L'Arte dell'Amore (Not Edited)

XXXVI

A few days later, Lavender sat awake in Vincent's apartment. Their apartment now. Legs crossed in a chair that faced the bed on the opposite side of the dark room. Her fingers typing and slightly shaking. Why had her father left her mama? Vincent had told Lavender that he'd help her mother if it was what she wanted.

Lavender wasn't sure what she wanted or needed. It was a lot to process. She starred at the bright screen that was illuminating the soft structure of her face, her eyes damp and red.

Vincent who was asleep in the bed stirred and unconsciously moved his hand towards her side of the bed. Except she was not there. Lavender watched as he pushed up on one arm and open his eyes.

Lavender waited until he looked towards her and smiled a small gentle smile.

"Why are you not in bed, sweet girl?" Vincent's voice was laced with sleep, and deeper than usual. Lavender shrugged her shoulders and closed the laptop. She made her way over to the bed. Vincent's shirt was falling off of her shoulder and stopped below her knees.

"I was looking at my dad's social media, I found something." Lavender scooted closer to Vincent as his warm body surrounded her. Maybe staying up the past couple of nights has not been a good idea, tonight he had woken up.

"Lavender you don't have to worry yourself about anything, I told you I can hire someone. We'll take this easy." Vincent spoke softly. His hand cradling the back of her head. Fingers running through her hair, Lavender nodded.

"I know but I just w-wish I knew more. I feel like everything is a lie." Lavender shook her head and couldn't find it in her to cry when Vincent was there to hold her. He was her comfort in every meaning of the word.

"H-He was cheating on Mama." Lavender said in disbelief. The was nothing else that could shock her. She had found the women and it made sense why Mama told her that he just left. Maybe that would be the reason for Mama doing those awful things, Lavender thought.

"Lavender, breathe. Breathe with me baby." Vincent's calming words helped to ease a breath out of Lavender's chest.

"He made her go to those d-drugs, why would he be doing that? Why is this happening now?" Lavender asked as she walked into Vincent's warm embrace. He reassured her that they would find out more, but they would be doing it safely.

———

It had been three days since that night. The small kitten had grown a bit more and Lavender wonder if the kitten had been eating more. She also wanted to know more about who her dad was now seeing.

Who her dad cheated with.

Vincent was at the university finishing something up. Lavender opened the social media page and scrolled through everything. Anything that could lead her to her dad would be helpful in the moment. Only picture her dad had tagged the woman he was with. Once Lavender finished looking at the profile. She had made up her mind.

Lavender pulled Vincent's oversized hoodie on and decidedly made her way to the location of where her dad should be. A short hour and a quick Uber ride later she arrived in the town the woman lived in. (Vincent was sure to kill her if he found out).

Lavender made her way to the only place in the little town she was certain her father would be.

The extension branch to where her dad was employed.

Lavender's breath hitched and anxiety gripped her skin. She wanted to immediately forget this idea and turn back and go straight to the apartment.

Before she could change her mind the door was opened and Lavender had walked in. The smell of Vincent's hoodie invaded her senses and calmed her edge a bit. Though the first person she saw made her heart drop.

The lady in the picture with her dad.

She was sitting at the front desk. Smiling big at Lavender, the lady had no clue who she was.

"Hi, can I help you?" She asked Lavender. Lavender swallowed, her throat felt extremely dry.

"I'm here to see Mr. Greene." Lavender's voice trembled a bit but she did not stutter.

"He is in a meeting right now." She said annoyed and Lavender nodded.

She wasn't going to waste anytime.

"W-Where are the bathrooms?" Lavender asked. The lady pointed down the short hallway. Lavender took this as her chance to find wherever her dad was.

Hands trembling, Lavender walked down the hallway and past the bathrooms. The first door she tried was locked. The second door was a filing closet with little to no room.

Finally the third door she pushed opened was an office.  Her dad sat at the desk and was staring at his laptop intensely.

"Lavender?"

She turned to look at the person sitting in front of her dad who's voice she knew.

Vincent.

"Vincent?" Lavender was so confused. Why had he already been here?

"You two know each other?" Lavender's father said in a voice that was almost to be described as terrified.

"Yes, I know Lavender. It does not change the fact of the matter. You and your ex wife owe Lavender compensation for the trauma you caused and the monetary damages you caused her. You have until the end of this month." Vincents voice was deadly as he stood towering over Lavender's father.

Lavender's mouth was slightly agape. She could sense Vincent's anger, either at her or at her father she could not tell completely. They walked hand in hand until they reach his car.

"Lavender how did you get here?" Vincent asked not raising his voice, but worried for her at the same time.

"I took an U-Uber." Lavender looked out the window not wanting to explain her actions further. Lavender knew that taking ride shares by herself would not always be safe.

"I know you were just trying to find out more, I should have told you Lavender. I should have told you where I was actually going today- I apologize. I don't want you to risk your safety again because of your family." Vincent explained.

"I know, why did you tell him they o-owed me money?"  Lavender asked quietly.

"They owe you a lot more than money, baby." His voice was clear and it was true. Even Lavender knew how horrible they had treated her.

———

"This isn't the way home?" Lavender looked out the window. Realizing they were driving past the apartment.

"My mom invited us for dinner. I hope you're hungry, we will eat and maybe play a board game with my mom and dad." Vincent said, quickly.

Lavender smiled, but did not say a word. Her heart was so warmed by the feeling of her found family.

"Oh Lavender dear! I missed you so much!" Vincent's mother hugged Lavender.

Once they had finished eating, Lavender leaned against Vincent as they sat next to each other. Instead of finding a board game they all watched a movie. Lavender was exhausted from running around all day but spending time with Vincent and his family, her family now,  was worth every moment.

Lavender smiled at Vincent.

She was indescribably happy in that moment.

Indescribably loved.