A lifetime of hello's and too many goodbyes.

The promise. Part 13

I miss him so much. Part 1 of 2

It's been three months since Cece went away, I couldn't get it together, all I could think about is my man, Manny came into my room, I looked at him and said he's already dressed for school, he said sure he is, he just came home from school. Damn I spent the whole day in bed again, I asked him how was school today, he said fine and there's a new boy in school named David, he's his friend, I told him good. I'm glad he has a new friend, he asked me why I sleep so much am I going to die too, like his daddy Cecil did.

It dawned on me that bae slept most of the time before he died, I told Manny, no I'm not going to die, papi is just resting, he said that's what daddy Cecil would say, and he died. I told him I really am resting, sometimes I can't sleep at night, so I sleep during the day, I'm alright I promise you I am, and I never broke a promise to you.

He said OKAY, I asked him did he have any homework I could help him with, Manny said he already did it, Frank helped him with it, I asked him who's Frank, he said Frank Lewis is the new driver, don't I remember his uncle Dyland telling me he got Frank to drive him to school, I told him I forgot.

Liz came into the room she said there he is, Manny knows he's to change out of his school uniform and walk Milo, Frank is waiting for him, Manny told me he'll see me later and left the room.

Liz, this Frank person, he stays after he brings Manny home, and walks Milo with my son, she said yes, their friends, after he walks Milo, he goes home afterwards. I asked her what we know about this Frank person, she said he works for the Alexanders, he comes highly recommended from the big man himself Mr. Ekim Ross Alexander. I told her I've been with them for years I've never heard of this guy, she said she doesn't know what to tell me, she left the room.

I called Parker and asked him has he ever heard of Frank Lewis, he said yes, he's what they call a sleeper, he took over for what I was doing, but he too got out from doing that. I said why would the Alexanders want someone like him around my son, he said the same way they trusted me around their children, Parker said Frank is a good man, and I should be glad he's around taking care of Manny. I told him that's my job to take care of my son, he told me than do it, Cecil wouldn't want me hiding from the world, I never even go out anymore, Dyland told him how I just stay in my room, Manny needs me.

I told him I know that Parker said he loves me like a brother, and I need to move on, Cece would want me to live my life, he knows it's hard, but it's time to be that man that he knows I am, and the father that Manny needs me to be. I told him I miss Cecil so much and it's hard to go on without him, he told me maybe I should get away for a while, I told him I can't leave now, Manny is meeting new friends, and I can't take him out of school, and I'm damn sure not going to leave him with that Frank guy to do what I should be doing.

Parker said now I get it, he has nothing else to say, but he loves me, and he hung up on me, I got out of bed and walked over to the balcony doors and opened them, the sun is shining, I saw Manny running with Milo, and I guess the guy running with them is Frank, I just stared at him.

Dyland knew if I saw that Frank guy with Manny, I'd get off my ass and be a father again, damn I let Manny down, and Cece too, I promised him I'd take care of Manny, and I haven't been a good father to him. I let my weakness take over me, or should I say my hurt from losing Cece, this is a side of me that I don't accept, but no more I need my son as much as he needs me.

I walked back into the bedroom and took my robe off and walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, I could use a shave, well maybe a trim, I kind of like the facial hair, I got into the shower and realized I don't have Cece to wash my back anymore, a lot of things I'll have to do on my own now that I don't have him anymore.