Second Chance at Love (Love Conquers All) (11 page)

Giving her a tight squeeze and a kiss on the nose, he accepted her apology. “I think we better get out there. Ashley and Kyle think you’re gonna kick me out. I owe the kids an apology as well. I don’t want them to ever feel they’re not important to me.”

He desperately wished he could tell her that her children were more than just important to him. He wanted to tell Karen he loved them. But he didn’t want to scare her off just when he had gotten back into her good graces.

Smiling up at Dom, Karen swallowed the thick lump forming in her throat. The tenderness of his voice, the truth in his eyes, told her indeed how much he cared for the children. Standing on the tips of her toes she gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. She wanted to tell him how much she appreciated him, but was too afraid to speak for fear of crying like a baby. Instead she tugged on his hand. “Come on, let’s go celebrate our first Christmas together.”

And celebrate they did. After trimming the tree, Karen had Dom help her bring in the gifts she had hidden in the garage to place under the tree. Next they feasted on their very non-traditional Christmas Eve dinner. When they heard a knock at the door, Karen and the children couldn’t believe Janet and Dominic had dropped by to help them celebrate their first special holiday together. Alice and Kyle were so happy to see the older couple they nearly knocked them over as they excitedly charged them, throwing their arms around them. Dominic and Janet both laughed as they accepted the hugs. “Where’s Zoe?” Ashley asked as she held onto Janet’s slim waist.

“She’s spending Christmas Eve with her other grandmother.” Ashley dropped her head. Although Zoe was a few years younger, she enjoyed playing with her. Having Zoe around was like having a sister. Smiling, Janet tilted Ashley’s chin so she could look into her sad little face. “Oh, honey, don’t be sad. Zoe will be at your Aunt Summer and Uncle Nick’s house tomorrow for Christmas dinner with Aunt Ava and Uncle Langston.”

Ashley’s face lit up in a smile.

“That’s much better,” Janet said as she kissed the girl’s forehead.

Even though Karen was thrilled with their surprised visit, she became a little uneasy when Janet nudged Dominic. “You and Dom go on out to the car and get the kids’ gifts before they get too cold.”

Oh dear God, they better not bring any dogs or cats up in here,
Karen thought as she smiled saying, “Oh boy, gifts that can’t get too cold. I wonder what they could be.” At times she had to stay on Ashley and Kyle to clean up behind themselves. Having them to be responsible for taking care of a cat or dog was out of the question.

Janet turned to Karen, interrupting her thought. “Dom dropped the kids’ gifts off at our house earlier. He didn’t want to take them with him while he went with his father to pick out a tree. I hope you don’t mind us just showing up like this.”

Karen hugged the older woman. “Not at all.” Smiling she added, “I’m glad you came.”

The children went crazy when Dom and his dad stepped outside and came back carrying two cages.
Oh God,
Karen thought, taking a deep breath. Inside the white cage was a yellow and light green parakeet for Ashley. Inside the square metal cage, a plump gerbil ran around and around on a wheel for Kyle.

Karen didn’t know if she should continue to smile or faint. The bird was fine to have as a pet; it actually was kind of cute. But the rodent running on the wheel made her stomach queasy. Oh how she wished it had been a dog or cat. She was terrified of mice or any little furry creatures resembling them.

“Cool! A gerbil! I want to hold it!” Kyle’s excitement was infectious as he eagerly unlatched the cage taking the gerbil out. All the adults in the room laughed as the little boy giggled as the little creature scurried up his arm to his shoulder. All of them laughed that is, with the exception of Karen.

Not wanting her brother to have one up on her, Ashley opened her cage and stuck her finger in. “Come here birdie-birdie.” As if the parakeet understood her, it perched itself on Ashley’s finger. “Oh pretty bird,” the girl gushed as the bird turned its head from left to right as if it was modeling. Letting out a little chirp, the bird took off in flight, landing on a top branch of the Christmas tree.

“Wooooow!” Ashley and Kyle yelled as if they’d never seen a bird fly before. Janet ducked and squealed and Dominic let out a boisterous, deep belly laugh.

“Now, that was way cool! I wish my gerbil could fly.” Kyle mused as he craned his neck up to look at the bird in the tree.

“Silly, gerbils can’t fly. But I bet you could teach him to do some tricks.” Ashley commented as she gently stroked the top of the gerbil’s head.

Karen’s stomach continued to turn in knots. She could have sworn she was about to dry heave at the thought of that fat, little gerbil getting out of its cage. She nearly ran screaming from her own home at hearing Dom telling the kids that gerbils thrive better in pairs. She wanted to scream, “Noooooo!” when Kyle suggested he get another gerbil to keep the one he had company.

Noting the pale look on Karen’s face, Dom whispered in her ear, “Baby, what’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”

“Nothing.”

“You sure?”

“Mmm-hmm.” What did he expect her to say? She very well couldn’t tell him to take wild kingdom back to the pet store, now could she? Well, technically she could. After all this was her house. She paid the mortgage and bills every month, so if she said the little creatures had to go…oh, well.

Was she particularly thrilled with two more household additions? Of course not. But Ashley and Kyle were beyond ecstatic over their instant pet ownership. She would sit down and talk with them about their responsibilities of taking care of the critters. One slip up and the bird and rodent were out of there.

No, she wasn’t okay. It was written all over her face as the bird flew from the tree to land on a lamp shade. Maybe he had jumped the gun with buying the pets. He should have asked her permission before giving them to the kids. His intention had not been to overstep any boundaries, but to give in to every child’s dream of having a pet. He didn’t want to disappoint the kids by taking the pets away. If after talking to Karen later, she didn’t want the kids to have the pets, Dom reasoned he could always keep them at his place. That way hopefully the kids wouldn’t be too disappointed.

“We’ll talk later,” he promised as he kissed her temple.

Karen nodded her head. “Okay.”

Plopping down on the sofa, Karen laid her head back and closed her eyes. Today had been a zoo–literally and figuratively. But it was all good. The kids had gotten what they wanted. To have Dom spend the day with them as if they were a family. Karen smiled. It sure did feel like they were a family. When Gregory was alive, Christmas at his parents’ was pure misery. His family always acted as if she and the children were an intrusion. Karen was grateful the kids were too young to remember. They were used to having fun, festive holidays with their aunt Starr and newly extended family.

Having Dom to themselves had been wonderful. The entire time they trimmed the tree, sat down to the table to eat, and later opened a few gifts, she pretended for that space in time that Dom was her husband and the kids’ father. And even when Dominic and Janet unexpectedly showed up Karen hadn’t mind. In her mind they made the perfect in-laws and grandparents.

Karen was certain the kids felt the same way, too. She had never seen them so happy celebrating the holiday as she had today. If they hadn’t received one gift it would have been okay with them. Having Dom there with them was all the gift they needed or wanted. All she could do was hug her little boy to her bosom just before tucking him in when he smiled up at her saying, “Mommy, I hope Mr. Dom can spend every Christmas with us.” She had to blink back the tears because Ashley had pretty much echoed the same sentiment while she was tucking her in for bed.

Dom’s presence made it painfully clear how much the kids wanted a father. And not just any father, they wanted Dom. But did Dom want them? Karen wasn’t a fool. She overheard the single mothers talking at their children’s sporting events. Heard their stories of meeting men pretending to be interested in their children only to later find out they were only being nice to get them in the bed. And as soon as daylight peeked its rays through the dark sky, they were gone, like the night. For this very reason Karen had avoided dating. She didn’t want some creep using her kids to get to her.
But Dom’s no creep. He really loves your children,
the tiny voice in her head reminded her.

And he did love Ashley and Kyle. Karen could again feel the tugging in her heart when Ashley opened the tiny jewelry box and pulled out a gold pendent crown and chain that had
My Little Princess
engraved on it. The look of pure joy on her daughter’s face as she looked at Dom was one of love and adoration from a little girl to her father. When Dom opened his arms Ashley rushed right into his embrace as he hugged her like any father would hug his little girl. Her eyes filled up again remembering Kyle opening his gift box, pulling out a yellow hard hat custom-made to perfectly fit his head. “Aw man, this is the best gift ever!” Shoving the hat on his head, Kyle said “Thanks, Mr. Dom! Now I’m going to look just like you when I grow up and become an engineer!”

Dom gripped him up in gentle bear hug. “That’s my boy!” Ashley and Karen giggled at the two as they rough-housed on the floor.

Dom had hung back to talk with Kyle alone after Karen had tucked the child in for the night. Sitting down on the side of the twin bed covered in Spiderman sheets and a matching quilt, Dom smiled down at Kyle. “So did you pick out a name for your gerbil yet?”

Kyle rolled his eyes toward the ceiling as if in deep thought. “No, not yet.”

Lifting a thick brow, Dom questioned, “Not yet? Why not?”

“I dunno,” Kyle answered, hunching his slight shoulders. Cocking his head to the side on his pillow, he asked, “Mr. Dom, is it a boy or girl gerbil?”

Uh-oh.
Dom rubbed the stubble on his chin. “You know, I’ll have to call the pet store to find out.”

Kyle smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. “How can I name it when I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Chuckling, Dom agreed. “Yeah, you got a point there, little man. I tell you what. Let me check the papers from the pet shop and I’ll let you know tomorrow.” Dom stuck his hand out. “Deal?” Kyle smiled as he placed his much smaller inside of Dom’s, giving him a vigorous handshake. “Deal!”

For the next few minutes the two chatted about the usual: school, homework, Kyle’s behavior at home and at school, and the upcoming soccer season. After five minutes of talking Dom knew it was time to cut off the conversation when Kyle rubbed his eyes and started nodding off.

“Alright, little man, it’s time for you to go to bed before you get us both in trouble with your mom.”

“I know. Good night, Mr. Dom.” Kyle yawned, keeping his eyes closed as he settled further into his soft pillow.

Without much thought, Dom did to Kyle what his dad had done to him so many nights as a small child. Placing a tender kiss on the boy’s brow, Dom whispered, “Good night, son.”

Slowly standing, Dom quietly left the room and made his way down to the living room. Karen looked so peaceful sitting there with her head laid back and eyes closed. The tiny smile curving her lips was so darn adorable. He wanted nothing more than to passionately kiss it away.

Taking a seat next to her, he laid his head back until it was touching hers. “What are you smiling about?” The sound of his deep voice sent shivers through her. Just sitting and listening to him speak was enough to get her aroused.

“That crazy bird and wild gerbil you brought up in here.”

Dom laughed. “My bad.”

Karen sat up slightly, lifting a perfectly arched brow. “My bad? Sucker, that bird was flying all over the place like it was in the rain forest somewhere. And when that little mouse-looking thing jumped out of Kyle’s hand I thought your mother was going to have a heart attack.” Karen doubled over laughing. “I thought I was scared of furry little creepy crawlers, but when your mom jumped on your dad’s back, I lost it. I couldn’t help it.”

Dom was now laughing. It really was a sight to see. Janet had been fine, had even obliged Kyle by giving the gerbil two quick rubs on the head. But when that thing got loose and scurried in her direction, she nearly had another baby. Shortly after they captured the critter and placed it back in its cage, Janet announced it was time for them to get going.