Chapter 12 - THE LAST LESSON SALVATORE TAUGHT HIM
A year after Lily dragged the blanket across Moretti House, Dominic visited his father’s grave.
Alone.
He brought no flowers.
Salvatore disliked flowers.
Called them expensive vegetation.
Dominic stood before the marble marker.
SALVATORE MORETTI
1947–2024
BELOVED FATHER
LOYAL FRIEND
RESPECTED LEADER
Dominic almost laughed.
Gravestones were generous.
“Gabriel took a deal.”
Wind moved through the trees.
Dominic shoved his hands into his coat.
“He’ll spend most of the next twenty years in prison.”
No answer.
Obviously.
“I sold the port company.”
A bird landed on the chapel roof.
“Carlo doesn't speak to me.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
“That part is pleasant.”
He looked down.
“I testified.”
That would have mattered to Salvatore.
Betrayal.
Disgrace.
Weakness.
Dominic could practically hear him.
He closed his eyes.
For years, he had believed his father’s voice was wisdom simply because it was old.
Now Dominic separated lessons.
Keep your word.
Useful.
Know the cost of your choices.
Useful.
Never ask twice.
Occasionally useful.
Love nothing enough to lose it.
Poison.
Dominic opened his eyes.
“You were wrong.”
The words came easily.
“I know you loved me.”
He swallowed.
“At least I think you did.”
His throat tightened.
“But you loved me like a man protecting an investment.”
Wind moved again.
“You wanted me strong.”
Dominic looked toward the chapel.
“You never taught me what strength was for.”
He thought of Sophia.
Lily.
Daniel.
Even Victor.
“Turns out surviving isn't enough.”
He stood there another minute.
Then left.
No lightning.
No ghost.
No absolution.
Just footsteps on gravel.
That evening was Lily’s fifth birthday.
The party was at Sophia’s apartment building recreation room.
Not the mansion.
Dominic had offered.
Sophia said no.
Dominic accepted.
Mostly.
He had accidentally paid for a professional magician.
Sophia discovered it.
The magician was canceled.
Dominic remained bitter.
Instead, there were balloons.
Pizza.
Children screaming.
A supermarket cake with yellow frosting.
Dominic carried folding chairs.
Nobody in his previous life would have believed it.
Victor arrived wearing jeans.
Lily stared.
“Where’s your suit?”
Victor looked down.
“Laundry accident.”
“Pigeon?”
Victor nodded.
“Same pigeon.”
Lily accepted this.
Mary brought enough food for forty.
Sophia’s brother flew in from Texas.
Daniel’s parents came from Pennsylvania.
Dominic had met them months earlier.
That had been difficult.
Daniel’s father shook Dominic’s hand.
Daniel’s mother did not.
Not the first time.
Dominic understood.
Today she nodded when he entered.
Progress.
The children played.
Lily opened presents.
Then came the cake.
Sophia lit five candles.
Everyone sang.
Lily squeezed her eyes shut.
Dominic watched.
He had no idea what she wished.
He hoped it was simple.
Children deserved simple wishes.
She blew out all five.
Applause.
Afterward, Lily ran to Dominic.
“I have something.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“On your birthday?”
She nodded.
“That violates protocol.”
She ignored him.
From behind a chair, she dragged something.
Scrape.
Pause.
Scrape.
Dominic froze.
A charcoal velvet blanket.
The blanket.
The same one.
Sophia stood across the room watching.
Lily dragged it toward Dominic.
He crouched.
“What are you doing?”
“You need it back.”
“Why?”
“Mommy says we're moving.”
Dominic looked at Sophia.
She smiled.
His heart stopped.
“Moving?”
Lily nodded.
“To a house.”
“What house?”
“Near you.”
Dominic looked at Sophia again.
She approached.
“I got the promotion.”
“You did?”
“General housekeeping manager.”
He smiled.
“I knew you would.”
“And I found a townhouse in Port Washington.”
Twenty minutes from the estate.
Maybe less.
Sophia continued.
“Good school district.”
He understood.
She wasn't moving into the mansion.
She wasn't moving into his life.
She was moving closer.
By choice.
Dominic felt something loosen inside him.
Lily pushed the blanket at him.
“You keep it now.”
He took it.
“Why?”
She looked at him as if he was very slow.
“Because we're coming back a lot.”
Sophia laughed.
Dominic looked at the child.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Has your mother approved this?”
Sophia folded her arms.
“Within reason.”
Lily whispered loudly, “That means yes.”
Dominic smiled.
That night, after the party, he drove Sophia and Lily home.
Lily slept in the back seat.
Sophia held Dominic’s hand over the center console.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She raised an eyebrow.
He smiled.
“Actually yes.”
“Good.”
“I've been thinking.”
“That usually causes trouble.”
“Move in with me.”
Sophia went still.
Dominic continued immediately.
“Not tomorrow.”
She looked at him.
“Not because you need housing.”
Silence.
“Not because I want to control where you live.”
He took a breath.
“And not because I think loving someone means they belong to me.”
Sophia’s eyes filled.
“I want you to move in someday because I want breakfast with you.”
She smiled.
“Breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Very romantic.”
“I’m learning.”
“Poorly.”
“Be quiet.”
She laughed.
Dominic continued.
“I want Lily’s socks in my refrigerator.”
“She hasn't done that in a year.”
“She may relapse.”
Sophia laughed harder.
“I want your textbooks on my dining table.”
His voice softened.
“I want you to argue with me about everything.”
“Easy.”
“I want to know when you’re tired.”
Sophia’s smile faded.
“I want you to know when I am.”
Her eyes filled completely.
“And I want to come home to people who don't stand when I enter a room.”
She squeezed his hand.
“Dominic.”
“I love you.”
The words felt terrifying.
Not because he doubted them.
Because he meant them.
Sophia leaned over and kissed him.
When she pulled back, she whispered, “Someday.”
He nodded.
“Someday.”
It was not yes.
May you like
It was better.
Because someday belonged to both of them.
