One day, I had just driven into the compound when I saw her cooking outside on the fireside. It

was raining and she had put a small piece of zinc over the fire to prevent the flames from going

out as a result of the firewood getting wet. Beside her, was Chloe. She looked hungry and she

was crying. I got out of the car and for almost a minute, I stood in the rain with my valise in my

hand, looking at them. I was lost.

“Welcome, Sir.” She spoke, and it was her greeting that brought me out of my reverie.

“Thank you, Jane. But why did you call me that? Why didn’t you call me by my name?”

“You said the only reason you still allowed me to call you by your name was because of the

façade of being your cousin. Now that the game is over, you are back to being Sir.”

What could I even say, I left her there, went into the house, changed my dress and got back to

the living room. I sat on my favourite sofa and thought deeply. I realized that I had been wicked,

and quite unnecessarily so. Why was I maltreating this woman and her daughter. All she had

shown me was love, care and concern. She had tolerated all my excesses and had decided to

suffer with me. Why was I maltreating her? Did she deserve this? What if she was my sister?

“Jane.” I called.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Please, come to the living room and bring Chloe with you.”

“I was just about to put the rice on the fire, can I finish before coming?” She asked.

“No, come right away.”

“Okay, I am coming.”

She came into the living room and froze in shock.

“What is the matter, Sir? Why are you on your knees?” She asked, afraid.

“For a start, never call me ‘Sir’ again. Always call me John.”

“John, is everything alright? Why are you kneeling down?” She was still scared.

“Jane, I want you to forgive me. I have been terribly unkind to you. You have shown me nothing

but love since you came here, but I have only been unkind and wicked to you. I have let you

down, Jane. You trusted me, believed in me but I let you down. Please, forgive me.” I wept like a

baby.

“John, is this you? What has happened to you? Oh Papa God, thank you.”

“It is me, Jane, please forgive me. I know it is hard, but just try.” I begged.

“No, no, no. It is not hard. I have forgiven you already. I have sincerely forgiven you with all of

my heart.” She spoke in tears.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then, show me.”

She came forward, held my hand and brought me to my feet. I looked into her eyes and all I

could see was love; true, pure and undiluted love. We hugged tightly for about two minutes

before we realized that Chloe had been standing there, watching the whole drama. I pulled her

close to us and she joined in the embrace.

Jane slowly and reluctantly detached herself from me. She wanted to go back and continue with

her cooking.

“Where are you going to?” I asked.

“To continue with the cooking. Chloe hasn’t eaten since morning.”

“I beg, what useless food are you cooking in the rain. Abandon that project my friend. Go inside

both of you, clean up and join me at the car. Let us go out and celebrate.” I announced.

“Really?”

“Yes, hurry please.”

That day was a new beginning for me. I took them both to a supermarket and bought lots of

goodies for little Chloe. I also bought stuffs for Jane and some for the household. After the

supermarket, we went to an eatery and had a good time. When we got back home, everyone

was satisfied. There was a new air in my house. There was happiness and life. Even small

Chloe noticed that things had changed, and she spent all that evening on my laps.

“Jane, form this day, know that you are the mother of this house. This is your home, and Chloe

will be my daughter. Please, never tell anyone that I am not the real father of Chloe, unless of

course the people who already know.” I advised.

“Okay, John. I need a need a pet name for you. Which one do you prefer?” She asked.

“Anyone you choose.”

“Okay, beginning today, I will start calling you, Big Baby.” She declared.

“Mmm, I think I love that name. Thank you so much, sweetheart.”

We couldn’t wait for Chloe to fall asleep that night. As soon as she slept, Jane and I rushed to

the bedroom for a reconciliation sex. It is often said that there is nothing as good as a makeup

sex. That night, there was no pressure and no hurrying. There was no forcing and no guilt. It

was fully consensual, and for the first time, she showed me her true skills.

That night I made up my mind that I was going to propose to Jane. She was a beautiful woman

after all. She just needed a little care, love and attention, and her beauty will Chloe like a

morning rose. However, I needed for us to discuss the issue of her baby daddy before I

proceeded with anything. I had plans of adopting little Chloe. So, I needed to follow the real

procedure in order not to make any mistakes.

The next day, in the afternoon, I was sitting in the living room with Chloe on my laps. Jane was

in the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal for us. There was a knock on the door, and in came

the neighbour whom I had been planning to teach a lesson, and whose husband had advised

me to marry Jane.

“Come in neighbour.” I spoke in a cheerful voice. “Are you looking for Jane? She is in the

kitchen.”

“No, I am not looking for her. I came for you. I heard you were looking for me.” She spoke.

“Me? Looking for you? No way, hahaha, I just came to greet your husband.” I lied. I didn’t want

her trouble.

“Sure?

“Sure.”

“Ok.”

She stood there for a while, looking at me in wonder and wondering what she had missed. She

couldn’t understand why everything had suddenly changed in my house. She clapped her hands

three times, shook her head, smiled and left. I knew she couldn’t wait for me to go to work the

next day so that she and Jane would gossip and she would get the full gist. After Jane had

finished cooking, she served the food and we all ate as one small happy family.

When we were done eating, I brought the issue of Chloe’s parentage.

“Jane, I want you to tell me about Chloe’s father. Where did you meet him, and how come you

guys are no longer together.”

“Okay, Big Baby, I will tell you.”