Love Over Everything — Chapter 27

Suing Vivian or pressing any sort of charges against her was the last thing on Christopher’s mind as soon as he signed the divorce papers four years ago.

For all that he went through, he needed to heal and that made him take a month-long vacation to an undisclosed town, far away from where he lived.

It was a beautiful town where people lived like they were in the 18th century. There was hardly any network on his phone and neither was there any access to the internet and he loved it that way because He wouldn’t be tempted to do anything called work on his laptop.

He spent his one-month healing not only physically but also mentally. He interacted with other people in the town, made a couple of friends and also engaged in some traditional therapy.

Unfortunately, the vacation came to an end rather quickly and he had to return to Miami, back to reality.

Chris set his priority right and that included burying himself with work and attending baby classes. He took the class because he wanted to be the best Dad he could to his daughter. He showed up for all of Vivian’s checkups for the rest of her pregnancy; they only met or communicated when their daughter was involved.

Vivian gave birth through cesarean section. Chris was present for the surgery and immediately the doctor placed his baby girl in his arms he called her Zoe Emma Smith.

He never discussed names with Vivian nor did he take into consideration the fact that She might have a name in mind to call their baby and of course she did not have the mind to object to the name Chris gave Zoe.

Never had a day passed by that Christopher did not think about Naomi. He thought of going to California to reach out to her and try to win her back but the fear of rejection stopped him...

•••••••••••••••••

Christopher cursed softly as he dashed into his bedroom. He lost track of time while working and now he was going to be late to pick up Zoe from the airport.

He changed into a presentable outfit, picked up his car keys on the kitchen counter and exited his apartment.

Because he drove very fast, he was able to get to the airport on-time and after a few minutes of looking around, he finally sighted Vivian and their daughter Zoe.

A big smile made its way to Zoe’s face as soon as she saw her Father. She ignored her mom’s warning not to run so she won’t fall and ran towards her dad who was already in a squatting position, ready to embrace her.

“I missed you, princess, ” Chris said as soon as he embraced his daughter into a fatherly hug.

“I missed you too, Daddy, ” Zoe replied. She pulled away from the hug and kissed his cheek. Christopher smiled and kissed her forehead.

“Hi.” He greeted Vivian formally.

“Hi.” She replied with a nervous smile.

“I can tell you guys had a good trip.” Chris directed to both Zoe and Vivian, especially to his daughter, Zoe.

Zowi nodded her head before connecting her tiny hands with her father’s own.

“We did but I guess Zoe had more fun than I did, ” Vivian replied.

“Thanks for coming to pick us up.” She said sincerely, knowing he only did it for Zoe.

Christopher lifted Zoe in his arms while Vivian picked up She and Zoe’s luggage and they made their way to the car. Chris helped Zoe into her car seat and buckled her up while Vivian placed the suitcases in the trunk.

The ride was silent until Christopher decided to make a conversation.

“So I guess things went well with all you went to do in California?”

“Yes, it did. Thanks for asking.”

“Are okay Princess?” He asked Zoe who was in the backseat, playing a game on Vivian’s iPad.

“I’m fine Daddy, I’m just a little hungry.”

Vivian chuckled at Zoe’s reply. “Her appetite scares me sometimes. She ate before we left for the airport, she ate on the plane and now she’s a little hungry.” She said to Chris.

Christopher smiled, “She’s just like me.”

“We will stop somewhere to get you something to eat alright?”

“Okay, Daddy.” She responded and turned her attention back to her game.

“You know, I was kind of mad at you when you told me You enrolled Zoe for a camp. I mean she’s just four and too young to be left alone.”

“Zoe was getting bored of going everywhere with me and Collins suggested the camp idea when I spoke to him on the phone. I only agreed to it when he said Jenny was one of the tutors over there.”

“You remember Jenny, right?” She asked and he nodded, his eyes not leaving the road. Jenny was Collin’s girlfriend.

“Then Zoe and I went there to take a look, I never had the intention of enrolling her but she refused to leave after we got there.”

“It was a mini-camp for children between the ages of four and seven. And there were only about twenty children there.”

As if Zoe understood her parents’ conversation, She interrupted them.

“Daddy, I made new friends but my best friend is Tyler. I call him TyTy. He is a beautiful boy.”

Christopher frowned at Vivian before turning his face back to the road. “A male friend? I thought it was a female camp.” He said in his protective voice.

“No, it was mixed.” She replied.

Zoe engaged them in some funny conversations about what she did in camp till they got to Vivian’s apartment.

“Thanks for the ride.” She said to Chris as she unbuckled her seatbelt. Zoe already understood that her parents were not together. They don’t want her to sense the enmity between them which was why Christopher tried his very best to act civil with Vivian whenever Zoe was around them.

“You’re welcome.”

Chris went over to the trunk to bring down her luggage while Vivian talked to Zoe who was still in her car seat.

“Baby girl, be good to Daddy okay, I’ll pick up on Tuesday.”

Zoe nodded, “I’ll be a good girl mommy, I promise.” She replied and Vivian smiled.

“I love you princess.” She kissed her forehead.

“Love you too, mama.”

“Greet Uncle Collins for me and tell him I’ve not forgotten the new bike he promised me.”

Vivian smiled, “I will tell him.”

Christopher considered himself blessed to have a daughter like Zoe. Not only was she a happy child, but she had also proven to be an understanding child. As far as she knew, She had two homes, her mother’s home and her father’s home. She spends most weekdays with her mother and weekends with her father or her grandparents. She was loved by her mom, dad, uncles, aunties, and grandparents and that was all that mattered to her.

The first thing Christopher did when he got to his apartment was to feed his daughter after which he cleaned her up and helped her into her nightdress. He also took a shower and changed into his nightwear.

After making sure all necessary lights were turned off and the apartment was secured, Christopher and Zoe proceeded to the master bedroom to call it a night.

“Daddy, I want to show you Tyler’s picture.” Zoe did not allow Chris to respond if he wanted to see the picture or not. She ran towards her backpack that was placed on the sofa in the bedroom, opened the bag in a haste and brought out a picture.

She handed it to her father who was seated on the bed and leaned beside him. “That’s me and Tyler.” She explained.

Christopher was ready to lecture Zoe on the benefits of having female friends instead of having male friends but as soon as he set his eyes on the picture, his heart melted. The longer he stared at it, the more he could not take his eyes off it. In the picture, Tyler was smiling while Zoe was kissing his left cheek. Their names were written in cursive writing at the right end corner of the picture. ‘Zoe Smith and Tyler Browne’ The date the picture was taken was written under their names.

“Miss Jenny kept on saying Tyler and I look alike.”

“Why would she say so?” Christopher asked Zoe before turning his attention back to the picture. He tried to see if there was any resemblance between Tyler and his daughter but he couldn’t tell because the picture was all in black and white effect.

“She said we have the same eye colour and the same smile.”

“Does he have your eye colour?” He asked her.

She thought for a while before she spoke. “I don’t know, I only know I have beautiful eyes and I think his eyes are beautiful too.” She said while climbing on Chris’ bed.

“Tyler is a good boy and I like him but he does not like to eat his food.” She frowned.

Christopher chuckled as he rested his head against his headboard. “Not everyone likes food like you do, Zoe.”

“I always beg him to finish his food and he obeys me that is why Tyler is a good boy.” She completed. Christopher suddenly found himself interested in wanting to know more about Tyler.

“So I assume Tyler is four years old too.” He said randomly.

“Yes, he is almost four like me.”

“I miss Tyler, we play together all the time and he tells me about his mommy. I also told him about you and mommy.” She smiled at Chris.

“Tyler is a happy boy but only one thing made him sad.” Zoe pouted.

“What made him sad?” Christopher asked, concerned.

“I asked him about his Daddy but he did not say anything. He looked confused so I told him who a Daddy is and all the cool things you and I do. Then he told me that he does not have a Daddy, he only has a mommy.”

Zoe’s reply about Tyler not having a Daddy made Christopher suddenly feel uneasy with himself; his heart started aching for Tyler.

He sighed before talking to Zoe. “Princess you remember what I told you about the other kids who are not as privileged as you are, those who can’t afford food and cool stuff because they don’t have the money.” He said as he tucked a small strand of hair behind her ear.

She nodded “Yes Daddy, You told me not to be proud. You said I should be kind and share my things with everyone.”

Christopher nodded. “Not everyone in this world has a mommy and a daddy Zoe. Some have mommy but don’t have a daddy and some have a daddy but don’t have a mommy.”

“Why?” She asked innocently as tears welled up in her eyes.

“It can be due to many reasons princess so You are lucky to have a mommy and a daddy and even grandparents who love you so much.” He replied hoping she wouldn’t push any further because he couldn’t begin to explain the concept of death or separation to a four-year-old.

“Since Tyler does not have a Daddy, can you be his Daddy? Please?” She asked with pleading eyes, he could still see the tears in her eyes. He knew if he replied negatively, the tears would fall instantly.

“It doesn’t work that way princess.” He said and her tears fell.

“It’s not fair, Tyler is a good boy. He should have a Daddy too.” She cried.

“It is okay, princess.” Chris tried to calm his daughter but the more he wiped her tears with his thumb, the more the tears fell.

“Please Daddy, I want you to be Tyler’s Daddy too. He is a good boy, I promise.” She cried.

A sad smile found its way to Christopher’s lips as he made Zoe sit on his lap and calm her down. Sometimes he wondered how he got lucky to have a wonderful daughter like Zoe.

“It’s okay Princess I’ll think about it.”

“You p.. Pro.. mise.” She sniffed.

Chris replied, “I promise.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” She threw her tiny arms around his neck and hugged him.

Christopher knew he was in deep shit for promising Zoe about something that was beyond his power.