Karen’s heart began to pound with anxiety. This man was not about to tell her he was some shady character. “Oh, God. What, Dom?”
“I’m a made man.”
“You’re what! As in a made man with the mafia!” Karen shrieked loud enough to wake the dead. Immediately the television show Who the Bleep Did I Marry? came to mind.
Dom fell over, roaring with laughter. The look on her face was priceless. She looked as if she didn’t know if she wanted to run, cry or scratch his eyes out. Knowing his wife, she wanted to do all of the above.
Grabbing the closest pillow, Karen started to beat him with it. “You are so not funny Dominic Peretti, Jr.!”
Wrestling the pillow from her, Dom pinned her down beneath his weight. “Baby, I’m sorry, but you walked into that one wide open. I couldn’t resist.”
“Get off!” she kicked and shoved. She scooted over to the other side of the bed, snatching the sheet to cover her naked body. Crossing her arms over her chest, she wanted to be mad, but couldn’t. Dom was still howling with laughter…at her. She used her foot to nudge him. “Stop laughing at me.”
“Baby, I’m all legit. My dad put money away for me and Ava when we were born to be used for our education and marriages. Ava’s was to pay for her wedding and mine was to buy a home for my new wife.”
“Oh,” Karen said, feeling like a big idiot.
Dom lifted a thick brow at her. “That’s all you can say is “Oh?”
Tucking her head in embarrassment, she apologized. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’ve put so much money into this house.” What she didn’t say was that she felt bad she hadn’t contributed to the purchasing of their new home. She would have liked to help out with something, especially since he made it clear that he would be responsible for the household finances once they married.
Wrapping his large hand around her slender ankle, he pulled her until she was in his arms again. “I just told you money wasn’t an issue. My pop invested well. We’re cool. I didn’t break the bank.”
“Promise?”
Easing Karen on her back, he began kissing her neck. “Promise.”
Ashley and Kyle were ecstatic about the move to their new home. Of course they were a little sad about leaving their friends from the old neighborhood. At least they didn’t have to make new friends at school. Lucky for them they would remain at their old school until the end of the school year.
All these things were minor details to the siblings, because they had gotten what they planned and schemed for – a father. And what a father he’d turned out to be. It was as if Dom had been there all along. Never once did they feel they had to share Dom with their mother or vice versa. The four of them were a perfectly blended family.
To say Dom took to fatherhood like a fish to water was an understatement. Every decision he made, his family was his number one priority, even when it came to decisions concerning his career. After talking things over with Karen, he decided to take his father up on his offer to run Peretti Construction. Making the move was a win-win situation. The company was financially stable and now led by a third generation Peretti. Dominic had the flexibility to set his own schedule to fit the needs of his family. The best perk was the salary his father had agreed to pay him.
As winter blossomed into spring, Dom made sure he picked Kyle up from every soccer practice and was at every game in the stands with Karen and Ashley cheering him on. And you couldn’t tell him he wasn’t the proudest father as he escorted Ashley to the Father-Daughter Spring Dance. Each morning before he left out for work, he walked through the living room and admired the 8x10 of him and his princess on the mantle. He’d never forget how happy she was that night introducing him to all her friends and teachers.
The greatest joy for the family came in May when the adoption was finalized and Ashley and Kyle became Perettis. Of course, this was another reason for the family to come together for a celebration.
Ashley and Kyle officially becoming Perettis wasn’t the only cause for celebration. After the children and babysitter had gone up to the third floor to play, Ava and Langston made their announcement. “We’re pregnant.”
“The baby is due in late September,” Ava said.
“I knew it! I told you Henry!” Joan laughed, nudging her husband.
Henry hugged his wife, teasing, “So there’s some truth to those crazy fish dreams.”
“Absolutely!” Her wise eyes settled on each of the younger women. “And she ain’t the only one either. I had me another dream the other night about a big old fat fish.”