“I do feel pretty badly, Dominic. I hope a nap will help.”
“You didn’t eat enough at breakfast this morning,” I gently chide her. “You have to eat more to keep your strength up.”
Sarah returns with Sophia’s crackers and Sprite. “Thank you,” Sophia says as she sits up to take a drink.
Sarah watches her with concerned, motherly eyes before turning to leave the room. “I’ll check on you in a little while.”
“Do you need me to stay in here with you?” I ask.
“You don’t have to, Dom. I’ll be okay.”
I lean over and kiss her softly on the forehead. My fingers skim across her skin as I push her hair away from her face. “I’ll stay until you fall asleep. I love you, baby girl.”
“I love you, Dominic,” she replies in her sleepy voice before she yawns.
In a matter of minutes, Sophia is fast asleep and I silently leave the room to let her rest. Shadow and Tucker helped bring the groceries in and Sarah has set everything out to start cooking. “You don’t have to rush on our account. I’d rather let Sophia get as much rest as she can before we wake her up,” I say.
“Why don’t we spend some time getting to know one another then?” Sarah asks and I heartily agree.
She makes drinks and snacks for everyone and we sit on the back porch and talk for about an hour. The minutes fly by but I learn a lot about them in our short chat. I believe they do love Sophia and want to be part of her life, and now their grandchild’s life. Manuel wants to be rid of his association with the cartel but he knows he can’t get away from them as long as he’s in the area.
Sarah goes inside to start cooking and I walk off to check on Sophia. As I’m walking down the hall, Manuel softly calls my name.
“Dominic?”
Turning, I see him watching me like he’s sizing me up and making his mind up about me. “You really do love her, don’t you? She isn’t just a plaything to you.”
“She’s my everything and the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love her more than anything and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make her happy.” My answer seems to satisfy him as he gives me an understanding nod before he walks back into the kitchen.
Slowly turning the doorknob to open it as quietly as possible to keep from waking her. Sleeping soundly, she looks like an angel with her reddish-brown hair fanned out on the pillow behind her. Her eyebrows furrow, her eyes move behind her closed eyelids, and I wonder what she’s dreaming about. She turns over and her eyes flutter open.
“Hey, baby,” I call to her, “did you sleep well?”
She smiles her sleepy smile and stretches, “Mmmhmm, just what the doctor ordered.”
Moving to the bed, I sit beside her and place my hand on her stomach. Pulling her shirt up to expose her stomach, I lean over and place kisses all along the small bump. “Are you hungry?”
“Oh, yes, I’m starving.”
When my eyes meet hers, they are dark with desire and I don’t think her answer has anything to do with food. I smirk at her, “I may have corrupted you, love.”
“Spoiled me is more like it,” she purrs. “But I’ll let you spoil me some more.”
“You have no idea how much I’d love tospoilyou right now. But since I just met your parents, and you’ve just talked to them again for the first time in years, today may not be the best day to christen their spare bedroom.”
“If you say so,” she giggles. “Let’s go eat if you’re just going to be a killjoy. Your baby is hungry.”
As we walk into the kitchen, Sarah and Manuel stop and just stare at us in awe. Sophia smiles shyly and addresses them.
“Thanks for letting me sleep. I feel so much better now,” she smiles, but she still feels uncomfortable here. I can’t imagine feeling uncomfortable in my parents’ home, so I wrack my brain to think of a way to stop the awkwardness.
“Something smells good! Sophia was just telling me that she’s hungry,” I try to pick up the conversation. It seems to work, as Sarah takes Sophia’s hand and says she’s cooking all of Sophia’s favorite foods.
Manuel tilts his head to the side, knowing I’m trying to help, and smiles at me in appreciation. Approaching me, he asks me to step outside alone with him. I know what talk is about to occur and I’m fine with it. Sophia isMy Angeland that means she comes first in all things. But she ismineto have, to hold, to tie up, tie down, punish and reward.
“Dominic, it’s obvious that you love Sophia and that she loves you. I don’t really have a right to ask this after all these years, but she’s still my daughter. Time apart doesn’t make me love her any less,” Manuel says.
“Of course. Ask away.”
