“Well excuse me! You two act like I’m not even standing here!” Karen exclaimed, pretending to be offended. “Just for that—” she said as she reached out and wrapped an arm around each of her children’s shoulders, “I’m going to give you big, fat, wet, sloppy kisses!”
It was Ashley who yelled all the while laughing. “Ewww! Stop Mommy!”
“Yeah! Stop it Mommy! I’m not a baby!” Karen threw her head back and laughed as her little boy scrunched up his nose, vigorously wiping his face. Her baby boy was becoming more and more like his old self each day. Six months ago if she had sent someone to pick him up from school, he would have had a tantrum. He certainly wouldn’t have run to her, nearly knocking her over as he hugged her.
Getting out of the car, Dom made his way over to Karen and the children. Witnessing the playful bantering, an emptiness he had never been aware of began to gnaw at him. They looked like the perfect family. Almost. The only thing missing was a husband and father.
A wave of sadness washed over him. For a moment he wondered how difficult it had been for Karen to lose her husband while she was only in her twenties with two small children. How had she made it through those dreary days and dark nights when her small children, he assumed, wanted to know what had happened to their daddy?
A tinge of pain knotted his gut as his thoughts went to Ashley and Kyle. Who would show Ashley how a man was supposed to love and adore a woman? And who would teach Kyle how to be a man? How to treat a woman like his father had taught him? And when they grew older, and life began to throw obstacles their way, who would help Karen keep them from going astray?
“Hey, are you okay, Dom?”
Dom snapped out of his musing. The three pairs of eyes looking at him were full of concern. “I’m cool.”
Skeptically, Karen eyed Dom. Something was going on with him. She had never seen him look so deep in thought and troubled. As kind as he had been to her and the children, there was no way she could let him walk off without trying to help. “Kids go on in and start your homework. I’ll be inside in a minute to get dinner started.”
Obediently, Ashley and Kyle went inside, leaving their mother outside. Once the kids were inside and out of hearing range, Karen took a few steps closer to close the gap between her and Dom.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You looked a little sad a few seconds ago.”
Moving closer, Dom further closed the gap. Reaching out he gently stroked his knuckles against her cheek. “I was just thinking how difficult it must’ve been for you losing your husband so young with two small children. How all alone you must’ve felt. How hard it was to explain to your babies that their father was never coming home.”
Dom held back from telling her his concerns about the children. Because if the startled expression on her face was any indication that she was about to lose it, he was sure if he mentioned his thoughts of Ashley and Kyle, she would crumble. He in no way wanted her to get the impression that she wasn’t doing an excellent job raising her children. However, being the product of having the influence of a mother and a father, he wanted the same for Ashley and Kyle. They needed a father.
Stunned, Karen stared at Dom. The lump forming in her throat threatened to cut off her air supply. The tender concern in the rich, timbre of his voice touched her in a deep place. In a tiny, almost frail voice, she whispered, “It was hard seeing my babies hurting and nothing I said or did could change it.”
A lone tear slid down her cheek. How many nights had she cried herself to sleep after Gregory died? How many days had she pretended to be strong so her children wouldn’t see her fall apart? How often had she felt it was just too hard to be both mother and father to her children?
When Dom pulled her into his arms she went without resistance. For once she allowed herself to let go and release the cry she should’ve had years ago. As he held her he whispered soothing words of comfort, words that encouraged her to purge years of hurting. By the time she finished, Dom’s jacket was soaked with her tears.
Dom reluctantly released Karen when she gently pushed out of his embrace. Wiping her eyes, Karen let out a shaky laugh. She couldn’t believe she had just become an emotional mess in front of Dom. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to have a mini-breakdown.”
Karen was relieved when Dom chuckled. “It’s okay. You probably should’ve had that cry a long time ago. You know crying helps cleanse the soul.”
Okay, this man is too much. Laughing, Karen rolled her eyes. “Who died and made you Dr. Phil?”