Chapter 41 - Dominic
I throw a few clothes into a bag and toss it into my truck. I’ll book a flight at the airport. I can’t wait for Tim and Margaret to work things out. I have to see Mara now.
I haven’t heard from her since that text, and Margaret’s reaction convinced me that something else is going on. She’s holding something over Mara’s head, and I need to find out what that thing is.
I need to see her. I need to hear it from her lips that she’s choosing Vincent over me.
If she isn’t, then I want to wrap my arms around her and cover her in kisses. I never want to let her go again.
As I drive down the highway, I turn off the radio and try to make sense of my thoughts. Mara told me that her parents used her in the business deal for the hotel that burned down. What’s stopping them from doing it again?
But, the thing is, in order for her to go back to Vincent, she’d have to be forced.
They’d have to be threatening her with something – even Katie said so. What could they possibly threaten her with? What would be so important that she would leave everything behind, including me?
My head hurts as I try to figure it out. I take long, deep breaths as I make the three-hour drive to the nearest airport.
I know she wants to be with me. I cling on to that text for dear life.
“I wish I could.”
She wants to be with me.
The sun is going down, and I drive in silence. I’m not even sure where Mara lives. I don’t even know if there are flights tonight. All I know is that I’m going to the airport, and nothing can stop me.
My phone rings and I see Tim McCoy’s name pop up. I hit answer and put him on speakerphone.
“Tim, I need Mara’s address. I’m going to California.”
“I… What?”
“Text me her address.”
“Dominic… Okay. I’ll send it over.”
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“They threatened her,” he says in a low voice. I nod as I drive down the highway. “Dominic,” he continues, “They threatened to put your business on the black list. That’s why she agreed to go with Vincent.”
“What? What do you mean?” I ask. My heart drops to my stomach and I struggle to understand what he’s talking about. I hear Tim McCoy take a deep breath.
“They needed my approval to pass the business on to her and her husband. That arrogant ass, Vincent.” I can hear the venom in his voice as he says Vincent’s name. “So they told her they’d drag your name through the mud.”
My heart starts thumping. I try to speak but my voice barely comes out “And she agreed?”
“She did,” Tim says. “Dominic, she loves you, you know.”
I try to answer, but I can’t. I nod my head as if he can see me, and finally he speaks again.
“I’ll send you that address.” He sighs. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you, Tim,” I finally manage to say. The phone clicks and I put it down on the passenger’s seat. I grip the steering wheel and blink my eyes until they clear.
She loves me.
She did this for me?
I can hardly believe it. She’d put herself in that position… she would actually marry a man that doesn’t love her, and give him the family business? She would do that just so I would be able to continue making furniture?
I feel grateful and ashamed at the same time. I don’t deserve this. My ears are burning and my heart is thumping as I try to keep my eyes focused on the road.
My phone buzzes and I see Tim’s name pop up with an address. I glance at it and take a deep breath.
I’m coming, Mara.
The rest of the drive seems to take an eternity. After a few more miles, I turn on the radio to try to drown out my thoughts. I’ve never been more sure of any decision. I know I need to go and see her.
I think of Vincent’s weasel face and the anger starts to flood my veins. If he happens to get punched in the nose, then so be it.
When I get to the airport, it’s late at night. I walk up to the counter and take a deep breath.
“I need a flight to San Francisco,” I tell the lady behind the desk. She looks at me and raises her eyebrows before tapping on her computer.
“I’m sorry sir. There aren’t any flights until tomorrow morning. The earliest I can get you there is 8:00am, San Fran time.”
“That’s fine. Here’s my card,” I say as I hand her my credit card. She nods as if this is the most normal thing in the world. Within a few minutes, she’s printing my ticket.
“Can I book a car from here as well?” I ask.
“The counter over there will be able to help you,” she says as she hands me a boarding pass. I nod in thanks and take the ticket, walking over to the desk.
Once everything is organized, I check the time. I have five and a half hours before the flight leaves, so I might as well try to get some sleep. I find a row of seats and lay down, trying to fit my huge body on the tiny chairs. It only takes a few minutes for the sleep to make my eyelids heavy. In a few hours, I’ll be seeing Mara in person and I can tell her everything that I want to tell her.
I’ll tell her I love her.
I’ll tell her to come back to me.
I’ll tell her I don’t care about the business, that all I want is her.
I’ll tell her everything in my heart and I’ll never let her go.
When I drift off to sleep in the airport waiting lounge, I can hear her laugh. I can smell her perfume and I can see her smile painted on my eyelids. My heart slows down and I finally feel like things will be okay.