My Christmas Romance

Chapter 1: Meet Claire

I woke up feeling good and better than the last days and months. What happened caused a huge change to me and my daughter, Annabel. We have been trying to cope and adjust to our new lifestyle and this month marks the month the tragic event happened, it's been a year now and we can't get it off our mind. It rubs off on our life and everything we do. I had to move to New York to start afresh and for the first time in many months I woke up feeling okay... I guess that is the word to use without feeling any hint of guilt. My daughter is still asleep and today is the day she starts her new school and she isn't excited to leave the house , but I really hope she could be herself again, apart from the fact that I feel devastated I sure can't tell how much more my daughter feels without a mom.

"Daddy are you awake" Annabel walks to my room looking very cute with her morning glow ..

"Hey sweetheart, come here" I pulled her up to my laps and hugged her.

"You look so beautiful this morning" I look at her sad face as she pouts and asks "Do I have to go to school today?"

"Yes my love, I know you don't feel so well but you have to try to make good of our new life. You have to make new friends and maybe join an extracurricular "

She looks at me as she argues " no, no, no, I don't need new friends. I want just you daddy"

I smiled at her as I pulled her up and kissed her forehead and assured her it's going to be okay. I actually pray things really be okay because everything has really been messy.

We got ready and dressed for school and work. When we got outside, we saw some neighbours that greeted us nicely and told us welcome, I had my hopes up already that this is a nice start for the day. I drove my daughter to school and headed of to work. As I drive, I kept praying Annabel is okay at school and she at least finds a friend to keep her busy.

After some few hours of work with "good mornings, and hey's," There was really nothing much to do. The thought of my wife keeps coming up

"Mary you are sick, I regret the day I met you' I told my wife on that fateful day. "Stop it Willie, you are drunk" My wife begged me with tears on her face. As she attempts to hold me , I pushed her so hard she hit her head. She started bleeding and with the fear of anything worse happening she ran outside with my car keys and drove away....

"Hey, William. Hey, are you okay?" I jumped out of my thoughts and looked at my colleague, Sarah looking at me.

"Are you okay," she asks again "you were in cloud 9 already" I smiled at her, she has always had jokes " yes I am good, what time is it?"

"It's 6 pm," she looked at her diamond watch that if I am sure one of her playboys got her.

"Oh s**t, I have to go pick up my daughter " I hurriedly ran out to my car because I am two hours late. I start to worry about what would happen to Annabel. She has been waiting for me for two hours and I wasn't sure if she even made any friend today.

I drove to her school and found nobody there.. I got really scared . I saw a lady and she told me where I could find Annabel. When I got there, lo and behold , I saw Annabel dancing like a little angel with another lady whom I could make out to be a dancer , She was laughing and making jokes with my daughter. I couldn't help but smile. I thought I did that silently until it occurred to me that I was laughing out loud and before I could catch myself..

"Hey daddy" well Annabel caught me first. She ran out to me and hugged me . " Daddy you are late"

" I know my Princess, I am so sorry" The lady walked outside and introduced herself, I got an opportunity to see her very well and God!!! Isn't she a goddess. Her skin so creamy and soft, I could see myself drooling. She's so perfectly curved with her hips and butt sticking out in the right places.

"Hey Mr Adams, my name is Claire and I am Annabel's dance instructor "

I was surprised cause I didn't know dance was also part of what they studied

"She joined the extracurricular activity. Well she didn't know what to be part of so I met with your sweet daughter and spoke with her to join my dance class" She explained with so much beauty to her accent and it just made me love her more. Did I say love, am I love struck? Gosh , William your wife just died, I thought to myself still looking at Claire.

"Mr Adams" she called my named with so much smoothness and calmness

" I am sorry, yeah thank you very much..Miss Claire . This really means alot to me and my daughter ".

She smiled " Dance classes are going to be held Mondays Wednesdays and Friday. Is that okay for you?"

" It is and I am sure Annabel would need this more. I am really grateful"

" it's nothing, your daughter is really talented " " see you tomorrow then" She walked away majestically with all gloriousness.

I can't wait for tomorrow...I look at my daughter and smile.