going to be a long night, so I might as well take a nap and get some rest while I can.
Once I’m up from my nap, I take a shower. I throw on the shorts and tee shirt I had on earlier to blow dry my hair and curl it into sophisticated waves. I’m now standing in front of my massive walk in closet, trying to decide which dress I should wear tonight.
“Happy Birthday, Adaline,” Dominic says excitedly from behind me. I slowly turn around and look at him with my tear stained cheeks. “Why are you crying?” he asks as he pulls me into a tight hug. I lay my head against his chest and let him hold me.
“Wanna know a secret?” I quietly ask him.
“Sure,” he answers hesitantly.
“Did you know that you are the only person that has ever told me happy birthday?”
He rests his chin down on the top of my head. “I tell you every year because I’m happy that you were born.”
“You’re the only one,” I mumble through my soft crying.
“I got you something,” he says as he lets go of me and reaches for something in his back pocket. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hands as he hands me a small wrapped rectangular box. “Open it.”
I look down at the present in my hands and slowly tear the paper, dropping each little piece to the floor. I lift the lid and inside laid a delicate chain holding a small sterling silver crucifix. Dominic takes the box from my hands and gets the necklace out. “Turn around,” he says as he unclasps the chain. I lift up my long hair so he can put the necklace on me.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell him as I hold the pendant in the palm of my hand. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Yes I did. You’re the only person in the entire world that I care about. You deserved something for your birthday. I got myself a necklace, too,” he says as he reaches into the collar of his shirt and pulls out a gold roped chain with a matching gold medal dangling from it. “It’s Saint Benedict. He’s known for protecting from all things that are evil. I figured it doesn’t hurt to have him around in this house. You know I’m going with you tonight, right?”
“You don’t have to go,” I assert. “It’ll be dangerous.”
“Yes I do. I overheard Vincent and Marco talking about the meeting this morning. I’m not letting you go by yourself. I already told Vincent I was on board and he was more than happy about it. He thinks it’s because I have interest in the family business, but it’s really only because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything ever happened to you.” He threads his right hand through the hair behind my left ear, pulling me closer to him. “I love you, Adaline.” It’s the first time I’ve ever heard those words spoken to me. They come out of his mouth as confident as the very first kiss he just placed on my lips.
***
I notice his police car park out front so I start making his Café con Leche with the stupid extra shot of espresso. The quicker I get him out of here, the less time I have to talk to him. The bell above the door chimes just as I’m putting the lid on his steaming cup.
He eyes me conspicuously with a grimace as he heads toward the counter. “Either you are happy to see me or you are trying to get rid of me. My bet on the second one, though I’m not sure why.”
I hand him his drink and put on my Addy face. She was always tougher than Adaline was. “All Benny has talked about since Tuesday evening is dinner with the policeman. If you let him down, I will hurt you.”
Officer Monroe hands me a crisp five dollar bill from his wallet. “First of all, you know that you are threatening an officer, right?” I shoot him my best ‘I don’t give a crap’ look. I have experienced real life nightmares. He doesn’t scare me one bit. “Second of all, why would you think I would let him down?”
“You haven’t been in here for the past two days.”
He laughs. “Wow, I’m flattered that you noticed my absence and especially that you took offense to me not coming in, but it had nothing to do with you. I