single dad: the sequel (v.h)

chapter fifteen

Around noon, Vinnie got a call from the courthouse. They told him that Aaliyah had requested a visit with Janelle at 6PM on Tuesday. He rolled his eyes but agreed to be there with the baby.

That day he picked Bear up from school and took her and Kaiser for donuts like he had promised them he would do.

But now it was Tuesday at 5:30 PM and Vinnie really did not want to go inside the courthouse. However, he did agree to this and he knew he had too. At around 5:45 PM he got Nelly out of the car and took her inside. He checked in and followed the monitor to the room where he found Aaliyah already sitting in the chair.

Her fake surprised reaction to seeing Nelly, like she hadn't seen her in 60 years, aggravated him but he sat the carrier down nonetheless. She was given an hour with Nelly and Vinnie. Within the hour she tried to start two arguments with Vinnie but he chose not to pay any mind to her.

"Time is up ma'am." The monitor spoke up.

This time pure sadness crossed Aaliyah's face and deep down, Vinnie felt awful about it. How could he really be okay with taking a child from their mother when he hated Emily for not being in Bear and Kaiser's life from the beginning. Nelly deserved to at least see her mother when she wanted to see her.

It was only for that reason that he decided to drop the emergency custody case. He didn't do it for anyone other than the well-being of his daughter. They let him do so quite easily.

Worst decision ever.

——

Vinnie sat up, hearing the cries of his daughter echoing loudly in the hallway, almost as if she was in the hallway. His heart dropped when he heard someone soothing her and walking down the stairs.

In a state of pure daze from sleeping, he threw open the door and ran down the stairs to the beat of his ability only to see a figure escape out the front door into the night with his newborn. He pinched himself, he tried everything to wake himself up but it was then that he realized he wasn't dreaming and his babygirl was gone.

He ran out the door after the person, but they were no where in sight. Running back inside, he called 911 telling them what had happened. An immediate search for the baby went into place but overtime, nothing came up.

Very tellingly, Aaliyah had gone ghost too. She hadn't been to work in ages now. By ages, 3 weeks. Which was conveniently the same amount of time that Nelly had been gone.

For those three weeks, Vinnie didn't get out of bed. His mom came over and stayed with them to take care of the kids and quite frankly take care of her son.

"Vinnie, why don't you come down and eat with the kids? They miss you." Maria suggested as she opened the door to his room.

"Tell them that I will tomorrow. I'm not in the mood today." Vinnie answered, his voice rough and scratchy.

"You keep saying that and don't do it. When are you going to get up Vinnie?" Maria asked, not meaning it to come out aggressively but it did.

"I'll get up when my daughter is safe with me. Do you understand? Has your child ever been fucking kidnapped and no one can seem to find them? No you haven't! So you have no idea what it feels like to lay here, knowing it was your fault that your baby is fucking gone!" Vinnie yelled.

Maria flinched at the volume of his voice, taking a step back. She thought out her next sentence before actually speaking it first.

"I know right now is a scary situation and all you want is for your daughter to be back, but don't forget through that hurt that you're also hurting your other two children who love you and want to see you." Maria said, gently closing the door behind her.

Vinnie stared at the wall, tears pricking his eyes as he clutched the toy he had got Nelly at the store. Her first toy she'd ever received.

"Daddy's gonna find you baby."