Twist of Fate

by Witek, Barbara

  “Are you all right?” Francesca quietly asked. Dante continued to be the only one besides his crew who knew Kate was still alive. As much as he wanted to tell her the truth, he needed her to be strong in consoling Hope. When the time was right, when his men found her and were bringing her home, then he would tell his sister.

  “I’m fine. I just have a lot on my mind.”

  “If it is the business, maybe I can help? Katrina had introduced me to her staff back when I came for the opening. As long as no one has changed, I should do okay until you find a replacement.” She paused, paling slightly. “Oh, Dante, I did not mean that like it sounded.”

  “I know, and I would appreciate your help here as long as you can stay. There is no replacement for Katrina. We all just have to make adjustments.”

  “Daddy, you’re going to squeeze the ice-cream out of my tummy.” Hope squirmed in his arms.

  “Forgive me, sweetheart.” Dante loosened his hold but did not let her go.

  “Oh, no! Daddy, Bella has a boo-boo.” Hope’s bottom lip quivered as she thrust the doll up to his face.

  “Oh dear.” Francesca inspected the tear in the rag dolls dress that went through deep into the stuffing. “She must have gotten caught on the chair at the ice-cream parlor.”

  “What are we going to do? Mommy’s not here to fix Bella. She will have a boo-boo forever!” Tears flowed from Hope’s eyes as she buried her rosy cheeks into Dante’s neck and sobbed.

  “I’m sure we can fix her,” Francesca consoled while sending a worried glance at Dante.

  “Of course we can.”

  “No! Mommy always fixes Bella, and Mommy’s not here anymore. Poor Bella.”

  “Shh, angel, it’s all right,” Dante soothed. “We are in Mommy’s shop, and lots of magic happens here.”

  “Really?” Hope sniffed.

  “Yes.” Dante wiped a tear from his daughter’s cheek and caught the shadows of two men walking toward them. He immediately shifted Hope to his hip, keeping her protectively away from the strangers. They approached with no hesitation. “Gentlemen, can I help you with something?”

  “You know why we’re here.” The short, Latino man cracked his knuckles.

  “I’m afraid I don’t. I’ve never seen either of you before.” Dante looked to the man’s chubby co-hort. “I’m going to ask you to state your business or leave my property.”

  “Seems like you have something that doesn’t belong to you,” the Latino man rolled his neck and shoulders as if preparing for a fight.

  “Dante, what are they talking about?” Francesca asked with a hint of fear. Dante turned away from the men, keeping Hope at a safe distance and placed his palm on his sister’s shoulder. Adjusting Hope’s weight, he fished into his suit pocket then stuffed the small velvet pouch into the doll’s leg. “Everything is fine, Chessie. Why don’t you take Hope to see Irma and have her fix Bella?” Dante reluctantly handed his daughter over to his sister.

  “But Daddy...”

  “Its fine, baby,” Francesca crooned. “Irma is one of Mommy’s magic helpers. She will fix Bella as good as new. Come, let Daddy talk business.” She shot Dante a questioning gaze, obviously sensing something was not right. Only when he nodded an okay, did she take Hope’s tiny hand and lead her away toward the sewing area. Dante waited until they were out of ear shot before turning his wrath onto the men before him.

  “Who do you think you are, coming in here like this when I am with my family?” he seethed, his face a mere inches from the Latino.

  “You have ignored our calls, now we pay a visit.” The Latino slammed his fist into Dante’s gut. A man driving the forklift stopped, but Dante waved him off. There was no need to get everyone involved. This was his battle, and he would deal with it alone.

  “I’ve ignored your calls because I don’t have your property.”

  “You lie,” the overstuffed henchman shoved Dante in the chest. Dante smirked and tossed the man into the nearest chair.

  “Don’t touch me again, either of you, or you will pay dearly. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. You will get your property when our deal is complete. Now get the hell out.” Dante lifted his hand and within seconds guards appeared and escorted the men out of the warehouse.

  So this was how the game would play out. Dante rubbed his midsection¸ thankful the two thugs didn’t press him further. Carlo didn’t even know he took the diamonds, how on earth did these jokers figure it out? No matter, Dante planned on making sure things with Carlo’s Florida boys went off without a hitch. All the insurance he needed was now safe within Hope’s doll. If anyone went near his family, he wouldn’t think twice of killing them.

  Chapter Six

  Kate had spent most of the morning cleaning the house. She didn’t seem so overwhelmed with trying to remember and was learning not to over-think things. Ever since their fun-filled day in town, she’d felt closer to Sam. She was happy. Boy, was she happy.

  On a not-so-happy note, she’d been fending off recurring images of the dark man throughout the morning. He hadn’t popped up in quite a while, but today was different. Was her newfound happiness with Sam the cause of these sudden visions? So much for believing he was an old flame of sorts.

  The dark man was quite handsome, in a mysterious sort of way, with his espresso brown eyes and thick curly hair. Something about those eyes, and the hardness of his mouth, had her wanting to find out more. Maybe he was the source of the fight she’d had with Sam the night of the accident?

  “Oh my God, I did have an affair.” She stared into the flickering flames of the fireplace, and memories from that night at Jed’s came crashing back.

  She saw Sam across the table, a crumpled piece of paper between them.

  She saw him get angry and slam his fist on the table.

  She saw him try to stop her from leaving.

  “Did I really want to leave Sam?” A dull ache started at the base of her skull, radiating to her temples. Pieces were falling into place. She didn’t totally understand them, but at least she was putting some of it together. Sam still wanted her, even after she’d had an affair. He didn’t want their marriage to be over, that’s why he’d tried to stop her.

  This must be why she’d felt like something was amiss. “I’m the one.” She couldn’t imagine why she’d had an affair in the first place. Since coming home after the accident, she couldn’t think of any other place she’d rather be. Sam made her feel safe, and for whatever reason, safety was important to her.

  Kate stood and paced the large room. Affair or not, she wanted to stay. She wanted to be his wife. Even though she’d started to feel at home, she couldn’t mistake the fact there was still a void. Something happened between her and Sam, and it was more than just an affair.

  He seemed so happy lately, yet she could still sense a tension between them. Could he be staying with her out of some sort of guilt? That would explain why he found it difficult to talk about the past with her, or why he skirted the subject on many of the issues she brought up. Maybe even why they hadn’t made love? She wandered from room to room looking for something which would bring back a memory. She would fix it all, she owed Sam at least that much.

  Kate found herself standing at the bottom of the stairs. There was one place she hadn’t been, and it just might hold the key. Three minutes later, she stood before the locked door armed with a broom, a bucket and a screwdriver. If by chance a mouse did show its ugly, furry head, she was going to whack it with the broom, then cover it with the bucket. She wrinkled her nose and shuddered at the mere thought of coming into contact with a rodent, making a mental note to buy some rat poison the next time they ventured into town.

  After sticking the screwdriver between the door-jam, she stopped abruptly. Looking up the molding, she wondered if there might be a key resting on the ledge. No need to take apart the door if there was. She slid her hand to the top and came up empty.

  “Nothing is ever easy.” She went to work with the screwdriver, unsc
rewing the doorknob. “I can do this.” It took only a moment before the knob hung loosely and the door was free to open. She pushed the door slightly. Before she could make out what was nside, she closed it, then cautiously opened it again.

  Mouse or no mouse, she had to get in that room. Her future with Sam was at stake. She needed to know everything, and she wanted to make it right between them. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and crossed the threshold. She kept one hand on the door and raised the broom with the other, peeking beneath her lashes then opening her eyes wide.

  There was not a mouse to be seen. The room was not storage, it was a nursery.

  The broom clattered to the floor, and she pressed a hand to her chest in an attempt to quiet her pounding heart. Her throat tightened, and she fought for a breath. Pushing the door closed behind her, she stepped farther inside.

  Soft yellow walls, light airy curtains, and teddy bears of every sort filled the room. She walked over and spun the mobile above the crib. As it plinked a lullaby, her fingers danced over the ruffled bedding. If this was a nursery, then where was their baby?

  She carried a blanket to the dusty rocking chair beside the sunny window. Apparently the room hadn’t been used in a while. She clutched the blanket tightly to her chest, breathing deep the faint baby-scent. Her eyes closed again at a new flood of memories.

  Yes, she’d had a baby--Sam’s baby. She remembered holding it, feeding it, rocking it. Then what happened? She placed a hand to her stomach as she rocked in the chair, trying to force a memory which refused to cooperate.

  Had their baby died?

  Was this why Sam acted so strange? Maybe that was it, such a horrible tragedy, and he’d been trying to protect her. Bits and pieces of scattered thoughts about the baby whirled in her mind like a cyclone. This would explain why he didn’t seem at ease about opening up the room.

  Oh, Sam. You’re still grieving, she thought.

  Kate stayed in the room for the rest of the day. She cried for Sam and the hurt he still felt. She cried for the hurt she’d caused him by having the affair, and she cried for the child who had died that she couldn’t remember.

  When she closed the door and repaired the knob, she knew what to do. She was being handed a second chance, and she wasn’t going to miss out. The love of her family depended on it.

  ***

  “How’s things going, Ace? Haven’t seen you around much these days?” Rusty teased as he elbowed Sam in the ribs.

  “I’m in heaven old buddy, with no plan to come back to earth.” Sam popped the top on his beer and leaned back into the overstuffed chair with a sigh. Rusty’s condominium had quite the view of the Susquehanna River. It sure wasn’t Panther Lake, but for upper suburbia, it wasn’t half bad.

  “You’ve got to touch ground sometime.” Rusty followed suit in the opposing chair and adjusted the wire-framed glasses on his nose.

  “Maybe. But not right now.” Sam closed his eyes, reliving a moment. “I’m going to enjoy this feeling as long as I can.”

  Ever since their shopping trip, Kate had changed. She was more relaxed, more receptive, and more like the Kate he’d fallen in love with so many years ago. Her smile radiated like the sun on a cloudless summer day. Her tinkling laughter soothed his soul. He couldn’t put to words how she made him feel no matter how hard he tried.

  Sitting up, he leaned onto his knees with renewed energy. “God, Russ, I feel so alive.”

  “I think you and Kate still have that magic.”

  “You’re not getting all soft on me now, are you old friend?”

  “Hell no, I’m the closest thing you have to a conscience. Someone needs to keep you on the right course.”

  “Do I sense a lecture?” Sam crossed his ankle over his thigh, the beer can resting on his knee. He’d play along, Rusty was obviously up to something.

  “You really hurt Kate all those years ago. Maybe that’s why she hooked up with ‘Mr. Suave’. You know, to try to hurt you back.”

  “Russ...” Sam voiced a warning. How many beers had his friend had, anyway? This was a conversation they shouldn’t be having.

  Rusty waved his hand in the air. “Aww...I don’t know. I just think if she’d stayed home, you two could have worked through the whole misunderstanding.” Rusty used his fingers to air-quote the words.

  “Chalk it up to being young and stupid.” Sam drained the can. He didn’t want to talk about the past now. He’d rather stay in the present.

  “Don’t you see where this could lead? C’mon, Sam, you’re a smart guy. You have to be thinking of the possibilities.” Rusty stood up and headed straight to the small refrigerator in the corner, handing Sam a fresh beer.

  “What do you suggest I do?” Sam took the beer from Rusty and swallowed a long drink.

  “Get her to fall back in love with you.”

  “What?” He choked and sputtered between fits of coughing to catch his breath. “You can’t be serious?”

  Rusty pounded Sam’s back. “Dead serious. We haven’t been best buddies all these years so I could sit back and watch you fall.”

  “It’s complicated. You don’t know what you’re asking.”

  “The Sam I know isn’t a quitter.”

  “There’s nothing to quit from. You seem to forget, I may have made the mistake, but she ran away.”

  Rusty raised his beer in Sam’s direction. “But look who she ran to this time.”

  “You are getting soft.”

  “No, but I am getting hungry. Yo, Jill, where’s that dinner? We’re starved,” he called toward the kitchen.

  ***

  Kate continued to whip the cake frosting while thinking of different ways to tell everyone her great idea. At home, Sam had commented several times how she’d seemed deep in thought, but she’d only smiled and changed the subject. Thank goodness he hadn’t asked further questions. It was hard keeping her little secret to herself.

  “Kate? You okay?” Jill reached over and shut off the mixer.

  “Oh, yes. I’m fine. Just thinking.”

  “About what?” Jill took the bowl from Kate, eyeing her curiously.

  “Don’t look so worried, Jill. It’s no big deal.” Kate carried a stack of plates to the dining room. The anticipation was killing her, but she wanted to tell them all together. Jill followed with wine glasses and napkins.

  “So what did you guys do in town the other day?” Jill’s voice cracked slightly while she filled their glasses with wine.

  “We did a little shopping. Mostly we wandered around, acting like kids again. I had the best time.” Kate stopped for a moment as the easiness of her words set in. Ever since that day, she’d felt more and more like she belonged with Sam. She planned to hold on tight to her marriage no matter what. Nothing was going to tear them apart.

  “I hear the gears clanking. What’s going on, Kate?”

  “I’m so happy. I feel like I’m finally where I belong.”

  “You do?” Jill blinked as she looked up from folding a napkin.

  Kate couldn’t help chuckling. “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy when I tell you.”

  “I am?” Jill’s brows disappeared under her bangs.

  “You see, ever since the accident things have seemed strange and tense between Sam and me.”

  “How so?”

  “I couldn’t really put my finger on it at first.” Kate followed Jill around the table placing silverware on top of the napkins. “There was this dark man.”

  Jill’s eyes grew huge. “A dark man?”

  “I know, strange, huh? I don’t remember his name, and I’ve only seen flashes of his face. He’s a handsome devil, too. I really worried myself for a while. Every time I questioned Sam, he avoided me like the plague.”

  “What about now? Is everything all right between you guys?”

  “That’s just it, things couldn’t be better. We had such fun in town. My apprehensions are gone, and I’m losing sight of that man. I’ll find out who he is eventually, b
ut I have a new focus.” Kate crossed her arms. “Funny, though, Sam gave me such a hard time about a dress I saw while we were shopping. What do you make of that? ”

  “Why would Sam care about a dress?”

  “I don’t know. The dress looked so familiar to me. I thought maybe Jenny had one. Sam said he didn’t think so but still wouldn’t let me buy it for her. He practically dragged me down the street.”

  “Well...maybe he saw how much you liked it and he wants to buy it for you.”

  “Me?” Kate had never thought of that option. They’d had so much fun she’d actually forgotten about the dress, until now.

  “You know Sam, always full of surprises.” Jill gave a shaky laugh.

  “Do you know something I don’t?”

  “Uh...what makes you think that?”

  “He got me the dress, didn’t he?” Excitement strummed through Kate. Between the dress and her own news, she didn’t know how much longer she could hold back.

  “C’mon, Kate, let the poor guy have his secrets.”

  “You’re right. I’ll pretend I haven’t figured it out.”

  Oh, she knew his secret, all right. And now she had a secret of her own. Before the night was over, they’d all know what she had planned. She couldn’t wait to see their reactions.

  ***

  “Hey, Jill, great dinner.” Sam leaned back in the chair while patting his stomach.

  “Nobody cooks like my Jilly.” Rusty picked up his wife’s hand and kissed the top of it.

  Sam noticed right away a strained look on Jill’s face. She’d seemed quite chatty during dinner, but something was definitely on her mind now. He felt Kate’s arm brush his as she pushed her chair away from the table. The jolt of electricity he felt had him catching her wrist before she could slip past.