Chapter 49
Dominic
We’re nearing the final leg of our trip, currently heading along the Great Ocean Road—a two hundred and forty three kilometre scenic route winding along the south-west coast of Victoria.
Emily has been my wife for an entire month now, and as much as I hate for this road trip to end, it’s time to wrap it up and go home. Being on the road full-time isn’t the place for her while she’s pregnant, no matter how much she tries to convince me otherwise.
There’s nothing better than travelling the open road with my girls, but I’m not taking risks with her or our baby.
We’re keeping the RV, so there’ll be other adventures in our future. Besides, we’ve got the Christening of Dante and Arabella’s newborn son, Matteo, in three weeks. Life doesn’t pause just because I want it to, and I’ve been lucky to have this much time away from work.
My phone rings, cutting through the silence, and when I glance at the caller ID flashing on the screen, my stomach churns.
“Mary,” I say, accepting the call.
“Dominic. How are you?”
“Good. How are you?”
“Are you still travelling?”
“Yes.”
Although I’m Lil’ Peach’s sole guardian, I still had to get permission to take her out of the state, and have been checking in with the social worker as requested.
“I bet you’re having the best time. I’m so envious.”
Mary and I have become somewhat friendly over the years, but there’s something in her voice that’s off. Like she’s stalling, filling the space with small talk instead of getting to the point. “Cut to the chase, Mary, has something happened?”
She pauses before answering, and my gut reaction tells me whatever she has to tell me isn’t good. “It’s Violet and Tray.” There’s a slight pause before she adds, “They’ve overdosed.”
This has been one of my greatest fears over the years. My sister has been walking an endless tightrope for some time, and I knew it would only take one wrong step for her to go free-falling into the abyss.
“Is Violet okay?” I ask because I don’t give two fucks about her boyfriend. He’s the reason she’s in this mess to start with.
Mary is silent for a beat, and my grip on the steering wheel tightens as I brace myself for her answer.
“Neither of them could be saved.” My heart plummets into the pit of my stomach.
“I’m sorry, Dominic.” Although this is a phone call I’ve been expecting for a long time, it still hits like a physical blow.
“The police went to their residence earlier today to serve a warrant for failing to appear in court, and found them. There was nothing they could do. Apparently, there’s been a bad batch of drugs on the streets, and they’re not the first to fall victim. ”
Emily’s hand tightens on my leg, and Mary keeps talking, but none of it registers. I’ve checked out. I’m sure the sadness and anger will eventually come, but right now there’s only guilt and disbelief.
I could’ve done more.
I should’ve done more.
I pull over to the side of the road, unclip my seatbelt, and momentarily glance back at my niece, who’s oblivious to the fact that she’s lost her birth parents—people she’s never met—before I exit the van. I need a moment.
Pacing back and forth, I press my flattened palms to either side of my head, when two arms snake around my waist from behind. Emily doesn’t say a word; she simply rests her cheek against my back and holds on tight, reminding me that I’m not in this alone.
We stay connected for the longest time. This woman has quickly become the calm in my storm.
“We should head home, Dom,” she eventually says.
“Yeah, we should.”