Round Here

Chapter Forty Two

July '95

It has been an easy few months. The kids have been good and not been misbehaving. They've finished school and that. Well, Rafi graduated and Caroline did as well. Now she was working full time. I was so proud of her. Rafi was well enough to start practicing, so that's what he did on his spare time. He was back and forth from New York to Toronto. He was happy with it though. Since Leo's incident, Vinny has kept him so close to him. He hasn't let that kid out of his sight since then. I usually watched the grand kids when they were working so he was never out of our sight. 

On the fifth anniversary of my wife's death, my father in law passed away. The cancer was what killed him. Connie was so heartbroken. I feel like Romeo was a bit more heartbroken though. Now he and Connie lived in that house. Sonny vowed he wouldn't make it to her birthday this year and he didn't. He was cremated and now kept on Connie's nightstand. I was glad she had him for as long as she did. He was a much better man than Carlo ever was to her. She came over every now and then to see me since she was still grieving. I helped her as much as I could since she always did with me. 

Today was a hot day. I was taking the kids into the pool. Liv was over too. Her and I have been seeing each other on and off. I didn't mind and neither did the kids. "Poppa, are you and Auntie Liv gonna come in?" "We are coming in. Now get your swim trunks on kiddo." Leo looked at me. "Is daddy gonna come in?" "Yeah he said him and Uncle Larry were gonna come in. Just relax buddy." He sighed. "Poppa, I'm scared. I don't want Atti to hurt me in the pool." "Atti has been told. It's gonna be okay." He finally put his trunks on. He then looked at me. "Poppa, why is your tummy hairy?" I smiled at him. "Cause I'm a man that's why. When you grow up you're gonna be hairy too." He giggled. "Is that why daddy is hairy?" I nodded as I picked him up. He had our towels. We met Vinny and Larry as they were coming up. "Daddy I'm gonna be hairy when I grow up." "Are you?" "Poppa said that I would. I grow up and be hairy and strong like Poppa and you?" "Yes you will now let's go swimming." I agreed. 

We got into the pool. Liv was there. She was looking as good as ever. "Hello Mr." She said. "Hello beautiful." She kissed my cheek. Delilah swam over to me. "Poppa I no see you." "I'm sorry baby. I forgot to come over last night." She giggled. "It otay Poppa. I love you." "I love you too." "Poppa we wash movie today?" "Yup later on baby." "Otay I go fine 'Renzo." "Okay baby." She swam away as Liv came closer. "So Mister, are we gonna stay in tonight?" I looked at my watch. "Of course." "What movie is on in the Corleone theater?" "I'm not sure. Probably a kids movie since I have all of the grand kids tonight." "That's fine with me." She kissed my cheek. One of the kids interrupted us again. "Poppa I hurt my leg." Atticus said. I looked at him. "Where?" He showed me. He had this big bruise. "Did you show daddy?" "I did. He said it won't hurt that much but it does since they kicked it." "Yeah that would hurt. Why did they kick you?" "I don't know. They just did. Daddy said I had to toughen up." "And what did mommy say?" "Mommy said it was gonna be okay and not to listen to daddy. You know because daddy doesn't know what he's talking about even though he's a doctor." I laughed at that. "Yeah I know." He hugged me. "I want mommy." "Well, mommy and daddy had to go to a conference down in Oklahoma so you have to deal with me." He sighed. "But I want mommy." "I know buddy. Mommy will be home in three more days." He hugged me. "I don't get why she had to go." "Me neither buddy." "She said it was cause daddy was afraid to fly." "Yeah that's probably why." "Can I call mommy?" "Soon buddy. Just swim with the kids." "I don't wanna anymore. I just want mommy." I sighed. "I know buddy. Maybe just go sit on the chair. We can call mommy once we're out of the pool." "Okay Poppa." He said as he swam away. I just sighed as I floated on my back now. Liv came over and smiled at me. 

We were in the house now since it started to rain. I was cooking dinner. Atticus was in here as well. I didn't mind. "Poppa can I call mommy now?" "Yes I'm coming hold on buddy." He went over to the phone. Luckily he couldn't reach. I came over. I dialed her cell number. "Hello?" She said with a moan. "Sonny?" I said. "Yes Uncle Sonny?" "You have a very antsy boy here. He wants his mom." She sighed with relief it sounded. She told Marlon to stop so she could talk. I knew what they were doing. "Okay I'm ready to talk to him." "Alright here he is." He was very anxious. Something which was very odd for him, but then again Marlon and Little Sonny haven't been gone for this long. I handed him the phone. "Mommy! Mommy I want you!" I could hear her trying to calm him down. "Mommy please come home." I heard her talking still. Atticus was crying now. Which was something odd. He never cried often. "Mommy I don't wanna wait for three and a half days. Mommy please come home. Mommy please. I love you. Mommy!" He was having a meltdown now. He must not have liked what she was saying to him. He then handed me the phone. "Hey, he's having a meltdown now." She sighed. "I know. I don't know what to do. He's never been like this before." He was hugging me as I spoke to her. "I think he's got separation anxiety." "Me too. I feel so bad Uncle Sonny. We can't come home since the conference just started. I should have stayed home but Marly needed me to come. You know how he is on planes." I knew. "I know honey. It's okay to feel that way. I think you need to get them used to it. Like how Auntie and I went out of town and that. He's gotta get used to it. I will try my best to get him to calm down since dinner is almost ready." "What are you guys having?" "Lasagna since I didn't know what to make. You wanna say goodbye to him before I go?" "Sure I will." "Okay honey, I love you and be safe." "I will, love you too." I then handed him the phone. She was speaking to him first. He sniffled a bit. "I love you too mommy. Tell daddy I love him too." He then handed me the phone so I could hang it up. He just held onto me as he cried.