We Just Need Us (Second Generation Book 5)

Chapter 13

ROBBIE

The only other time that I have been this nervous is the first time I was going to be meeting Clementine’s family. I guess it is only fitting that I’m driving to a meeting with Clementine and our daughter. Our freaking daughter. I was hoping to see her at the wake and funeral, but she ended up not being there. I couldn’t help but notice that Patrick was there without her. I don’t know if I should be happy about that or not. I don’t want Clementine to be unhappy or hurt, if Patrick is the one she is supposed to be with, I don’t want to get in the middle of that.

Not that the idea of her being with somebody else didn’t make my stomach wretch, but this wasn’t about her and me together, this was about Vivienne and getting to know her. My daughter. I didn’t have much knowledge of things that kids were into, but last night at the store I saw a pack of play-doh and I’m pretty sure all kids like that and so I grabbed it for her.

I pull into the parking lot and realize that I’m about five minutes late. My hip was giving me issues this morning because of the cold front coming in, but thankfully Clementine seems to be running late because I just see the wave of blonde hair walk in. I get out of my car and walk into the soda shop soon after them. My nerves were out of control, this felt like the biggest thing I have ever done in my life.

I approach the table where Clementine is trying to get Vivienne’s coat off and get her settled. She looks up and sees me, giving me a friendly smile. “Hi, you’re here.”

“I am. Were you afraid that I wasn’t going to be?” I regretted the words the second they left my mouth. Clem’s smile fell and I fumbled over my words trying to fix the situation. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Just, we had plans and I was running late, but I’m here now. I’m here.”

“I see.” Her smile comes back and my heart beats once again. Clementine puts her hands on Vivienne’s shoulders and whispers something into her ear. The little girl nods and then walks over to me, putting her hand out to say hello. “Hi! My name is Vivienne, but you can call me Vivi, that’s what most of my friends call me.”

“Hi, Vivienne...uhm...Vivi. My name is Robbie and….um”

“You’re my daddy.” She says so matter of factly that I’m taken back a bit. With her little hand still in mine, I look up at Clementine for direction on where to go.

“We had a conversation this morning about you we were going to see. I didn’t want her to be caught off guard.”

“That makes sense.” I look back to Vivienne. “I’m really excited to be here today to meet you. I wanted to get you something, but I didn’t know what you were into, so I hope you like play-doh.”

Her face lights up and she grabs the play-doh from my hands. “I love play-doh, how did you know?”

“I wasn’t too sure, but it seemed like something fun.” I looked up at Clem. “I hope that is okay with you.”

She smiles and nods, “We can never have enough play-doh in the house. What do you say we get some drinks and we can all hang out and talk. I’m sure Vivi has a lot of questions to ask.”

“Oh...yay,” I reply sarcastically, but Vivi doesn’t give me a chance to sulk. She grabs my hand and practically pulls me to the counter to order. The girls get soda floats, but I just get a plain Coke. I also ordered some cookies. It is probably a bit too much sugar, but as far as I’m concerned, today is a special day. 

We sit around the table and I find myself just wanting to stare at the little girl in front of me. She has long, straight hair like Clementine, but rather than strictly blonde, there is a hint of strawberry that reflects my red hair. She also has a cluster of light freckles over the bridge of her nose that I’m sure came from my side. Clementine and I both have blue eyes, which combined to make the brightest blue eyes that I’ve ever seen. To say she was beautiful was the biggest understatement ever.