Round Here

Chapter Thirteen

December '71

The past few months have been good. Little Ollie has been a pest, but we all love him. He really loves Sonny and I. Marlon just turned three and he's grown a lot. He's become more talkative and both Sonny and I regret it. We love him just the same though. He's really become more interested in his Lego blocks so he doesn't bother us much anymore. Vinny however has grown to be more clingy than usual. I don't mind and neither does Sonny cause he loves to cuddle with his boy. He is becoming just like his brother. He's so smart and can already say 'mama'. Sonny and I are proud parents to say the least. 

Today was a fairly cold day, it also was the fifteenth which meant ten more days til Christmas. I wasn't that excited. Today I was alone in the house with the two boys. Sonny went out somewhere before I even woke up. All I was left with was a note saying he'd be back before I knew it. I was sitting on the couch when my someone pounded on my door. Marlon looked up to me. "Mama you go get door?" "Yes baby I will. Watch Vinny for me." He nodded. I then went over to the front door. I opened it with caution. I didn't know who to expect. I then saw Victor and Michael, Connie's two boys. "Can we hide here? Papa's not being the nicest." "Yeah sure." I ushered them in. They followed me in. "What's going on?" "We had to escape. He was trying to beat us. Mama's out shopping with Grandma. Papa's gonna kill us if he's knows we're here. I mean he's just gonna kill us in general." Victor said. "Come into the living room. I'll keep yous safe. What happened for him to go nuts?" I could tell they were scared. "Well it was cause I told him I was moving out of the house to go live with someone else. Then I mentioned college. He then went nuts, saying I wasn't allowed to leave and such. Saying I was stuck here for the rest of my life. He's drunk." I then heard another knock on my door. "Okay if that's him which I think it is go hide in the laundry room. No actually go up into the spare bedroom." They agreed as they ran upstairs. I went back to the door. I opened the door and I was right, I saw Carlo on the other side. "Carlo what now?" "Tell my sons to get their asses back home." "I don't think I can do that." He then pulled out his gun. It didn't scare me as much as I thought it would. "Okay we don't have to take it that far. Put your gun away Carlo." "Make me." He spat out. "We're not children Carlo. Now leave my house before I call over to one of the guys to come over here." He laughed. "Do it. I'll just shoot you as you walk back." I knew he wasn't playing around. I was more worried since Marlon came around the corner. "Mama I hurt my hand." I looked to Carlo who seemed to stop pointing the gun at me. He put it away. I then carefully went over to my son. I looked at his hand. He just had a small scratch. I kissed it better, and that seemed to work. "Mama I see daddy." I was relieved. "Let's forget about this Carlo and you can have your son's when you're sober." He just left. 

I picked up Marlon and went back to the living room. I saw Vinny trying to walk around. I sat on the floor holding Marlon and then grabbed Vinny. He was full of laughter. I was still a bit frightened by what Carlo had done. I heard the other boys come down. Marlon held onto me. "Mama you otay?" I cried into my son's shirt. Both my son's didn't understand why I was so frightened. I heard the other two greet my husband as he walked in the house. "Uncle Sonny I think papa came over and hurt Auntie." I heard Victor say to him as they came into the living room. "Santina are you alright?" He noticed us sitting on the floor. "Mama sad daddy." Marlon turned to say. "She cry." Sonny placed whatever he had in his hand down on the couch. Vinny crawled over to his father. "Hey little guy." He then placed him on the couch. My other son however wouldn't let go of me. "Let go of mama Marble." He looked at his father. "Mama be otay?" He nodded. Sonny then got down to our level. "San, come in the kitchen with me." He helped me up. I pushed my hair back out of my face. "Okay." Was what I whispered. They came into the living room and sat with Vinny as Sonny and I made our way into the kitchen. 

He held me close to him. He was leaning up against the counter. "San, what did he do?" "He aimed his gun at me. Told me he'd shoot me if I called someone. Then Marly came out. He put the gun away. I thought he was gonna shoot me Sonny." He held me as I cried into his chest. "He wouldn't be stupid enough to shoot you. Trust me on that. It's gonna be okay. Tom's coming over later." I knew he was trying to distract me. "Mhm, and what else?" "Well I thought maybe we could you know. After the kids went to bed." I knew what he was hinting at. "Can I call dad?" "Of course you can. You don't need to ask." He let me go for a moment. I then called dad. I prayed he answer. "Hello?" He said. He sounded like he was just waking up. "Dad can I come over?" He yawned into the phone. "Yeah sure. What's wrong? Did Santino do something?" "No daddy. I just need you." "Alright give me ten." "Okay daddy." He then hung up. "San, you sure you're okay?" "I'll be fine. I just gotta see him." He hugged me. "Don't worry I'm not stopping you. I just wanna hold you for another minute before you leave." "Will you walk me over? I'm scared to go by myself." "Yeah I can. Let's go before he forgets." I agreed as we started to make our way down the hall. Marlon ran into my leg. "Mama you otay?" I smiled at my son. "Yes Marly now go back with Victor and Mikey. Mama and daddy will be right back." I was startled again by the door. Sonny told me to stay where I was. Marlon grabbed onto my leg. We were all relieved to see dad. "Grampa!" Marlon said as he ran to dad. Dad picked him up. "I thought it'd be easier, and safer for me to cross the mall alone." He was right. I went over to him. He pulled me in for a hug. "What's the matter cannoli?" Sonny mouthed something to dad. Then he didn't bother me any further.