Tony's POV
I groaned as I heard my mobile ring. I ignored it wondering what kind of person was ringing at three in the morning. Hearing it ring out I smiled and settled back to sleep again only to hear the home phone ring. Groaning I quickly reached across and answered it so it wouldn't wake Mia and Dom.
"Hello?" I said groggily.
"Tony it's Maria I'm sorry to wake you but I need your help." Sitting up quickly I frowned at her frantic tone.
"Maria what's going on? Are you okay?"
"Oh Tony its horrible Letty's run off and it's all my fault and I don't know where she's gone."
"Hang on slow down, what do you mean run off?" I said as I flicked the covers back pulling on my pants and a shirt as I padded downstairs flicking the lounge room light on as I pulled my shoes on.
"I was so stupid, I thought we'd be fine." I froze as I heard 'we' and realised what had happened.
"Shit what happened?" I asked running a hand through my hair.
"She walked in on us about ten minutes ago and just bolted before I had a chance to do anything."
"Maria…" I sighed and she sniffed on the other end.
"I know, I know. I just, it was three in the morning I thought she'd be asleep. Oh god I'm a horrible mother."
"No you're not don't be too hard on yourself. Look maybe she's just come here to see Dom I'll go and check."
"But she took her car."
"She could have parked it anywhere. Give me five minutes then I'll ring you back. If she's not here we'll go out looking for her. Where's James?" I asked trying not to cringe at the mention of his name.
"He's gone for a drive to see if he can spot her. Oh Tony I'm so worried about her, what if something's-"
"Don't, just don't even think it. Give me five minutes." I stated quickly not wanting to think the worst just yet.
"Okay." I hung up the phone and I looked up at the ceiling hoping she was just in Dom's room.
Walking into Dom's room I flicked the light on and watched as he groaned as the light hit him pulling a pillow over his head. I did a quick sweep of the room but I could see Letty or any signs that Letty had been here tonight. Striding over to the bed I shook Dom and he groaned again waving me away with his hand.
"Dom wake up." I said quickly.
"Ugh." I rolled my eyes. Why was this boy such a heavy sleeper?
"Dom." I said as I shook him again but he grunted and pulled the covers over his head. I tried a couple more attempts of nice before I stepped back and took a deep breath.
"Dominic!" I yelled and I watched as he started awake before he groaned looking up and around seeing me then glancing at the clock burying his head back into the pillow.
"Dad it's just after 3AM, what do you want?" He whined.
"Is Letty here?" I asked and he groaned.
"Urgh." I rolled my eyes at my son.
"Have you heard from Letty?" I demanded again slowly and he half rolled over looking at me weirdly as he started to comprehend my words.
"Letty? Not since last night why?"
"Are you sure? Can you check your phone please." He frowned and sat up properly reaching for his phone.
"Dad what's this about?" He asked as he opened his phone and then turned it to show me. looking quickly there were no new messages or calls from her and I sighed.
"Okay." I breathed out and ran a hand through my hair. Maybe she was in with Mia.
"Serious dad what's going on? Has something happened to Letty?" I smiled at his concern for his girlfriend.
"I'm sure she's fine. I need you to stay here with Mia just in case she turns up."
"Hang on a second are you saying she's missing?" He demanded as he got up and pulled on a pair of jeans.
"She ran out on Maria. She found… well she found Maria and James in a delicate situation lets just leave it at that." I stated and he swore.
"Well I'll come with you." He said but I shook my head blocking his path.
"No I need you to stay here with Mia and let me know if she shows up. Maria and I will go out looking. James is already out there." I said and he reluctantly stopped.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, for James to be out there looking."
"You have a point but right now I'm more interested in finding Letty. Just stay okay? Keep you mobile on but don't text her or she might run off even further."
"But dad…"
"No no buts, don't contact her unless she contacts you first okay?"
"Fine. Just find her… please." He said and I smiled at him.
"We will she'll be okay. She's probably just hiding out somewhere." I said as I walked out ad into Mia's room quickly turning on the light as I did a quick sweep of the room but there was nothing.
"Daddy?" I smiled at Mia and patted her head.
"Shhh its okay baby go back to sleep."
"Okay daddy." I kissed her on the head.
"Good girl." I said as I flicked the light off as I walked out shutting the door softly.
Grabbing my mobile and car keys I speed dialed Maria as I walked outside.
"Did you find her?"
"No she's not here, Dom's going to wait at the house in case she comes back. Take your car and search where ever you think she might hide, I'll go and take a look around and see if I can find her. You should probably send James home, I don't think it would be wise for him to confront her."
"He won't he's going to ring me if he does. He feels horrible Tony and so do I. I should have told her."
"Well there's nothing you can do now." I said as I got in the car and started it up.
"Okay I'll look at the beach and a few other places. Ring me if you find her please."
"Of course." I said as I hung up pulling out of the driveway quickly seeing Maria do the same as we headed in opposite direction.
I searched for an hour and I was getting really worried. She'd been gone for a while now. Last I had heard James had been calling all of the hospitals looking to see if she had been in an accident, which I didn't think was likely she was a good driver she knew how to handle a car but given the state she must have been in it didn't hurt to check.
I stopped at the beach and sat there thinking when a place came to mind. None of us had checked the cemetery thinking she wouldn't go there but now I thought about it, I was convinced that was exactly where she would go. Heading off in that direction I sped through the streets hoping she would be there because if she wasn't I didn't know where else to look.
I sighed in relief when I saw her car there as I pulled up beside it. I got out and looked in but no one was there. Having a fair idea of where she would be I walked around to the trunk and picked up a torch and a blanket before shutting the boot and locking up the car. I flicked the torch on and walked through the rows of tomb stones trying not to shudder at the thought of being in a dark cemetery at night. I paused for a beat as I got closer to Adrian's and noted the small curled up figure hugging the tomb stone sobbing.
Walking as quietly as I could up to her I bent down and wrapped the blanket around her not expecting her to throw herself at me as we tumbled to the ground. I steadied myself on the ground and sat holding her tightly as I pulled the blanket around her as she cried into my shirt.
"Shhh baby girl don't cry." I said softly listening as she cried even harder. Knowing this was every emotion that she had bottled up from the last four months coming out I didn't say anything else as I sat holding her. Carefully I text Maria telling her I had found her and we would be home soon.
It was a good time later when her cries sub sided and her breathing evened out letting me know she was asleep and I carefully moved to pick her up and then stand but at the slight movement she woke tense and launched herself back to the grave holding on for dear life repeating 'no' over and over again.
"Hey hey hey relax, it's okay I just want to get you somewhere warm, you're freezing baby girl you're gunna get sick. We can come back and see him I promise."
"No everyone's going to forget about him." I paused at her words and thought of how to handle this carefully.
"No baby, no one will forget him. I promise I won't let anyone forget about him."
"She has." She said it so quietly I barely heard her and I shook my head slowly.
"No baby she hasn't forgotten."
"Yes she has. She hated him, she hated him and now he's dead."
"Letty, that's not true. You're mum wasn't to blame for his death, you know that." I said firmly and she slumped against the stone.
"No she didn't but it was my fault."
"Oh baby no… no it wasn't your fault either." I said softly.
"Yes it was."
"Why do you think it was your fault Let?"
"He was driving back to see me. If it wasn't for me then he wouldn't have come back and he'd still be here. He'd have gotten better."
"Letty what happened wasn't in anyway your fault. He was driving drunk Letty and lost control. You were in no way to blame, neither was your mum you hear me?" I said firmly but the blank look on her face I knew all too well. She was shutting down.
"She loved your dad Letty that's why she stayed with him for so long. She loved him so much that she wanted him to get help and get better so you could all be a family again. She hasn't forgotten about him princess. James will never replace your father and she knows that. She's not trying to replace him sweetie she's just moving on and laying the past to rest, something think you need to do." She was still silent so I took the chance to carefully pry her away and she came unresisting as I wrapped the blanket around her again before picking her up along with the torch and heading back to the car. The light was creeping in now so it made it easy to navigate my way through. Stopping at our cars I sat her down on the hood of the Charger.
"You had everyone so worried." I said lightly and she looked blankly up at me.
"Why? I didn't even think mum would notice." She said flatly.
"You know that's not true, she's frantic with worry. She feels awful Letty she never meant for you to find out the way you did."
"You knew." She accused and I nodded solemnly.
"Yes I knew I've known for three weeks."
"What about Dom?" she asked getting angry. I guess angry was better than shutting down.
"I told him the same day I found out but don't be too hard on him Letty, he couldn't tell you just like I couldn't. It wasn't our place to."
"I can't believe he didn't tell me."
"Would you have reacted any better if he had?" There was a long pause before she shook her head sadly.
"No." she whispered.
"I know it's a shock, especially what you saw but Letty you have to see your mum was just protecting you. She didn't worry you because she's not sure how it's going to pan out." She stayed silent and I glanced at the time on my watch.
"I hate him you know, I hate him for what he did and what he became. I only love him for what he was. That's the part I want to remember, that's the part I don't want anyone to forget." She said quietly. I was stunned for once I didn't know what to say so I stayed silent.
"Come on sweetie lets go home I know a couple of people who are very worried about you."
"I don't have to meet him yet do I?" She asked suddenly tensing as I tried to put her on the ground.
"No baby, not if you don't want to."
"I don't want to."
"That's okay, would you like to call her? I'm sure she'd love to hear rom you." I asked gently and she nodded hesitantly. I handed over my phone and she dialed the number slowly glancing at me looking for reassurance as I sent her a smile and kissed her head.
"Mum…" I heard loud voices from the other end of the phone and I silently begged Maria to go easy. Letty was in a fragile state as it was.
"I'm fine, I'm with Tony."
"At dad's grave." She whispered and I heard nothing from the other end.
"Mum I don't want to meet him yet." I heard the pleading in her voice as she said it and my heart ached for her.
"Okay."
"I think so…" she said looking at me for an answer and I smiled at her silently asking what she wanted to know.
"Are we going home now?"
"If that's what you want to do." I said gently.
"Yeah mum we're coming home."
"Okay." She said as she hung up and handed me back my phone.
"Everything okay?" I asked hopefully.
"Yes she said I didn't have to meet him yet if I didn't want to."
"That's good. So home?" I asked and she nodded tiredly.
"Leave your car we'll come back later and get it okay?" She looked at it hesitantly but gave in and nodded.
"I think school and work might be off the cards today, what do you say?" I asked as I helped her hop in the car as she nodded.
"If you give me a smile I might even give up Dom for the day." I baited and she smiled slightly in reaction to my bribe.
"That's my girl. Dom's all yours today too then, he's very worried about you." I said before I shut the door to her side and going around to my own side. I placed the torch down on the floor in the back.
"Thank you." she said as we were nearly home.
"Anytime Letty, I'm always here if you want to talk. You're like my own too, you know that right?" She gave me a small smile and nodded as we pulled up and she got out slowly wrapping the blanket around her tightly.
Maria was waiting anxiously at the door along with Dom who seemed to know to keep his distance. I gave Maria a look and she hesitated looking between Letty and I before carefully pulling her close.
"Oh baby I was so worried about you. I'm so so sorry baby, I never meant for you to find out that way. You must hate me." I subtly nudged Dom inside as we left the mother- daughter duo alone.
"Is she okay?" He asked and I shrugged.
"I think she will be in time, I think she faced a lot of demons tonight other than Maria and James. She's not going to school today and I've offered up you as a replacement is that okay?" I said smiling lightly at him.
"As in stay with her?"
"Yes I think she's going to need you but if you don't want to-" I started worried I had over stepped the mark but he shook his head.
"I'll stay." He said immediately as he threw another concerned glance out the door.
"Good, I suspect Maria will want her at home but I can't be sure seeing as she's meant to be working. Just go easy okay? She needs sleep." I said as an afterthought and he nodded seriously.
"Letty told me about your bribe and I appreciate it. I still need to go to work unfortunately but I'm going to try and get an early mark. She doesn't want to go home so do you mind staying here with her Dom?" Maria said speaking to me at first and I then ending with Dom. Letty was in Maria's tight grip and I gave her a smile of encouragement which she returned halfheartedly.
"Of course."
"We'll talk tonight sweetie I promise. Just you and me, okay baby." Maria said to Letty as she kissed her head. I watched as Letty remained pretty much blank and I could see the worry on Maria's face.
"Why don't you go up and get changed then head to bed? Dom will be up soon." I suggested while I gave Dom a look and she nodded tiredly.
"You can use my towel it's the one on the left." Dom said softly and again she just nodded.
"What happened?" Maria asked staring after Letty.
"She's in shock over seeing you for starters." I started giving her a half playful look and she smiled shyly.
"Yes well it wasn't a great position to be found in."
"Adrian is the other reason." I said seriously and she sighed.
"I figured, was she really there?"
"Yes, curled up in a little ball wrapped around the headstone." I said carefully.
"Oh god it's the D.R all over again. She's going to completely shut down." Maria worried.
"Maybe see what your talk turns up. Don't push her, that goes for you too Dom. If she tells you anything then go with it but for gods sake don't push her. You have no idea how hard it was to get her to leave." I said tiredly.
"What do you mean?" Dom asked and I rubbed the back of my head.
"Well she didn't want to part with the grave, she just clung to it. Did you know she blames herself, for Adrian?" I said as gently as I could to Maria.
"She… blames…My poor baby. Is that what she's been dealing with this whole time?" Maria cried.
"I promised her she could go back, it's what she wants. She said she hates him for what he became but it's the person he used to be she wants to remember, that's why she thinks you're going to forget."
"I can't forget Tony you know that."
"I know, just tell her that. Its what she wants and needs to hear. Her cars still up there so two of us will have to go and get at some point." I added.
"I'll go and get it later with Vince." Dom said and I nodded.
"Okay, go. Just look after her." I said to Dom and he nodded and walked upstairs.
"Where's Mia?" I asked.
"Upstairs getting ready for school I think." Maria said distractedly.
"Go, go get ready for work and try not to worry. She's with Dom, he won't let her do anything stupid. I'll take Mia to school and then I'm going to head to the garage."
"Are you going to manage without Dom?" she asked and I nodded.
"Yes we'll be fine, I still have Leon and Vince."
"Okay. I'll be by this afternoon to get her. Hopefully she'll want to come home then."
"Let her sleep it off and I'm sure she'll be ready."
"I hope so."
I groaned as I heard my mobile ring. I ignored it wondering what kind of person was ringing at three in the morning. Hearing it ring out I smiled and settled back to sleep again only to hear the home phone ring. Groaning I quickly reached across and answered it so it wouldn't wake Mia and Dom.
"Hello?" I said groggily.
"Tony it's Maria I'm sorry to wake you but I need your help." Sitting up quickly I frowned at her frantic tone.
"Maria what's going on? Are you okay?"
"Oh Tony its horrible Letty's run off and it's all my fault and I don't know where she's gone."
"Hang on slow down, what do you mean run off?" I said as I flicked the covers back pulling on my pants and a shirt as I padded downstairs flicking the lounge room light on as I pulled my shoes on.
"I was so stupid, I thought we'd be fine." I froze as I heard 'we' and realised what had happened.
"Shit what happened?" I asked running a hand through my hair.
"She walked in on us about ten minutes ago and just bolted before I had a chance to do anything."
"Maria…" I sighed and she sniffed on the other end.
"I know, I know. I just, it was three in the morning I thought she'd be asleep. Oh god I'm a horrible mother."
"No you're not don't be too hard on yourself. Look maybe she's just come here to see Dom I'll go and check."
"But she took her car."
"She could have parked it anywhere. Give me five minutes then I'll ring you back. If she's not here we'll go out looking for her. Where's James?" I asked trying not to cringe at the mention of his name.
"He's gone for a drive to see if he can spot her. Oh Tony I'm so worried about her, what if something's-"
"Don't, just don't even think it. Give me five minutes." I stated quickly not wanting to think the worst just yet.
"Okay." I hung up the phone and I looked up at the ceiling hoping she was just in Dom's room.
Walking into Dom's room I flicked the light on and watched as he groaned as the light hit him pulling a pillow over his head. I did a quick sweep of the room but I could see Letty or any signs that Letty had been here tonight. Striding over to the bed I shook Dom and he groaned again waving me away with his hand.
"Dom wake up." I said quickly.
"Ugh." I rolled my eyes. Why was this boy such a heavy sleeper?
"Dom." I said as I shook him again but he grunted and pulled the covers over his head. I tried a couple more attempts of nice before I stepped back and took a deep breath.
"Dominic!" I yelled and I watched as he started awake before he groaned looking up and around seeing me then glancing at the clock burying his head back into the pillow.
"Dad it's just after 3AM, what do you want?" He whined.
"Is Letty here?" I asked and he groaned.
"Urgh." I rolled my eyes at my son.
"Have you heard from Letty?" I demanded again slowly and he half rolled over looking at me weirdly as he started to comprehend my words.
"Letty? Not since last night why?"
"Are you sure? Can you check your phone please." He frowned and sat up properly reaching for his phone.
"Dad what's this about?" He asked as he opened his phone and then turned it to show me. looking quickly there were no new messages or calls from her and I sighed.
"Okay." I breathed out and ran a hand through my hair. Maybe she was in with Mia.
"Serious dad what's going on? Has something happened to Letty?" I smiled at his concern for his girlfriend.
"I'm sure she's fine. I need you to stay here with Mia just in case she turns up."
"Hang on a second are you saying she's missing?" He demanded as he got up and pulled on a pair of jeans.
"She ran out on Maria. She found… well she found Maria and James in a delicate situation lets just leave it at that." I stated and he swore.
"Well I'll come with you." He said but I shook my head blocking his path.
"No I need you to stay here with Mia and let me know if she shows up. Maria and I will go out looking. James is already out there." I said and he reluctantly stopped.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, for James to be out there looking."
"You have a point but right now I'm more interested in finding Letty. Just stay okay? Keep you mobile on but don't text her or she might run off even further."
"But dad…"
"No no buts, don't contact her unless she contacts you first okay?"
"Fine. Just find her… please." He said and I smiled at him.
"We will she'll be okay. She's probably just hiding out somewhere." I said as I walked out ad into Mia's room quickly turning on the light as I did a quick sweep of the room but there was nothing.
"Daddy?" I smiled at Mia and patted her head.
"Shhh its okay baby go back to sleep."
"Okay daddy." I kissed her on the head.
"Good girl." I said as I flicked the light off as I walked out shutting the door softly.
Grabbing my mobile and car keys I speed dialed Maria as I walked outside.
"Did you find her?"
"No she's not here, Dom's going to wait at the house in case she comes back. Take your car and search where ever you think she might hide, I'll go and take a look around and see if I can find her. You should probably send James home, I don't think it would be wise for him to confront her."
"He won't he's going to ring me if he does. He feels horrible Tony and so do I. I should have told her."
"Well there's nothing you can do now." I said as I got in the car and started it up.
"Okay I'll look at the beach and a few other places. Ring me if you find her please."
"Of course." I said as I hung up pulling out of the driveway quickly seeing Maria do the same as we headed in opposite direction.
I searched for an hour and I was getting really worried. She'd been gone for a while now. Last I had heard James had been calling all of the hospitals looking to see if she had been in an accident, which I didn't think was likely she was a good driver she knew how to handle a car but given the state she must have been in it didn't hurt to check.
I stopped at the beach and sat there thinking when a place came to mind. None of us had checked the cemetery thinking she wouldn't go there but now I thought about it, I was convinced that was exactly where she would go. Heading off in that direction I sped through the streets hoping she would be there because if she wasn't I didn't know where else to look.
I sighed in relief when I saw her car there as I pulled up beside it. I got out and looked in but no one was there. Having a fair idea of where she would be I walked around to the trunk and picked up a torch and a blanket before shutting the boot and locking up the car. I flicked the torch on and walked through the rows of tomb stones trying not to shudder at the thought of being in a dark cemetery at night. I paused for a beat as I got closer to Adrian's and noted the small curled up figure hugging the tomb stone sobbing.
Walking as quietly as I could up to her I bent down and wrapped the blanket around her not expecting her to throw herself at me as we tumbled to the ground. I steadied myself on the ground and sat holding her tightly as I pulled the blanket around her as she cried into my shirt.
"Shhh baby girl don't cry." I said softly listening as she cried even harder. Knowing this was every emotion that she had bottled up from the last four months coming out I didn't say anything else as I sat holding her. Carefully I text Maria telling her I had found her and we would be home soon.
It was a good time later when her cries sub sided and her breathing evened out letting me know she was asleep and I carefully moved to pick her up and then stand but at the slight movement she woke tense and launched herself back to the grave holding on for dear life repeating 'no' over and over again.
"Hey hey hey relax, it's okay I just want to get you somewhere warm, you're freezing baby girl you're gunna get sick. We can come back and see him I promise."
"No everyone's going to forget about him." I paused at her words and thought of how to handle this carefully.
"No baby, no one will forget him. I promise I won't let anyone forget about him."
"She has." She said it so quietly I barely heard her and I shook my head slowly.
"No baby she hasn't forgotten."
"Yes she has. She hated him, she hated him and now he's dead."
"Letty, that's not true. You're mum wasn't to blame for his death, you know that." I said firmly and she slumped against the stone.
"No she didn't but it was my fault."
"Oh baby no… no it wasn't your fault either." I said softly.
"Yes it was."
"Why do you think it was your fault Let?"
"He was driving back to see me. If it wasn't for me then he wouldn't have come back and he'd still be here. He'd have gotten better."
"Letty what happened wasn't in anyway your fault. He was driving drunk Letty and lost control. You were in no way to blame, neither was your mum you hear me?" I said firmly but the blank look on her face I knew all too well. She was shutting down.
"She loved your dad Letty that's why she stayed with him for so long. She loved him so much that she wanted him to get help and get better so you could all be a family again. She hasn't forgotten about him princess. James will never replace your father and she knows that. She's not trying to replace him sweetie she's just moving on and laying the past to rest, something think you need to do." She was still silent so I took the chance to carefully pry her away and she came unresisting as I wrapped the blanket around her again before picking her up along with the torch and heading back to the car. The light was creeping in now so it made it easy to navigate my way through. Stopping at our cars I sat her down on the hood of the Charger.
"You had everyone so worried." I said lightly and she looked blankly up at me.
"Why? I didn't even think mum would notice." She said flatly.
"You know that's not true, she's frantic with worry. She feels awful Letty she never meant for you to find out the way you did."
"You knew." She accused and I nodded solemnly.
"Yes I knew I've known for three weeks."
"What about Dom?" she asked getting angry. I guess angry was better than shutting down.
"I told him the same day I found out but don't be too hard on him Letty, he couldn't tell you just like I couldn't. It wasn't our place to."
"I can't believe he didn't tell me."
"Would you have reacted any better if he had?" There was a long pause before she shook her head sadly.
"No." she whispered.
"I know it's a shock, especially what you saw but Letty you have to see your mum was just protecting you. She didn't worry you because she's not sure how it's going to pan out." She stayed silent and I glanced at the time on my watch.
"I hate him you know, I hate him for what he did and what he became. I only love him for what he was. That's the part I want to remember, that's the part I don't want anyone to forget." She said quietly. I was stunned for once I didn't know what to say so I stayed silent.
"Come on sweetie lets go home I know a couple of people who are very worried about you."
"I don't have to meet him yet do I?" She asked suddenly tensing as I tried to put her on the ground.
"No baby, not if you don't want to."
"I don't want to."
"That's okay, would you like to call her? I'm sure she'd love to hear rom you." I asked gently and she nodded hesitantly. I handed over my phone and she dialed the number slowly glancing at me looking for reassurance as I sent her a smile and kissed her head.
"Mum…" I heard loud voices from the other end of the phone and I silently begged Maria to go easy. Letty was in a fragile state as it was.
"I'm fine, I'm with Tony."
"At dad's grave." She whispered and I heard nothing from the other end.
"Mum I don't want to meet him yet." I heard the pleading in her voice as she said it and my heart ached for her.
"Okay."
"I think so…" she said looking at me for an answer and I smiled at her silently asking what she wanted to know.
"Are we going home now?"
"If that's what you want to do." I said gently.
"Yeah mum we're coming home."
"Okay." She said as she hung up and handed me back my phone.
"Everything okay?" I asked hopefully.
"Yes she said I didn't have to meet him yet if I didn't want to."
"That's good. So home?" I asked and she nodded tiredly.
"Leave your car we'll come back later and get it okay?" She looked at it hesitantly but gave in and nodded.
"I think school and work might be off the cards today, what do you say?" I asked as I helped her hop in the car as she nodded.
"If you give me a smile I might even give up Dom for the day." I baited and she smiled slightly in reaction to my bribe.
"That's my girl. Dom's all yours today too then, he's very worried about you." I said before I shut the door to her side and going around to my own side. I placed the torch down on the floor in the back.
"Thank you." she said as we were nearly home.
"Anytime Letty, I'm always here if you want to talk. You're like my own too, you know that right?" She gave me a small smile and nodded as we pulled up and she got out slowly wrapping the blanket around her tightly.
Maria was waiting anxiously at the door along with Dom who seemed to know to keep his distance. I gave Maria a look and she hesitated looking between Letty and I before carefully pulling her close.
"Oh baby I was so worried about you. I'm so so sorry baby, I never meant for you to find out that way. You must hate me." I subtly nudged Dom inside as we left the mother- daughter duo alone.
"Is she okay?" He asked and I shrugged.
"I think she will be in time, I think she faced a lot of demons tonight other than Maria and James. She's not going to school today and I've offered up you as a replacement is that okay?" I said smiling lightly at him.
"As in stay with her?"
"Yes I think she's going to need you but if you don't want to-" I started worried I had over stepped the mark but he shook his head.
"I'll stay." He said immediately as he threw another concerned glance out the door.
"Good, I suspect Maria will want her at home but I can't be sure seeing as she's meant to be working. Just go easy okay? She needs sleep." I said as an afterthought and he nodded seriously.
"Letty told me about your bribe and I appreciate it. I still need to go to work unfortunately but I'm going to try and get an early mark. She doesn't want to go home so do you mind staying here with her Dom?" Maria said speaking to me at first and I then ending with Dom. Letty was in Maria's tight grip and I gave her a smile of encouragement which she returned halfheartedly.
"Of course."
"We'll talk tonight sweetie I promise. Just you and me, okay baby." Maria said to Letty as she kissed her head. I watched as Letty remained pretty much blank and I could see the worry on Maria's face.
"Why don't you go up and get changed then head to bed? Dom will be up soon." I suggested while I gave Dom a look and she nodded tiredly.
"You can use my towel it's the one on the left." Dom said softly and again she just nodded.
"What happened?" Maria asked staring after Letty.
"She's in shock over seeing you for starters." I started giving her a half playful look and she smiled shyly.
"Yes well it wasn't a great position to be found in."
"Adrian is the other reason." I said seriously and she sighed.
"I figured, was she really there?"
"Yes, curled up in a little ball wrapped around the headstone." I said carefully.
"Oh god it's the D.R all over again. She's going to completely shut down." Maria worried.
"Maybe see what your talk turns up. Don't push her, that goes for you too Dom. If she tells you anything then go with it but for gods sake don't push her. You have no idea how hard it was to get her to leave." I said tiredly.
"What do you mean?" Dom asked and I rubbed the back of my head.
"Well she didn't want to part with the grave, she just clung to it. Did you know she blames herself, for Adrian?" I said as gently as I could to Maria.
"She… blames…My poor baby. Is that what she's been dealing with this whole time?" Maria cried.
"I promised her she could go back, it's what she wants. She said she hates him for what he became but it's the person he used to be she wants to remember, that's why she thinks you're going to forget."
"I can't forget Tony you know that."
"I know, just tell her that. Its what she wants and needs to hear. Her cars still up there so two of us will have to go and get at some point." I added.
"I'll go and get it later with Vince." Dom said and I nodded.
"Okay, go. Just look after her." I said to Dom and he nodded and walked upstairs.
"Where's Mia?" I asked.
"Upstairs getting ready for school I think." Maria said distractedly.
"Go, go get ready for work and try not to worry. She's with Dom, he won't let her do anything stupid. I'll take Mia to school and then I'm going to head to the garage."
"Are you going to manage without Dom?" she asked and I nodded.
"Yes we'll be fine, I still have Leon and Vince."
"Okay. I'll be by this afternoon to get her. Hopefully she'll want to come home then."
"Let her sleep it off and I'm sure she'll be ready."
"I hope so."