Deporting Dominic (29 page)

“I will I promise Morgan. I love you very much. I want to be a good dad. This is still new to me. When I am not being a good dad please call me on it. Can you do that for me?”

Morgan nods her head up and down then gives Dominic a quick peck to the cheek.

“We love you dad,” she
whispered before walking to her room. I see Dominic’s hand clutch his chest in the same fashion he did on our wedding day. Morgan has literally touched his heart.

“I love you too,” he
said in an emotionally charged voice. I reach over and take one of his hands in mine giving it a quick squeeze.  Once Morgan shuts her bedroom door I slide the remaining glass of juice in Dominic’s direction. He takes the glass in his free hand and downs the juice. Still holding my hand he gets up taking me with him to put the glass in the sink. We walk hand in hand to our bedroom. Inside he frees me of my robe and we make love several times before drifting off to sleep. Thankfully the kids do not have camp in the morning so we sleep in. 

Over the next few days Dominic works hard on his apology to the family. He spends hours in talks with Charlie and Bryce to assure them of his intentions to be a good father. I think the emotional exchange between Morgan and Dominic worked to solidify their relationship. It takes a lot more work for Charlie to come around. I still have my reservations when it comes to Dominic discussing our marital discourse with Mackenzie. He understands that we are not up for discussion with his ex-girlfriends. I think that Dominic truly sees the error of his ways this past week. While the weeklong incident has provided us with an opportunity to speak our minds it has also strengthened our resolve as a family. Bryce is beyond happy to have his daddy back.

“Daddy please do not hurt my feelings again. You made me really sad when you were mean to mommy,” Bryce pointed out. 

“Bryce, my son, I am so sorry that I was mean to you. I was being a jerk and it will not happen again.”

“You were not being a man daddy and you know better.”

Bryce gave Dominic the biggest hug. Bryce then proceeded to make up for lost time by following Dominic wherever he went. If Dominic was going to swim practice he wanted to be right there with him, as did Charlie.
Father Foster was happy to see us at Mass each week as a family unit. We set up family activities for the remainder of the summer that included bowling, movie afternoons, hiking, and bike riding. The activities were fun but more importantly they brought us closer together as a family.

“Hello,” Dominic said answering his cell phone. “What’s up Coach Anderson?”

I could not hear what the coach had to say but from the looks of Dominic’s huge brown eyes it was something extraordinary. Dominic closed the phone and dropped to his knees. I could see tears streaming down his cheeks as he began his speechless prayer.

“Baby what is it please tell me
,” I begged dropping to my knees in front of him. Thankfully we just walked into the apartment from a spontaneous date in the afternoon. 

“
Andre Webster’s appendix ruptured causing an infection. He is going to be okay but he is not going to make it to Beijing. My scores qualified me for three events plus a potential spot on the 400 meter relay team,” he stammered. “We are going to Beijing.”

Dominic
grabbed my hand forcing me to my feet. The strong embrace was almost enough to crush my ribs but I didn’t say anything. I was so happy for him but I new the next news out of my mouth would crush him.

“That’s amazing Dominic but I am not going to Beijing with you,” I stammer
ed. 

“What? Sammie why not? What’s wrong?”

He is bewildered as he releases our embrace.

“After what happened in Omaha I can’t risk our relationship. The kids and I will root for you
from home, watching it on television.”

“Samantha
, I thought we were okay. You said you forgave me.”

“I have forgiven you but I have not forgotten. Dominic that was a nightmare of a week and I do not want to relive it.”

“You don’t believe I will be successful in Beijing?” Dominic asked and he is absolutely crushed. I can see the pain in his eyes as he tries desperately to convince me to change my mind.

“I know you will be
successful but I do not think I can be the support you need there.”

“You’re the only support I need. If it’s about money I
will take out a loan to cover our expenses. Please Sammie, I need you.” Dominic wraps me up in another hug hoping to change my mind.

“I am so happy for you but I can’t go Dominic. This marriage means more to me than your quest for Olympic fame. I am not willing to risk it.”

I pull away and walk to the bedroom. The thought of being away from him for two whole weeks is terrifying.

“Fine then, I guess I am
not going either,” he announced. I think he is just calling my bluff but he takes out his cell phone and dials the coach’s number. I quickly race to his side closing the phone before he answers.

“You are going Dominic. This is all that you have dreamed of so please go.” 

I cover his hand holding the phone with both my hands as I try to kiss him but he pulls away.

“No
you don’t get it do you Sammie? I screwed up a few weeks ago I know that but I guess you haven’t been listening to me since then. I meant what I said. This family means more to me than the Olympics. I will not make the same mistake twice and put it before my family. If you still need more time to learn to trust my feelings for you and our family then we will not go. Sammie, I would be worthless in Beijing without you there.”

The kids walk into the apartment from their outdoor adventures just in time to hear the semi-good news. Morgan goes nuts jumping up and down squealing with delight. Charlie and Bryce take turns alternating high fives Dominic’s way. 

“Thanks guys but I am not going,” he declares.

“What? Why not? Are you crazy this is your dream,” Morgan questions instantly.

“Sammie does not trust me enough to go. I will not do well without my wife by my side.”

“Mom, why aren’t you going?” Charlie
asked raising an eyebrow.  Morgan turns to me folding her arms while Bryce just looks lost.

“I am not going to risk my marriage again. If Dominic flipped out at the trials when he didn’t make it imag
ine the explosion if he doesn’t medal at the Olympics,” I defend my decision.

“Mom this is different. If you don’t make the trials you can’t go. If you get to go just going is the amazing part.” Morgan explained no longer jumping up and down or squealing for that matter.

“Okay I am done discussing this. Dominic is going to Beijing we should go out and celebrate.”

Dominic took one look at me to see if I was joking I presumed. When I gave no indication of changing my answer he stormed out of the room to our bedroom. 

“Mom, you know how much this means to him. Maybe you can make an exception just this once,” Charlie said putting up his index finger.

“This discussion is over. I am not going to Beijing. I will not lose my husband if he doesn’t win,” I yell
ed for all to hear. Morgan jumps back as I yell while Bryce ducks behind Charlie.

Emerging from the room Dominic retorts back, “You have no faith in me
? I have lost your support as my number one fan. Then there really is no sense in me going if that’s the case.”

“Stop this ganging up on me. I have my reasons and they are legitimate. I am not the bad
guy here. So lets go celebrate. This is a good thing remember.” I try to rally the troops but they just glare at me instead.

“Do you think I have a shot in Beijing? Do you believe in me Sammie?”

The kids take this as their cue to go to their respective rooms.

“I have faith that you will do your absolute best Dominic.”

“That’s not what I asked you, now answer the questions.”

“I think you have a shot in Beijing but I thought you had a shot in Omaha too. I was so wrong and it almost cost us, well us. I can’t risk that again.”

“Stop saying that Sammie. What’s the real reason you will not go to Beijing with me? You don’t think I have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning any of my events.”

I grab my purse and walk right out of the apartment. Dominic does not follow me when I do.
The minivan is my ultimate destination. I drive around for a few hours just needing to clear my head. I have every faith in his abilities but I can’t bring myself to go. I know to them it looked like I forgave him right away but I didn’t. It was hard to start trusting him again. He hurt me so badly with his words, his actions, and talking to Mackenzie about our problems instead of me.  I head to the aquatic center bleachers, his favorite spot, as the sun sets. I know I need to go with him but I don’t know how to support him if he doesn’t win a medal. I didn’t know how to support him after Omaha. I failed so bad that my kids suffered as well as myself.

The smell of pizza hits me when I walk back into the apartment. The kids and Dominic are seated around the table talking and eating. They pause for a second to look at me as I stomp off to our bedroom. The conversation resumes when I shut my bedroom door. I lie down on the bed eventually drifting off to sleep. My mind and body is too tired to argue with anyone right now. 

“Sammie let me hold you please,” Dominic whispered against my ear. I hear the words but they take a moment to process in my head. I sit up but Dominic pulls me back down to his arms. I inexplicably start to cry the moment I am in his arms.

“Dominic
, you hurt me so badly a few weeks ago,” I blubbered, “I thought you meant the things you said to me. I thought my heart was going to literally break in a million pieces. I do not ever want to experience that feeling again.”

“Shh baby it’s going to be okay. I know I hurt you with that awful choice of w
ords. I did not mean any of the things I said. I was just so angry and hurt I wanted everyone around me to feel as bad as I did.”

“Well you succeeded Dominic. You crushed me with those words about our
marriage being over and hurt the kids in the process.”

I wipe my nose in a most unladylike fashion with my jacket sleeve. 

“I wish I could take those words back Sammie but I can’t. I just need you to understand I went to a very dark place and I am never going back again. No matter what happens in Beijing, Sammie we will stay together. I want to experience this with my wife.”

“I want to be there for you but I am so afraid. This family means everything to me and I know you think your role here is small. The truth is I am strong because you lend me your str
ength. We are so good together…” I trailed off.  Dominic hovers over me looking down at my tear stained face.

“That’s why I need you with me. I am no good without you Sammie. I love you please come to Beijing with me.”

Dominic doesn’t wait for my final answer instead he covers each of my tears in kisses. By the time he is finished with the tears on my neck I am breathless. With a few tugs I am out of my university jacket. Dominic trails kisses up and down each of my bare arms. I hold his face in my hands and he kisses my palms one at a time. I smile up at him as I smooth down his eyebrows with my thumbs. My index finger outlines his facial features starting with his forehead down to the base of his neck. Balancing on his elbows he shifts some of his weight onto me. I can feel his arousal pressed against my thigh.

Slowly he lifts the t-shirt until my breasts are fully exposed. The shirt is next to join the discarded jacket. I watch my husband gather a handful of breast in each hand gorging on my perky nipples.
My shorts join my other clothes as does everything Dominic is wearing. In the middle of our bed Dominic spreads my legs apart. His fingers touch me intimately before he utilizes his wonderful tongue to lap up my body’s liquid response.  I wordlessly recoil from the sensations before a moan escapes my mouth.

Putting the finger he touched me with a moment ago
he said, “Shh the boys are watching a movie.”

I clamp
ed my mouth shut when he goes back to his handy oral work. It must be the fact that this is a special occasion because his tongue is exploring all things below my waist. I put a pillow over my face to stifle my desire to scream. My body viciously trembles as my orgasm metaphorically tears through me. Dominic wastes no time getting inside me to reap the pleasure as my body clenches around his erection. The weight of his body feels amazing as we roll around on the bed. Eventually we are wrapped up in the sheets slowly inching our way to a wonderful simultaneous orgasm.

“I need this in Beijing. I need you in Beijing. I can’t be away from you for two weeks,” Dominic
whispered seductively in my ear. I moaned as he continued his intense lovemaking.

“I can’t be without you for two weeks baby,” I whine
d. 

“Come with me,” he
said with a low growl. Dominic buries his head in the crook of my neck as we explode together. My back arches off the bed as the sweet sensations race up and down my spine.

“Daddy, are you hurting my mommy?” Bryce’s sweet curious voice
asked standing in our bedroom doorway. Charlie is standing behind him as if watching a train wreck, unable to look away.  I immediately scramble for extra cover as my breasts are completely exposed. Dominic is useless as the last remnants of his orgasm keep him anchored inside me.