Chapter 14
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Venturing out of the house was a brilliant idea. Convincing Dominic to join me was the icing on the cake. I wasn’t the only one who could’ve used fresh air. The one flaw was the snow—or lack thereof. I wished a storm would dump itself on us. It would’ve made the Saddle River Park pop, maybe bring out more people. The other annoying flaw was the personal security tailing us. Sonny and another of Dominic’s most trusted soldiers, Lucas Scioli, maintained their distance from us, but sometimes, I wanted to go somewhere alone. Spend quality time with Dominic alone outside of our home’s walls. But lack of security was a no-no. And now that I carried Dominic’s child, personal security was non-negotiable.
Hand in hand, Dominic and I walked a path in what was the Otto Pehle area of the park. Branches of Pitch Pine trees swayed in the mild breeze, each waft of wind heavenly on this afternoon.
He made me bundle up before leaving the house, worried I’d catch a cold. Caving, I agreed to wear my winter coat but refused to keep it zipped. If I did that, I’d roast. Of course, if I had it my way, I would’ve left home in a tank top and pair of shorts and broke out the flip-flops to complete the look. I settled on a nice red blouse, a pair of jeggings, and wore my belly band to help ease the strain on my lower back and hips.
Breaking out his black fedora, it complemented his black wool overcoat that he paired with his iridium gray suit. As usual, he was nothing short of stunning.
The coolness of his black, leather gloves felt good against my hand as I squeezed his, smiling at the squirrels chasing each other and the growing sound of happy children at the pond. The children and their families had taken advantage of the frozen pond to ice skate. A small group of older kids played ice hockey off to the side of the pond. One of them cheered after scoring a goal.
I smiled as I saw a small child practicing skating with her father. It was clear the little girl was nervous, but she didn’t let it stop her and trusted her father as he let go of her and cheered her on.
Her eyes lit up, clearly proud of herself as she skated along the ice by herself. “Daddy, look! I’m doing it!”
Watching the man cheer on his daughter as he caught up with her made me remember the time my father drove us to our local park to go ice skating when I was five. Mom was under the weather that day. I was sad but wanted her to get her rest. I helped Dad make her breakfast that morning. I accidentally spilled milk when trying to pour some into her bowl of cereal. Dad burned the toast, forgetting to change the dial from when it was last used. He set off the smoke detector, and that made Mom come downstairs in a worry, only to burst out laughing at the scene unfolding before her eyes. Dad cleared the smoke with a dish towel, turning around to find Mom in the kitchen entryway, nearly choking from laughing so hard. Dad then started laughing. It was a scene straight out of a movie.
I looked at the ground for a moment, swallowing away the threat of tears, and then looked back up at the pond. Dominic gently tugged on my arm.
“Do you need to take a break?” he asked.
I noticed a bench a few feet ahead and nodded. My feet were aching, another joy of pregnancy, so a break was welcomed. I appreciated it when Dominic often checked to make sure I was comfortable.
We sat down on the wooden bench. Dominic kissed my hand, leaning over to talk in my ear.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” He kissed the side of my face, and I smiled.
“Ice skating,” I said as I continued watching the pond. “Usually, Mom and Dad both took me, but there was one time it was just me and him. Mom caught the flu, so she stayed home.”
“I never learned,” Dominic casually confessed, catching me off guard. I looked at him, only to find him also watching the families on the ice.
“Wait… Never?” I was surprised to hear that.
He shook his head. “Nope,” he said with a breath. “Hector never made the time.”
My heart cracked for Dominic and our brothers being robbed of one of life’s simple pleasures.
“Did Nadia talk to him? Try to change his mind?”
“It was a miracle she convinced him to let me play the piano, much less own one.”
“Oh?” I was intrigued and wanted to know more.
“Story for another day.”
My curiosity was strong, but judging by Dominic’s tone, it was one of his more painful memories. I didn’t want to spoil the moment we were having, this semblance of peace we’d obtained, so I let the topic drop.
“Did he ever take you to Rockefeller Center?” Dominic asked, cutting through my thoughts.
I looked at him. “Huh?”
“Your father—did he take you to Rockefeller Center?”
I looked again at the pond, seeing a family call it a day. Who I assumed was the boy’s father threw his son over his shoulder as he pitched a fit, crying because he had to go home.
“No.”
“Why?”
Believe it or not, no, my parents never took me to New York City. After I ran away from my grandparents, I never made an effort to visit The Rink along Rockefeller Plaza. It would’ve just reminded me of the pain of my loss.
“I’m not sure. Dad hid his life so well, maybe he didn’t want to risk ours by bringing us to such a popular spot.”
“Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced. “You said you remembered a time when it was just you and him?”
I nodded, amused at the memory of the toast. “Dad burned Mom’s toast that morning.” Fresh tears lined eyes. I bit my lip, and Dominic quickly took hold of my hand. I squeezed it, fighting like hell not to cry.
“Maybe I can take you to Rockefeller. You can teach me and our son to ice skate. He’d love it at Christmas—all the lights and the music.”
I blinked free a few tears, wiping them away. Dominic willing to leave his comfort zone… It filled my heart with joy. Experiencing such a place with him and our boy… If only time travel existed, I would send us into the future right now. I laughed at the sudden thought of me teaching Dominic how to ice skate.
“What?” he inquired.
“Nothing. I just pictured you hanging onto the inside of the rink for dear life.”
The day it was just me and Dad, I particularly remembered another kid, an older girl, doing twirls on the ice. I desperately wanted to twirl in circles like her, but I only fell on my ass when I tried. Dad rushed to my aid, relieved that no bones were broken.
“Daddy! Daddy, look! She’s going in circles.”
I wanted to twirl like her. She was older and didn’t fall down a lot like me. Maybe I could twirl like her? Daddy would be proud of me if I twirled like her. I tugged on Daddy’s fuzzy coat.
“See, Daddy?” I pointed to the older girl. “I wanna twirl, too!”
“With a little practice, I know you can,” Daddy said.
I looked up at him. He was the best Daddy in the world. “Can we try right now?”
Daddy thought about it before giving me that look that I knew meant no. I hated that word. And then, he smiled.
“Sure, kiddo.” He held my hand and pulled me. I was still too scared to not hold onto the edge.
He held my arms and slowly turned me around and around in circles. I laughed, having a lot of fun. It was always fun when Daddy played with me. I just wished Mommy wasn’t sick today. I wanted her to see me twirl.
“I wanna do it myself!” I said, wanting to prove to Daddy I could do it.
“Okay.” He sounded scared to let me spin. He didn’t have to worry. I wouldn’t fall. “Just be careful. I’m right here.”
Daddy stayed close and watched me. I pushed with my right foot and held my arms out as I turned. I almost fell, so I did it again but faster, only to lose my balance and fall on my butt on the ice. Daddy ran to me, scared. I didn’t hurt myself, but I was mad at myself. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t twirl like that girl. She was better than me. Her Daddy must be proud of her. Now crying, I wanted Mommy.
Daddy picked me up and leaned against the edge.
“Are you hurt?” He checked me for any boo-boos. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He rubbed my back. “You’re okay, Lilly. You’re okay.”
“Daddy,” I cried. I wanted to tell him I was mad, but I didn’t know what to say. His and Mommy’s hugs always made me feel better.
“Let’s get home,” Daddy said. “Maybe we can stop somewhere for ice cream.”
I nodded, happy Daddy would buy me ice cream. I loved strawberry ice cream. Mommy called me her little strawberry because I loved strawberries so much. They were delicious, especially when Mommy made her strawberry bars for me or put them on her cakes.
I lifted my head and looked at Daddy. I sniffed and smiled as he walked us out of the rink.
“I want strawberry.”
Daddy laughed and smiled. “Of course, you do.”
Dominic wiped my tears for me.
“I’m sorry for crying.” I looked at Dominic, leaning into his palm as I said, “I have no idea why I just apologized.”
We laughed, sharing a tender kiss. As I laid my head on Dominic’s shoulder, he took me under his arm.
“We should take Katrina ice skating some time,” I thought out loud. “She’d love it.”
“It can be arranged.”
“Shoot, does she know how to ice skate?”
“No idea. We can ask her when we get home.”
“Her birthday’s coming up,” I mused. “If it’s still safe enough on that ice, can we bring her then?”
On February 12th, Katrina would turn nine. We hadn’t even begun planning any kind of party for her, and a pang of guilt tightened my chest.
“We’ll see,” Dominic said. It was difficult to make plans in this business. An issue could arise at any moment. Taking her here would likely be a spur-of-the-moment gift to her. “What does she want for her birthday, anyway?”
My stomach sank at his question. Aside from missing her grandfather on a regular basis, Katrina recently expressed how much she missed Bianca. Dominic hadn’t spoken of her since putting her back up at that hotel, and I didn’t want to press.
I looked up and over at Dominic, my expression saying, “Really?” He then looked at me, reading my mind.
“Besides the obvious.”
“Well…” I gathered the words, looking again at the scenery, “last time I tucked Katrina into bed, she told me she missed your mom.”
He drew in a deep breath before slowly releasing it, but he remained tense. “I don’t know, Lilith.”
“Is the place across the street ready yet?”
“No. It won’t be for another month.”
Deciding on a change of plans for his mother, Dominic was having the vacant home across from our place remodeled for her to live, but that wasn’t quite written in stone. Anything she did or said from here on out that rubbed Dominic the wrong way could cancel everything and keep her in Tenafly.
“So, you’re still giving it to her?”
He waited a breath before answering. “I guess so, yeah.”
I still planned on talking to her. With everything with Wyatt and that fiasco, it slipped my mind.
Bianca had tried calling Dominic at random times, but he neglected to answer. He needed a bit more time and space.
“If you want,” I said, sharing an idea, “I can arrange for Katrina to see Bianca myself. I don’t know where yet, but I can also talk to her. You won’t have to see her—not until you’re ready.”
Dominic kissed my head. “Thank you.” He placed his palm on my belly. Smiling, I watched him feel it and then bend over to kiss it.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” I said.
He sat up and kissed me, smiling sweetly. “Me, too.”
* * *
I was more than ready to be home and soaking in a warm bath. This belly band only did so much, but I was glad I got in a pleasant walk today.
On our walk, we talked further about Katrina’s birthday and were going to ask her to create a list of what she’d like for gifts. We were also leaving her day up to her. Whether she wanted to go out to eat or have us cook her something special was on her. A big party or family-only affair? Her decision.
I knew of one thing she repeatedly asked for, and that was a cat. Well, specifically, a kitten. That was going to be a hard sell. Dominic wasn’t big on pets, but if he had to choose, he’d choose a dog over a cat.
I was up for the challenge.
A squirrel ran across the pathway past our feet; they were friendlier here in the park. We watched a little girl feeding a group of them before we turned back around on the trail. It was adorable. We couldn’t wait to bring our son out here to feed them and to also feed the ducks in the summer.
“Damn things,” Dominic grumbled, eyeing the squirrel as it climbed a nearby tree.
I laughed. “It’s your shoes.”
“My shoes?” he pondered, confused. His polished black Oxfords clacked against the tar.
“Yeah. They’re so shiny.”
“My .22 says otherwise.”
I whipped my head toward him, eyes widening, amused. “Dominic!”
“Real life lesson in hitting a moving target.”
I laughed louder, shaking my head. “You wouldn’t,” I said, picturing him subjecting those poor squirrels to target practice.
“Yes, yes, I would.” His cell phone rang, and he let go of my hand to phish out his phone from inside his suit jacket, answering the call. Switching his phone to his other hand, he reached again for mine. We intertwined our fingers. “Talk to me, Santiago.”
While Dominic attended to whatever Dino wanted, an eerie feeling swept over me, following me like a dark cloud. It was almost as if… I looked behind me, and my breath caught in my chest. My heart raced. I shook as if I trembled in the cold, only it wasn’t the cold. Down on the grass below stood a tall figure—I presumed a man, by their build and aura—wearing a brown trench coat, hands in the coat pockets. He wore a baseball cap and black sunglasses, keeping his head low.
Was I seeing things? I rubbed my eyes. Nope, he was still there. Was this another coincidence? Was it Wyatt again? No… It didn’t feel like that. This new stranger was taller. This wasn’t Wyatt. Fuck. The stranger took a step forward. Then another. And another as he started to approach us, some pep in his steps. Shit! I hurried to get back in step with Dominic, tugging the sleeve of his coat.
“Hold on,” Dominic told Dino, instantly concerned as he held me close. “Lilith, what is it?”
“Someone’s coming,” was all I managed in my moment of panic, turning around and pointing to the stranger approaching us, but I dropped my arm slowly, wondering where he went. He was gone. I looked everywhere I could see to no avail. The stranger vanished as fast as he appeared. What the hell?
“What?” Dominic asked, confused. “Who’s coming?”
“There… I…” I didn’t understand. “There was someone there,” I spoke, lost in confusion. I looked at Dominic. “There was someone following us. At least, I thought…” I let my words carry in the breeze as I looked behind us once more, wondering if I really was seeing things. Was this some strange thing that came with pregnancy—hallucinations?
“Let me call you back.” Dominic then put his hand on my shoulder. “Lilith, are you alright?”
I looked at my feet and the path and the grass, then at Dominic, feeling oddly emotional, like I wanted to cry.
“He wore a trench coat. I swear… I thought he was going to chase us.”
Dominic took me under his arm, peering past me at the path, saying, “If there was anyone trying to chase us, I’m sure Sonny and Lucas took care of it. I’ll ask them, okay?” He looked down at me.
Yeah, maybe that was what happened. Maybe Sonny and Lucas dealt with the stranger. They were trained to be silent and swift in a situation like this. Not to alert anyone. Not to create a scene. I relaxed, gathering my bearings and easing my breathing, leaning against Dominic and letting him help lead me to the SUV. Yeah… No. I swore on my life that I saw that man in the trench coat coming at us. Dominic made too much sense; it wasn’t a hallucination.
I buckled my seatbelt the moment I got into the SUV, anxious to leave the park and be home where I knew I was safe. As Dominic walked around to the driver’s side, he ended another call, putting his phone in his jacket. As soon as he entered the SUV, he started the engine and lowered his window, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter in his hand. He lit a cigarette, letting the smoke waft out the window. He refused to smoke anywhere near me if he could avoid it or made sure the smoke was away from me like it was now.
Watching the passing traffic, I had gotten the feeling Dominic was holding back somehow. It was in the air. Dominic lightly danced his fingers on the steering wheel.
“I thought you’d like to know that Mr. Wyatt James won’t be a threat to the state any longer.”
To say my curiosity was piqued was an understatement.
“Oh?” I questioned. “Was that why Dino called?”
Nodding, he inhaled another hit off his Marlboro Red, waiting until the smoke cleared before looking at me.
“Last night, he broke into a home out on the outskirts. As Dino put it, he fucked around and found out. Ended up being shot and killed.”
A sense of relief rushed through me. At least that son of a bitch was gone.
We pulled out onto the road, getting stuck at a red light with Sonny and Lucas behind us.