Round Here

Chapter Forty One

April '95

5 YEARS LATER

It was a long and hard five years but we made it. I didn't think I could do it this long without my wife, but I did. The kids gave me hope. However my kids weren't at all kids anymore. I had many more grandchildren too. Marlon and Little Sonny had two more children, as did Sophia. Caroline had gotten married to her boyfriend and Rafi was still going strong with Mikey. I've had to come to the terms that my son was gay, but it wasn't that hard. I loved and accepted my son for who he was because at the end of the day it didn't matter who he loved because he still was my son. In these five years there has been a few losses. Freddie passed away in November of ninety one and both my parents passed in the summer of ninety two. So we've all had to overcome that. Big anniversaries were coming up as well. Next month it will be five years since my wife has been gone and I don't forget that day. I will always remember it like it was yesterday. I never forgot her and never will. She was the love of my life.

Today had been a somewhat easier day. All the kids were at school except for the younger ones. I haven't had such an empty house since I lived here by myself years ago. Pongo and I had the house to ourselves until my bunch came back. Since mama and pops died, Lucy and Sophia moved into their house with their spouses and kids. Leaving me here with Caroline, Rafi, Mikey, Leo and Vinny. It was tough since most of them were at school or hockey practice for the day, and when they came home they never really wanted to socialize with me anymore. The only one who does is my boy Leo. He always tells me what went on at school and that. He was a very smart kid too. He was into a lot of things the other kids weren't. So he struggled with the bullies at school. One of them were his own cousin. Atticus was like his father, an ass at times. Although he was a smart kid he wanted to fit in so he bullied Leo. We told him to be nice but it didn't matter. So on the lonely nights when Leo felt more upset and his dad was at work he crawled in bed with me.

I was sitting alone watching t.v. in the living room. I was waiting for Leo and the other kids. I spoke to soon when I heard Leo crying for me. "Poppa!" "I'm in the living room buddy." He ran in here with his bag. I was glad he had his shoes off. "What's the matter?" I asked as he sat on my lap. "Atti was mean again." I rolled my eyes as the gang came in. "Where's mommy Lucas?" I asked as he came over. "She and daddy took Tommy and Carm out. So Uncle Romeo picked us up." "Ah okay. Where is Izzy?" "She's coming in. She's getting her boots off." "Okay, was Atti mean to you too?" He nodded. "Where is he?" He went silent as he came in. "Atticus come here." He came over with the biggest smile on his face. "Yes Poppa?" "What did I tell you about being mean to your cousins?" "Not to." "Then why are you?" He shrugged. "Alright go sit or play." We had this thing where every Friday night we had dinner here. With all the kids and grand kids. So that's why they were here.

"Dad we're here!" I heard Sophia yell to me. I got up with Leo in my arms. "Stay here kids. Poppa will be right back." They listened as they played with their toys. I went to see Sophia and Tom. I wasn't impressed as I saw she was wearing pants. "I see you're wearing pants." I said to her. She set down Carmi. "Dad I'm old enough to make the decision." Tom seemed to disagree as well. "I told her not to." He leaned in and gave me a kiss. Leo wasn't bothered by it. "Where's your sister?" "Caroline or Luce?" "I know where Caroline is. She's on her way here. I meant Lucy." "She's changing since she and Junior did something on the way home you'd rather not know about." I just shook my head. "Alright, you hear from Marls or Sonny?" "They're grabbing Mick and David and will be over in a few. As for Vinny he's pulling in now." I saw she was right. "Okay yous go get settled in the living room and I'll order dinner once we're all here. She nodded as she followed her twins. Tom followed her into the living room. I waited with the door open for Vinny. Leo wanted his father. He always did when he was upset. Once he saw him get out of the car he got excited. He was still crying but he got excited when Vinny came up the pathway. It never failed to make Vinny smile. "Daddy!" I smiled at my son. "Hold on little man. Daddy's coming." He was going to pass out the way he was breathing. "Leo breathe buddy." He tried. Vinny came in so I could close the door finally. "It's okay little man. Why are you crying?" He tried to stop. "Cause Atti was mean to me and I misseded you." Vinny sighed. "Wanna come paint with daddy? Daddy's got a few hours before he has to go back into work." "I come with you?" "Daddy will think hard about that. Come down with daddy." I let him down. He wiped his tears. "I love you Poppa. I be back." I smiled. "Okay little man. I love you too." They then went on their way.