single dad: v.h

chapter twenty

Despite the fact that it had been weeks now since Emily had passed away and Vinnie has cried at least a million times, he still couldn't understand why.

Yes, everyone knew Vinnie loved her and cared about her but as of this last year he wouldn't say he exactly loved her. All she'd done was start problems and that was the first thing he'd think of when her name was brought up. But the his mind went to the times that he took her to the strawberry field the summer before Bear was born and the brightest smile covered her face. Or when they were 15 and somehow snuck into an R rated movie and made out in the back row. He would think of all of the times that he made her frozen pizzas at 4 in the morning because of her pregnancy cravings or the fact that she lived with him for almost a year during her first pregnancy.

That's what he was grieving. Not Emily, the girl who left him and didn't give a flying fuck about him or their children but the Emily who he had a load of fun with. Emily who he had all of most important moments with.

This particular morning it was Saturday and Vinnie was laying in bed while Aaliyah was down stairs with Kaiser and Bear. They had plans today and the kids were excited. So was Aaliyah but she knew her boyfriend wasn't entirely up for it. He hadn't been up for anything recently and she could understand why.

"Bear why don't you go get daddy for breakfast?" Aaliyah asked, thanking Bear as she ran up the stairs into her dads bedroom.

That's where she found him sitting on his bed, holding a picture frame, and tears streaming down his face while his body shook from silent sobs. That was the first time she'd seen him look so fragile. The first time she'd seen her father cry and to a little girl, that was devastating.

"D-Daddy? Breakfast is done." Bear said, turning her head and wiping away tears.

"Honey come here." Vinnie's voice was rough.

Bear climbed into the bed, laying her head on his shoulder as she sat next to him.

"Please don't cry. I've never seen you cry and I don't like it daddy." Bear said, wiping his tears with her pajama shirt which put a smile on her daddy's face.

"Sorry. I won't cry." Vinnie said hugging her from the side.

Bear looked up at the photo in his hands. The only person she recognized was Vinnie and her Grandma Maria. Other than that she had no clue.

"You don't know who this is do you?" Vinnie asked.

Bear shook her head.

"That was your mama. Her name was Emily. She had pretty brown hair just like you do. She was the lady that came to the door awhile ago and the lady that daddy yelled at." Vinnie said, choking up on the last part.

"Why are you showing me?" Bear asked confused.

"Because Emily passed away a couple weeks ago." Vinnie said, watching his girls face twist into a look of pure sadness.

"O-Oh that's s-sad. Um I'll be downstairs. Love you!" Bear said, taking off before she started crying in front of her daddy.

She just wanted Aaliyah. The closest woman to a mother that she had.

Vinnie finally got out of bed, getting dressed, brushed his teeth, fixed his hair, and washed his face. His eyes and cheeks were puffy and his lips were swollen.

He walked down the stairs and sat in a chair next to Aaliyah. Bear seemed to be back to normal seeing as she was laughing and playing with Kaiser. Aaliyah turned to the man next to her, cupping his cheeks and laying a soft kiss to his lips. He smiled softly when she pulled away.

"Talk to me baby." Aaliyah said, frowning as he stared at the plate of pancakes in front of him.

He shook his head, deciding it was time to stop being completely over taken by emotion. He picked up a fork and ate his food bite by bite.