Just a filler. Thanks to the folks reading.

Chapter 25

Months passed like days, but I had barely noticed. Antonio was now 8 months and before I knew it my 28th birthday was here. Mia was throwing me a "surprise" Barbeque this Saturday but I let on like I had no idea because I knew it would crush her feelings if she found out I was on to her. She loved throwing parties it was her forte. Me on the other hand, I hated parties. I hated people giving me false smiles and best wishes when they didn't really give two shits about me, they just showed up for the free food and beer.

I stared at myself in the mirror while I brushed my hair. I leaned in closer and saw the lines around my lips and eyes were barely visible but I could see them…I was getting older. That fact didn't scare me it just made remember how lucky I was to still be here. My mom had died when she was 22 and my dad when he was 30. It seemed everyone around me or in my life had always died. My parents, my cousins, Jesse and my daughter; Damn…it still hurts to think about it, now that I knew the truth. I wondered about Nicole and where she had disappeared to. I had hired a PI to find her but she fell off the grid two months after Antionio was born.

With all Nicole's money and resources, she could stay hidden forever if she wanted to but I was hoping that she'd reemerge sometime. I kept in contact with Gordon, the private detective, just in case. I had countless dreams about murdering her and the images never made me uncomfortable. Her life was going to be mine. I hadn't thought much about how I'd feel after killing someone but after my close encounter with Keith, I knew I could do it. I knew I could watch Nicole take her last breath and I wouldn't lose a wink of sleep over it. I was just waiting for my opportunity.

"Hey baby," I gasped a little when I saw Dom's reflection behind me. He was leaning against the doorway holding Antonio who was hell bent on fitting this rectangular toy into his mouth even though it was apparent it would never fit. I smiled and kissed them both. "Hey." I sidestepped them and walked out the bathroom but Dom caught my arm and gently tugged me back to him. He had that typical "Dominic's-concerned" expression on his face, "Are you okay?" I nodded, rising on my tip-toes to kiss his lips reassuringly. "I'm fine," I lied.

When I swung back around I could feel Dom's gaze on me. Watching every little move I made. I know for a fact he wasn't buying my bullshit. I threw on an old t-shirt and some ripped blue jeans and grabbed my keys. "I'm gonna go the garage for a little while Okay? You cool with Toni?" Dom narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head, handed our son over. "I can't today. I promised Mia I'd help her with…something." I knew he was talking about my party. I laughed and rolled my eyes. "Okay. I'll take him. You have fun with Mia." Dom went in the restroom and turned on the shower. I was thankful he didn't try to dig out my secret like he usually does. I could feel that he wanted to but Dom decided to leave well enough alone for now and I was grateful.

I descended the stairs and jumped down the last step and Antonio giggled. I saw Leon in the kitchen but didn't bother scanning for anybody else. I just wanted to get outta here. I picked up Toni's diaper bag and walked out the door. When I got to the garage I saw Vince underneath a blue Gran Torino. Nice. I kicked his foot and he yelled. "Owe, who the fuck?" he quickly rolled out looking mad as hell but then relaxed, "Oh it's you. Wassup Let. Hey little man." I smiled at Toni as he attempted to wave. "Where's Welsh?"I asked nonchalantly. Vince grunted and shrugged "I don't know," sliding back under the car. I bent down and pulled his leg, dragging him out again. "I'm trying to work here." I ignored his attitude and asked. "You don't know where your fiancée is?" Vince sat up and put down his wrench. "NO Letty. That woman never tells me anything. I don't ever know where she's going. She just leaves."

Yeah, that sounded like Welsh. I figured she was doing something involving her wedding planning and was sure she wasn't cheating on Vince but she was still gonna do what she wanted to do regardless of being in a relationship. This had always bothered Vince but today he seemed a little more on edge than usual. "Trouble in Paradise V?" He let out a low sarcastic chuckle but ignored my question and said. "I could ask you the same thing."

I was a little taken back by his statement. I stood up and unconsciously back away. "What? What do mean?" He smirked and shook his head. "Can I be honest Let?" I shifted Toni to my right and glared down at Vince. "How honest?" he cleared his throat and rested his arms on his knees. "the kind of honest you're not gonna like." I clinched my jaw but nodded. "let's hear it."

"You haven't seemed the same since Antonio was born. I Mean, you smile with your son and that's great n' all but you don't really hang out with Welsh anymore; you're never around to help her with the wedding shit. Which I know pisses her off, so you create a problem for me! And here Mia's about to drop her baby any moment but you never talk to her about it. Plus I see you with Dom…and it's like you guys seem tense. I never asked him about it cuz it aint my business but since you wanna bring my shit up, ima call you on yours. Anyway, I just care about you being happy Letty. And You just don't seem like you're really 'in' all this shit happening around you. You're distant. You never used to be like that."

Wow, I had never really heard V give so much insight in one comment before. I never thought he'd even care to notice how different my behavior was, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. Ever since I found out about Nicole and searched out Gordon. I had been very distracted. Better yet, obsessed with finding Nicole, but I was missing out on everything else. My family's lives; my best friend was getting married and I hadn't really found the time to help her and she has always been there for me. I stared at my sons face while trying to piece my thoughts together. His big green eyes stared back at me and he reached out and grabbed my nose.

I gave him a half-hearted smile and glanced back at Vince. "I'm sorry. You're right V." It wouldn't hurt me to admit he was correct but I wasn't going to tell him why. I waited for him to inquire about the reasoning behind all my actions but he was silent. It seemed my apology and admission was enough and he smiled, laid down on the crawler and slide back under the Torino.

I put Toni in his high chair and threw on some coveralls and started doing some body work on a '94 Toyota Supra twin turbo. I hadn't really been working in the garage until after I had Toni, but it was like riding a bike and it all came back to me. I felt most at ease when I was working on cars. Like nothing else mattered…and I didn't have to think about all the shit that was scratching around in my brain stressing me out and driving me slowly insane.

Antonio started getting fussy about an hour later, so I stopped and went to wash my hands at the huge deep sink in the corner of the garage. "Hold on papi. Im coming." But before I grabbed him Vince ran out from the office and yelled. "I got him." I dried my hands watching V gently bounce Toni up and down. I crossed my arms and flopped down on the old brown couch against the wall. I could see he was going to be a good daddy. Which I hadn't expected; seeing this soft side of Vince was a treat. He loved Antonio and I knew he couldn't wait to have his own kids.

Toni slowly stopped whining and laid his head on Vince's shoulder. V rocked him till his eyes closed. "Wow, did you do that all on your own?" we both glanced towards the front door to see Welsh with two shopping bags on her arms and a McDonalds' bag in her hand. Vince complained, "Shh..he just fell asleep man. Be quiet." Welsh quietly made her way to the office, breezing right past me without saying hi. I deserved that; I wasn't even mad she ignored me. I let out a long sigh and noticed V eyeing me to go talk to her. I gave him the HAND, urging him to mind his business.

I was going to talk to her, but should I tell her everything? If anyone should know, It should be Welsh. She was there when it all happened. I wanted to tell her but I didn't want to apologize. I mean, I felt sorry, I feel sorry over a lot of things but I HATED saying it. I inched myself off the couch and dragged my feet to the office. I saw her going through her bags of clothes and cleared my throat. She glanced over her shoulder and then rolled her eyes back to what she was doing.

"Oh goody, Letty has decided to grace me with her presence." She muttered, not looking at me. I sucked my teeth and went in, closing the door. "Are you really going to be the like that. Come on. You know why I came in here." Welsh stopped and coyly replied. "I have no idea, why don't you tell me." I groaned and sat on the edge of Dom's desk. "Okay. You know I'm sorry. I've been a shit. But you know I love you and I'm sorry I haven't been helping you with everything. I've just really been somewhere else mentally. There's a lot going on that I haven't shared with anybody."

Welsh cocked an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Okay. I forgive and I bite…what's going on?" I took a deep breath and revealed the news of Nicole murdering my baby and hiring the private eye to find her. Welsh gasped and yelled. "You gotta be FUCKING kidding me! Oh I want IN!"

"Okay but don't say anything to anybody." Welsh agreed. "Girl you know I wont but you're gonna tell Dom right. I mean, he should know." I nodded hesitantly. "Yah, yah of course I'm going to tell him. I just need more time." There was the eyebrow cock again. "Time for what Let?" I shrugged. "I don't know…" I said honestly. Welsh sat down beside me on the desk. "Just trust him with it Letty. I don't think he'll disappoint. Besides that's the whole point of being with somebody, to share burdens…and bills!" We both laughed for a second and then hugged each other. I was glad we were okay and that she knew what was going on in my life. It felt great to have my friend back and to laugh. "I'm going to tell Dom, but after the barbeque."

Welsh faked a surprise look with shifty eyes. "What barbeque? I have no clue what you're referring to and my lips are sealed." I smiled and hopped off the desk. "It's good to have you back Welsh." She grinned. "It's good to be back. Now…whenever this Gordon contacts you…I'm the first one you call. We are taking that bitch down."