single dad: v.h

chapter fifteen

"Wow you really did all of this for me?" Aaliyah asked as she walked in the house with Bear where she found Vinnie, Nate, and Reggie with all of her boxes in the living room.

"Yes ma'am we did." Reggie answered.

"Daddy! Miss Aaliyah said she's moving in." Bear said jumping up and down.

"She is. Are you okay with that?" Vinnie asked.

"Of course." Bear said, hugging his neck tightly.

Maria appeared from the kitchen, giving Aaliyah a nasty look, thankfully Aaliyah wasn't paying attention, she was talking to Nate who had developed quite a liking for her.

"Mom can I talk to you? Now?" Vinnie asked, telling Bear to go upstairs and dragging his mom into the laundry room.

He closed the door, and leaned against the dryer with his arms crossed over his chest. He stared at her intensely, not satisfied at all about how she reacted to the news that he, as an adult, made the decision to help a woman he'd been seeing for nearly a month now. He was not happy that she had been acting rude all day and he was especially not about the dirty looks she'd been giving Aaliyah since she walked in the damn house.

"Care to explain what your problem is mother?" Vinnie asked.

"I'm not very happy with your decision to bring a woman that you don't know all that well into a household with your children." Maria answered.

"We'll good thing that isn't your business then. I pay the rent here, I have every right to let her stay here. Also yes, I talked to my landlord about it." Vinnie snapped.

"Don't talk to me like that Vincent Cole." Maria finally raised her voice at him, which she didn't do often.

"Then treat me like a grown man mom, not a 16 year old kid you can control. I asked for your help raising my daughter when I had no idea what I was doing but I know how to do it now. I've been taking care of her for 6 years and I will continue to do so. I don't need you anymore." Vinnie raised his voice right back.

"You don't need me? That's fine Vinnie. But if you truly mean that then I'd suggest finding someone else to watch your kids and pick your daughter up from school." Maria answered.

"Well then I'll find someone else." Vinnie said, immediately regretting it when tears filled his mothers eyes.

"Alright. Then so be it. I'll just leave you alone then. But when you realize that you need me and that you can't live life easily without talking to me, don't come running back." Maria said, turning and walking out of the room, telling Nate and Reggie they were leaving.

Vinnie sat against the dryer, tears stinging his eyes as he thought about everything that just happened. He'd lost the only woman who he knew truly loved him.

Without even meaning too Vinnie broke down, sliding down the side of the dryer. What he didn't realize was that Aaliyah had walked in the room, finding him in complete shambles.

"What's wrong?" Aaliyah asked softly when she knew that he was aware of her presence.

"I got into an argument with my mom. Pretty much we're not talking now." Vinnie said.

"I'm sorry V." Aaliyah said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He leaned his head against her soft hand, letting more tears fall down his face.

"I told her I didn't need her anymore and man, that was the biggest lie I've told." Vinnie sniffled.

"Just give her some time. Maybe she'll come around." Aaliyah suggested, leaning over a planting a soft kiss on his cheek which put a smile on his face.

"You're right. Maybe she does need some time. But let's try and forget about that and unpack your things." Vinnie said, getting up and pulling her up from the floor with him.