“I believe you, I trust you, I forgive you, and I love you. I never want to see the regret over anything that happened in your eyes again.”
Tears pool in her eyes before she blinks them back. Nodding, she swallows the feelings trying to overtake her. “I love you, too, Dom. So much.”
“Let’s eat,” I say, breaking the moment. Placing my hand on Sophia’s stomach, I gently rub it. “My baby girl and my baby are hungry.”
Mom smiles but I see the same worry in her eyes that’s in me. She’s always been able to read me like a book and she knows this conversation was much more important than it appeared. She looks at Sophia’s stomach where my hand still rests and quickly averts her eyes. Dad walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her, whispers something in her ear, and she nods in agreement.
“Your mom had a fabulous idea,” Sophia compliments her. “I can’t wait to try this! I’ve never had fondue before.”
Taking our seats, we enjoy our time together as if the devil isn’t lurking just around the corner. We talk while our skewers rest in the coq au vin mixture, slow cooking our food. The scene of us sitting around the table looks like so much like a perfect family portrait it hurts. Stretching my arm out, my hand rests on our baby and Sophia doesn’t even blink, as if it’s just a normal, everyday gesture. Just when I think she hasn’t even noticed, her hand finds mine and her fingertip draws lazy circles around my knuckles. She doesn’t look at me at all–she doesn’t even miss a beat in talking with my parents.
But she feels me, she knows she’s mine, and I don’t give up what’s mine.
Sophia
“Do you want a boy or a girl?” Kayla asks me in between bites.
“I would love to have a boy first,” I answer honestly. “One who looks just like his daddy. But honestly, either is fine with me. I really only want a happy, healthy baby to love and spoil.”
Dominic’s hand is resting on my belly and has been for some time now. Using his thumb, he absently rubs up and down over my protruding stomach. The rest of his hand stays splayed out across me, like he’s shielding us from something unknown. His comment about leaving him caught me off guard. As much as I love being around our friends and family, I can’t wait until we’re alone so I can ask him what’s really going on.
“I think a little girl, with her mom’s reddish-brown hair and beautiful brown eyes, would be best,” Dominic chimes in.
“How about one of each?” Shadow asks from the doorway, surprising us all.
“Don’t even joke about that!” I narrow my eyes at him and try to give him my meanest look. It only succeeds in making him laugh. When I move to get up, Dominic’s arm becomes stiff and he holds me in place. Kayla quickly jumps up and grabs a plate for Shadow.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Shadow says as he kisses her cheek and takes his plate. “Whose has been cooking the longest? I’m calling dibs on that one.”
“The hell you say!” Tucker retorts, his Southern drawl is more pronounced when he jokes with Shadow.
He blocks Shadow’s attempts at getting to the fondue pot, wrapping his arms around the fondue cooker and guarding his skewer like it’s Fort Knox. Grabbing an empty skewer, Shadow jabs the sharp, pointy ends at Tucker’s arms. Tucker jumps with each stab and Shadow’s determination increases. When Tucker is least suspecting it, Shadow jerks his arm downward and jabs Tucker in the ribs, making his arms fly away from the fondue cooker and opening it up for fair game.
Shadow grabs Tucker’s skewer and quickly pops the chunk of steak into his mouth. He can’t hide his satisfied grin as he exaggeratedly chews, moaning in appreciation, and rubbing his stomach. He is really hamming it up, rubbing it in Tucker’s face, and drawing out his own brand of torture. For such a big, serious guy, he can be so funny and down to earth when he’s relaxed.
Kayla and Rick are both smiling from ear to ear, waiting to see what these two clowns do next. I noticed, though, that Rick quickly withdrew two of his skewers from the cooker and put them on his plate. Probably just in case Shadow gets any more ideas.
“This is the best steak I’ve ever eaten. Tucker, you must tell me your secret recipe,” Shadow heckles. “Do you marinate it first? How do you tenderize it?”
Tucker glares at Shadow and the entire table erupts in uncontrollable laughter. Shadow leans back in his chair as far away as he can get from Tucker while still sitting beside him. His shit-eating grin is still fully intact and he’s not even trying to hide it in the least. My shoulders are shaking, I can’t breathe, and every time I look at Tucker’s sour face, it makes it even worse. Tears are streaming freely down my face when I grab my napkin to wipe my eyes. Turning my head toward Dominic, I expect to find him in the same fits of laughter.
But he’s not laughing at all. He’s just staring at his empty plate, oblivious to the comedic scene around him, and he has the saddest look I’ve ever seen on anyone. His eyes are downcast as he twirls and empty skewer between his thumb and index finger. There’s no hint of a smile or any indication that he’s even heard a word that’s been said. My heart instantly drops to my stomach and I fight back the painful tears that are threatening to fall. I don’t know what’s suddenly so wrong, what’s on his mind, or how I can help him.
He looks like he just lost his best friend.
