A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. You have now made this my #1 reviewed story. Am so happy!!!!!
Also, Anne, you make a good point, but Letty is still hurt by the way T.J acted towards her a few chapters ago and also at the time, has that kind of motherly feeling, where nothing matters but making your kid happy. If she's gonna get upset, it'll be later on, when she's alone. Letty doesn't really seem like the kind of girl who would publicly freak anyway. She always appeared to me as the kind who bottles stuff up, until she's alone. But then that's just my opinion.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the car, as they drove towards the hospital. Finally, Letty spoke.
"So, I'm guessing you don't know who I am ?"
Lee looked unusually small, curled up in the passenger seat. She pushed some of her long, dark hair behind her ears and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yeah, I do."
Her voice was quiet, but her words hung in the air.
"Oh. I just thought your dad had never said anything."
"He doesn't normally. But, I asked him, so he told me."
"Oh."
There was another long silence and then Lee spoke again.
"He never told me why you left though. No one will tell me that. But, if you don't mind me asking, why did you ?"
Letty bit her lip, before sliding her sunglasses up on her head and looking at her youngest child.
"I don't really know. Even if I did, there's no real excuse for hurting all of you like that. All I can tell you is I'm sorry and now, seeing you and T.J all grown up, I wish I had done things differently."
Lee nodded, but turned away so she was staring out the window, instead of looking at Letty.
"Y'know, he still likes you."
Lee's back was still facing Letty, but she spoke anyway.
"What ?"
"My papi. He still likes you."
Lee slid back around in the seat and looked at her.
"How do you know ?"
The girl shrugged. "I can just tell. There's certain things that you can always tell about him. Like whether he likes someone or not."
Letty nodded and asked the one question that had been on her mind, since she had last seen Dom.
"I know this is probably going to sound really rude, but has your dad been like, y'know dating anyone ?"
"Not that I know of. Most of the girls that are over at the house are my uncle Leon's racer chicks. But other than that, there's pretty much no on else. Why ?"
"No reason."
Lee smiled mischievously. "You still like him, don't you ?"
Letty was shocked that she could tell. "No !"
Lee raised an eyebrow and stared a bit more intensely at her.
"Maybe," another stare. "Yes."
"You shouldn't try to lie to me. I know how to read people really well. No one can lie without me knowing."
Letty smiled as well, as they pulled up in the parking lot of the hospital. She noticed though that the minute Lee had seen the large stucco building, she had gone silent and huddled even further into the seat.
"Hey, you going to be okay or do you want to wait a minute ?"
Lee shook her head and uncurled her legs. "No. I have to be with my brother. He needs me."
"Okay."
They both got out of the car, but Letty could tell that Lee was reluctant to go inside. Slipping a friendly arm around the younger girl's shoulders, she led her into the hospital.
Sorry so short, but there will be a longer chapter next time. Just had to establish the slight bond between Letty and Lee.
Next time there is a confrontation between Lee and T.J and Letty and Dom get another chance to talk.