Smoke, Lies, and Goobyes

14

"No, please, daddy don't. I love you." She begs, fingers twisting in my hair.
"Alice! No talking to strangers. This is not your father, your dad is in the hospital with your mom. Let's go."
"No! This is daddy! My daddy! I love him and Ming-Ming, and so does mommy. You'll see. Her and daddy will get married and then Mr. Victor will have to go away 'cause he hurts mommy! But you don't care about her! You just don't care! You want mommy to look good, not happy." She cries, squeezing tight to me.
"Baby, you have to go see mommy. Ming and I are going home. Bye baby." I finally pry her away and sit her on the ground. The older woman drags her--kicking and screaming--away from us.
"Daddy! Daddy! Please! Mommy loves you! He hits her! You have to save-" she's cut off by the elevator closing and I heave a breath, big, fat tears falling down my face.
I was so truly in love with being her father, being Laura's husband, being there; I just want to be a man.
"Daddy?" Mingus asks as he pulls on my arms. I lift him up. His little fingers swipe away the tears as he kisses my cheek. "We get mommy, right?" He asks, big eyes full of hope and desperation.
"Yeah, let's go shopping. We need to get something." I look back at the car and curse loudly.
"Son of a butch!" Mingus shouts, kicking the tire.
"Mingus, where did you learn that?" I ask, patting his head and reaching for my phone.
"Fu--"
"Fudge!" Mingus shouts, giving me a glare. A look crosses his face as it dawns on him what I'm missing. "Mommy!" He cries, racing towards the elevator. "C'mon, let's go daddy!" He calls from the elevator.
I shake my head, wiping a hand over my face before getting into the elevator.
Upon walking up to the door, this wave of jealousy hits and my stomach lurches. He's gone, but Alice is politely perched up on her bed like she's a mere aquaintance.
"Hi mommy, I need daddy's phone." He smiles, patting her hand.
"Tell him to come in and get it." I choke, swallowing the drink of water I'd taken.
"Mommy, he don't like that guy that hurt you." He says, shaking his head.
"Ming, tell him I'll be out and not to leave." She hands him my phone.
"C'mon Ming, lets get out of here." I hush, taking his hand.
"No, daddy, we wait for mommy." He declares loudly enough for people to turn and look.
"Mingus, look, I love her. I can't tell her no. I can't be near her without wanting to hug her."
"I love you too." She smiles through the tears in her eyes, carefully tiptoeing to me.
"Don't. Don't you fucking say that." I growl, stepping back.
She takes another step to me, and take an equal step back.
"Norman, stop trying to run. I just need a hug." she steps closer and wraps an arm around my neck.
"Hey, you shouldn't be moving around. It's obviously dangerous and tiring. We'll get you laid down and settled back in." I coo, scooping her up and kissing her forehead just once. I needed to do it.
Pulling her closer to me, I kiss her forehead again.
"Daddy, is she okay?" He asks, worry filling his voice.
"She's just sleepy." I assure, smoothing her hair.
"Norman, I love you." She croons, tiredly kissing the spot above where her head is resting in the crook of my neck.
"I love you too." I whisper, taking a breath.
"Norm, promise me." She croons, petting my hair.
"Promise you what?" I ask, laying her down onto her bed.
"That you will be there. Promise me you'll take care of Alice. Victor, he'll kill me one day if something isn't done." And my stomach churns so much, my vision swirls around me like a kaleidoscope and I reach back for the arm of a chair to sturdy myself.
"Daddy? Can we stay a little longer? I wanna play with Alice." Mingus states, pushing his blonde hair from his face.
"No, Mingus we gotta go. We have things to do. Mommy needs to nap anyway. She looks just plain whooped." He states, standing and leaning over, pressing his lips softly to the smooth skin of her wrist.
"Bye Norman, just remember what I said." She smiles lightly, just the corners of her mouth quirking up with a soft smile, eyes closed. Gripping his hand, she twists her fingers into hers.