Family Ties (Rewritten)

Closing In

Vincent:

I couldn't stop the tears that poured down my face as Stella parked on the side of the road.  The house, the four name signs, the porch swing that Emily and I shared our first kiss; the sight of them was too much for me to bare.  "Oh, God," I shielded my eyes with my arm in a vain attempt to hide my emotions. "I can't believe after all these years..."

The words died in my throat.  How could I finish the thought?  There were so many beautiful memories in front of me, and so many dark ones. 

How was it possible that the same girl I poured my heart and soul to became my victim?  She didn't deserve the shit I put her through.  I had to find her and tell her how sorry I was.  That was the only way she would be able to forgive me and move on.

"Vincent," Stella spoke up for the first time since we arrived in town. She laid her hand on my arm. "Are you going to be alright? I know this is a lot."

"I'm fine."

She withdrew her hand and gnawed on her bottom lip, staring at the house with those enchanting blue eyes. "Forgive me for butting into your business, but this is a terrible idea.  The only way you'll heal from what happened between you and Evelyn-"

"Emily.  Her name is Emily."

"Do yourself a favor and leave Emily alone."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Stella. Besides, you told me at the cabin that you would help me. Are you getting cold feet?"

"I just don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Are you implying that I would hurt my child?"

"N-no. I don't want you to be hurt."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be careful. I'll make sure that no one gets hurt. I promise."

"You can't keep that promise. Emily could very well call the police, and if she does-"

"For God's sake, fucking drop it!!"

She recoiled with her hands over her face. It was the first time I raised my voice at her. God, why did she have to keep running her damn mouth?

She didn't have to be here.

I wasn't holding her captive.

Yet...

Where would she go?

She risked everything to get me out of the hospital.

I needed to be gentler with her.

I took hold of her hand, which was icy cold for some reason, and laced my fingers between hers. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's just-" I inhaled sharply, "I have been dreaming of this for the last seven years. I've longed to hold my sweet baby girl in my arms, to see if she takes after me at all, or if she inherited all of Emily's beauty. The not knowing has driven me to the brink of insanity.  It was such a helpless and lonely feeling."

"I'm sorry," She repeated, "I shouldn't have....oh!"

"What is it?"

"Someone's coming out of the house." She shoved my head down before whoever it was saw me. My face burned when I realized my head was between her thighs. "Oh, shit." She said, "It's a cop."

"What!?" My mouth was mashed against her inner thigh, so I'm sure the word was unintelligible.

"There's two of them."

I picked my head up slightly. "What do they look like? Is there anyone else?"

"One of them is a big guy with a black handle bar mustache, and the other is a blonde woman."