“Way to much faith and way too much credit, Rain.”Tommy stated.
“Maybe, but let’s hope I’m right.”
“I hope so. Anyway, do you want me to come in?”
“No, it’s okay. If Dominick is home I need to deal with him myself and he may see more betrayal if you walk in with me. Let me handle Mr. Kane.”
“Okay, baby. Let me get your bags to the foyer and then I’ll head out. Call me if you need me or if you have the urge to stay in your old room tonight.”He smiled warmly.
“Thank you, Tommy. I hope that’s not the case. I’ll call you if I change my mind.”I kissed his cheek lightly and we left the car, retrieved my bags and headed up the stairs to the front door of the townhouse.
Once inside Tommy placed the bags in the foyer, gave me hug and left. When I entered the house I could tell it was quiet and that Dominick hadn't returned here. He probably went straight to the shore house. He knew I would be returning today and I guess he just couldn’t deal with us at the moment. I actually couldn’t deal with us at the moment either, so I did what I had planned to do. I ordered a pizza. Then I took a shower and relaxed the best I could under the circumstances.
Morning came quickly. I called Tommy, but he had already left for the office to fill his parents in on the show and on what took place in Capri. He said he would call me later. I did tell him Dominick hadn’t come home. He seemed relieved that I had some peace last night. I spoke to Mema and Antonio to let them know what was going on and that Anna and Joseph was with my dad. They were happy to hear that and told me to keep them posted. I promised that I would. Then I called Dr. White’s office to confirm my appointment for Monday. I wasn’t looking forward to explaining to her what happened, but I needed to be truthful and take whatever reprimand she was going to dish out.
There was still no sign of Dominick. He was so upset and this was a serious matter, so I was hoping that by the end of the week he would call me. I contacted his office and spoke to Gerard. He said that Dominick was in court and was in the worst mood he had ever seen him in. I asked Gerard not to tell Dominick I was checking up on him. He gladly agreed. He certainly didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Dominick Kane’s wrath.
I called Anna and Joseph to let them know Dominick was safe and sound in the city and that he was in court. I also told them he was more than likely commuting from the shore or he may have taken a hotel room in the city, because he hadn’t returned to the townhouse. I told them that Gerard agreed to keep me updated and to keep it our little secret.
They we pleased to know Gerard would help us and they said they had a surprise for me, but they said they weren’t sure how I would react or if I would even agree to go with them.
“Anna, just tell me what you would like me to do and I’ll will do it if it’s within my power.”
“Joseph and I would like you to come with us this weekend. If you don’t have any other plans that is.”
“No, I don’t have any plans for the weekend. Tommy is going to LA to do a shoot and I was just going to hang around the house. Where are were going?”I asked.
Silence.
“Anna, where are we going?”I prompted her even further.
“We want you to meet Daniel.”She stated and seemed as if she was waiting for my reaction to be a negative one.
“Thank you, Anna. I’d love to meet Daniel. I’m honored that you asked me.”
“Wonderful. I’ll call him and let him know that we’re coming and bringing a guest.”
“Are you sure he won’t mind?”I was slightly worried now that I agreed to meet Dominick’s twin.
“I know that he would love it. We had already told him so much about you. Now we can all tell him together that your pregnant.”She seemed thrilled. It was good to hear her like this.
“You told him about me?”
“Of course. We tell him everything that goes on in Dominick’s life.”Anna stated with pride for her son. They really loved him. I wish Dominick could see that.
“Anna, does Daniel know that I was….”
“…………kidnapped by Dominick?”She finished my sentence.
I giggled.
“Yes, for lack of a better term.”
“No, Rain. We didn’t tell him. We weren't sure what was going to happen. We didn't want him reading about his brother in the paper or seeing him on the evening news just in case he was arrested, but we felt it would be better if we waited. Daniel has been through so much. We weren’t sure of his reaction.”She explained.
“I see. Well, being that he’s not aware of what’s going on. I guess our first meeting will be somewhat difficult or interesting. Depending on how he takes the news.”I was apprehensive and Anna knew it.
“Don’t worry about Daniel, Rain. He’s much different than Dominick. He’ll be thrilled to meet you. I promise. Thank you so much for agreeing.”She was genuinely grateful.
“You’re welcome, Anna. I’ll call you later in the week for the details.” We hung up. I was excited and nervous all at the same time.
****
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
DANIEL
I spoke with Anna on Thursday and she said to pack enough clothes for the weekend. My dad helped her make arrangements for us to stay at an Inn nearby the center where Daniel’s apartment was. I rented an SUV from the car service and picked both Anna and Joseph up from my dad’s duplex. Tommy offered his car, but there was no way we would fit three adults and our luggage for a long weekend in the Camaro and I didn’t want to take Dominick’s cars and end up being arrested for grand theft auto. The way Dominick was feeling, I couldn’t put anything past him right now.
I told them that we should leave around 10am, as to not hit any rush hour traffic coming in or out of the city. It was also long drive to Philly and the surrounding areas, so I wanted to avoid any traffic there as well. Anna had explained that she spoke with Daniel and he was thrilled that they were coming for the entire weekend and that he was finally going to get to meet me. It sounded like it was going to be the perfect weekend to find out more about Dominick’s real family. Well, actually the perfect weekend would have been to have Dominick join us and for him to get to meet Daniel too.
I knew that wasn’t going to happened. I was beginning to worry that Dominick might never come around. Tomorrow would be exactly a week since he found out that Anna and Joseph were his parents. It was also a week since he and I spoke and he walked out on me. He saw my actions as a betrayal to him. I was starting to think that Dominick’s plan was to never be with me again. Dominick loved hard, but he also fought hard for what he believed in. And if he thought that I betrayed him, then there may be no coming back for him. Sure, he would always be with his children, but he and I coming together may not be part of the equation. I started to feel sick. Not because of my pregnancy, but the thought of never being able to love him again. That would absolutely break me.
Joseph loaded the back of the SUV with their luggage. Then Joseph sat in front and Anna in back. The city traffic had somewhat settled down and there wasn’t any traffic in the tunnel. We were on our way. Joseph started the conversation.
“Any word from Dominick?”He was uneasy.
“No. Not a word. He hasn’t tried to contact me at all.”I felt like I could cry.
“Maybe he still thinks your in Capri, Rain.”Anna said.
“Well, even if that were true and he called the house, Mema and Antonio would have told he I came back to New York. Besides I do have cell phone. He knows he can reach me anywhere no matter what.”
“He’s just being stubborn. You know that he always has to feel like he’s the one in control. He always has to be right, always has to win and have the last word.”Joseph added.
“Or maybe he knows he was wrong to put you in the middle of all of this and now he may feel that he put his foot in his mouth and is afraid to contact you.”Anna continued.
“Even if that were true, he would have sent me flowers or something. He hasn’t tr
ied at all. I hope I’m wrong, but I think that Dominick may want it to be over with me.”
“Nonsense! Dominick loves you. He loves those babies. He would never just leave you like that. I don’t believe it.”Anna stated.
“I have to agree with Anna, Rain. He loves you and he loves the twins you're carrying. To up and just walk away would not be Dominick. I’m sure you’ll hear from him very soon. One week of not speaking with you is torture for him.”Joseph seemed very sure of himself.
“I hope you're both right. I don’t know what I’ll do if we aren’t together. Even with all of his issues of control, I love him very much. I don’t want it to end like this.”A tear rain down my face.
“Rain maybe you should pull over and let Joseph drive.”Anna suggested.
“I’m okay, Anna. I’m fine to drive a little while longer and then Joseph can take over. I mean if that’s okay with you?”I directed my question to Joseph.
“I’d be glad to, Rain. Besides I know a few back roads that may even get us there sooner.”Joseph stated.
Joseph took over at the halfway point of our trip. He was right. The side roads he took saved us about thirty minutes on the ride. We pulled into the inn around 12:15 in the afternoon. It was very cold, but it was late January, so it was normal for this time of year. I was thankful it hadn’t snowed on the drive out here. All week the news had been calling for snow. I’m glad it held off at least until we arrived.
We checked in. The rooms were lovely. Very warm and cozy. Each had a beautiful fireplace and a seating area with soft deep chairs that one could curl up on with a book and have some hot chocolate to relax. After our visit with Daniel, that’s exactly what I intended to do. Grab my paperback and some hot chocolate and simply relax.
Anna and Joseph had the adjoining suite. Theirs was just as comforting as mine. Our picture windows overlooked a park. There was a pond where families were ice skating. I was really glad I had agreed to come. I needed this time to unwind and get my mind off my problems with Dominick.
“Rain, are you ready to come with us?”Anna knocked at the door to my suite.
“I’m ready.”I called to her from inside my room. I took my bag and my coat and headed out the door to finally meet Daniel.
Joseph drove about a mile or so up the road to an entrance that had a large gate. He gave his name and the gate opened. The driveway was covered in smooth tan stones and on both sides were beautiful evergreens. When we reached our destination at the end of this very long driveway appeared a huge mansion. It must have been the main house to the center where Daniel lived. To the right and left of the mansion were long walking paths. Along each of the paths were small private villas. The setting was very tranquil and park-like.
“Those are the private residences for each of the people who live on campus here at the center.”Joseph stated.
“They are equipped to handle each of the patients individual needs.”Anna added.
“So Daniel has one of them?”I asked
“In the beginning yes, but now Daniel has his condo on the other end of the campus. Daniel isn’t considered a patient any longer. He is a teacher and a counselor here. He lives in a separate area where the other teachers who live here are.”Anna explained.
“Doesn’t that make it difficult for him being that he can’t walk?”I wondered how he functioned in a home that wasn’t created for a person with a disability such as his.
“When Daniel became a teacher and they asked him to stay on at the center, they told him if he agreed to take the job they would renovate his residence to suit his daily needs. The center has done that for many of their live-in teachers and counselors with disabilities.”Joseph explained.
“I see. It must help the students and patients of the center to see how far their teachers have come. Daniel must be a great mentor to them.”
“He is now, Rain; but he wasn’t always.”Anna implied there may have been a problem at one time.
“You see, Rain; Daniel was very angry with us during his teenage years. He wanted to live with us and because of our situation with Vincent and Elise, it just wasn't possible. We never kept anything from Daniel, but he still resented the fact that Dominick lived with us and he couldn’t.”Joseph revealed.
“Wow, Dominick was angry that he didn’t get to know you as his parents and Daniel was mad that he couldn't live with you both. I think both boys could learn from each other.”I smiled at both of them.
They smiled back and seemed relieved that I understood part of what they went through as well.
“Shall we go inside to find Daniel? Then we can walk over to his condo with him.”Joseph suggested. It was beginning to snow. It looked so picturesque on the sprawling campus that the center was situated on.
“Would it be okay if I waited out here. I’m a little nervous all of a sudden.”I asked.
“Rain, it’s cold out here. Are you sure you don’t want to come inside and keep warm while we look for Daniel?”Anna asked.
“It’s actually feels good out here. Besides it’s snowing now. I’d love to take a walk around and stretch my legs after the long car ride from the city.”
“Okay, we’ll be right back. There are some benches behind the mansion in the garden area. If you like, you can take a walk over there and we will meet you once we get Daniel.”Joseph said.
“That would be great. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Call us if you need anything. We have our cell phones on.”Anna held up the phone as they walked through the main doors of the center.
I walked to the back of the mansion. It was beautiful. There were several seating areas and even a fire pit that was emitting a warm glow. I took a seat on one of the chairs near the fire. With the snow falling and the fire keeping me warm I began to daydream about the vineyard house. I hoped Mr. Campania was able to get more information from the owners. I decided to check my phone to see if he called. He didn’t call, but Dominick did.
My phone must have been off. I missed his call. I played the voicemail message that he left.
“Rain, where are you? And why is it every time I try call you your phone is off. We need to talk. Call me back. Now!”
“Shit!”
“Trouble in paradise?”I was startled by the voice of the person next to me.
I turned to see……………he looked just like Dominick.
“Cat got your tongue?”He grinned at me.“I said trouble in paradise?”
I looked at my phone and realized he heard his brother’s voice on the other end. Then I looked back at him.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. You seemed very focused on your call.”
“Um, yeah. I was. I’m sorry. I’m Rain and you must be……
“Nicer than that guy on the phone.”He grinned again.
I giggled.
“Well that guy on the phone happens to be your brother.”
He wheeled himself even closer to me.
“Perhaps, but I’m a hell of a lot more charming than my brother.”Now he had a full smile on his face.
“Are you flirting with me?”
“Of course, I can’t let my charm and all of your beauty go to waste now can I?”
“Are you crazy or something?”I asked because I found this whole conversation strange, yet amusing at the same time.
“Nope, I can’t walk, but that doesn’t make me crazy.”He smirked.
I was silent.
“Lighten up, Rain. I’m kidding with you. Breathe.”He whispered.
He was right. I wasn’t breathing. I took in a deep breath and exhaled.
“There you go. Feel better now? He asked.
I nodded.
“I’m Daniel Rosso.”He extended his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Daniel Rosso.”I took his hand.
“The pleasure is all mine. I assure you.”He said as he kissed my hand.
“Are you always this forward with women you don’t know?”
“You’re dating my brother. We’r
e practically family.”
“You don’t even know your brother yet.”I chuckled.
“Detail, details and by the sound of him on your phone just now, I’m not sure I want to meet him anyway.”He grinned.
“You are kidding right?”
“Of course, I’m kidding. I can’t wait to meet him. Can I ask you something,though?”
“Sure.”
“Does he always sound that irrational?”
Identity: …………..People aren’t always who you believe them to be (Miss Taken Identity Series Book 2) Page 23
