Pretty Wings (Paul Walker)

Ch. 5

Hanna laid Paulie down for the night and headed back to her room. She combed her hair into a bun before slipping on one of Paul's shirts curling up on his side of his bed, she fell into a deep sleep and had no idea what was about to happen.

***

Kori waited until she saw Hanna's light go out before she picked the lock on the door. Closing it quietly behind her, she headed up to Paulie's room and smiled as he slept, he was a beautiful child. Picking him up out of his crib, she rocked him back and forth and sat down in the rocking chair with him. She noticed a picture of Paul holding a newborn Paulie and picked up the frame. She opened up the frame and flipped it to the back, where writing was.

Parker Lee Walker Born December 27, 2012

She scoffed at the name. Why would the nickname him Paulie if he didn't even have Paul's name.

"That must have been that crazy bitch's idea. This could have been us Paul, what did she have that I didn't?"

Paulie suddenly started to cry and Kori panicked. She quickly put him back in his crib and jumped behind the door as Hanna opened up Paulie's door.

"What's the matter baby," she cooed picking him up.

Paulie instantly stopped crying and Hanna was about to lay him back in the crib until she caught a wiff of perfume. Taking a look around, goosebumps rose on her skin. She had just walked into the room and the rocking chair was rocking, plus the picture that she'd put on the nightstand beside Paulie's crib had been moved and the frame was open.

"How about you sleep with mommy for the rest of the night," she said kissing his forehead.

He responded by snuggling his face into her neck.

"I take that as a yes," she laughed closing the door behind her.

She knew that Kori was someone nearby and she didn't want to take any chances when it came to her son. Kori sighed as the door closed behind her. She didn't want to take Paulie from his mother, she had just wanted to hold him and feel closer to Paul. Suddenly she couldn't live with the fact that she had taken a father away from their son.

***

August 10, 2001

"Sir Mr. Winchell hasn't seen his daughter in six months."

Chris looked over at Vanessa and she had a satisfied smirk on her face.

"That's because Ms. Carter has not allowed him visitation and has even threatened to call the police on him if he goes to the school or even comes to the house to see his daughter."

The two were currently in the middle of a bitter divorce and custody dispute. All Chris wanted, was his daughter though.

"Is this true Ms. Carter?"

"Yes it is, but it's only for the benefit of my daughter, Chris is very unfit to raise a child."

"No daddy isn't," Hanna said before she covered her mouth. "Sorry, Mr. Judge man."

The judge looked at Hanna and chuckled.

"Ms. Hanna Winchell I'll make this the easiest that I possibly can for you since it's your life that is being affected. How would you rather live with?"

"My daddy."

"Then it's settled, you'll live with your father."

"But, she's a child, she can't possibly know what's best for her," Vanessa spat.

"It looks like she made her decision and you have to respect that."

Vanessa huffed as she watched Chris and Hanna walk out of the courtroom together. What had just happened?

***

The next few days for Hanna were the worst. She couldn't believe that Kori had broken into her home and tried to kidnap her son. She had barely let Paulie out of her sight, but no one really blamed her. Paulie was in his playroom with his toys and Hanna was sitting in the corner watching him play. He walked over to her and kissed her cheek.

"Someone's birthday is coming up, can you guess who?"

Paulie giggled and then pointed at himself.

"That's right munchkin," she said picking him up and planting kisses all over his face.

She put him back on his feet and he crawled into her lap.

"You're going to be one so mommy is going to go all out for your birthday. All your uncles and aunts will be there and there will be lots of cake."

Paulie's eyes lit up at the thought of cake.

"Da," Paulie said.

Hanna felt the tears well in her eyes.

"Da-daddy," Paulie said placing his fingers in his mouth.

Hanna shook her head and smiled a sad smile.

"No baby daddy won't be there, daddy is your guardian angel now. He's watching you from heaven."

Paulie climbed out of his mother's lap and wobbled over to the picture of his father and brought it back to his mother.

"Daddy," Paulie said pointing to Paul's smiling face.

"Yea baby, that's daddy and he loved you so very much. You were his pride and joy did you know that?"

Paulie looked up at his mother and smiled before taking the picture back and kissing Paul's cheek.

"Daddy love," he managed to get out.

"Yes daddy loves you," Hanna said not even caring that the tears were rolling down her cheeks at this point.

Paulie wiped her tears away before planting a big kiss on her cheek.

"Paulie love you," he said smiling at his mother.

"Mommy loves you too, so much."

Paulie went back to playing with his toys and Hanna smiled as she stood up to use the bathroom. They were going to be ok, and she was finally starting to believe it.