Worth It

Chapter 33: Getting Acquainted

"What! No way!"

Dominick nodded his head.

"Okay. My mama definitely has a type," I teased.

Dominick was amused. "Listen. If your fiancé is as incredible as you say he is, I could get his art displayed internationally."

My mouth dropped. "Are you serious! He would faint if I told him that."

Dominick laughed. "Here's my card. Tell him to call me so we can set up a meeting."

I took the card from him and looked at it. "Oh my goodness! Thank you so much." I couldn't stop grinning. Dominick laughed at my reaction. "Oh man. Kevin is going to be floored when he hears this," I said as I put Dominick's business card in my purse. "So what artist have you worked with? Any that I know?"

"Oh definitely. You'd be surprised, but I don't want to get into all of that right now. I want to know more about you."

I sighed. "Okay. I've traveled to over twenty countries, I like to sing, and cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. Your turn," I said nodding my head in his direction.

"After the first time I don't know if it's safe," he teased.

"What," I gasped. "Come on! Don't punk out on me now," I laughed. He made a face at me. "There will be no bruttle questioning," I reassured him.

Dominick raised his eyebrow at me.

"What! I promise," I laughed.

He gave in. "Okay. What do you want to know?"

"First order of business," I said drumming my hands on the table, "Do you have any other children?"

"Yes. We have a boy on the way. We're going to name him Ángel."

"Oh," I said a bit taken back. "You guys are having a boy."

"Yeah," Dominick sighed. "We just found out, what was it, two weeks ago? Yeah. Two weeks ago."

"I didn't even know my mom was that far along. She's barely showing."

"Ah. She's just hiding it well," he said wagging his finger in the air.

"I'll say," I mumbled. I perked back up. "Well. Anyway Congratulations. You must be so excited."

"I am. Thank you," he smiled. "Now where were we? Oh," he said snapping his fingers. "I also have a daughter. Her name is Dominique. She's seventeen. I can't wait for you to meet her one day. You both look so much alike."

"Wow. She must be really special. Your whole face just lit up," I smiled.

"Yeah. She's my whole world," he beamed. "When I had her---" He looked up at me, "she just," his voice faded.

"Filled that void," I said softly.

Dominick looked away from me. "I'm so sorry---"

I cut him off. "Hey. There's no need to apologize. You agreed to my mother's wishes for the same reason my father agreed to the divorce. You loved her," Dominick looked up at me, "and you wanted nothing more than to make her happy and if that meant leaving behind your daughter than that was the choice you were going to make."

"But it wasn't right." He held his hand up to his forehead. "I knew it wasn't right. I should have fought for you. I mean what kind of man just let's another man raise his child? I should have came back for you sooner."

I grabbed ahold of Dominick's hand. "Hey. Look at me," I said in a hushed voice.

He tried to look away. "I can't. I'm too ashamed."

"Yes you can. Look at me," I said softly as I lifted up his face. I wiped away his tears. "What's done is done. I'm not angry with you, okay. You can let go of that guilt now."

Dominick began to look like a weight had been lifted off of him. He held onto my hand for a moment. "Thank you."

I smiled at him. "You're welcome."

Dominick wiped his face. "Aw man. I definitely did not mean to damper the mood," he sniveled. "We were having such a good time. I hope I didn't ruin it."

"No, you didn't," I smiled.

"Okay. Good." Dominick waved his hand in the air. "Let's talk about something else. Anything else."

I laughed. "Okay. My mom told me that your parents are Belizean. Have you gone to visit your country?"

"Yes. Belize is actually my home now. Es muy bonito allá," he grinned. "I think you'd love it."

"Thankfully I know what you said so you don't have to translate for me," I laughed.

He tilted his chin downward; his brow raised and he grinned. "Tú hablas español?"

"Mmm, hablo un poco de español, así que hábleme despacio, por favor," I grinned.

"That was really good," he said applauding me. "Stick with me kid and I'll have you speaking like a native Belizean in no time."

I laughed. "Imma hold you too that," I said pointing to him.

"Alright," he grinned as he held up his wrist. He checked the time on his watch. "Oh wow. I didn't know it was this late. I hate to cut this short, but we should really get going."

"Aw man. So soon?"

"I'm sorry," he smiled as he stood up. "We'll have to do this again."

"Hey. Before we leave let me take your number down so we can keep in touch. My mom wouldn't give me your number when I asked."

Dominick stuck out his neck. "What," he said as he rushed back into his seat, "she wouldn't give me your number either. She said that she had---"

"already set up the date," we said in unison

"Yeah. I'm convinced that we gotta stop listening to her. This is getting out of hand."

"I agree. I mean why would she do that?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know, but knowing her she has a slew of reasons."

Dominick sighed.

"Hand me your phone so I can put my number in it," I told him.

He slid his phone across the table. I went into his contacts and added my information before calling myself from his phone. "Got it," I said sliding his phone back to him. After I saved his number I stood up and gathered my things.

"You ready," he asked me.

"Yep. Let's go," I said as I led the way out.

As we approached the car my phone rang. "Hold on Dominick," I said unlocking the doors. "It's Kevin." I slid into the drivers seat.

"Hey baby. What's up?"

"Hey are you on your way home?"

"Yeah. I'll be there in thirty. Everything okay?" I asked as I put the car in drive.

"I don't know how to answer that. Your dad's here."

"What!"

"Yep. He just showed up."

"Well did he at least say what he wanted?"

"Nope."

"Do you think he knows?"

"Honestly. It's hard to tell. He didn't seem bothered or anything when he came in. He was pretty calm actually."

"Damn. That's not good."

"What do you mean that's not good?"

"If he comes in calm somethings up. He wants to talk. Kevin I think he knows."

"Oh shit," Kevin mumbled into the phone. "Well what do you need me to do?"

"Uh. I don't know. Just think of something. I'll be home as soon as I can. Love you. Bye."

Dominick looked over at me. "Everything okay?"

I gave a quick glance in his direction. "I don't know, but I sure hope so."