Second Chance at Love(50)

“We don’t want to go with them,” Ashley wailed, holding onto Dom’s waist as if she were drowning.



Relief washed over Karen as she hurried over to stand by Dom’s side. Grabbing the back of his shirt, because his arms were occupied comforting the children, angry tears streamed down her face. With her free hand she pointed an accusing finger at her former in-laws. “They want to have visitation rights every weekend and take the kids for the summer!” Her voice had risen to a frightening shrill as she went on to tell Dom about the Johnston’s unannounced visit. “And they threatened that if I don’t agree with them, they’ll fight me for custody, saying I denied them their right to see their grandchildren!”



The muscles in Dom’s jaw began an involuntary twitching. His face was burning hot and turning deep crimson. How dare these deadbeat grandparents show up out of nowhere making demands on his woman and upsetting his kids? He reined in his anger, because he was ready to explode, as he gently spoke to the children. “Ashley and Kyle go on upstairs for a few minutes.”



Obediently, the children did as they were told.



It was Mr. Johnston who demanded to know, “Who the hell are you? And why are my grandkids calling you Daddy?” The nastiness in his voice dripped with each word.



Dom was in the man’s face within two quick strides. His top lip curled, his voice coming out in a snarl, he said, “Don’t push me, Old Man.” Who the hell did he think he was talking to? Neither Dom nor Karen owed the Johnstons an explanation. It was none of their business who he was to Karen and the kids. But since he asked…



Moving even closer, Dom hissed out between clenched teeth, “They call me Daddy because that’s who I am to them. And not you or anyone else is going to change it. And make no mistake, when I marry their mother, they will be taking my name.”



Mrs. Johnston had the good sense to gasp and pull her husband back. However, she still felt a need to press their case, especially since this mountain of a man had boldly staked his claim. Turning to Karen she tried to reason with her. “All we want is to see our grandchildren. They’re all we have left of Gregory.”



No the old heifer didn’t have a nerve to sniffle and wipe a tear from her eye. She had been the one that was the meanest to Karen after Gregory’s death. There was nothing humorous about the laugh coming from Karen.



“You have got to be kidding me! I still have your letter you sent telling me I was never good enough for your son and how you didn’t want anything to do with Ashley and Kyle!” Worked up and out done, Karen’s voice came out in a high pitched shrill. “You even went so far as to state you didn’t believe they were his children! Or have you forgotten about that?” Putting her hands on her hips and taking deep breaths to calm herself down, she glared at the older couple. “Now all of a sudden you pop up wanting to be a part of my children’s lives. I don’t think so.”



Mrs. Johnston became flustered as Dom turned his angry gaze on her. “Well…well... before he died, Gregory told us that he wasn’t happy. He said he never wanted kids. But you tricked him by getting pregnant.”



Coming to his wife’s defense Mr. Johnston blurted out, “That’s why he turned to that other woman. He got tired of you holding on to him like a leach, trapping him with baby after baby.” His lip curled up in a nasty snarl. His words were filled with poisonous venom. “My son said he couldn’t stand to touch you.” The man paused for dramatic effects. He knew what he was going to say next was going to crush Karen. And that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Who did she think she was acting all high and mighty like those brats were so special? “That’s why he was planning on leaving you for his other woman.”



A gigantic force of fury shot through Dom as he watched the woman he loved crumble before his eyes. Her face had twisted into a mask of embarrassment, disbelief and agony. Her normally, dark, sparkling eyes were clouding over with tears and pain. He was sure it was from the most intimate parts of her marriage being aired out. Before he could rein in his temper, he had the older man gripped up by the collar and lifted off his feet.



“Don’t you ever talk to her or about her like that again or I’ll kill you,” he threatened through clenched teeth, the veins in his temple protruding. Dom’s grip tightened. He wanted so bad to snuff the life out this lowlife.



Mrs. Johnston gasped in horror as her husband struggled to breathe against the choke hold. Dom ignored the man’s attempts to pry his large fisted hand from his collar.