Adaline (The Wallflower Series Book 3) (7 page)

“Would you still say that if you knew what he did to me?”

“Unless he is a danger to you or your daughter, yes I would. Because it’s not about you anymore, Dina. Your daughter deserves to know her father. Plain and simple.” Without another word, he walked out of the gallery.

Dominic was frustrated with himself.
Still.
Even more than when he had initially entered the gallery. He had no other choice but to move on now. Dina’ daughter was clear evidence of just how much she had moved on. Even while they had still been together. He didn’t know where he was heading but he eventually found himself driving to Dmitri’s place. His brother and Sasha had yet to move from their penthouse at the Ritz but from what he gathered, they were hoping to buy a house soon and start their perfectly ever after.

He caught himself, aware of the hint of jealousy as he thought of their happiness. It was well deserved but in his current state, he was definitely not in the mood to see anyone happy in their relationship. But he needed to rant. And as of late, his brother had become a good sounding board. Especially considering the many times Dominic had played out the same role for him in his efforts at gaining back Sasha’s affections.

Dominic, after giving his car to the valet, walked through the entrance, giving the familiar guard a nod of hello. When he finally knocked on his brother’s door, he was greeted by the humorous image of Dmitri in a colorful apron; his face was decorated with what appeared to be flour and there was a goofy grin across his handsome features.

Inwardly, Dominic groaned. Yup, his brother was still flying high on the marriage train. Hopefully, he could focus enough to disclose some wisdom.

“Hey, man! Come in!” Dmitri stepped aside to allow him to enter.

Since before their marriage, Dominic could tell there had been a dramatic change in the decoration of the penthouse. For one, it looked less like it belonged on the front page of a home décor magazine and more lived in. Sasha, he assumed, had added colorful additions to the former bachelor-pad. Complete with throw pillows and a dining table set with flowers in the middle.

Dominic looked toward the kitchen and found Sasha in a similar disheveled state as his brother. From what he could gather, they were in the middle of baking some dessert. Meeting his gaze, she smiled warmly and waved her hand for him to come over. Dominic followed her directive to find that the kitchen was as much a mess as they were.

“Well, what do we have here?” He asked after giving her a hug and then scraping off the ingredients that had been transferred to his dress shirt.

“Oh,” she laughed. “I’m so sorry.” She grabbed a napkin and helped.

“So, I thought pregnant women would only have the occasional craving for ice cream with olives or some bullshit. No, apparently, they also go through a stage of nesting which for Sasha means learning how to make baked goods.” Dmitri explained dryly. He turned to her and stated simply, “I’m sorry to tell you this, baby…but you may want to stick to decorating the nursery.”

Sasha rolled her eyes at his suggestion. “Don’t listen to him Dominic. He was the one that got so excited for cupcakes and cookies. He just didn’t want to do any of the work.” She shook her head and harrumphed, “He wanted to go to the baker- are you kidding me? Baking it yourself is the best part.”

Dominic and Dmitri shared a glance, both shrugging at Sasha’s disapproval. It was the way they were raised: you don’t make it yourself; you hire someone to do it for you. Sasha groaned at the guilty looks that crossed both of their faces, simultaneously admiring just how similar they both looked in that moment.

“I’m surrounded by spoiled brats,” she complained playfully. Before Dmitri could retort, she turned to Dominic and asked with a raised brow, “What brings you here, Dominic?”

At her question, he had no idea what to say. He knew for certain Sasha probably had no knowledge of the secret Dina had been keeping from them all. And again he wondered how exactly she could have thought that was a wise decision? Wasn’t she close to Sasha and her friend Teagan? He was still full of questions but now he felt somewhat resigned that he would never know the truth. And what did it matter now anyways? It was over.

“No particular reason. Just needed the company,” he provided with a slight tilt of his lips. It was his best attempt at a smile after having had his thoughts overrun with Dina, her child, and the entire cheating debacle.

Dmitri could tell from Dominic’s lack of a smile that something was wrong. He turned to his wife and silently communicated that he would need some time alone with his brother. In acquiescence, Sasha turned back toward the counter to continue her baking while Dmitri led his troubled younger brother to his home office. When the door was closed behind them, his formerly relaxed expression changed almost immediately.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he demanded.

Dominic, though slightly taken aback by the force in his brother’s voice, did not argue. “I need your help,” he stated simply.

“Are you having money problems?”

Dominic let out a forced laugh at that inquiry. “I wish! It would make life much simpler. At least then I’d know where to turn.” He sat down on the leather couch in the office and let out a deep sigh. “How did you deal when you realized you wanted Sasha back?”

Dmitri raised a brow at his question. Still looking at his brother quizzically, he leaned against the edge of his desk and crossed his arms and legs. “What do you mean? You saw me. I was a royal mess.”

“No, I mean…surely at some point you thought that you needed to just move on. Even with how much you loved her. So, how did you imagine doing it? How did you try to move on from someone you pictured having a future with?”

There was a stunned moment of silence between the two brothers before Dmitri was finally able to find his voice once more. Of all things he had expected Dominic to reveal, this was not on his list in any capacity. He had always pictured his brother as being more attuned to his emotions than him. After all, it was Dmitri not too long ago that had come to Dominic for advice about love. He remembered vividly being completely lost and unnerved by the feelings coursing through his heart at even the slightest memory of Sasha or the numbing fear of potentially losing her permanently.

“Dominic...where do I even begin?” A humorless smile was decorated on his handsome features as he remembered what his life had been like before Sasha had forgiven him. “I was lost. And while in my wildest dreams I imagined being able to go to her, sweep her off her feet, and have her forgive me, there was a very real certainty that would never happen. First, I was just so overcome with anger- at myself- and then…eventually…there was acceptance. I realized more than wanting to be with her, I wanted her to be happy. So, what stage are you at?”

Dmitri watched his brother’s features contort and was taken aback when their eyes finally met.

“Anger,” Dominic said simply. “I’m still angry. She lied to me, cheated on me, and then refused to tell me the truth. I had to basically stalk her to find out she had a kid by another man!”

“Whoa…who?”

Dominic pressed his lips together. “It’s not my secret to tell. I don’t want to hurt her or anyone she knows.”

Dmitri nodded his head. “Okay, okay. I can respect that. But, Dom…just based off of what you’ve told me, this isn’t a woman you’d want to be with. I know you- more than before…and you deserve someone who won’t hold secrets and lies. Who knows…maybe she had a reason to keep these things from you. But whatever the case may be, you shouldn’t be with her. And it’ll just take time for you to not feel…” he searched for words.

“Hurt, betrayed, angry,” Dominic provided carelessly. “I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never allowed anyone to make me feel this way before.” He snorted in disgust at himself.

Before Dmitri could think of a response, there was a light knock at the door. Both he and his brother turned to find Sasha smiling at them shyly. “Sorry to interrupt,” she whispered with a guilty expression. There was a thickness in the air that revealed to her the seriousness of their conversation. “But Slade is here.”

Dominic’s ears perked up at the sound of the man’s name. They hadn’t crossed paths since Dmitri and Sasha’s wedding. And for good reason.

Dmitri nodded his head. “We’ll be out in a minute,” he supplied.

Sasha gave a small reassuring smile in Dominic’s direction before retreating behind the door once more. After it clicked behind her, Dmitri returned his attention to his younger brother. “If you want to get some more stuff off of your chest…I’m here. Slade can wait.”

He shook his head curtly. “Nah, man. It’s cool.” He stood up with a grunt. “I should get going anyways.” As he began to walk in front of his brother, Dmitri’s hand quickly landed on his shoulder to halt his retreat.

“Dom…I’m serious. And you don’t have to go. Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us? I’m sure Sasha would love to have you around a little more. She misses you, ya know?”

The mischievous smile Dmitri was so used to seeing on Dominic’s face appeared once more, “Am I stealing your girl’s heart?” The only response he received at his teasing was a roll of his brother’s eyes.

“That’ll never happen and you know it.”

“A man can dream,” he laughed before sobering with, “But seriously…Sasha is truly an amazing woman and I’m happy for you both. Thanks for hearing me out. Being here always reminds me what love should look like.”

“And you’ll find it, man.”

After their heart-to-heart, Dominic felt the heavy weight on his shoulders lighten a little bit. His decision to stay ended up being made for him by the look of determination on Sasha’s face when he neared the front door.

“Oh, no you don’t,” she cried out, pulling on his arm and directing him back to the living room with everyone else. “You’ve disappeared for way too long. Stay with us. I even got Slade to agree to stay.”

The tall Asian man made a face at that. “More like forced.”

“Oh, don’t be such a party-pooper! At least I’m feeding you,” Sasha pouted.

Dmitri, knowing how unpredictable her emotions could be, coddled her with a warm smile and caresses on her back. “And we are so grateful for that. Aren’t we?” he gave them a pointed stare.

Both men nodded their head overenthusiastically. But it was enough. A genuine, wide smile broke across Sasha’s features as she returned to the kitchen excited to have new people try her recipes. Knowing the disaster that would eventually ensue with the food she prepared, Dmitri secretly called for delivery. It would arrive just as they would be forced to sit down and eat her inedible creations. He had to hand it to his wife, however. She never stopped trying.

As they heard Sasha humming in the background, Slade and Dominic’s gazes awkwardly met. But it was once his eyes met the other man that it dawned on him.

“Holy shit!” he couldn’t help but to exclaim.

~~~~

Adaline walked through the Boston Common with Lucille, thoroughly enjoying all the sights, performances, and eateries. It was bustling with people and Adaline couldn’t help but be seduced by the warm weather and excitement. Lucille, a beautiful Asian American in her late twenties, was one of the reasons Horace Mann had come to be so enjoyable. They had immediately formed a bond that Adaline had never had with someone of the same disability. Lucille had been born severely hard of hearing as well but, unlike Adaline, her parents had been unable to afford the surgery for an implant. And even when she did have the opportunity, Lucille revealed that she preferred her life the way it was. It was a pride and acceptance of self that Adaline had grown to greatly admire about her new friend. It reminded her of the way her parents had raised her- her lack of hearing made her see the world in a different way and that was something to embrace and cherish. Turning to her newfound friend, she signed,

“
So this is the place you usually go running?”

Lucille nodded, “
It’s less crowded early in the morning and so relaxing!”

Self-consciously, Adaline looked from her own body to the slim woman beside her. Yup, Lucille’s routine definitely showed through and Adaline couldn’t help but envy how well it did. While not big by any means, she was aware of her size. With thick hips and a not-so-tiny waist, Adaline was by no means a model. It had never been something that occupied her thoughts much. But, like any woman, she had her moments of insecurity. Like now.  She couldn’t help but think of the women she was sure Dominic had dated and even the woman he was still heartbrokenly in love with. While it hurt to think that maybe she couldn’t compare, she tried not to think of who had been in his arms before. Now, after not being in contact with him for some time, she grew more determined than ever to eventually show him what they could have together. But first, she had to at least see him again.

“
Maybe I should join you one day…I think I could stand to lose a few pounds.”

Lucille seemed very excited by the idea and was nothing but encouraging. It was something Adaline had grown to really enjoy about Lucille’s company. There was such a positive energy surrounding her; it was infectious and increased Adaline’s mood tenfold no matter where it had been by default.

They continued to walk through the park, stopping as they crossed the bridge to enjoy an older gentleman playing an unusual instrument. A small dog was lying down at his feet, slumbering peacefully and blissfully unaware of the crowd of people surrounding him. Without hesitation, Lucille and Adaline both dug into their purses to place cash in the nearly empty can. With warm smiles, they continued on their way until Adaline noticed Lucille was leading her to a group of individuals in the middle of the park. Confused, she didn’t say anything until she found that they were standing in front of the group. It was then she noticed that they were all signing.