1st December- Canary Islands, Spain
Mia and Brian’s beach house
Dom’s POV
The day after I had come to the realization Elena, Rosa and Nico had gone to stay with Mia until further notice. Brian told them it was just easier to stay in one spot but I knew Elena knew something was up especially after I stopped going around and stopped answering her calls. It had been three days and I had spent the time away from Ava and Letty too which was hard because I knew now that’s exactly where I needed and wanted to be. I had every intention of telling Letty I just wanted to wait until after I told Elena before I told her. After spending three days obsessing over how to tell Elena without hurting her I realized there was no easy way to do it and I knew no matter what I said or how I said it hurting her in some way was unavoidable.
I opened the door to Mia and Brian’s finding them all in the kitchen talking, Brian caught my eye as I walked in and subtly nudged Mia.
“Dom, haven’t seen you in a few days.” She said trying to seem normal. I smiled tensely and I joined them for a moment until everyone was busy again and then I turned to Elena.
“Can we talk?” I asked quietly and she stared for a moment before nodding. We headed outside and sat on the porch in silence.
“I think I know what you have to tell me.” She started and I sighed running my hands over my face tiredly. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a proper night’s sleep.
“You know how we spoke last time?” I asked and she nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Elena I’m sorry, I realized how unfair it was to keep you here giving you hope even after you made your feelings to me clear. I can’t lie and say I don’t love you because I realize now I do but…” I paused.
“But you love her more.”
“I’m sorry Elena.”
“I should have seen it coming; I was hoping you’d change your mind.” She muttered and I looked away.
“I can’t, I need her. She’s my everything; you know that better than anyone.” We sat in silence after that.
“What are you trying to tell me?” I hesitated for a brief moment.
“I need you to leave; we can’t fix us if we both have old flames here.”
“So Leon’s leaving too?” She asked
“That’s a decision she has to make, right now I’m…I’m making mine.” I said quietly.
“Well it’s one I can’t see her making. She been awful to you and yet you still want to make it work.” She snapped and I turned to face her.
“I haven’t exactly been good to her the last couple of years either and she still put the effort in to made it work, it's about time I did the same.” I argued and she stayed silent knowing my words held a lot of truth.
“I can give you the money to help you get set up.” I started but she shook her head.
“No I’m fine for money and I definitely don’t want yours.” I winced at her tone.
“I still care about you as a family member Elena.” I said quietly as she glared and slapped me. I stayed silent and watched as she stormed off into the house and I let her go letting her calm down besides I knew I deserved that slap.
“I see that went well.” Brian commented as he came and joined me. I grunted but he patted me on the back.
“It had to be done somehow man.” I nodded knowing he was right. We sat there quietly talking before I heard footsteps behind me and I looked around quickly standing when I saw Elena there.
“I’ll leave you to it.” Brian said quickly fleeing back inside.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have stormed off but I’m not sorry for hitting you. I understand where you’re coming from, I’ll go.” I relaxed a little at her calm voice.
“I deserved it. I’d say I’m sorry again but I don’t think you want to hear it.” She shook her head.
“No I don’t. As I said last time if it were my husband I would have left you I don’t know why I thought you’d change your mind.” I nodded and that was the end of our conversation as she turned and headed into the house again. I waited a moment before heading towards my car with only one place in mind.
Elena’s POV
I was angry but more than anything I was hurt as I stormed around the room packing my things. I had tears streaming down my face as the situation finally hit me. I was a fool for staying as long as I did but I had held hope. Rosa was sitting on the bed silently watching me and I paused finally in front of her and she smiled sadly.
“I should have been prepared for this.” I said sadly.
“You can’t help who you love.” I nodded at her words she wasn’t just talking about me and Dom she was talking about everything. Dom and I, Dom and Letty, Her and Vince...
“I shouldn’t be angry I’ve always known about the love he has for her. I know how special she is to him.”
“But knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less. It’ll get better, the time away will make you realize that and you’ll be able to move on too.” I bit my lip but nodded knowing the older woman was right.
“What are you going to do now?” I asked quietly as I wiped away my tears.
“Come with if you don’t mind?” I shook my head smiling slightly.
“No of course I don’t mind.”
“We could set up on the main land in Spain.” I thought about it and nodded it made sense to stay somewhat close still just in case after all we were all relying on Letty and her friend Charlotte for warning.
“I might go for a walk on the beach before we leave.” I said quietly and she nodded heading off to pack herself.
I made my way down the beach further finding a small section of rocks where I could sit looking out at the ocean in front of me. Lost in my own thoughts I never heard anyone approach until I felt someone sit next to me looking over I was surprised when I saw Leon sitting there as he looked out at the ocean as well before turning to look at me with a smile.
“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly.
“Sitting…” he said seriously but I could see the playfulness swimming in his eyes that made me smile.
“I know how you must feel…” he started and I nodded.
“I know he never meant to hurt me.” I said quietly.
“They’re meant to be together, nothing would ever keep them apart… not even us.”
“You love her…” I trailed off.
“Of course I do but it wasn’t by choice, I fought it for so long.” I thought about his words.
“Why didn’t she go looking for Dom especially after she found out about him and me?”
“She was angry at him, there was just too much hurt there. Something she didn’t want to confront because at the time she wasn’t ready.”
“And now?” I asked and he paused almost hesitating.
“She’s hurt, she’s angry not just at him but everyone especially herself… but it’ll pass I know that much because I know he can help her more than I ever can. She needs him and he needs her, once they start opening up to one another again they’ll be fine.”
“Are you leaving?” I asked softly and he nodded.
“Of course they can’t do this with us here.” I nodded at his words. We stared at each other for a moment before smiling.
“Where are you setting up?”
“Spain thought I’d better stay close by.” He said and I nodded.
“So are we.”
“We?” he frowned and I nodded.
“Rosa and Nico are coming with me.” I explained.
“Well I guess I better not leave two lovely ladies to fend for themselves, do you mind some more company?” He asked and I was shocked.
“But you hate me.” I stated and he shook his head.
“I don’t hate you, I was angry at Dom for stringing you both along. Letty’s the one with the grudge but she has her reasons and once her and Dom are on stable ground again I'm sure she can let it go.” I nodded in shock still at his confession.
“So?” I smiled.
“Sure, I wouldn’t mind some more company.” He nodded and stood up extending a hand to me and I took it as he helped me stand.
“I guess we better say our goodbye then.” I said slowly but he shook his head.
“It’s not goodbye Elena, we’re still family and while it might hurt now give it time and you’ll find it won’t bother you anymore nor will it bother anyone else. We’ll be back, besides its almost Christmas and I don’t know about you but I plan on coming back for Ava’s birthday maybe you could join me.” I blinked at him in shock for a moment before coming to my senses.
“Yeah maybe.” I said returning his smile as we walked back up the beach to the house.
1st December- Canary Islands, Spain
Letty’s beach house
Dom’s POV
I knocked and waited for her to answer. I had rung to tell her I was coming over and she hadn’t sounded pleased on the phone but I put that down to me not being in touch for days she had probably been thinking the worst. When she answered the door it was like I hadn’t been seeing her properly all these weeks. Even after all the time apart, her hatred that she held for me she was still perfect everything suddenly came flooding back and I couldn’t stop myself. I rushed forward my hands finding their way to her face as I backed her up to the wall. She looked shocked at the intrusion as her hands came up to my chest as she opened her mouth to speak but I leant forward pressing my lips to hers urgently silencing her immediately.
The second my lips touched hers I knew I had made the right choice. This was where I needed to be. Putting every feeling I had into the short kiss I felt relief as I felt her kiss back after a few seconds then I had to force myself pull away resting my head against hers. I didn’t want to scare her off before she heard what I had to say and our problems had to be worked through properly, not like this.
“I choose you Letty…I understand now what you wanted, what you needed. What I was doing was harsh and wasn’t fair on anyone, especially you and Ava and it’s something I should have realized from the beginning but I didn’t and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I hurt you even more, if I could take away every stupid thing I’ve ever done I would do it in a heartbeat just to have you back again... Please Letty I need you, right now I don’t care how I just need you to tell me what I can do to make this right, I can’t live without you anymore, either of you.” Her eyes met mine and for the first time I saw all the emotions she had hidden and it pained me.
“What about Elena?” She stuttered out quietly from shock I assumed.
“I asked her to leave. I realize now what I was doing, I was trying to keep you both and that wasn’t possible. It’s not what I want, you’re right I love her but nothing compared to how I feel for you.”
“No it wasn’t.” I pulled back and let go when I felt her start to seize up, not wanting to make her feel threatened I took a step back and I looked around noticing the silence but as I did I caught sight of boxes and I froze my eyes snapping back to hers.
“What are they?” I asked slowly as I felt my heart speed up afraid of her answer.
“There boxes Dominic.”
“Let you know what I mean.” I whispered and she stared at me still against the wall where I had left her.
“There being shipped off tonight…with Leon.” I stared at her unsure exactly what she meant but secretly hoping it meant he was leaving.
“Where?”
“Back to the main land.” I bit my lip as she stepped away from the wall a bit but didn’t come any closer to me and in all honesty I didn’t blame her, I hadn’t meant to kiss her. Her fear and weariness was clear so I kept my distance.
“He’s leaving.” She said quietly and I was surprised how much relief I felt at her words.
“But you’re not right…you’re staying?” I asked quietly.
“No I’m staying.” I relaxed instantly at her words.
“Why was he planning to leave?”
“I don’t know, he just said it was time. I think he knew somehow, about you.” Mia and Brian.’ I thought immediately but I was glad.
Where is Leon?” I asked.
“I don’t know, out somewhere.” I bit my lip as we stared at one another as the silence washed over the house again.
“Let…” I begged quietly after a long period of silence.
“What Dominic?” she whispered and I hesitated as I watched as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“I know this doesn’t change much but at least tell me we have a chance to work things out?”
“I never said I wanted a chance with you Dominic.” I paused Leon had warned me about this on the ferry to here and I was only just starting to see and understand. These were the walls she put up and I could see the change in her stance it was more defensive then before.
“You wouldn’t have wanted me to choose if you didn’t. I love you Letty and I know you care for me too… I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove to you that you can trust me again, forget about whatever happened before I can wait and I can be patient until you decide to tell me, if you decide to tell me. I want you back Letty and I’m going to try my hardest to make that happen.” I said gently and she stayed silent as I watched her carefully.
“We can try and be friends again but at this point that’s all I can offer.” I nodded and although that’s not what I wanted to hear I was glad for a start.
“Thank you.” I whispered.
“Don’t screw this up Dominic, one mistake and I’ll leave. I won’t sit around and let history repeat itself.”
“I understand. Thank you Letty, I can’t imagine how hard this is for you but I promise you won’t regret it.” I said softly and she nodded.
“I hope not.”