Vinnie Hacker Imagines

73. Downtown Seattle

Plot: Vinnie and his daughter spend some time together
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"Hold my hand."

"I wanna walk by myself daddy."

"I know you do but there's a lot of people around and I don't want you to get lost."

"Okay." She softy agreed and Vinnie managed to hear her voice despite all the noise around them.

Her short legs had some trouble keeping up with his long strides but she didn't mind. There were so many new and exciting things for her to experience. She had so many questions but didn't know what to ask first.

Vinnie led the way, moving through people. The streets of Seattle weren't too busy but there were definitely more people out during this time of year.

The breeze was strong enough to remind you of the season. It also brought the gray sky but that wasn't anything new. You were at home taking the day to yourself and Vinnie decided to go out and do some shopping with y'all's daughter. He could have easily ordered online but wanted to go out and see the lights, see the snow on the ground, and get a warm drink.

When the two of them weren't in the stores, they just strolled on the sidewalk. He could tell she was enjoying her time. Swinging their hands and skipping when there weren't a lot of people. They ooh'd and ahh'd every time they passed a set of decorations on display.

He felt his body warm up as soon as they entered the the candle shop. Vinnie turned to his little girl and adjusted her beanie.

"You warm enough?"

She nodded.

He took pride in the outfit he picked out for her. She was in a white puffer jacket from the North Face that made her look like a little marshmallow. And her beanie matched his but hers had a fuzzy ball at the top.

"What's that daddy?" She asked and pointed to the object on the shelf.

"It's a candle. You know that what mama has at home with the little tiny fire in the middle?"

She nodded once again and her curious eyes looked around the store.

"I want your help picking one out but I want you to pinky promise me something."

Her finger immediately raised up, ready to promise her dad whatever.

Vinnie chuckled and linked his pinky with hers. "Gotta promise not to tell mama, okay? It's a surprise."

"I promise."

They both kissed their thumbs in unison, making them both giggle at the gesture.

"That's my girl."

She walked behind him as he walked around but rose to her tip toes whenever Vinnie would allow her to smell one. Vinnie trusted her opinion. She would get excited at the ones that smelled like cupcakes or brownies but that's only because she loved desserts.

He picked out ones specifically for you and the others he thought just because they would generally smell good at the house.

The sun was setting by the time they stepped out onto the sidewalk again. The lights around the trees illuminated the area like a scene out of a movie. The little girl looked around in awe and the lights reflected back in her eyes. Sometimes Vinnie wishes he could see the world from her point of view.

They walked for a little while longer until Vinnie realized how late it was getting. But there was just one more stop.

"How about we get a snack before we go home?"

She would never deny that and happily followed him into Starbucks. There was a line at the counter but not a lot of people in the area. Vinnie picked her up and rested her in his hip. She didn't complain because Vinnie was warm and she laid her head on his shoulder.

They quietly talked about what they would get, what they would share. Maybe even get something they haven't tried before.

After picking a basic order, they went and sat at the table in the corner with their hot chocolate and cake pops.

"Thank you daddy."

"Your welcome."

Her legs swung high in the chair and they brainstormed what they wanted to do after dinner. Her eyes were drawn to the people outside and Vinnie sneakily took pictures of her and sent them to you.

You replied back with, come home, I miss y'all!

The car ride home was fun. She sang her own version of Jingle Bells, doing her best even though she was getting some of the words wrong. Vinnie didn't care though. It was hard not to look in the rear view mirror and see the smile on her face.

After fumbling with the keys and bags in his hands, he guided the little girl inside and saying, "Go find mama."

"Is that my favorite girl I hear?" Your voice echoed in the kitchen.

She squealed and ran to you, her face in your legs. You hugged her back, squeezing her thick coat and swaying back and forth.

Your eyes trailed up from your husbands shoes and you saw the bags in his hands.

"Don't look." He laughed and tried to put them behind his back.

"Did you have fun?" You asked, turning your attention back to the girl.

Vinnie had walked away for a second to put the stuff down.

"Yeah, we shared a snack." She said and remembered the pinky promise, not saying anything else about what she had seen.

Vinnie came back with his hands free, ready to greet you.

"How about you take off your coat and shoes so you can be ready for dinner?"

She ran off to her room and you stood up. Your body immediately being engulfed by Vinnie's. You relaxed his his arms, his head resting against yours before kissing it.

"I missed you." He said.

"Aw was it bad?"

"No," he shook his head. "She was great, it was just cold."

You smiled and kissed his flushed cheeks. You moved over to his lips, listening out for your daughter to make sure you go go a little further, but her voice called out for help and you had to break away.

Vinnie nudged you to go to her. He ran a hand over your arm before you walked away and he turned to the stove to where you had been cooking.

The conversation of you two in the background kept his attention and warmed his heart.

The holidays were the best and with y'all by his side it couldn't be any better.