfully for sending him away to another school

"It's okay daddy." said Adam happily with his father now and he was indebted to Charlotte for speaking so well about him in the presence of his father

"What do you want to do now?" asked his father keenly

"Charlotte and I want to study for the upcoming quiz." replied Adam softly

"Okay that's great. let me excuse you guys. if you need anything call me upstairs dear." said his father cheerfully

"Okay daddy, excuse me please." said Adam and he quickly rushed inside to change his clothes

"Thanks Charlotte." said Adam's father gladly, he turned to her and could see Charlotte still standing ever since "You can sit down dear, feel free please." said Adam's father cheerfully

"You're welcome sir." said Charlotte politely and she quickly sat gently on the sofa

"Cynthia!" said Adam's father and the house keeper quickly moved forward to him

"Yes sir!" replied Cynthia bowed respectfully

"Serve Charlotte anything she wants, do you hear me?" said Adam's dad softly

"Yes sir." replied Cynthia gently

"Charlotte don't be shy, feel free to take anything. You're also my daughter now." chuckled Mr Smith

"Okay sir, thank you!" smiled Charlotte at his jokes and Mr Smith returned back to his study room

After a while, Adam joined Charlotte in the sitting room, they were both eating pancakes with soft drinks

"Thanks Adam for the meal and I must confess, your father's a good man." said Charlotte innocently

"Really?" asked Adam

"Yes," replied Charlotte vividly

"I know he's a good man if not for the woman he remarried." said Adam unfortunately.

"Yeah, I know right." agreed Charlotte and she quickly added "I think am okay now." said Charlotte, she had already finished eating her portion of the pancakes

"Me too!" said Adam and he called the attention of the house keeper to cleared the plates away "Let's begin with current affairs Charlotte." said Adam softly

"Okay!" replied Charlotte

"Which current affairs do you have?" asked Adam suddenly

"I only have this, where's it again?" Charlotte turned over to her school bag and bought the book outside "Here is it." said Charlotte

"This is Old version jor." chuckled Adam and he continued "I have the new version with me, so you will study from one to fifty and I will study from fifty to hundred agreed?" asked Adam eagerly

"Yes agreed!" replied Charlotte softly and they started studying together

The two kids studied for two hours and unfortunately Tina and her mother met them during the process.

"Welcome ma," said Cynthia gently and she quickly collected her handbag

Mrs Sandra ignored the house keeper greeting at the sight of Adam and she moved over to where Charlotte and Adam was studying.Charlotte quickly raised her head up and saw Mrs Sandra, she thought within herself "I guess she's Adam's step mother." thought Charlotte and she stood up immediately and said

"Good afternoon ma." said Charlotte politely

"Who're you?" asked Mrs Sandra looking at Charlotte contemptuously

"She's my classmate, welcome ma." Adam quickly cut in and he was looking at her contending, he knew she was looking for another trouble to taunt him again

"Oh I see," smirked Mrs Sandra looking at Adam suspiciously

"As you can see, we're studying!" said Adam contorted and he beckoned to Charlotte to sit down back. Mrs Sandra was dumbfounded by his rudely action towards her and she left their presence angrily

"Let's go inside Tina." said Mrs Sandra

"The boss is around ma." said the house keeper

"Oh really and he didn't inform me." Mrs Sandra was taken back, at Mr Smith's arrival

"My kids, are you still studying?" entered Mr Smith

"My darl..." Mrs Sandra was shocked at his presence and was cut off by sudden interruptions of Adam

"Yes daddy but we're through now!" replied Adam sweetly

"Oh that's nice!" replied Mr Smith and he saw her wife standing and looking annoyed "What's wrong dear are you not happy to see me back?" asked Mr Smith

"You didn't inform me you'll be coming home soon." replied Mrs Smith annoyed

"It's a surprise my dear wife." said Mr Smith

"Oh it's a surprise indeed, welcome home sweetheart and how was your trip?" said Mrs Smith and she started acting up again

"Daddy welcome back!" said Tina

"Thanks my dear how was school today and hope you didn't cause any trouble?" asked Mr Smith

"Not at all dad!" replied Tina

"Oh common dear, you know our baby girl doesn't look for trouble unlike his brother." smirked Mrs Smith again

"You're wrong dear. I got a call from his school and I was told he was doing well in school both in his studies and all that." said his father proudly

"Oh!" Mrs Smith was shocked and embarrassed and she quickly added "I think he's doing better now, I need to go shower dear please excuse me." Mrs Smith quickly rushed inside with her daughter, she was ashamed of how Mr Smith praised Adam in her presence and Adam was glad at her pathetic reaction on his achievement