Round Here

Chapter Thirty

February '86

A/N: Still in Sonny's POV

I didn't get my wish. Santina kept the heat very low. I honestly don't even think she had it on at this point, and it was fucking freezing in here. I've recovered fine from my little health scare. I'm just as good as new. I was glad since the kids were now less worried about their old man. I was less worried as well. My wife's nerves have settled down. Which was a good thing. She's also stayed sober from that last incident. I really don't know what set her off but I was told not to worry about it. So I tried my best not to worry about it. It didn't occupy my mind often anymore. I guess I've learned to move on from it. 

Today was a rather cold day. I wish my wife would turn the heat on. That's what blankets are for. She says to me all the time. Or my favourite one is "put more clothes on and you wouldn't be cold" she said that often. There wasn't enough clothes to put on to take away the coldness. Nor were there enough blankets. I was home alone since she was out with Tom doing the grocery shopping. I said I'd stay home in case we got a phone call from the school, which I was hoping we wouldn't. I didn't want any drama today. I wanted to have a nice, long, relaxing day. Well, until three o'clock cause that's when the little shits came home. I was watching some movie on the television. No idea what it was since I was half asleep for most of it. It had to be almost over by now. I mean I hoped it was since it was boring. 

I was startled by one of my children. What were they doing home this early? It was only quarter to one. "Dad?!" It was Vinny. He sounded cold. I wouldn't blame him. It was freezing indoors and out. "I'm in the living room kiddo." He came in half naked. He had a blueish tinge to his skin and was shivering. "Where the hell are all your clothes?" He only had his book bag, shoes, socks, and underwear. "They took them from me when we were outside at lunch. Dad I'm so cold." "I bet you would be. It's minus thirty five. Where's your jacket and stuff?" He gave me this look. "Violet was retrieving my belongings so I could run home. You wanna know how many people stared at me when I was running home?" I could only imagine. I mean I'd stare too if I saw a teenage boy running home half naked. "Okay here's my question. Who took all your stuff and why?" He started to cry. "Stupid twelfth graders. They beat me up and took my clothes. They thought it'd be funny to see me run home half naked. Violet said she reported it, so who knows. I don't really trust her so much with that." "Come here and sit with me. I'll keep you warm." He came over to me. I made him sit. Jesus Christ was he ever cold. He sat on my lap and held onto me. I wrapped the two blankets that were on the back of the couch around him. He was shivering a lot. "Dad I'm so cold. I can't feel my body." His teeth were chattering as he spoke. I reached over and grabbed my coffee. "Your mother may kill me but drink this. It'll keep you warm." He carefully grabbed my mug and took a sip. "Dad this feels so good right now. You don't even know. I can feel the heat." He handed me back the mug. "No drink it all. I want you warm as fast as possible before I take you to get clothes." He listened to me as he drank what was left. I placed the mug on the coffee table once he was finished. "Dad I can't hold it anymore. I can't feel anything." "That's why I grabbed it." I think he and I were talking about two different things. We were. "Dad I'm sorry. It burns dad." I sat there as my son emptied his bladder. I just held him as he cried. "Okay we're gonna go up to the bathroom. I'm gonna run you a hot bath. You need to be submerged in hotness." "I can't feel my legs anymore." "That's alright. I'm gonna carry you. I'm gonna change while you're in the bath, but will come back once I'm finished to check on you." He nodded as I got up from the spot we were in. He held onto me. Well he tried to. Like he said he couldn't feel anything anymore. I left the blankets on the couch. 

It didn't take much for me to carry him up there. I had to place him down so I could turn the water on. "I know this is gonna sound silly but tell me if this is too hot for you." He nodded as he sat still in the tub. It wasn't too hot, but for him it'd be heaven. I managed to change before putting him in. He said it was fine. So now I was back in the bathroom with him. He was still shivering as the water touched his skin. I mean it was only his feet first. I helped him sit so he'd be comfortable. He screamed with pain as the hot water touched his cold skin. "Dad! Make it stop!" I heard the front door open. My wife was home I hoped. "Okay stand back up if you're not ready. You don't gotta be embarrassed. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before. You are my son and I did take care of you as a child." He sighed. "Dad that's not what I'm worried about. Dad it burns my skin." "I know but it'll be fine once you sit down. Son you can get hurt even more if you don't sit down." He went back down. He sighed with relief once he felt the warmth. He was still crying though. It must have been a painful relief. I heard my wife calling me. "Santino where are you?! I wanna fuck!" "I'm in the bathroom!" I heard her walking down the hall. I stood up after Vinny let go of my hands. "You getting into the bath? You that cold?" She said with a snicker. She went over to use the toilet. "No but your son is." She was quick to hide herself. "Don't worry he's not focused on you." She looked at me as she flushed. "Why's he home?" I rolled my eyes. "Kids stole his clothes and he had to run home." She looked surprised. "All the way from school? My god Sonny, he ran fourteen blocks. No wonder he's cold. It's minus thirty five." "I know that San. That's why I made sure he had something warm to drink and was wrapped up in a few blankets before he got in the tub." She went over and washed her hands. She just shook her head. "Vinny are you alright?" She asked as she came over to check on him. "Mama I'm cold." She felt his forehead. "Oh my love you're freezing. Lay down in the bath. My poor baby." She said as she kissed his cheek. "Can you help me mama?" "I can. Just don't pull me in with you." She said with a chuckle. He smiled at her. I watched as she carefully submerged our son into the water. He screamed again. "Shh baby. Not too loud. Mama's gonna make it feel better. Put your hands in the water. They're ice cold baby." He listened to her and let go.