CHAPTER 10 –Miami
3rd POV
A stunned Letty pulled the phone from her ear frowning. "He hung up on me..." Shadow came back to the bed and sat by her. "Well…he took your call. That's something. What did he say about Jr? It sounded like things went south after that." Letty rubbed her eyes and put her head in her hands. "He hates me for not telling him about Jr." Shadow shrugged and nodded in agreement with his reaction, saying out loud. "Well I'd hate you to…it's kinda fucked up." Letty averted her eyes up at her without moving her head. Shadow put up her hand up, zipping her mouth shut and Letty continued. "At first he was so happy that I called but then…he became old Dom again… 'get upset- Yell his lungs out, then ask questions', except he didn't bother asking any…he just ordered that he was flying us out tomorrow and then hung up in my face!" Letty seemed real upset…as if she now was just gonna try to use this event to reiterate why she had left him 9 years ago. Shadow noticed this and turned Letty's face towards her. "…I think that went as well as could be expected. Give Dom a break Let…he just spoke to his ex who jilted him 9 years ago without a trace and then found out he also has a son…I think Dom just needs to let shit marinate, just like you do. Most importantly though," Shadow framed Letty's face and continued pointedly: "When you get out there; DO NOT have an attitude." She smirked and continued.
"I know that's gonna be a big step for you, but remember you're the one that is asking for his forgiveness…let the shit that happened in the past, stay there. Don't bring it up…" she trailed off for a second and shrugged, looking like she was weighing a scenario out in her head and then sighed, still holding Letty's face. "But, if he asks about why you left; you can't NOT tell him. So, if he wants answers: well, then go with your heart, but let him be the one to bring it up." Letty chuckled a little and took shadow's hands off her face and then stretched her jaw, touching her own cheeks. "Um…thanks mom. But I think I can handle it." Shadow paused and laughed shyly. "Well of course you can Let, but I know you well enough to know…sometimes you sabotage shit yourself so you don't have to deal with it, so don't do it this time. Stick! You guys need to work this out If you still love him. Trust me things are going to get crazy and when they do…don't run. What are we gonna do?" she asked Letty as if she were her pep coach.
Letty raised one eyebrow and answered in more of a questioning tone. "STICK?" Shadow smiled big and cheered. "YES!" then she looked around, checked her watch…then picked up her phone and started going through it pressing buttons. Letty backed up a little and looked so confused thinking, this girl is nuts. Shadow looked back up after a minute and grinned. "I'm going to text him all your info and …well, You know what….I'm just gonna have to go with you. I'm free the next two weeks. And I'll just tell Rico to find somebody to work my shifts." Letty smiled in relief. "Wow…really. You'd do that for me Tracey….go all the way to Mexico?" shadow smiled sweetly and pulled Letty up off the bed and hugged her. "Of course I would...all the way to Mexico. Besides, I've been dying to meet this man." Letty frowned a little and asked. "Wait, can you afford that right now?" Shadow coughed and looked down at the floor, turning to a walk out of the room and answered. "No, but you can." She winked at Letty, who sucked her teeth and grinned. "Typical." She blew a kiss Let's way and said she'd be back in the morning and with that she was headed downstairs and out the front door. Letty looked back at the clock…and sighed. She had wanted to sleep but now she needed to pack. She also needed to talk to Jr and tell him to packed also. She made her way to his door and opened it slowly and saw him sleeping and smiled to herself.
He was worth it all. After everything she'd been through, she'd do it over again just the same, if having Jr was the end result. She sat on the edge of the bed and felt tears prick her eyes. Letty caressed his cheek causing Dom to open his eyes slowly and then he sat up, startled to see his mom in near tears. "Mom Is something wrong?" she reassured him everything was ok and he relaxed and rubbed his eyes leaning back against the headboard. "So why did you wake me up?" Letty felt her nerve failing a little but still spoke. "You know I haven't really talked about your father…but I think you're old enough to make your own decisions on whether or not you want him apart of your life. I wasn't purposely trying to keep you from him….but bringing it up seemed to get harder and harder every year. I just didn't want you to hate me." she gazed down at her hands and stopped speaking for a second.
Jr was fully awake now and sat completely still, nearly holding his breath anxiously awaiting his mom's next words, but he could tell this was hard for her so he touched her hand and said he could never hate her. "Mom…I've missed not having a dad in my life, but It's ok. You're a cool mom. And I'm not angry at you for whatever reason you think I should be. I know it takes two…and it's not like he came looking for me either. You were just trying to protect me and how can I hate you for that?" Letty let a tear spill over and she swiped it away before pulling her son into a hug. "I'm so happy you're not mad at me. but, really there was no bad thing that your father ever did; At least not concerning you. I never got the chance to tell him I was pregnant. He never looked for you because he didn't know about you." Dom's face expression was hard to read…he looked down and didn't know if he wanted to frown or smile in relief from knowing his dad hadn't rejected him after all.
Letty rubbed her hand over his buzzed hair and sighed. "I called him." Jr's head shot up and his eyes were wide as he inquired. "And?" she grinned. "He's excited about meeting you. He offered to fly us out tomorrow morning. That's the reason I woke you. You can pack or ill do it if you want." Even though his lips stayed taught, Dom couldn't hide the smile behind his eyes. His mom saw this and smiled. "You're finally gonna meet your dad kiddo. I know this is what you've been wanting." Jr nodded and blinked a couple times and let out a little suppressed whimper.
"I just can't believe it's finally going to happen mom. I mean, I wanted it to, but in the back of my mind I had accepted that I'd never have a dad to play ball with and work on a car engine with, or tell me about girls….I just-." I silent tear slipped down his cheek and he dropped his head in his hands and was quiet for a minute, then he looked up racking one hand over his face just like his father always did. Letty kissed his forehead and hugged him again, holding him to her. "Aww baby, I'm sorry. I had no idea….but that's not the case anymore ok?" Letty decided to lighten the mood by adding. "And guess what Jr, nobody knows an engine better than your dad." they both laughed and Dom pulled back wiping his face with his t-shirt. "Really?"
Letty told him, how big Dom use to be the king street racer back in California and how everyone had wanted a piece of him. She told Jr about the garage and his aunt and his two burly, goofy uncles. After she had finished about an hour later, he took a deep breath looking around his room and said "Okay mom, I gotta pack!" and with that he jumped out bed and started rummaging through his stuff, throwing random shorts and shirts and boxers on his bed. Letty shook her head and pinched him on the side of his stomach, playfully. "ey…try to get some sleep ok?" Dom nodded and went back to packing. She was walking out the door when she heard Dom ask behind her. "Mom, do you think he'll like me?" Letty turned to her son and smiled. "He's gonna love you baby…" Jr nodded, gazing off into his own thoughts and had a smile so big it could have reached the stars.
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Thank You so much for all the ALERTS and FAV story! I'm honored. Glad you all are enjoying it.
Alex_diesel