21st April- Los Angeles, United States
Dr Rosie Greyson’s office
Dom’s POV
I signed the slip of paper and pushed it back towards the receptionist. I waited as patiently as I could as she printed out a receipt and handed it over to me along with my credit card.
“Doctor Greyson has booked another appointment in a week’s time, same day and time as today. Is that okay?” The woman on the other side of the counter asked and I nodded.
“That’s fine. There should be two other appointments as well, individual ones.” I spoke as I looked down at Letty.
“Let me just take a look.” I nodded and turned my attention fully to Letty as the receptionist fiddled with the computer.
“You okay baby girl?” I asked quietly as I stroked Letty’s cheek.
“Today is nothing compared to what’s about to come.” She whispered.
“I know.”
“Ah yes, here we are. We have another appointment for Letty in two days and for dom we have one at the beginning of next week. Does that suit?”
“It’s perfect. Thanks.”
“No problem we’ll see you both then.”
I laced my fingers with Letty as I led her out of the office, pulling her close to my side once we were out the door.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, frowning when I realised the time.
“A little. Can we eat before we go and get Ava?” She asked and I nodded.
“Anything in mind Let?”
“I feel like cheese.” I frowned slightly.
“But you hate cheese.” She glared but said nothing and I forced myself to remember this was normal, I’d just ever dealt with it before.
“Um, I’m out of my element here Let.” I gave a nervous chuckle and she cracked a smile.
“The nearest café is fine.” She spoke as she started leading me down the street.
“This okay?” I asked as we slowed beside a small diner.
“Perfect.” Neither of us said anything as we sat down at a booth and waited to be served. The session was still fresh in my mind and I couldn’t shake the haunted look on Letty’s face when she asked to feel safe again. It was hard to stomach knowing I had done that.
“Thank you for agreeing to individual counselling.” Letty said quietly making me look over at her.
“I need it, why wouldn’t I agree?” I asked just as quietly back.
“Would you have agreed five years ago?” She asked knowingly and I gave her a small smile.
“Probably not, but I’m not that person now.”
“Thank you for trying.”
“Thank you for letting me.” I spoke back honestly.
“We’re not on a time limit Dom, you know that right? These problems we have are going to take time to work through. We don’t need to have our problems sorted before the baby’s born, because let’s face it that would be impossible. The main thing is that we’ve made a start and we’re trying.”
“I know, I didn’t expect anything else. I just got you back Let, I’m not letting you go now. We have all the time we need, there’s no need to rush it.”
“Just making sure we’re on the same page.” She smiled slightly and I gave her a smile back.
“What can I get for you both today?” The waitress interrupted and I turned to Letty expectantly.
“Cheesy fries please and an orange juice.”
“Make that two.” I ordered and the waitress smiled at us both before walking off.
“Have you thought about seeing your mum?” I asked cautiously.
“I’ve thought of her. She and Tony would be so disappointed in us, all of us. I don’t think I could face her ever again.”
“She needs to know you’re alive.” I spoke gently.
“I can’t think about this right now Dom, I just want to eat, go get Ava from the shop and then head home to rest.” She stressed and I backed off.
“Okay, if you want I can drop you home first and I’ll go get Ava.”
“Yeah that’s fine.” I fell silent as we waited for our food, clearly she didn’t want to talk about it and I wasn’t about to force the issue.
21st April- Los Angeles, United States
Garage
“Hey, how’d it go?” Brian asked as I walked into the garage.
“As well as can be expected. We have another one next week and we both have individual counselling to go to too.” I spoke quietly.
“How’s Letty?”
“She’s exhausted, she fell asleep in the car on the ride home so I went home and put her to bed first.” I spoke truthfully.
“We could have handled Ava for the day. She’s been no trouble. Loves cars though.” He grinned and I smiled back proudly.
“My little grease monkey.” I joked.
“She’s in with Lotty, she’s setting up the office. Can’t believe that parts all finished.” I looked around the garage and nodded. The place was slowly coming together but we were a long way off opening. We had decided to expand slightly and rather than just fix cars, we took a risk and decided to expand into selling car parts too. It would be cheaper for us in the long run so we’re not running up tabs with suppliers.
“It’s looking good, sorry I haven’t been more help.” I spoke.
“Dom, you’re still recovering. You have Letty and Ava to focus on, don’t stress over this. We got this.” Brian said honestly and I smiled.
“I’m going to go see what my princess is doing.” He nodded in response as I set off towards the office.
“Ava…. Where could Ava be?” I leant against the door frame and looked on amused as I watched Lotty crawl around the floor looking for my daughter.
“Is she under here? Nope.” Lotty asked as she lifted up a blanket. I looked towards the cardboard box in the corner when a fit of giggles broke out and smiled as Lotty finally looked up at me.
“Hide and seek?” I asked knowingly.
“Always, keeps her amused.”
“Maybe you should try under the box aunty Lotty.” I played along and the giggling increased and the box started to move.
“Is Ava hiding under the box? I can hear something.”
“Boo.” Lotty called as she lifted the box off Ava who erupted into a fit of giggles as Lotty kissed her face.
“Dada!” She squealed as she saw me watching. I bent down as much as I could and held out my arms as she ran towards me. I swept her up and hugged her tightly.
“Did you have fun princess?”
“Pway.” She giggled as she pointed to the box.
“You did play. Why don’t you go and say goodbye to aunty Lotty and uncles then we’ll go home.”
“Pway?”
“After your sleep miss.” I spoke, blowing a raspberry on her cheek, making her giggle again, before I placed her back on the floor.
“Bye princess, be good for mama and daddy okay?” Lotty spoke as she kissed Ava goodbye, handing her her puppy. I held out my hand as Ava toddled over to me again, her stuffed dog in one hand, her other reached out to take mine. I took her backpack from Lotty and thanked her before we walked out back into the garage.
“You heading off miss?” Han asked as she waved to him and Gisele.
“Bye.” She called before she raced off to Leon who had just climbed down a ladder.
“She’s growing up too quickly.” I muttered to whoever stepped beside me.
“Kids tend to do that. Just think, you’ll have another little one running around soon enough.” Elena spoke and I frowned at the thought.
“I hope no too soon, I’m excited about the baby. I missed all that with Ava, I want to hold onto it with this one for as long as I can.”
“Where’s Let?” Leon asked as he walked up to us, Ava in his arms talking away to Roman over his shoulder.
“At home in bed, she fell asleep on the way home.”
“Big day.”
“Yeah, huge.”
“Well I’m just glad you guys are working things out.”
“Yeah me too. I better get her home. See you guys tonight.” I nodded as Leon passed Ava back to me.
“Hey Ava.” I turned around when I heard Ava’s name being called and I faced Brian who held up puppy.
“Better not leave him behind.” Brian grinned as he handed it to her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you.” I mouthed to Brian as I turned to leave. That dog had become toy number one in the last couple of days. She would have screamed the house down if she had of left it here.
“Car?” Ava asked as I strapped her in.
“Yeah you’re in daddy’s car.”
“Fast?” She grinned innocently and I grinned.
“You’re gunna kill me when you get older kid.” I joked, leaning in to give her kiss before I shut the door.