7th May- Los Angeles, United States
O’Conner house
Letty’s POV
“Ring us if you need us and we’ll be straight up okay?” Lotty whispered to me as she hugged me goodbye. Leon was hovering beside me, his features pulled tight into a frown as he watched me.
“I’ll be fine.” I whispered back.
“Ring.” Leon muttered with finality as he pulled me in for a hug. I had already said goodbye to everyone else inside. Dom and I had agreed not to make this a huge thing and the others had respected that, only letting Dom, Leon and Lotty follow me out to the car.
I watched over the top of Leon’s shoulder as Dom held Ava, quietly talking to her as they rested against the car.
“Are you doing this to punish him?” Leon asked quietly. If it had been anyone else I would have yelled at them but this was Leon. He knew me better than I did myself at times.
“No. No I’m not doing this to punish him. I need to make things right with mum. I want Ava to meet her. I want her to know her grandkids.” I whispered back truthfully, looking him straight in the eye as I spoke to him. He nodded, his features finally smoothing over in relief. He had been worried.
“I need my mum.” I whispered and Leon smiled.
“I know. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
“Don’t fall silent on him okay?”
“I won’t. Take care of him for me please, he hasn’t really said much about me leaving. I know it’s hurting him.” I whispered.
“We’ve got the big guy, you just take care of yourself, Ava and this little one okay?”
“I will. Love you Le.” I whispered as I pulled away from his hug. Waving at Lotty and him as they backed away and into the house leaving Dom and I alone.
“Ready?” Dom asked quietly.
“Yeah. Ready to meet grandma?” I asked Ava with a smile. Her cute little face puckered into a frown, completely confused as to who we were talking about.
“You have fun with grandma okay? Daddy will talk to you tonight.” Dom whispered to Ava as he gave her a kiss.
“Dadda car?” She asked pointing over to Dom’s car, parked in the driveway.
“You’re going in mama’s car today.” He told her gently as he turned to put her in her seat.
“Dada come?” She asked confused as she looked up at him, watching his face as he started strapping her in.
“No princess, just you and mama. Daddy’s gotta stay here.” He explained to her. She burst into tears and let out a scream, making Dom blink in surprise. I had to turn away as I felt tears start to gather in my own eyes. I hadn’t even thought about how she would react to Dom not coming.
“Hey Princess don’t cry, daddy will see you soon.” He comforted as he finished strapping her in.
“Dada.” She cried, her little hands grabbing onto Dom as he tried to pull away.
“Where’s puppy?” Dom asked me quietly.
“Um… in the bag. I’ll grab it.” I stuttered as I moved to the boot. The stuffed dog was easy enough to locate, having packed it only just this morning. I came back around behind Dom and handed him the dog, watching on with sad eyes as he interacted with a very upset Ava.
“Hey here’s puppy. He’ll look after you while you’re gone okay? You give him lots of hugs and daddy will see you soon. Love you princess.” He whispered to her as he kissed her wet cheeks, slipping out of her tight grip. He winced as he shut the door on Ava’s screaming, trying really hard to keep it together as she cried out for him.
“Dom I’m so sorry-“ I started.
“Don’t. It’s okay, nothing for you to be sorry for. I won’t drag this out, for her sake and ours. I love you, take care of yourself, Ava and the baby. Call me as soon as you get to your mum’s. I’ll call you tonight okay?” He rushed out as he pulled me in tight. I felt a drop of water on my cheek and I screwed my eyes tight knowing he was crying.
“I love you too.” I whispered back. I felt his hand on my bump, on our baby, rubbing it softly.
“You better go.” He whispered as his body tightened in response to Ava’s growing cries.
“See you soon right?” I tried to smile but it came out as a grimace.
“As soon as you want me to. I love you.” He spoke quietly before I pulled him down for a kiss. Everything I couldn’t say out loud I poured into the kiss, and I felt him doing the same.
“Love you too. Talk to you tonight.”
“Yep.” He whispered, placing one last kiss on my lips before letting me go. I opened the car door, letting Ava’s wails for Dom wash around us again as I got into the car. I saw Dom backing away, his face one of torment as he blew both Ava and I a kiss before I started the car.
“We’ll see daddy soon baby.” I comforted Ava as I pulled onto the road, watching in the mirror as Dom fled around the back of the house. My eyes watered but I couldn’t cry, at least not yet. Not in front of Ava.
“Dada.” She whimpered pitifully as she squeezed her dog, bury her head into her car seat and away from me. This was a hell of a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.