Hang out

“You should be grateful someone like me is even interested enough to check up on you and come here just to see you, something your girl's father wouldn’t do for you. Get lost Mrs. Jessica because that’s all; I just care," he growled once he grabbed her arms and stormed away leaving her standing at the door.

 She is in shock at what she had just heard as she watched him start his car engine and zoom off in anger. She immediately slammed her hand against her forehead in disappointment once he drove away just recovering herself and she sighed.

 “I shouldn’t have said those things to him, he’s a nice guy after all... But why the heck was he following me around?" she mumbled and went back inside. 

 Meanwhile, Jake was driving off at a high-velocity speed and kept hitting hard on his steering wheel at intervals while lamenting.

 “You don’t even have the slightest idea how much I’ve loved you since you left my house, Jessica. Arghh! Your cold response always throws me off balance", he complained out loud and sighed. "You can push me away all you want but I’m not giving up, at least not so soon", he concluded after a long pause and smiled at his front mirror as if someone was in it talking to him.

 Jake continued visiting Jessica every weekend without her knowing until the very day she returned to work, leaving her daughter under the care of the older woman.

 He soon decided to go into the house while watching on a day she was not around, hoping just to see her daughter if not for anything else and he rang the doorbell.

 “Good evening uncle!" the little girl greeted cheerily and Jake smiled.

 "Isabel!," the older woman immediately intervened from inside before Jake could reply and the child's eyes filled with fear just before she was dragged backward.

 “Umm... I am so sorry to disturb you, ma’am", he apologized once the woman was standing before him. "But I mean no harm to the little girl," Jake added immediately, already knowing he was in for an interrogation judging by the look on the woman's face.

 “No problem, I'm sure I don’t need to ask you whom you’re looking for since you should know there’s nothing I have to tell you," she spat out vehemently and he sighed.

 “Okay ma’am, I'm already on my way out," he surrendered and waved his hands before turning to leave just as the older woman recognized his face and then asked him to stop. 

 “I remember this face... Weren't you the one who visited us one late evening and asked after Jessica?”, she asked with a keen look and he smiled. "What was that your name again?", she wondered.

 “It is Jake, and yes ma’am, I was the one. I was really glad I found the person even though you...," he trailed off and she smiled embarrassedly.

 “Even though I said she’s not around", she completed and he smiled back. "Well I’m sorry about that, I shouldn’t have lied but what could I do? I was speechless at that moment because she asked me to send whoever was at the door away and she hadn’t received a visitor since they moved in here," she apologized.

 "It's alright ma'am, as long as I still got to see her," Jake replied and the woman smiled.

 "You can call me Mrs. Cooker," she declared. "Won't you come inside?", she asked and moved aside for him to come inside. 

 He smiled and walked in then she shut the door behind him before following. She met him standing beside a chair with Isabel sitting directly opposite the chair and looking at him with her bright eyes.

 "Please, have your seat and feel comfortable", she ushered and he sat down. "Once again, I'm sorry for lying last time... Mr. Jake," she muttered.

 “Just Jake would be fine and I perfectly understand why you did that. Also, there’s quite a need for the security because I think someone is trying to harm Jessica or something but she doesn't seem like she would tell me or anyone," he replied and Mrs. Cooker smiled.

 "I should get you something to drink", she realized and began heading to the kitchen.

 "There's no need for that, ma'am," he argued and she shook her head.

 "That would be rude of me," Mrs. Cooker counters and he sighed knowing he wouldn't be able to persuade her otherwise.

 "Fine, but Water alone would be fine."

 "Okay, I'm coming Jake," she responded and walked away.

 Once she was out of sight, he immediately signaled for little Isabel to come over and sit with him. She shook her head the first time but he pouted slightly making her laugh and asked for her to come over again. Isabel then walks over to him and plonks onto his lap.

 “Just look at you, you're such a pretty angel," he complimented after arranging her properly so that he could stare into her eyes. "But you look a little pale and slightly unhealthy, are you okay?”, he asked.

 “No Uncle, I fell sick."

 "I'm sorry sweetie", he cooed and Mrs. Cooker who had returned watched as they conversed.

 "I just wish I could go and see my dad in his mansion just like Ella my friend from school said she always visited her dad at his mansion," Isabel proclaimed after a while.

 “How sweet of you, Isabel", he smiled and drew her closer to his chest then kissed her on the forehead. "From today onwards, I am your new daddy and you can visit me in my mansion, but you’ll have to help me with something first...", he trailed off and bent down to whisper something to her ear.

 She ran into the room jumping up excitedly afterward and Jake stood up.

 “Okay Mrs. Cooker, I’ve got to be on my way as I’m entirely exhausted and famished."

 “Why not stay so I can make something for you? I like the joy on Isabel’s face and would like it to last longer"

 “Why won’t she be excited to have her father around?", he smiled. "Thanks for the meal offer, I will accept it when next I visit."

 He later left while Mrs. Cooker continued trying to digest what she had just heard from him. 

 “Mommy, tomorrow is the weekend and I’m hanging out with my friends, I want you to be there as well,” Isabel announced as Jessica prepared her for school.

 “Alright, anything for my baby," she replied and kissed her. "But do you know the location for the hangout?”, she asked the little girl while ravaging her eyes all over Isabel expecting an answer. 

 “Well... Mommy, don’t worry, it’s a surprise. When it’s time...," Isabel trailed off.

 “C’mon sweetheart, what are you hiding from mommy? Tell me everything”, Jessica pleaded.

 “No!", Isabel smiled and hugged her mother tightly then pecked her.

 They had finished preparing the next day and Isabel kept looking at the door now scared Jake wasn’t going to make it but soon after, the doorbell rang.

 “Who’s that? I’m coming!”, Jessica yelled and opened the door only to see Jake.

 She was left stunned and widely opened her mouth which made Jake laugh.

 “Don’t stand there moping at me, Mrs. Jessica. Excuse me please", he smiled.

 "Daddy!", Isabel yelled on hearing his voice and pushed the door wider excitedly then jumped on him in a hug.

 "How are you, my prettiest angel?", he asks as he drops her to the ground.

 "I'm fine. Daddy, look at my dress and shoes!"

 "They're all beautiful because you're very pretty", he smiled and turned to Jessica. "Close your mouth else flies will get in, Mrs. Jessica," he joked before walking in with Isabel. "So what’s going on? Are you set already?” 

 “Set to where?”, Jessica fired, immediately jolted by his questions, and slammed the door. "My daughter isn’t going anywhere with you, we’re meeting one of her friends and that’s the people we were expecting before you rudely interrupted," Jessica shouted.

 “Mommy! Stop wasting our time because he’s the one we’re waiting for, he’s my friend and also my daddy and we are going to hang out with him", Isabel declared.

 “Sweetie, I’m your mother, and I don’t want you to go out with strangers,” Jessica proclaimed.

 “Daddy, Mommy doesn't like you! Please take me to your mansion and leave her behind," Isabel cried out and held his hands then started walking him to the door forcing Jessica to run after them immediately. 

 "Isabel, don't go anywhere," Jessica growled and grabbed Isabel's hand making the child burst into tears. Jessica's eyes widened and she immediately let go. “My angel, please don’t cry, I promise to do anything you want and..."

 “And hence you will do anything my friend asks you to do," Isabel completed and Jessica frowned. "You both are my father and mother from now onwards and we're going to take lots of pictures for me to show Ella, are we all clear?”, she ordered.

 Jake was already in shock but was greatly amused by the child's actions and quickly nodded. Jessica also nodded affirmatively at the same time as she was dumbfounded and couldn’t utter a word.

 'I sense this is not my daughter anymore. He must have brainwashed my daughter to put me in emotional blackmail and make me do this, she thought as watched Jake and Isabel gather their things.

 "Let's go", Jake smiled and Jessica glared at him.

 "That's not how to look at Daddy!!!."