No Letting Go [Completed]

Seventy-One

{Colin's POV}

"I'm all done daddy." Riley says walking into the living room.

"Let me see it." She goes back to the dining room to get her work and in look it over. "Everything looks correct. Need to clean up that handwriting a little bit."

"Really daddy, you have like the worse handwriting ever. It looks like chicken scratch."

"You know that mouth of yours is gonna get you in trouble one day."

"Yeah, and your actions will get you in trouble one day...it already has." I'm shocked. I've never heard or seen her speak to me in this manner and I don't like it. I don't know what the hell's gotten into her, but I'm nipping it in the bud now.

"What'd you just say to me?"

"Nothing daddy."

"Get back here Riley." I say as she walks off and she doesn't listen. "I'm gonna count to three little girl.....1............2............THREE." She doesn't make way back into the living room, so I get up and head upstairs after hearing her bedroom door close. "Riley Marie." I get to the door and knock before going in. "Open the door."

"No."

"Riley."

"Go away." I walk in and she's laying on her bed, facing the opposite direction of the door. "Go away."

"I'm not gonna tell you again. Come here." She gets out of bed and walk towards me. "Don't walk away from me when I'm talking you." She looks at me as if she's trynna challenge me.

"I wanna go back with mommy."

"Too bad. You're staying here. You're not gonna talk to me any kind of way then run to your mother when I try to discipline you. Your smart mouth butt is gonna stay right here in this room until I say so."

"I don't wanna stay here."

"What did I just say, Riley? You keep this up and your punishment will be much worse."

"I WANT MOMMMMMMYYY!" She screams at the top of her lungs.

"All that screaming isn't helping you at all. Go sit on your damn bed and read a book or something. Keep that TV off too." I say then walk out and shut the door. I don't know what's gotten into her, but I'll give her time to cool down.

I go back downstairs to see Nate wide awake, sitting him on the couch. "Hey bubba." He reaches out for me to pick him up. "You still tired, huh?" I sit on the couch and he crawls in my lap. I grab my phone and send Aaliyah a text.

Me: What are you telling our daughter? Why are you even getting her involved.

Aaliyah: What the hell are you even talking about? I haven't told her anything.

Me: you must have said something. She just tried to get smart with me.

Aaliyah: She asked if we were together and I told her no....what was I suppose to do, lie?

Me: No. You weren't. I still don't appreciate the way she talked to me or the little temper tantrum she threw. If it happens again, she will get dealt with.

Aaliyah: Colin, I wish you would.

Me: Don't tell me how to discipline my child. Stay in your place.

Aaliyah: You're abusing your authority and if you lay a hand or belt on her, I swear you'll never be able to keep them again.

Colin: Don't make this ugly, because it can be.

Aaliyah: No. YOU don't make this ugly. Like I said, I don't know what the hell has gotten into you. You can talk crazy and shit to me, but not our 7 yr old daughter.

Me: As long as I'm providing for her, I will say and do as I please when it comes to her. She's not gonna end up like you.

Aaliyah: Like me?

Me: Disrespectful.

Aaliyah: Look in the mirror. You'll see the living definition of disrespectful.

Me: I look in the mirror. Everyday, and I see Colin Rand Kaepernick.

Aaliyah: ...and nothing else?

Me: Nope.

Aaliyah: That's a shame. That's not Colin Rand you're staring at...that's some other bitch ass nigga.

I hit the lock button on my phone and toss it to the side. Nate eventually goes back to sleep and I turn the channel to a random movie.

Half way through the movie Nate wakes up hungry. I get up and we go to the kitchen to see what I have in the kitchen to cook.

Everything's frozen, so I take out some chicken to thaw. Meanwhile, I give him something to snack on till then.

Time goes on, I get dinner cooked and make the kids a plate. I sit Nate in his high chair and go upstairs to get Riley.

"Come downstairs and eat." I say walking into her room.

"I'm not allowed out of my room, remember."

"I'm not about to do this again. Get your butt downstairs." She does what I say and I follow behind her. She sits at the table and I sit a plate and a cup of juice in front of her. "Eat up."

"I'm not hungry."

"I know that's a lie. You haven't eaten since I picked you up earlier today. Eat." She rolls her eyes and starts eating.

"This food sucks."

"What are you talkin bout? It's the same chicken I cook when me and mommy were together."

"It just.......sucks." She pushes the plate away."

"Fine. Go upstairs, take a bath, brush your teeth and go to bed."

"It's still early."

"Do what I said." She marches upstairs and I look over at Nate who's lookin me, while stuffing chicken in his mouth.

After eating, I take Nate upstairs to take him a bath, get him into pjs and put him down for bed. Once I put him to bed, I go check on Riley to see if she's asleep, and she's not.

"Lights out Ry."

"I'm not tired."

"Listen Lil girl and listen well, you better cut it out right now."

"Why?" She seems not scared, and unfazed.

"Because I'm your father and children are suppose to respect their parents."

"Why? You don't respect mommy, so why should I respect you? I heard what you told her earlier." She says. I sigh as I sit down next to her.

"Ry."

"No daddy. You would be mad if someone talked to me that way. Wouldn't you? I can't wait to go back to mommy tomorrow." She gets underneath the covers and turns away from me.

**************

The next morning's a silent one. I get Riley fed and get her to school. A little later, Nate and I make our way to the facility for practice.

Around 1:30, Aaliyah shows up to pick up Nate, and at the right time. We're on break having lunch. I walk with them outside to the parking lot. I give my boy some love because there's no telling when she's gonna let me see him.

"Hold up, let me talk to you." I say before Aaliyah could get in the car.

"What?"

"I'm sorry." She rolls her eyes.

"For real this time. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have slept around on you. I shouldn't have treated you like I did." She pushes her weight to one side and folds her arms.

"Okay." She says flatly.

"I want you to forgive me."

"No."

"No?"

"I didn't stutter. No." She gets in the car and leaves.