"Just open it," he said, rolling his eyes.
It was a small jewelry box, which made me nervous. When I opened it, I was stunned for a moment. I wasn't sure if I was imagining things. I slowly traced my finger over the pendant then gazed at Dominic. "How did you find this?"
My dad grinned. "When Dominic told us Kurt sold it, he said he might be able to get it back if he saw a picture. Your mom had worn it for our wedding, so she sent him a photo."
"I gave the picture to my friend to hunt down as stolen property. Kurt was stupid enough to sell it on eBay, so it wasn't difficult to track down and retrieve."
I took the necklace out of the box. As Dominic fastened it around my neck, I kissed the pendant. "I'm never losing this again."
"You can wear it to your own wedding," my mother said, winking again.
My dad chuckled.
I sighed. They would never give up.
"We need to go, sweetheart," my dad said. "Have a wonderful birthday."
"Happy birthday, baby," my mom added.
"It's the best birthday," I said. Knowing they were safe, and I could contact them whenever I wanted made it the best day of my life. Even better than the day Dominic rescued me from Kurt. "I'll talk to you guys soon. I love you."
"Love you too," they said together, and the call ended.
"Thank you so much." On impulse I wrapped my arms around Dominic. When I realized what I had done, I put some distance between us.
"You're welcome."
This was definitely going above the beyond the call of duty of friendship. He had saved my life, and now he was giving it back on a silver platter. While I was happy to be so fortunate, I still wondered whether I deserved it.
*****
That night, my mom's constant insinuations that Dominic and I were more than friends played on a continuous loop in my head. Nothing I did gave that impression, and I hoped Dominic wouldn't tell her something to make her come to that conclusion. When I considered it, I supposed he wouldn't need to say anything. It was obvious, even to me, he had feelings towards me. I had been trying not to think too much about it, but it wasn't easy.
The following morning, those thoughts were even harder to ignore when I found Dominic doing laps in the pool. It was something he did every morning, but I never noticed before how his body would glide so effortlessly across the surface as though the water wouldn't dare restrain him. It was the first time I took notice of how his muscles perfectly defined his shape. Most other girls would think he wasn't bulky enough, but too much muscle made me nervous. As fast as he completed his laps, it surprised me he had never been in the Olympics or at least a competition swimmer. Or perhaps he had, and it was a part of his life he didn't talk about. In reflection, I realized I didn't know much about him aside from the fact that he was into BDSM and a web designer.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice when Dominic stopped swimming and caught me ogling him. I looked away quickly, pretending I was getting myself a cup of coffee.
He laughed. "Would you like to join me?"
I no longer had the excuse of not having a bathing suit, since Dominic insisted on buying me one when he took me shopping, but I had never even removed the tags. "I don't like swimming."
Of course, it was a lie. I loved to swim, but it would mortify me if he saw my brand or anything else poking through the suit. It was bad enough the scars from the whip marred my arms and legs, but those were harder to hide. At least shorts and skirts covered everything else. I kept telling myself I didn't want to pursue a relationship with him, but when I was honest with myself, it was more to do with the fact that I feared he would be disgusted by my physical damage. That kind of rejection would destroy me.
Dominic joined me in the kitchen with a towel wrapped around his waist. "You okay?"
I forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Hm," he said, but didn't push further.
*****
Dominic picked up the phone. "Hello… yeah." He frowned and turned away from me. "Yeah, I understand… I'll tell her."
"What's going on?" I asked as he hung up the phone.
"You should sit down," he said and headed to the living room. He waited until I was sitting. "That was my friend, Matt. The cop I told you about. He was calling to give me a heads up on Kurt's sentencing because he didn't want you to see it on the news."
This wasn't good.
"Because there was no evidence, aside from your word, that he is involved in that organization, they couldn't link him to any of the crimes associated with them. Also, since he had never been guilty of any other crimes and because he 'appeared remorseful' in court, they gave him concurrent sentences, meaning he—"
"I know what it means," I snapped, and then immediately regretted my harsh tone. This wasn't his fault. "Sorry, go ahead."
"They sentenced him to seven years."
"Seven years for everything he's done?" I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.
Dominic pulled me into his arms and held me until I calmed down. "There is an upside."
I snorted.
"Because of the nature of his crimes, he has to serve the full term with no chance for early parole."
At least that was something, but still. Seven years, and then he'd be out doing it to someone else. It sickened me.
"You okay?" Dominic asked.
I shrugged. "It's unfair."
"I agree, but there's nothing we can do to change it."
"I guess I just need to decide how I'll react, right?" I said, sarcastically.
He raised an eyebrow. "Yes."
I gave him a wry smirk. As tempted as I was to point out his irritating nature, I had this sudden urge to kiss him at the same time. My need to squelch this urge overrode my sarcasm, and I looked away before he saw my desire and mistook it for an invitation.
*****
Logic didn't seem to be winning out in matters of the heart. Then again, did it ever? It wasn't something I would know, since I'd never been in love, and I wasn't ready to admit defeat and talk to my mom about it. The more time I spent with Dominic, the stronger my feelings became. I lost count of how many times he caught me watching him, and worse, I started doing little things for him on a whim. Afterward, I'd want to kick myself for rushing to do these things like an eager puppy, but at the time it seemed natural.
Lately, I had gotten into the habit of getting up in the morning before him and having coffee and breakfast ready, so he could get right to work. It also helped me to be ready for my morning classes too, so I convinced myself I wasn't doing it for his benefit. I also took over doing the laundry. Of course, I told myself it was because I was particular about how my clothes were washed. He insisted we share the rest of the housework equally, pointing out I needed to focus on my school work, but with only the two of us in the house, it wasn't difficult to keep up.
Despite having an excuse for everything I did, at some point he would see through it, if he hadn't already. It was just a matter of time, and as much as I liked him, I still wouldn't be able to handle being in another relationship. Unfortunately, Dominic seemed to show more and more interest in me. It didn't make me uncomfortable, but I dreaded the day I would be forced to tell him we couldn't be more than friends.
"I'll get it," Dominic called out when the phone rang.
I sat down to get back to work on my assignment, but when Dominic mentioned something about Thanksgiving, it distracted me. As close as Dominic was with his family, I figured he'd be spending the day with them. I was looking forward to having the house to myself for the day. I could have a video chat with my parents, since Dominic wouldn't need to use his computer, and I was even considering a swim. It wouldn't matter if I wore a bathing suit if no one was around to see it.
"Yeah, I'll ask her… Sure, I'll see you then. Later, bro." Dominic hung up the phone, then sat down next to me. "Brant's hosting Thanksgiving this year. We usually go to my parents' house, but I they decided they're getting to old. They volunteered him."
I smiled. Holidays have never been a big event for me, so I wouldn't know what it was like to plan for a lot of guests. I wasn't sure I wanted to.
"He has invited you," Dominic said.
My smile faded. "I can't go."
"Why not? I promise it'll be fun."
"It's not that. I'm just not sure how comfortable I'll be in the house where I first met Kurt. It might bring back too many memories I don't want or need, especially around people I don't know. It would be too much."
Dominic sighed and picked up his phone. "Hey Brant… Yeah, so I'll just stay with her here… Yeah, definitely… Okay, see ya."
"You didn't need to do that," I said, frowning.
"I'm not leaving you alone on Thanksgiving."
"It wouldn't be the first time, and it's not a big deal."
"It is to me."
I didn't bother arguing any further. It wouldn't change his mind.
*****
Dominic had planned a feast that would feed an army. It was entirely too much food, but he was in his element, so I kept it to myself. I couldn't help wondering if he had missed his calling.
"You should have been a chef instead of a web designer," I suggested.
He lifted his gaze from the turkey he was stuffing. "Nah, I don't enjoy cooking for strangers. I love to make things for friends and family, people I care about, and I love to take my time with it. I wouldn't enjoy the fast-paced cooking required in a restaurant. Cooking is more of a hobby."
I smiled as I watched him preparing our meal, offering help on occasion. Most of the time he turned down my offers, but it was fun watching him. It was like witnessing an artist put together a masterpiece. When the meal was nearly finished, I set the table. I considered lighting candles, but decided it might send the wrong message.
We ate in silence. The food was too delicious to bother talking, but I barely finished what he dished up for me. I wrapped my plate and helped him clean. There were enough leftovers to feed us for days, not that I would mind.
"Ready for dessert?" Dominic asked as he started the dishwasher.
"As much as I would love to say yes, I will explode if I tried to eat another bite."
Dominic chuckled. "After the call with your parents then?"
The call. I'd almost forgotten. "That would be great."
My parents just returned from the communal Thanksgiving feast they served at the retirement village. Everyone brought a covered dish, and the management supplied the turkey. They raved about the wonderful time they had.
"So what did you do for Thanksgiving?" my mother asked, a hint of concern on her face.
"Dominic prepared me a wonderful feast," I told them.
"Oh? Didn't you spend the day with your family, Dominic?"
Dominic moved in next to me. "I was going to. My brother invited Haleigh, but she turned it down."
My father frowned. "Why would you do that?"
"I didn't want to be around a bunch of people I didn't know," I said, suddenly self-conscious.
"Haleigh, you won't get to know people if you stay home all the time," my father said.
"I realize that. It's just hard being around people right now."
"Baby, it's been four months, and you're getting worse instead of better. Maybe it's time you see someone about what happened to you. You can't do it on your own," my mother told me.
"Mom, I'm fine. Really. I've never been much of a people person."
"I know, sweetie, but I worry."
"I'll be okay. I promise. It's getting late though. I better let you guys go." It wasn't late for them, but I didn't like the direction our conversation took. I figured it would be better to end it before it went too far, and I ended up caving in.
"Okay, honey. Take care of yourself," my father said.
"We love you," my mom added.
"Love you too," I said and shut down Skype.
"Your parents are right. You should see someone. I know of a lifestyle friendly psychologist you might feel comfortable talking to."
I groaned. Not him too. I would never be comfortable talking with anyone about what Kurt did. "That wouldn't be a good idea. I've never done well with psychologists in the past. I always end up feeling worse."
"Just think about it, okay?"
"Okay," I said, but I doubted I would ever change my mind.
Chapter 15
It took a couple of months to accept the outcome of Kurt's sentencing. I decided he would at least be locked away for seven years. My graduation was in two years, and I could go back to Hawaii, get a job there and be close to my parents again. I didn't even have to be here when he got out, and even if I was, I would be a stronger and more capable person by then. He could never hurt me again.
The only thing that bothered me was he would be free to do it to some other unsuspecting soul. Dominic assured me the police would keep closer tabs on him. The courts may not have been able to use my testimony alone to convict him of anything, but the police believed my story and were certain he was involved with that group too. I'd given them Steve and Jon's names too, so they would be watched as well, but it didn't stop them from relocating to a new area where they were unknown.
Christmas was coming fast, and other than Skyping with my parents I hadn't made other plans. I was looking forward to time alone. I enjoyed being on my own, despite Dominic's constant nagging that I needed to get out of the house more and be social.
Dominic strolled out of his office. I heard him on the phone with someone and judging by the animated way he spoke it had to be his brother or Jason.
"Brant's invited you to his place for Christmas," he told me. "The family is gathering there this year."
I groaned. They probably felt bad I would be alone for the holidays. "I appreciate the invite, but I'll be okay here on my own."
"Haleigh, hiding away in this house every day isn't healthy. You need to get out, get fresh air and be around people."
"I'm around people all the time at school, and I get plenty of fresh air when I walk to my classes," I argued.
"It's not the same thing. You should reconsider seeing that psychologist I suggested. You're letting your fears make you a prisoner in your home."
I groaned. It always came back to that. "Okay. If I promise to go to Brant's for Christmas, will you promise not to bring up the psychologist again?"
"If you go, make an effort to socialize and convince me you're having a good time, I might consider not bringing it up for at least two months."
"Fine," I said. It was the best deal I would get.
Dominic grinned triumphantly as he headed back to his office to finish his workday.
*****
Christmas morning came, and I felt like a kid again as I raced down the stairs to Dominic's office for my Skype call with my parents. Then I looked at the clock and realized there was still an hour before they were due to be on. So to help pass the time I made a pot of coffee and sat down to eat a bowl of cereal.
"Cereal for breakfast on Christmas morning?" Dominic frowned as he joined me in the kitchen.
I shrugged. "It was easiest."
He chuckled and got himself a bowl. After he finished eating, he went to the small table top tree we set up and grabbed a gift, handing it to me.
"I thought we agreed no gifts?" I couldn't afford to get him one, and I told him not to get me anything.
Dominic wiggled it in front of me. "Just open it."
I grumbled while tearing into the wrapping paper. "A laptop?"
"Now you can Skype with your parents while I'm working if you want to. You won't have to wait 'til I'm done."
I didn't have to anyway with the phone my parents sent, but it wasn't the same as using a computer. Having them on the screen sometimes made it seem they were right there with me, only without the hugs. Dominic was waiting for my response. More to the point, he looked like he was waiting for me to freak out over the expensive gift. Instead, I set it aside and threw myself into his arms.
"Thank you."
The hug lingered and when he buried his face in my hair, I pulled back. I thanked him again, hoping he wouldn't suspect I was uncomfortable with the closeness, but the frown on his face told me I didn't fool him. I couldn't let him fall in love with me. It wouldn't be fair on him. Dominic pulled two more gifts from under the tree then led the way to his office. My parents would be on soon.
In fact, they were already waiting by the time Dominic booted up his computer and logged onto Skype. We wished each other a Merry Christmas.
"You go first," I told my parents.
My mother opened the envelope she held. "Airline tickets. Oh honey, this is so great! Thank you both."
Dominic bought them, but he signed both our names to the card. They could use them any time within the next year, and it was a gift for me as much as it was for them. He knew how much I missed them. I hadn't seen them since I left Hawaii a little over three years ago.
"We'll come right after the new year," my dad said.
"You're welcome to stay here with us," Dominic told them. "There is plenty of room."
I assumed Dominic meant for them to stay with us, but hearing him say it made me realize how different he was to Kurt. Kurt had never shown interest in getting to know my parents at all, even before he turned me into his slave. They may as well have not existed. I was thinking earlier I didn't want Dominic falling in love with me, but here he was getting to know my parents and doing everything he could to reunite us.
I couldn't help the smile that plastered my face as I watched him talking with my parents as if they were his own. When he gazed at me, I cleared my throat.
"It's your turn," my dad said. My parents sent us both gifts.
He tore into his gift like an excited little kid. It was the new Hobbit movie he wanted. Then he handed me mine, a Kindle reader.
"Now you can download all the books you want to read and take them with you," my mom said. "I know it doesn't replace the one's Kurt sold, but it should give you a quick and easy way to replace some of your favorite books, and if someone steals your Kindle, you will still be able to download the books from your account again."
"Thanks, mom. This is great. I've been wanting one of these."
Out of Oblivion Page 10