I watch through the window as Brianna takes her first steps without help. She has a hand on the railing and the other stretched out for balance. Her instructor sticks close to her, murmuring what I hope are words of encouragement. They reach one end of the wall and grin at each other, then Brianna resumes.
They look up at the same time I enter inside, Brianna waves. I wave back. Hand deep in my pocket, I cross my legs at the ankle and lean on the wall. I give her a thumbs up. She is making so much progress.
The hall is like a ballet room with silver railings attached to the white walls for stretching. The duo stop at the end of the room, Brianna turns and I cross the distance. My princess beams at me. I take her hand so she can lean on me for support while her instructor goes to get her Rollator. Her palms are clammy.
“Hey.” She looks up. “You did good today.”
Her brown eyes remain on my face a minute longer like she doesn’t believe me. Then, her head bobs.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
Only that I’m not her daddy. I give her hand a small squeeze. Her instructor returns to us, with her help, Brianna moves the Rollator forward. My hand lingers on her shoulder as I converse with her instructor. The conversation is so short I forget it as soon as I walk out of the building. I stick by Brianna’s side, her movements are slow but steady and the short walk to the car gives me time to gather my thoughts.
Vincent is waiting.
The wind sweeps my hair into my eyes. I steal a peek at Brianna, her breathing is normal. In the past, she would be sweating and breathing heavily from the walk down here. We have come a long way together.
Guiding her to the car, I help her to the backseat. She hates the front seat. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the fact she was in the front seat during that accident but I have never questioned her choice.
The car glides out of the lot and swerves into a free lane. I hit my phone’s screen and the GPS comes on.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror, she rolls her shoulders in what should have been a shrug. I slow down and join a new lane. There’s a small traffic ahead. I don’t mind keeping Vincent waiting but I want this meeting done and over with. It’s new territory for both of us. I’m not ready to accept him as family.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” I bring up my call log and flip to Vincent’s name and my arm trembles a little. “I can call him right now.” My eyes return to the road and I take the turn leading to the restaurant Vincent chose. It’s an okay place, very private. “We can reschedule, Bri. Just say the word.”
The seconds seem longer than they are as Brianna contemplates her reply. Moments later, she shakes her head. “No.” Her words are still slurred like she’s learning how to pronounce them but we are used to it. Brianna twirls a strand of hair around her index finger and releases a heavy sigh. “I think I’m ready.”
I think she’s lying. “Okay.”
The fancy restaurant comes into view, my pulse quickens and my hands almost slip from the steering. I pass Brianna one last glance, she’s staring out the window with her hair flowing down her shoulders. She’s wearing Bren’s clip and Wyn’s bracelet. They like to swap accessories. They think she’s their sister.
Vincent asked us to call him as soon as we arrived but I don’t. “I want to walk,” Brianna says once I open her door. She only walks around the house using the walls and bannisters for support. “Daddy, please.”
“Are you sure?” I slip into the backseat with her and take her hands. “Your uncle doesn’t care if you are using a Rollator.” She nibbles on her lips, her eyes water. For a brief moment, I see Nicole in her. I shake off the flashback and offer her a small smile. My phone vibrates. “He just wants to see you.”
“I want to walk.”
Another stubborn female in the Stark’s household. Great. “Okay.”
I help her out of the car and her slender hand tightens around my forearm. We take slow, measured steps towards the entrance and the doorman opens the glass double doors. The scent hits us first. So homely. And the plush rug muffles our footsteps as we take further steps in. My phone vibrates again.
We stop in the middle of the near-empty restaurant. I can’t say for sure if the emptiness has to do with Vincent or it’s a simple coincidence. The only person inside is a man bent over his phone by the window.
“Daddy.” I look down at my princess. Her head jerks to the man. “Is that him?”
Vincent looks up. His phone collapses to the floor and his hands shake as he bends to retrieve it. In a flash, he’s right in front of us. His eyes never leave Brianna who grows shy and her fingers sink into my skin.
“Hey,” Vincent says. His voice sounds like gravel. He clears his throat. “Brianna, right?”
“Yeah,” she replies without looking up. I place a hand on her back. Daddy is here, she’s safe.
Vincent looks to me for help. His eyes are sunk in like he has been missing sleep. “She is shy around strangers.” Vincent winces and a fake smile covers his lips. “She is shy around new people.” As if to prove my point, Brianna wraps her arms around my waist and hides her face in my chest. “Bri. Princess.”
I pry her hands from my waist and bend to her eye level. “Do you want us to go home?” Vincent drags in a breath but I pay him no mind. Her needs come first. She shakes her head. “Then let’s get you seated.”
“Right,” Vincent says, “a seat.” I glare at him and he shuts up. I am doing this for her, not him.
He moves to the other side of Brianna as I direct her to the table he was seated at on our arrival. Brianna goes in first, I slide in next to her while Vincent takes the seat across us. Vincent spreads his hands on the table, when I catch him staring at Brianna, his cheeks colour and he looks away. Motherfucker.
The awkward silence stretches and Brianna finds my hand under the table. We didn’t come here to ogle each other. I level Vincent a stern glare, begging him to compose himself. I will leave when he’s relaxed.
“I’ll leave you two to catch up, okay?” I tell Brianna. She gulps but her head bobs in silent determination. That’s my girl. I kiss her forehead and she flushes. “I’ll be outside.” She nods. To Vincent. “One hour.”
Walking away from her feels like walking away from her future, I hesitate in the middle of the restaurant once. My eyes scan the exit. He can’t pull any stunts with her. I force one foot in front of the other until I am in my car. Sucking air through my teeth, I repeat the mantra: Vincent won’t hurt her. He dares not.
I switch positions so they are in my view. A lady appears to serve them and Brianna’s lips pull into a thin line. She’s nervous. Her human interactions so far have been limited to family and medical practitioners.
The time on my phone shows they have only been in there for ten minutes. I groan. Come on. I stretch my hands in front of me, they are trembling. There’s only one person that can soothe me so I pick my phone to call El but stop myself right before I hit the dial button. She doesn’t know about this meeting.
Knowing I won’t be able to keep my location a secret, I text instead.
Me: Missing you.
Wifey: Missing you too. Are you done?
I wish I was. My brow raises when I cast a glance at the window. Vincent is on Brianna’s seat. Laughter trickles out of my lips at his animated expression as he goes on about something that cracks her up with laughter. The stiffness in her shoulders is gone. She even touches him twice and he stares openly at her.
A jolt of jealousy flicks through me. What if she prefers Vincent over me? We are both her uncles. I wipe my hand on the back of the front seat. It doesn’t matter. Brianna will always pick me over him, right?
She loves me.
She calls me Daddy.
My attention returns to my phone. El has sent another text.
Wifey: Hey :/
Me: Sorry baby. Almost done. I love you.
Wifey: love you too.
Closing my eyes for a minute, my eyes fly open when the phone starts ringing. Vincent’s name appears on my screen and I choke on a gasp at the time. Two hours have passed. I stagger out of the car and back into the restaurant. Brianna’s eyes light up when they land on me. Vincent’s seat is empty so I slide right beside her and hold her.
“Where’s he?” I spread my hand on my knee and she places hers over it. The initial nervousness is gone.
Brianna’s eyes roam the place, over the empty tables and chairs. “Restroom.”
“Do you like him?” I whisper.
Lines appear on her forehead, she retracts her hand from mine to play with the buttons on her gown. Interacting with her sometimes requires more patience than with the twins. “Don’t know. He cries a lot.”
I snort with laughter. Her nose scrunches and I ruffle her hair. Vincent the cry baby. “He’s a pussy.”
She grips the edge of her table, we stare at the tray of untouched food in front of her. “What’s a pussy?”
My laughter dies down. I dart a look around the restaurant. We are alone. “I said bussy.”
“What’s a bussy?”
My mind blanks. I scratch the inside of my wrist. I wish I knew too. “A bus that err...” Curiosity lights her gaze, her brows furrow in concentration and sweat rolls down my neck. “A bus that buses.” Her confused face is adorable but El will have my head if this word gets out. “Just forget I said anything,” I say, “okay?”
Brianna nods. “Okay, bussy.”
“No.” I sigh. My hand reaches for hers on the table. “Don’t say that word. It’s not–”
Vincent’s presence cuts me off from further embarrassing myself. Brianna stares at me as if to say we will have this conversation later. The awkwardness returns now all three of us are seated at the table. Vincent picks up his phone, he types for one minute and mine pings. Brianna smiles at him. Then me.
I delay to pick my phone, when I do, my jaw clenches.
Vincent: We need to talk.