Year Two-
Letty's POV
"That's it I've had enough young lady. I've put up with it for a year but you are not going continue like this for another. What Dom said to you was unforgiving but he was only trying to protect you. He shouldn't have said it and he knows it. He's trying to rebuild the bridges Letty but you are being completely unfair." My mum yelled and I was a little shocked at her outburst. Vince, Leon and Jesse found a quick getaway and bolted leaving just mum and I.
"He hurt me. What am I just supposed to do? Just forget about it?" I yelled back.
"I know he did and he got a good earful from me. You're being unfair Letty to all of us. I loved Tony Letty… but we never got together because we always knew you and Dom were meant for each other."
"I didn't know that." I said quietly.
"What about Mia? In the space of just days she lost her dad and her brother. She's not carrying on like you is she?"
"I guess not." I said moodily as she continued to rant about my behavior.
"See this is what I'm talking about. You're not even listening to what I'm telling you." Mum fumed as I stared into space. I watched as she stormed out of the room and I glared at her retreating back before I stood and locked myself up in my room until Mia got home.
"She just doesn't understand. You guys all say he didn't mean but you weren't fucking there, you didn't see his face when he said it. He did mean it. He hurt me and I can't forgive him for what he said." I vented to Mia. I turned to face the younger girl and felt the stinging slap across my cheek.
What the fuck Mia?" I demanded as I glared at her.
"Jesus Letty grow up. You're acting like you're the only one hurting from this and you're not. I lost my brother and my dad but I'm not going on about it the way you are. Jesse is terrified of being near you after the last time you snapped at him. Vince lost his best friend, the person he thinks of as a brother and a father figure, Maria lost the person she loves but she's had to hold it all together for us to make sure we're okay. You've lost your boyfriend and Tony who was like a second dad to you, I get that but Letty you're not the only one. What Dom said to you was harsh and uncalled for but treating everyone like shit isn't going to make yourself feel any better. Dom loves you Letty and wants to make things right. So until you get a grip on reality don't bother speaking to me until you can apologise, I'm sick of dealing with your shit as well as my own." She snapped before she stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her.
I brewed for two days thinking about everything before I realised they were right. I was acting like a total bitch. I rarely thought about how Mia would be feeling, or anyone else for that matter.
I knocked on Mia's door quietly. It was after eight but her light was on so she was still up.
"Come in."
"Hey…" I said quietly and she looked at me expectantly and I shrunk back a little as I stood shifting from foot to foot at the door.
"Um… so I've been thinking about what you said." I started and she stared at me nodding for me to continue.
"Your right I have been unfair. I was hurting and I was taking it out on everyone else forgetting that they were going through the same thing. I'm sorry Mia, I don't think I've asked how you're coping lately."
"No you haven't. I'm doing as good as can be expected. I miss my dad and I miss Dom, you're not the only one he won't see. I have to make do with letters and phone calls every week."
"I know…" I said ashamed with my behavior.
"It'll be okay Letty, you just have to give him a chance to explain. It's going to hurt yes but he really didn't mean what he said. He wants to protect you and this was his way of doing it, can you really hold that against him?" She asked looking at me challenging me.
It was the end of the week and I was in the garage working with everyone. I had apologized to everyone, especially mum and Jesse and things were starting to get better.
"Letty."
"Yeah?" I asked Vince as I rolled myself out from underneath the car. I looked up at him and he looked anxious. I frowned and got up, my leather pants sticking to my sweat soaked skin. In the year that had passed I had had a bit of a change when it came to my wardrobe.
"It's Dom… he's on the phone and he wants to speak to you. He sounds desperate." I felt Leon's gaze on me suddenly and I bit my lip thinking about it for a moment before sighing in resignation.
"Okay." Vince looked surprised but relieved.
"You wanted to speak to me?" I asked as I picked up the phone.
"Yes." He sounded shocked and it kind of annoyed me but I held back and kept my voice calm.
"What did you want?"
"I want to see you." I paused shocked and I sat down in the chair thinking what that could possible mean.
"Letty?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah?" I whispered.
"Can you come and visit me? Do… do you want to come and visit me?" He asked worried.
"When?" I asked not answering his question because to be honest I couldn't think of what to say.
"Whenever you can manage to get here."
"Okay."
I ended up leaving work early. Vince and Leon knew something big must have gone down because I was so out of it after the phone call.
"Let what happened?" Leon asked but I shook my head not knowing where to start.
"Are you okay?" V asked and I nodded giving him a small smile.
"It's a quiet day we'll finish up here, you can head home if you want." Leon said looking to Vince for confirmation and he nodded agreeing with Leon. I smiled in thanks and left getting into my car and heading off. I went home first to shower and change and just think.
I got half way to the jail and had to pull over. Could I do this? I sat on the side of the road for what seemed like a long time before I started off again but it wasn't long before I stopped again.
I followed the guard through to the visiting area. I looked around, the place hadn't changed since the last time I had been here. My eye caught a man sitting at one of the tables and I stopped when I saw him. It was Dom but he looked so different. He was watching me too equally shocked and I guess I couldn't blame him. I had changed too since he had seen me last but nothing like he had.
"Hey." He said quietly as I sat down. His eyes were roaming over me and I took the time to do the same to him. He'd shaved his head and his muscles… if this was his bedroom he wouldn't be leaving for a long time.
"Hey." I whispered back.
"I'm glad you came." He said softly.
"To be honest I wasn't sure I was going to make it here." I said lightly thinking about all the stops I had made.
"I wouldn't blame you if that was the case."
"Everyone else would have…" I whispered and he frowned tilting his head to the side. I dipped my head so I wasn't looking at him and sighed.
"What do you mean?"
"Mia and mum kind of gave me a wakeup call… and in Mia's case a slap to go with it. I'm sorry for the way I've acted. You hurt me." I spoke quietly lookup at him sadly making him know how much I was hurting.
"I didn't mean it, what I said I mean. I took the easy way out instead of explaining, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you the way I did." He explained quickly but quietly.
"What changed?" I asked needing to know.
"I've been thinking about it all week, certain events last night just made me make the decision."
"What events?" I frowned.
"Nothing you need to worry about." I was silent feeling angry that he wouldn't tell me but I dropped it. The fight wasn't worth it.
"I'm still hurt by what you said." He looked at me sadly and nodded.
"I know, but baby I swear I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. It hurt so much to say the words but it hurt even more to see you accept them without any doubt. Why are you so insecure?"
"I don't know." We sat in silence for a little while before he reached forward to grab my hands in his own. I tensed under his touch no longer used to it.
"I'm falling to pieces without you Let, I know it's selfish for me to ask but I really need you. can we get past this? Will you wait for me?"
"Can I continue to see you?" I asked looking at him wanting an answer but the look that crossed his face answered it without his words.
"Let this isn't a place I want you to be around."
"So this is it? I can't see you again until you're released?" I demanded and he nodded.
"I'm sorry, we can write, we can talk but… I don't want you to see me in here. Not like this. Please try to understand, I just want to protect you." I heard his plea and I sighed.
"I understand but I don't like it."
"I can live with that." I smiled lightly back as he gave me one.
"I'll wait for you." I whispered as he kissed my knuckles. It gave me a bit of hope things would work out.
"I love-" I heard the 'L' word and I tensed.
"Please don't… I'm not ready to use that word again." I pleaded and he looked defeated but nodded sadly.
"Okay. I am sorry Letty." He said honestly.
"I know." I sighed.
"What happened to you? You shaved your head and gained muscle." I asked after a small bout of silence.
"What can I say baby there's not much to do in here. You're one to talk, since when do you dress like that?" I smiled and shrugged.
"Let." I looked up as mum came in the room nervously.
"What?" I asked worried.
"Uh well…I um have something to tell you." I frowned but nodded.
"Well you see…"
"Mum just tell me." I sighed annoyed.
"James asked me to marry him." She blurted out and I sat stunned as her words washed over me.
"Excuse me?" I asked not sure whether I had heard right.
"He asked me to marry him and I said yes…"
"Oh."
"Oh?" she asked nervously and I shrugged.
"What am I supposed to say to that?" I asked quietly.
"You're not mad are you? Letty my promise to you about your father still stands, James isn't replacing him. I swear."
"Are you happy?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Then I guess you're getting married." I said quietly and she smiled widely and hugged me tightly.
"Oh sweetheart you have no idea what this means to me." She whispered as we hugged.
"Love you mum."
"I love you too beautiful girl." I smiled at her as she left the room much happier then she had been when she came in and I sighed smiling sadly. How times had changed.
October and November flew past and each week I received two if not more letters a week. Mia was happier again and everything was settling down which gave mum and James time to plan their wedding.
Of course all good things come to an end eventually and as January rolled in so did financial trouble. The shop wasn't making enough money and the garage wasn't making enough to cover both leases plus the mortgage on the house. Mum was getting worried we'd have to sell the shop seeing as we had sold our house a few months ago and had already used that money to pay off older bills. Vince convinced her to leave it for another month until he could think of something. I noticed him and Leon sneaking off a couple of times a week to go somewhere and almost every time they came back they had a couple of grand with them that was slowly paying off the debts we owed. Occasionally though I noticed they'd come back with nothing and looked even more stressed but I never said anything. Mum didn't know where the money was coming from and neither did I but I didn't buy their explanations of the garage picking up because it was far from the truth but I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to stress mum out even more as it was we were all keeping it from Dom. He had enough to worry about inside.
I asked for nothing to be done for my eighteenth and I was glad when they had listened. It was a quiet day; Vince and Leon at the garage, Mia at school and mum at work. Being the birthday girl I had been given the day off and was left with the house to myself. It was a nice change.
I stepped out of the shower cursing as I heard the phone ring. Quickly wrapping a towel around me I rushed to pick up the phone that was sitting on the counter of the sink, nearly slipping in the process.
"Hey baby happy birthday." I smiled as Dom greeted me as I answered the phone.
"Hey, it's not really 'happy' seeing as you're not here." I pointed out sadly.
"Yeah I know…I would be if I could, you know that."
"I know."
"What are you wearing?" I was shocked at his question and fumbled for a moment as I thought of how to answer.
"Um…well you kind of caught me getting out of the shower..." I mumbled truthfully.
"Really…" I could hear his smile from the other end.
"Uh yeah… why?" I asked nervously.
"A year and a half is a long time baby." I breathed a sigh of relief as I relaxed realizing how he wanted this to go down. I laughed a little as I followed his train of thought.
"Oh…."
"Yeah oh."
"I'll make sure to help you out when you get home." I heard his low growl and bit my lip feeling the stirrings low in my stomach.
"I'm taking that as a promise, so I'll be holding you to that." He warned.
"I think I can deal with that. It's been a long year and a half for me too." I said truthfully and I heard an almost inaudible groan from I was glad I could still make him do that.
"Well then I'll have to see what I can do about that when I get home."
"Now I'm holding you to that." I warned and he chuckled.
Between the end of February and May I was beside myself with worry as was mum knowing Dom was now getting into fights. His last one had me edgy. I didn't know how I would cope if something was to happen like that again.
"Baby relax, I'm fine now." He reminded me again and I sighed.
"I'm trying. It would help if I could see for myself." I huffed and he sighed heavily on the other end.
"Baby please… I'm honestly okay." I sighed but gave up knowing he wasn't going to budge.
"He could be home in two weeks." Mia said to me as we sat in her bedroom one morning. She was hugging some stuffed bear tight together chest and I wore a small smile on my face thinking of Dom coming home.
"I hope so." I said softly.
Letty's POV
"That's it I've had enough young lady. I've put up with it for a year but you are not going continue like this for another. What Dom said to you was unforgiving but he was only trying to protect you. He shouldn't have said it and he knows it. He's trying to rebuild the bridges Letty but you are being completely unfair." My mum yelled and I was a little shocked at her outburst. Vince, Leon and Jesse found a quick getaway and bolted leaving just mum and I.
"He hurt me. What am I just supposed to do? Just forget about it?" I yelled back.
"I know he did and he got a good earful from me. You're being unfair Letty to all of us. I loved Tony Letty… but we never got together because we always knew you and Dom were meant for each other."
"I didn't know that." I said quietly.
"What about Mia? In the space of just days she lost her dad and her brother. She's not carrying on like you is she?"
"I guess not." I said moodily as she continued to rant about my behavior.
"See this is what I'm talking about. You're not even listening to what I'm telling you." Mum fumed as I stared into space. I watched as she stormed out of the room and I glared at her retreating back before I stood and locked myself up in my room until Mia got home.
"She just doesn't understand. You guys all say he didn't mean but you weren't fucking there, you didn't see his face when he said it. He did mean it. He hurt me and I can't forgive him for what he said." I vented to Mia. I turned to face the younger girl and felt the stinging slap across my cheek.
What the fuck Mia?" I demanded as I glared at her.
"Jesus Letty grow up. You're acting like you're the only one hurting from this and you're not. I lost my brother and my dad but I'm not going on about it the way you are. Jesse is terrified of being near you after the last time you snapped at him. Vince lost his best friend, the person he thinks of as a brother and a father figure, Maria lost the person she loves but she's had to hold it all together for us to make sure we're okay. You've lost your boyfriend and Tony who was like a second dad to you, I get that but Letty you're not the only one. What Dom said to you was harsh and uncalled for but treating everyone like shit isn't going to make yourself feel any better. Dom loves you Letty and wants to make things right. So until you get a grip on reality don't bother speaking to me until you can apologise, I'm sick of dealing with your shit as well as my own." She snapped before she stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her.
I brewed for two days thinking about everything before I realised they were right. I was acting like a total bitch. I rarely thought about how Mia would be feeling, or anyone else for that matter.
I knocked on Mia's door quietly. It was after eight but her light was on so she was still up.
"Come in."
"Hey…" I said quietly and she looked at me expectantly and I shrunk back a little as I stood shifting from foot to foot at the door.
"Um… so I've been thinking about what you said." I started and she stared at me nodding for me to continue.
"Your right I have been unfair. I was hurting and I was taking it out on everyone else forgetting that they were going through the same thing. I'm sorry Mia, I don't think I've asked how you're coping lately."
"No you haven't. I'm doing as good as can be expected. I miss my dad and I miss Dom, you're not the only one he won't see. I have to make do with letters and phone calls every week."
"I know…" I said ashamed with my behavior.
"It'll be okay Letty, you just have to give him a chance to explain. It's going to hurt yes but he really didn't mean what he said. He wants to protect you and this was his way of doing it, can you really hold that against him?" She asked looking at me challenging me.
It was the end of the week and I was in the garage working with everyone. I had apologized to everyone, especially mum and Jesse and things were starting to get better.
"Letty."
"Yeah?" I asked Vince as I rolled myself out from underneath the car. I looked up at him and he looked anxious. I frowned and got up, my leather pants sticking to my sweat soaked skin. In the year that had passed I had had a bit of a change when it came to my wardrobe.
"It's Dom… he's on the phone and he wants to speak to you. He sounds desperate." I felt Leon's gaze on me suddenly and I bit my lip thinking about it for a moment before sighing in resignation.
"Okay." Vince looked surprised but relieved.
"You wanted to speak to me?" I asked as I picked up the phone.
"Yes." He sounded shocked and it kind of annoyed me but I held back and kept my voice calm.
"What did you want?"
"I want to see you." I paused shocked and I sat down in the chair thinking what that could possible mean.
"Letty?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah?" I whispered.
"Can you come and visit me? Do… do you want to come and visit me?" He asked worried.
"When?" I asked not answering his question because to be honest I couldn't think of what to say.
"Whenever you can manage to get here."
"Okay."
I ended up leaving work early. Vince and Leon knew something big must have gone down because I was so out of it after the phone call.
"Let what happened?" Leon asked but I shook my head not knowing where to start.
"Are you okay?" V asked and I nodded giving him a small smile.
"It's a quiet day we'll finish up here, you can head home if you want." Leon said looking to Vince for confirmation and he nodded agreeing with Leon. I smiled in thanks and left getting into my car and heading off. I went home first to shower and change and just think.
I got half way to the jail and had to pull over. Could I do this? I sat on the side of the road for what seemed like a long time before I started off again but it wasn't long before I stopped again.
I followed the guard through to the visiting area. I looked around, the place hadn't changed since the last time I had been here. My eye caught a man sitting at one of the tables and I stopped when I saw him. It was Dom but he looked so different. He was watching me too equally shocked and I guess I couldn't blame him. I had changed too since he had seen me last but nothing like he had.
"Hey." He said quietly as I sat down. His eyes were roaming over me and I took the time to do the same to him. He'd shaved his head and his muscles… if this was his bedroom he wouldn't be leaving for a long time.
"Hey." I whispered back.
"I'm glad you came." He said softly.
"To be honest I wasn't sure I was going to make it here." I said lightly thinking about all the stops I had made.
"I wouldn't blame you if that was the case."
"Everyone else would have…" I whispered and he frowned tilting his head to the side. I dipped my head so I wasn't looking at him and sighed.
"What do you mean?"
"Mia and mum kind of gave me a wakeup call… and in Mia's case a slap to go with it. I'm sorry for the way I've acted. You hurt me." I spoke quietly lookup at him sadly making him know how much I was hurting.
"I didn't mean it, what I said I mean. I took the easy way out instead of explaining, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you the way I did." He explained quickly but quietly.
"What changed?" I asked needing to know.
"I've been thinking about it all week, certain events last night just made me make the decision."
"What events?" I frowned.
"Nothing you need to worry about." I was silent feeling angry that he wouldn't tell me but I dropped it. The fight wasn't worth it.
"I'm still hurt by what you said." He looked at me sadly and nodded.
"I know, but baby I swear I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. It hurt so much to say the words but it hurt even more to see you accept them without any doubt. Why are you so insecure?"
"I don't know." We sat in silence for a little while before he reached forward to grab my hands in his own. I tensed under his touch no longer used to it.
"I'm falling to pieces without you Let, I know it's selfish for me to ask but I really need you. can we get past this? Will you wait for me?"
"Can I continue to see you?" I asked looking at him wanting an answer but the look that crossed his face answered it without his words.
"Let this isn't a place I want you to be around."
"So this is it? I can't see you again until you're released?" I demanded and he nodded.
"I'm sorry, we can write, we can talk but… I don't want you to see me in here. Not like this. Please try to understand, I just want to protect you." I heard his plea and I sighed.
"I understand but I don't like it."
"I can live with that." I smiled lightly back as he gave me one.
"I'll wait for you." I whispered as he kissed my knuckles. It gave me a bit of hope things would work out.
"I love-" I heard the 'L' word and I tensed.
"Please don't… I'm not ready to use that word again." I pleaded and he looked defeated but nodded sadly.
"Okay. I am sorry Letty." He said honestly.
"I know." I sighed.
"What happened to you? You shaved your head and gained muscle." I asked after a small bout of silence.
"What can I say baby there's not much to do in here. You're one to talk, since when do you dress like that?" I smiled and shrugged.
"Let." I looked up as mum came in the room nervously.
"What?" I asked worried.
"Uh well…I um have something to tell you." I frowned but nodded.
"Well you see…"
"Mum just tell me." I sighed annoyed.
"James asked me to marry him." She blurted out and I sat stunned as her words washed over me.
"Excuse me?" I asked not sure whether I had heard right.
"He asked me to marry him and I said yes…"
"Oh."
"Oh?" she asked nervously and I shrugged.
"What am I supposed to say to that?" I asked quietly.
"You're not mad are you? Letty my promise to you about your father still stands, James isn't replacing him. I swear."
"Are you happy?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Then I guess you're getting married." I said quietly and she smiled widely and hugged me tightly.
"Oh sweetheart you have no idea what this means to me." She whispered as we hugged.
"Love you mum."
"I love you too beautiful girl." I smiled at her as she left the room much happier then she had been when she came in and I sighed smiling sadly. How times had changed.
October and November flew past and each week I received two if not more letters a week. Mia was happier again and everything was settling down which gave mum and James time to plan their wedding.
Of course all good things come to an end eventually and as January rolled in so did financial trouble. The shop wasn't making enough money and the garage wasn't making enough to cover both leases plus the mortgage on the house. Mum was getting worried we'd have to sell the shop seeing as we had sold our house a few months ago and had already used that money to pay off older bills. Vince convinced her to leave it for another month until he could think of something. I noticed him and Leon sneaking off a couple of times a week to go somewhere and almost every time they came back they had a couple of grand with them that was slowly paying off the debts we owed. Occasionally though I noticed they'd come back with nothing and looked even more stressed but I never said anything. Mum didn't know where the money was coming from and neither did I but I didn't buy their explanations of the garage picking up because it was far from the truth but I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to stress mum out even more as it was we were all keeping it from Dom. He had enough to worry about inside.
I asked for nothing to be done for my eighteenth and I was glad when they had listened. It was a quiet day; Vince and Leon at the garage, Mia at school and mum at work. Being the birthday girl I had been given the day off and was left with the house to myself. It was a nice change.
I stepped out of the shower cursing as I heard the phone ring. Quickly wrapping a towel around me I rushed to pick up the phone that was sitting on the counter of the sink, nearly slipping in the process.
"Hey baby happy birthday." I smiled as Dom greeted me as I answered the phone.
"Hey, it's not really 'happy' seeing as you're not here." I pointed out sadly.
"Yeah I know…I would be if I could, you know that."
"I know."
"What are you wearing?" I was shocked at his question and fumbled for a moment as I thought of how to answer.
"Um…well you kind of caught me getting out of the shower..." I mumbled truthfully.
"Really…" I could hear his smile from the other end.
"Uh yeah… why?" I asked nervously.
"A year and a half is a long time baby." I breathed a sigh of relief as I relaxed realizing how he wanted this to go down. I laughed a little as I followed his train of thought.
"Oh…."
"Yeah oh."
"I'll make sure to help you out when you get home." I heard his low growl and bit my lip feeling the stirrings low in my stomach.
"I'm taking that as a promise, so I'll be holding you to that." He warned.
"I think I can deal with that. It's been a long year and a half for me too." I said truthfully and I heard an almost inaudible groan from I was glad I could still make him do that.
"Well then I'll have to see what I can do about that when I get home."
"Now I'm holding you to that." I warned and he chuckled.
Between the end of February and May I was beside myself with worry as was mum knowing Dom was now getting into fights. His last one had me edgy. I didn't know how I would cope if something was to happen like that again.
"Baby relax, I'm fine now." He reminded me again and I sighed.
"I'm trying. It would help if I could see for myself." I huffed and he sighed heavily on the other end.
"Baby please… I'm honestly okay." I sighed but gave up knowing he wasn't going to budge.
"He could be home in two weeks." Mia said to me as we sat in her bedroom one morning. She was hugging some stuffed bear tight together chest and I wore a small smile on my face thinking of Dom coming home.
"I hope so." I said softly.