Episode 05

Xavier was deep asleep when a heavy and continuous knock began hitting his ears. He wondered who the soul waking him up was.

His eyes darted at the wall clock instantly, it was 11 pm.

He gasped and turned to the door as it was ripped open. Chloe dashed in and shut it again.

To be precise, a single smile wasn't on her face, she frowned like never before. He couldn't invent the last time she was in such a mood.

He watched her as she moved closer to the bed and sat on it. The promise she made in the daytime sounded in her ear again.

She wouldn't let him rest until her request is granted.

"My angel, what's wrong with you? You aren't sleeping." He referred to her daughter who bent her head in sorrow.

She glanced at him and bent her head again, "I can't sleep dad, the only person in my mind is ma'am Vanessa and I want her beside me."

"Do you ever know that the lady is already asleep at her comfort home, while you're here thinking about her, "Xavier uttered?

She hissed, throwing the pillow away from her, "That's a big lie, I know she's also thinking about me right away. If she had been here as my babysitter, I wouldn't be awake by this time."

"But you've been falling asleep alone all this while, why act differently now? It's a matter of time darling, you will get used to it and will have nothing to do with a babysitter", Xavier tried explaining to her.

She shook her head, "No, a babysitter means a lot to me and that's why I need it."

Xavier sat up on the bed, he watched as his daughter kept rumbling his bed cover out of anger.

"If you won't employ ma'am Vanessa to be my babysitter, then get me back my mother. I need her back or someone that will treat me just like she does." Chloe broke out in tears.

That sentence alone struck Xavier's heart, he felt it begin bleeding at that moment. With the sentence she made, he noticed how the little girl is lacking a mother's care and love.

He affixed himself to her shoe and understood how she felt, it wasn't easy for her at all just like him.

The action of taking away all the images of her late wife around the building is just for his sake and that of his children.

Setting their eyes each time on the images of her gathers tears in their eyes every minute.

It made him lack concentration in his work even when busy in his office. The image of his wife kept reflecting in his mind continuously.

Here is his little daughter complaining bitterly and indirectly about the loss of her mother.

Precisely, she isn't supposed to be far from her mother at this stage.

His eyes landed on her, she had rested her head on her chest weeping bitterly. The cloth he had on was already soaked in tears.

"Dad please, employ ma'am Vanessa to be my babysitter, I promise you won't regret it, "Chloe uttered while on his chest.

At this point, he would do anything to make her happy. If getting a babysitter will stop her from thinking about her mum, then he would do that.

He understood how she felt. Deciding to get a wife for himself is all because he wouldn't want to think about his late wife again.

Getting a babysitter for Chloe won't stop him from getting himself a wife. He believes Tracy and Ben will get familiar with it and start loving the two women.

"You need to sleep okay. Your head hurts." Xavier muttered to the hearing of his little daughter.

She shook her head and began weeping again, "I'll sleep only if you grant my request."

He bit his lips in dismay, "It's okay darling, but I think it's better to talk about it in the daytime. I'll see what to do about it."

Chloe hit his shoulder, "We've talked about it in the daytime already."

He twitched his lips apart, "If I employ the baker as your babysitter, you'll be happy and will stop talking about your mother right?"

She nodded while staring into his eyes, "Yes, I'll be the happiest on earth."

He smiled at her, "But you know one thing, it depends on the baker this time. I've promised to employ her as your babysitter, but that is if she would accept the work."

"She will. I'll make sure she accepts it." Chloe assured. Her fingers began dipping into her father's hair, he watched her smile at her, and she didn't hesitate to return the smile.

"Now my angel will go to bed right?" Xavier referred to her.

She nodded and jumped into the bed, persisting in staying with him for the night.

He had no other choice than to let her spend the night with him together if that alone will make her happier than she is now.

*

*

THE NEXT DAY

After Chloe had taken her breakfast, she ran upstairs to go meet her father. It gladdens her that it was the weekend, and so her father will be with them at home.

Tracy and Ben noticed the happy expression on Chloe since daybreak, the two wondered what was behind her happiness, not until it struck their mind about her past request of having a babysitter.

They were assured that their father must have granted her request just for peace to reign.

Chloe dashed into her father's room after knocking twice, she found him busy going through some files on his table which was positioned beside the bed.

"You aren't ready dad? We need to go see the baker about our discussion last night." Chloe uttered while moving towards her father.

Xavier swirled his neck and faced her, "Exercise patience, I need to get these files together and arranged before we leave."

She acceded to it and sat on the sofa opposite the bed.

Minutes elapsed, and her father was already dressed up. He ordered her to get on her feet, and they left his room.

*

*

Vanessa was so busy cleaning up the veranda of her bakery that she noticed a foot some steps away from her.

She lifted her face to see that it was him again. The young man whom Chloe referred to as her father.

Her eyes narrowed when she caught him dressed up in his sweatpants and vest. He looks much sexier than before.

"Good morning Mr. Xavier," Vanessa greeted while swallowing deeply. She felt haunted at the moment because she had never had such a man visit her this early.

Xavier studied her body completely and gasped inwardly. Chloe has done it again, after all his efforts to kick the young lady off his mind, here he is standing before her.

"Good morning Vanessa. I want to discuss it with you, hope I'm welcomed?" Xavier announced her hearing.

She nodded and let them into her bakery. "Have a seat sir."

He got seated. Before Vanessa could take a seat too, Chloe dashed in smiling.

She drew her closer between her thighs, "How are you doing sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, and you?" Chloe referred to her stretching her lips into a wide smile.

She nodded, "I'm pretty good."

Xavier studied every one of their actions, then he realized the reason for such love Chloe developed towards the lady at first sight.

She will take good care of her dearly, and would make a good mother too.

"I haven't been myself since the first day we purchased from your bakery. Chloe has been eating me up for not granting her request, so I decided to come to speak to you about it…" Xavier stated vividly.

She smiled and glanced at Chloe, "What's the discussion all about?"

"She persists that I should employ a babysitter for her, and it must be you", he announced.

Her facial expression changed instantly, she wondered if it was a daydream.

Gosh! It must not be true. She can't babysit a little girl that loves her father already.

She has a mother, and she must be capable of babysitting her daughter. Getting another woman would be good too.

This is complicated. She doesn't know the reply to give them in order not to hurt their feelings towards her...

TBC...