Chapter 5
He was warm. He could feel the length of her back molded to his chest and his free arm rested on top of her ever growing belly as they were nestled under the covers. Dante could tell she was still asleep by her deep rythmic breathing. Everything about her was soft, and he could smell the fragrance of her shampoo as he nuzzled his head closer on the pillow. Dante opened his eyes to the bright whiteness of sunshine reflecting off the snow as it peeked through the blinds. He remembered now. It was Christmas morning, and he had just woken from one hell of a dream.
The sadness of the nightmare was melting away now. It had no power against the feeling of love and contentment he felt lying next to Lulu. This happiness was real and he held it in his arms every night. He knew the dream had been about Brenda, but he couldn't figure out why. Dante hadn't thought of her since the day she walked out on Sonny five years ago, except to notice everyone's lives had been less dramatic since then. He knew his dream wasn't far off from what his life could have been had he married her and helped her raise the baby back in 2007. Thankfully that never happened, and it took him years to realize the only person Brenda needed saving from was Brenda. That slow realization almost cost him his relationship with Lulu. Never since that day had he taken her for granted. Out of those troubled waters was born a relationship built on complete honesty and trust. Brenda was a picture in a magazine, once closed, forgotten forever. Lulu was his best friend, his wife and the mother of his children who was now waking up beside him.
"Merry Christmas baby" Dante said as he kissed her on the shoulder.
"Merry Christmas to you. How are you feeling? That cold medicine really knocked you out last night. I could have used your help putting together a certain someone's train table."
"Oh man, I'm so sorry. I guess that stuff knocked me out cold. Did you get it set up ok?"
"It's taken care of. Dominic is going to love it. Hey, babe, do you remember me telling you about the call we got from Sonny last night?"
"No, what? Did I miss his yearly guilt trip offering of Christmas brunch at the Corinthos mansion?"
"You don't remember do you?" Lulu said with a suddenly serious look on her face.
"No I don't. Please tell me no one is shot or pregnant."
"Dante, it's Brenda. She died in an airplane crash in the Alps early yesterday morning. Sonny got word late last night and called to let us know. I tried to tell you last night, but you were already half asleep when I hung up with him. I wasn't sure if it registered or not. "
"Brenda's dead?"
"Yeah, six people on the private jet, and no one survived."
"How is he taking it?"
"I think he was still in shock when he called. You probably should call him just to see how he's doing."
Just as Dante was reaching for the phone, the pitter patter of little bare feet against a hardwood floor came racing down the hallway and into the bedroom.
"Mommy, Daddy, please get up! Time for presents!" chanted little Dominic as he simultaneously crawled up the side of the bed. Dante reached out for him and pulled him into a bear hug.
"We need to go see what Santa brought!" Lulu said with a beaming smile on her face.
"Let's gooooo!" cried the little boy, breaking free of his daddy's grasp.
Lulu looked at Dante and motioned to the phone on the nightstand.
"Not now...it can wait. I've got a family to spend Christmas with. I've wasted too much time worrying about Brenda and Sonny in the past. This is our time now."
Dante couldn't muster up much sadness for two people that had always made each other miserable. He would talk to Sonny later, much later. Right now he had his own little piece of heaven to enjoy.