Dominik went back to the hotel, rushed to his room and met Carlos, who was sitting on the couch, watching TV. He greeted him and went straight in to the bathroom. He felt like he needed to shower with cold water in order to ease the burn Samanta had caused.
When he came out of the shower, he changed into some comfortable, fresh clothes and walked up to his roommate. Carlos looked at him, intrigued.
“What's with all this happiness?” He asked. Dominik did not respond. He just smiled even more. “Jeez!” Carlos opened his eyes big like plates. “Who did you bang?”
Dominik laughed.
“No one” said Dominik, laughing.
“What do you mean no one? Look at you! You're like a child who just did a mischief.”
Dominik laughed again.
“I kissed her” said Dom.
“Who?”
“Samanta.”
Carlos' jaw hit the floor.
“You did what? Bu- bu- but” he stuttered. “She's married and you… so are you” Carlos looked at him, frowning. “A wife whom, by the way, called you a while back. Besides, you have a bunch of missed calls from a dude named Ewald?”
Dominik stopped laughing immediately when he remembered he had left his phone in the room.
«Ewald!». He remembered he left LA without telling him. He had to play an exhibition game next month. Possibly, the head coach was about to have a nervous breakdown.
«Dihanna!». A feeling of guilt invaded him.
“I have to call her right back. I promised I...” Dominik could not even finish his phrase. Not in front of Carlos. He didn't have to know about the promise he made his wife, it seemed absurd just now, but, it seemed very serious when he made it.
«Abraham». his little five-year-old son also had a right to have a father.
He walked away from Carlos, took his phone and dialed.
“Dominik, my love” his wife greeted.
“Hello, love. How are you?” He replied.
“Fine. Drawing, with Abraham, here. you know he loves drawing.”
“He must have got that from you, I am an awful drawer” he laughed. “Can you put him on the phone?”
“Hold on” a brief silence. “Baby? Daddy wants to talk to you…”
“Daddy?” The sweet voice made him shiver.
“Hey, champ. How are you?”
“Fine. Mommy and me are dwawing. Thewe's mommy, and thewe's you and thewe's me. When you coming back, daddy?” it was lovely hearing the little man's voice, although his speech trouble was obvious, Dr. Johnson had detected it in the middle of last year. Dominik loved the way his son talked.
“Oh! That's my boy, always active. Will you show me your drawing when I come back?”
“Okay, but, daddy… When you coming back, daddy? I weally miss you.”
“Soon, champ, I am settling some business. As soon as I am done here, I will go straight home. We will play as long as you want and we will go wherever you want. Alright?”
“Okay, daddy. I wove you.”
“Me too, champ. I will be with you very soon. I love you. Let me talk to mommy.”
“Hello?” Dihanna's voice again.
“How is everything over there?”
“Hold on. Abraham honey, you go on, I'll be right back” said Dihanna as she got up to head into the kitchen. “It's all fine here. How are you doing? Will you take much longer?” Dominik noticed a certain sadness in his wife's voice.
“We took the paternity test today. We're waiting for the results, they will be sent straight to the judge. She will settle a new date for the hearing where she will decide how to proceed.”
“Good” Dihanna did not sound at all convincing.
“What is the matter, love? You seem odd” Dominik knew exactly what the matter was, but he'd rather disengage and ask, trying to give Dihanna some peace of mind.
“Dominik. You know I love you and I would never meddle in your business, whatever they are. But I am your wife and we have a child, don't ever forget that...”
“Why would you say that? I know I have a responsibility to you, I married you for a reason. Right? Do not doubt me. I care for you and Abraham is my life. I would never forget that.”
“Wow! Responsibility and care. Not exactly the words I expected to hear” Dihanna's voice quivered and she shed a few tears. She felt the cold, distance and neglect from Dominik. She was no dumb, she knew she had nothing on the ghost of Samanta Andrade. She could not compete.
“Honey, please, listen” Dominik felt his heart shrinking. If there was something he hated more than that Queen song, that was making a woman cry. “Between Samanta and I there is nothing” he was forced to lie, as long as his wife did not go through any more pain. “Have some patience. Is it too much to ask? I will sort this out and be back with you in Munich and we can go back to being a happy family.”
“A family, alright, although I doubt we will be happy.”
“Dihanna. Understand me, please. That is all I ask.”
“I'm not feeling well. We'll talk later. I have a lot to think about” she said. “By the way. Call Ewald. He's desperate to find you.”
Dihanna hung up.
Dominik dropped himself on his bed. He was exhausted, not just physically, but mentally. He felt a huge load on his shoulders. Guilt in every single pore. He felt vile and cruel because of the feelings he had for Samanta and having such selfish thoughts. He wanted to run away and escape with Samanta, forget about the world, about everybody, be alone with her and make up for all the time they had been away. Get lost in her, sink in her hair, have her over and over again, devouring every inch of her essence...
He shook his head to push those thoughts out …
…and there was Dihanna.
The woman he decided to dedicate his life to through a legal contract. To whom he refused to dedicate his soul in a religious ceremony, regardless of how excited she was about it. Something inside of him did not allow him to say: “I do, I take you to have and to hold, for the rest of my life” in front of God.
His phone rang, making him think of something else. When he saw the name Ewald Metzler, he remembered he had a life waiting for him back in Germany.
The head coach had been calling him since the night he boarded that plane to Egypt. Dom never answered. He wanted nothing to persuade him from going to the Middle East to meet his kin. He knew Metzler would not allow him to leave just like that. As soon as Dominik answered, Ewald bombarded him with questions. Dom put him up to date regarding the past four days and told him he wanted to stay in town for a couple more weeks, waiting for the hearing in order to appeal for the custody of the child, or, at least, try.
“Have you gone mad?” Ewald Snapped. “You must be back within a week, laddy. We still have one more exhibition game to play this season and you know how the federation feel about your absences.
“I could not care less about the federation. I am not leaving until this is settled.”
“They could sue…”
“They can sue away!” Dominik yelled. “I have had it up to here with their threats. Let them sue me already. Listen to me, Ewald. I am not going back to Munich without settling my daughter's custody.”
“Please, boy! Is all this really worth so much risk?”
“It is. It is worth all the risk in the world. I have behaved very well for many years, trying to live a perfect life just to please all of you. I ask for some consideration for once…”
“You know it is not in my hands.”
“Please, Ewald. You have the federation in the palm of your hand. I know you can figure something.”
“Dammit, Dominik! I hope you know what you're doing.”
“I know that very well, Ewald.”
“Fine. You win. Do keep in mind that a juicy law suit will be expecting you when you get back.”
“I will be ready” said Dominik and hung up.