Giving In

"Wore!" Selena corrected. "I've only seen him once."

"Whatever… he drives an SUV, his daughter has a personal driver and he is always busy. That's a rich man's lifestyle, girl. I'm telling you he's rich!"

Selena shook her head pitifully. Whatever that had Megan hooked on rich men must be African jazz.

She stood up and walked around the table to stand before Megan. She grabbed an apron and threw it on.

"Where's the milk? I'll start whisking."

Megan clapped happily and pointed to the fridge. "Be my guest, bestie."

*****

Timothy's Office….

Timothy stood, dumbstruck and stunned by his daughter's wits.

"You did what?"

He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that his four year old not only threatened him yesterday, she even went as far as asking her classroom teacher -a woman she's barely known- to be her mother.

Bella took a bite from the half-eaten apple and turned to look at her father.

"I asked her to be my mother." She shrugged. "Well, I asked her like this: Miss Selena, would you be my mummy?"

"How could you do that?" Timothy was stunned.

"The hell did you get your wits from!?"

Bella frowned. "Language, daddy. I'm only four. Well, four and a half."

Timothy sighed. "Sorry. But, why would you do that?"

"What was I supposed to do then?" Bella asked.

She just did what she thought was to be done. She didn't do anything wrong.

"Bella, let me handle this. Okay?"

Bella nodded.

"As long as you don't make Miss Selena angry," she said sternly.

"I promise." Timothy nodded and stood up. He picked his keys and briefcase before returning to take Bella's school bag. "Let's go."

Bella held his hand and skipped happily all the way to the elevator.

*****

The next morning…

Selena woke up with a cold. Her skin felt like it was burning up. She knew she wouldn't be able to go to class today so, she put a call across to the headteacher and informed her of her predicament.

The headteacher was a very warm and loving woman and she told her to take two days off. She also promised to call in later in the day to hear how she was feeling.

Selena ended the call with a smile and tossed the phone away. Just then, the door to her room opened and her brother, Rick, came in.

He was holding a tray that carried a bowl of soup and some medications.

"Hey, sis,” Rick called with a smile. "Sit up."

Selena smiled and sat up. Rick placed the tray on the bedside table and handed her the bowl.

"Thanks, Rick." Selena whispered and took a few spoons of the soup before nodding her head in approval. "Delicious, as always."

"Merci, mademoiselle," Rick gave a mock bow and Selena nudged him playfully.

"Why didn't you go to work, though?"

Rick chuckled and scratched his nose. "I called in to say I'd be late."

Selena frowned.

"Why would you do that?" She asked.

"I'm leaving now. I just wanted you to have that bowl in your hands and I succeeded. So, I'm leaving." He said and stood up. He bent down and placed a small kiss on Selena's hair.

"Take care and don't do anything today. Promise?"

Selena laughed and raised a hand up. "I promise."

Selena watched him walk out of her bedroom with a smile on her face. Her baby brother is all grown up. She couldn't help but feel happy.

When their parents had gotten divorced, Rick was only two years old and she was six then. Their mother had been given full custody of them but after she got remarried and her husband started to maltreat them, they were returned to their father. The court making sure to give him full custody of them both.

Their father never remarried because he still loved his ex-wife, their mother, but the same could not be said for their mother who was already pregnant for her new husband.

At an early age, she and Rick were forced to learn how to live on their own when their father died eleven years later. She had been only seventeen when the man slumped right before her in the living room. By the time they arrived at the hospital, he had been dead. The hospital reported his cause of death as a cardiac arrest.

They couldn't bury their father as they were very young. So, they tried to reach their mother who blatantly refused to take them in. It was a good thing when their father's lawyer told them that he had left his house to them and 'every other thing'.

Selena knew their father was a lawyer, at least that was what he had always told them. So, she was curious to know what 'other things' he meant in his will. Sadly, the lawyer wouldn't break a promise.

Selena couldn't access his will, nor any other thing -except the house and his bank account- until either she or Rick were married. So, Selena could only hope and pray for the right man to come her way.

*****

After she finished her bowl of soup, Selena took a warm shower and returned to bed. But, before she slept off, she put a call across to Megan to tell her that she would not be able to drop by as arranged.

Megan understood and promised to drop by with her favorites.

*****

Kindergarten Class…

Bella had been sitting in class for hours but miss Selena never came in. Instead, another teacher came in.

According to the teacher, Miss Selena was sick and wouldn't be in school until two days later. Bella was close to tears when she heard this.

She didn't get a response from Miss Selena yesterday and today, she was sick.

Bella sat in her chair, eagerly waiting for the day to end. She wanted to see Miss Selena so bad.

When the bell for closing rang, Bella was more than happy about it. She packed her bags and stood outside the classroom door and waited for the driver to arrive.

When the driver's car pulled up into the compound, she didn't wait for him to come down and get her, she ran all the way to the car and jumped into the backseat.

The driver was startled when he saw this. He thought someone was chasing her so, he quickly shut the doors from inside before turning to face her.

"Bella, who's chasing you?" He asked, his eyes scanning her for any possible injuries.

Bella shook her head and smiled. "No one, Uncle Drew. Let's go now."

Drew didn't look so convinced. He raised a brow and asked, "are you sure, Bella?"

"I'm sure, Uncle Drew. Trust me."