There in the back of the bar sat a lone man bald headed broad shouldered head bent down over his beer.
It was hard to tell if it was him or not.
"Dominic?" Mia asked the man.
"You talking to me?" Came his voice
Mia could tell by the voice it was not him.
"Never mind sir I thought you were somebody else." Mia said on the verge of tears
The man nodded his head and went back to drinking his beer with his head down.
"Not him guys." Mia said as she walked toward them.
Mia felt strong arms wrap around her and smelt the cologne and knew it was Taylor.
"oh Tay what am I gonna do?" Mia said as she turned and placed her head on his shoulder.
Taylor being the type of man he was didn't say anything just held her for a few moments.
The drive back to L.A. was no different than the drive to Oklahoma City they took turns and arrived home in no time. Mia went to get little Mia and then home.
"Mia I am sorry it was not your papa." Auntie Mia said holding back tears. Little Mia just looked at the ground not meeting her eyes her little heart was breaking.
The next morning came early all of them were tired but they got up and started the day. At about noon Little Mia came running into the kitchen almost running headlong into Taylor.
"Auntie Mia Auntie Mia Papa is home!!!!!!!!!" Little Mia Squeeled in delight.
"What?" Mia asked shocked
Just then the front door opened and in walked Dominic his hair had grown back and he had a full
beard but it was Dominic.Taylor sat not saying a word just staring at the pepsi bottle infront of him.
Mia stood staring at him in total shock.
"Papa your finally home!!!!!!!!!!" Little Mia shouted and ran and jumping on her papa.
"I have missed you so much papa." Little Mia said hugging him tight.
"I missed you too." Dominic said holding her like he was scared to let her go.
Auntie Mia slammed the pot down on the stove she was cooking lunch in and took Little Mia by the arm and said.
"Mia go up to your room we adults have to talk." Mia said sternly
Little Mia got down from her dads arms and slowly headed up the stairs looking behind her as she went.After she went into her room the fight began.
"You know what big brother I am tired of you doing this crap!!!!!!!"Mia yelled in anger
Dominic didn't say a word.
"When you get scared or hurt or some other crap you take off and leave us here to pick up the mess after you!!!!!!!!!!" Mia shouted in anger
Dominic still didn't say a word.
Mia went on for along time yelling about him leaving and leaving his daughter and he didn't say aword.
"Are you not going to say anything?" Mia asked
"Your right Mia I have nothing to say in my defense I was wrong."
All the while Taylor sat at the kitchen table getting madder and madder he pushed himself away from the table and walked into the living room. Taylor had always been the type of man who never really said much but when he did speak he said what he meant and meant what he said.
Mia felt him stand behind her and she moved out of his way almost by instinct.
"Dominic?" Asked Taylor
"Yeah."
"Good."
With that Taylor punched Dominic right sqaure in the face knocking him backwards he caught his balance.
"Where have you been?" Taylor asked in a calm voice
"I have been driving across country."
Taylor shook his head in disgust and punched him in the face again this time Dom didn't catch his balance and hit the floor.
Dominic jumped back to his feet and the fight was on. Both men punching each other. Finally the fight was stopped by Mia screaming.
"Stop it you two,just knock it off!!!!!!!!!!!" Mia shouted through tears.
"Taylor please leave I'll call you tonight or tomarrow." Mia said
Taylor shook his head in a yes fashion and left the house.
"Dominic!!!!" Mia shouted with her hands on her hips
"What Mia?"
"What do you mean you have been driving across country?"
"When I left here I didn't know what to do I was not even thinking,my heart was broken and I just could not take anymore so I left not knowing what to do,all I knew was I needed to go."
"Why Dom what about us,what about your daughter what about me?"
"I don't know Mia I just know I needed to go."
"Driving across country,just driving?" Mia asked
"No I spent three months in a mental hosptial in Texas,I drove around the country for two weeks then I checked myself into the hosptial."
"Seriously?"
"yes,I needed help and I could not come back until I got it."
"What did you do after you got out?"
"I made my way slowly back here."
Mia got up from the couch and turned to walk up the stairs
"I hope your daughter understands she has really needed you,I'm gonna send her down to you."
Mia knocked on Little Mia's door.
"yes?"
"Mia you need to go and talk to your papa."
Mia jumped off the bed and ran downstairs and jumped on the couch beside her papa and hugged his neck and giggled with delight that her papa was home.
"Mia I need to talk with you."
"Ok papa I'm listening."
"Mia I left because I was hurt and didn't know how to handle it. I have been in a hosptial but I have also been driving around the country." Dominic said in a calm voice.
"Are you ok now."
"I'm doing much better but I have to take medicine."
"Is the medicine gonna make you good again?"
"I sure hope so."
"Papa I'm sorry if I made you leave because I cried so much when Selena and Taylor died."
When she said that Dominic took her in his arms and held her tight.
"No I left because I knew I was in trouble it had nothing to do with you,I went to the hospital so I could come back to you and be the papa you need,don't blame yourself for my leaving,I love you very very much."
"I love you too papa." Mia said hugging him tight
Auntie Mia stood watching from the top of the stairs she came down and put her arms around the both of them.
"I love you both very much." Mia said through tears.