| CHAPTER 7
Hope is coming down the stairs with Ciara on her back, when there is a knock on the door. �I wonder who that could be?� She said bouncing Ciara up and down. �I wasn�t expecting anybody, were you?� She joked as she opened the front door. �Paul what brings you by this time of night?� �I was looking for Morgan and I was hoping she was here.� �She�s not here but please come in.� She said as she placed Ciara down by her toys. �You look pretty upset. Did the two of you get into a fight?� �She has her mind fixated on being involved with Victor�s son Philip and I don�t approve on any level.� �Philip can be a handful.� Hope replies. �But deep down I do believe he is a good kid.� �He�s Victor�s son.� Paul yelled. �Need I say more.� �I take it you and Victor have had your differences.� �That man cannot be trusted!� Hope shrugged her shoulders. �I can�t understand why my daughter would want to be involved with a man like him�. You know what they say like father like son� and Philip and Victor are living proof that that statement is true.� �Paul I really don�t know what I can do to help you but I do know for a fact that if Philip truly cares about your daughter he would never hurt her�. Not intentionally anyway.� He runs his hand down his face. �You know it�s not easy being a single parent and I have tried so hard to keep my daughter safe and away from boys like him and then ��.. bam �� the first boy who she takes any serious interest in has to be the person she�ll never have a future with.� Hope walks over to him and places her hand on his shoulder. �I know what it�s like to always worry about your kids. Luckily I�ve never really had to be a single parent however, and I�m sure that makes things worse.� He looks her in the eyes. �I just want the best for her that�s all.� �That�s all any parent wants.� She says as she embraces him in a hug. �What�s going on here?� Bo asked slamming the front door behind himself. �I�m sorry I shouldn�t be here.� Paul said standing up �That�s right you shouldn�t be.� Bo said as he stepped down into the living room and tossed his keys on the end table. �I let things go when you sent flowers to my wife.� He gave Hope an evil eye and then gives his full attention back to Paul. �Because you claimed you didn�t know she was married but I will not stand for you sitting on my couch� in my house� with your hands all over �.MY wife!� �Bo.� Hope says walking between the two of them. �Paul here was just looking for Morgan�.� �And she�d be here why?� He asked as calmly as he could with Ciara just feet away. �I was hoping if she wasn�t here then maybe Chelsea was and she would possible know where she could have taken off to.� Paul rebutted. �Well Mr. Hollingsworth as you can plainly see neither your daughter nor mine is here.� Bo said walking closer to him only to be held back by Hope. �And you are not welcome in my house so I want you to leave now.� �Bo.� Hope said not knowing what�s come over him. �And don�t come back!� Hope gave Bo an evil eye as she walked over and picked Ciara up. �Come on little one let�s go in the kitchen and get something to eat.� Bo walked over to the front door and waited for Paul to drive out of the driveway before he closed the door and headed into the kitchen. �Don�t even start!� Hope annoyingly stated as he walked into the room. �You can�t tell me you don�t understand why seeing my wife sitting on the couch with her hands on another man who is clearly infatuated with her ���..� She cuts him off with one nasty tone. �You better calm your voice right now. OUR daughter doesn�t need to be subjected to your idiotic jealousy. He walks over to her and forcefully pulls her to the other side of the kitchen. �An she shouldn�t be subject to her mother groping another man!� She pulls her arm from his grip. �I wasn�t groping him I was being a friend, he was concerned about his daughter getting involved with Victor�s son and right about now I can see why �.. and this conversation is over.� He takes the plate of food Hope made for Ciara and places it in front of her. He then walks back over picks Hope off her feet and carries her into the living room. �What the heck?� She yells �Are you accusing me of sleeping with a child the same age as my daughter?� �What?� She asked walking away from him. Bo looked at her like she was crazy. �Ummmmmm the statement you just made in the kitchen!� �What statement?� �The one about Victor�s son and hot for your pants�s daughter.� �What?� She asked again. �You know forget it.� He yelled as he walked up the stairs. �This conversation is going nowhere and all it�s doing is giving me a headache.� �Where are you going?� �To take a shower.� �Well don�t slip and fall.� She said under her breath as she walked back into the kitchen. �Your father.� �Why�s daddy mad at you mommy?� �Sweetie daddy�s not mad.� Hope said as she bent down next to her. �He just had a bad day that�s all.� �Isn�t he going to eat with me?� She asked �Daddy isn�t feeling well baby.� Hope replied as she noticed a light on in the backyard. �You eat your veggies, mommy will be right back.� �Fancy Face, we can�t just leave things like this.�.� Bo said as he walked into the kitchen a few moments later. �Hey baby girl where�s your mommy?� He asked as she opened the door and walked back into the house. �What are you doing out back?� �The outside motion light went on so I went to check it out, but there wasn�t anyone out there.� �Are you out of your mind.� He said jumping up and grabbing a hold of her. �You shouldn�t go out there unarmed.� �Aren�t you the one who keeps telling me to stop being paranoid that there isn�t any one lurking about? So why the 180 Brady?� �I just worry about you that�s all.� �Daddy eat.� Ciara said holding up a pick of Broccoli with her fingers, causing them both to laugh. �Bo about before with Paul Hollingsworth�..� �We�ll talk about it later.� He said kissing the side of her face and then eating his little girls veggies. �After Ciara goes to bed.� |