Traveling Vivian

Chapter Seventy - History Repeats Itself

Ella quickly grew on to Felix.  Felix adored her and he loved her just as me. Somehow, we became a family again. The family that I adored and wanted since the death of Calvin. Unfortunately, in this family, we both worked for the money. Felix was out on his daily runs to his business parlors as I stayed home with little Ella, bringing Linlee around the town as she prepared for her baby. Then when one o’clock rolled around, I would leave Ella alone with Linlee as I cover up Felix’s business. Felix was opening another tattoo institute in the next city so he was never available to care about Chicago’s place. I didn’t mind it because we had Stephanie, a part-time tattoo artist, who was covered with exotic arts around her body. She wasn’t afraid to show it either. Then we had Paul, one of Felix’s trusted tattoo artist who had a handful of his own clients. It was a pleasure to be the girlfriend/co-owner of a business.

Things started growing heavy on Linlee and Ella back at home.  Felix and I remained in different homes because I didn’t want to rush us into a married life just yet, so I remained with Linlee and her brick duplex. Every night I came home from the shop, I would see Linlee sitting on the couch with her round belly, watching television. Ella would be upstairs in her room with the door closed, sometimes locked. It made me nervous.  Linlee’s due date was only two months away. Ella was a smart baby, well a toddler. She was a fast runner as well as a problem solver. When I got back home, she would run down the steps and hug me. However, lately, she refused to do and remained in her room until I peek inside.

Tonight was no exception. I got out of my car and heard shouting and Ella’s crying from within. I growled and slammed the door of my RAV4 and locked it. I raced up the path to the front door and unlocked the door. To my dismay, Linlee picked up Ella and threw her across the room. I yelled and instantly lounged at Linlee. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I yelled.

“Your baby is a brat. A fucking brat!” She defended herself.

“Linlee, she is only a year and ten months! She’s not even two!”

“You need to discipline that little harlot.”

I slapped Linlee’s face as she turned away and grabbed her coat.

“Bitch! She’s going to be just like you. A whore! A whore who two-timed her father and her other adopted father. Watch! Just wait and see.”  Linlee laughed. She grabbed her fur coat and wrapped herself in it.

I ran to pick up Ella from the floor as Ella’s bloody head flooded. She looked at me with sad eyes and her look was diminishing. She wasn’t herself. “It will be okay baby.” I whispered and brought her to the couch.

I eyed Linlee as she grabbed her coat and walked out of the door.

“Linlee, I want the keys to my house back.” I said sternly.

“Your house? Don’t you mean my house?” She said as she turned around.

The cold autumn blew inside the house as her blonde hair waved with it. I growled and said, “It’s my house. I pay for it mostly. You just crash here. Matter of fact, you would be living in the streets if it wasn’t for me.”

Linlee gasped and she took out her keychain. In a rage, she ripped the silver key from her keychain and threw it at me. “Don’t you forget bitch. I was the one who hooked you up here. Lloyd and I did! We even made you meet your tattoo freak!” She stormed back in the house and grabbed her clothing. She threw them in a large tote and then stormed out of the door. She slammed it shut and I watched as Linlee’s blonde hair disappeared into the night.

I turned back to Ella and patted her head with a wet cloth. I dabbed alcohol on her wound and then rocked her. Hopefully she will be okay. Her brown eyes lit up with the light as I kissed her forehead. Ella was my baby with Phil. Each time I took a glance at her, she had his laughter and his browned almond eyes. It broke my heart that she will never know him.  I stared at her and wept a few tears.  Phil changed his number after our breakup. There was no way to contact him.