Chapter 5 - The Photograph from Four Years Ago
Dominic did not tell Sophia immediately.
He hated himself for it.
He told himself the wedding mattered.
He told himself Margaret deserved one evening without fear.
He told himself Emma deserved photographs where nobody was looking over a shoulder.
All of those things were true.
None of them changed the fact that he was keeping another secret.
By nine o'clock the barn glowed with strings of warm lights.
Music rolled across the property.
Children chased one another between tables.
Uncle Robert had consumed enough bourbon to forget that Dominic was supposedly only involved in “import and logistics.”
He wrapped an arm around Dominic's shoulders.
“I like you.”
Dominic looked at the arm.
Most men would have removed it immediately.
Uncle Robert squeezed harder.
“You're too serious.”
“So I've been told.”
“You know what you need?”
Dominic glanced toward Sophia.
“I suspect you're going to tell me.”
“Family.”
Dominic became still.
Robert pointed at Sophia.
“That girl spent too many years thinking asking for help was weakness.”
His expression softened.
“Don't make her regret asking.”
“She didn't ask.”
Robert grinned.
“Exactly.”
Then he wandered toward the bar.
Dominic stood alone.
Sophia appeared beside him.
“Are you having fun?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Liar.”
Dominic watched her.
She had changed after the ceremony into a dark green dress.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing elaborate.
Yet he had spent most of the reception making sure he did not stare.
“You look different here,” he said.
Sophia lifted an eyebrow.
“In rural Pennsylvania?”
“With your family.”
She looked toward Margaret.
“That's because nobody here signs my paycheck.”
Dominic winced.
Sophia noticed.
“That wasn't meant to be cruel.”
“It was accurate.”
She hesitated.
“Thank you for today.”
“I brought danger.”
“You also made Mom laugh.”
“That doesn't balance it.”
“No.”
Sophia looked at him.
“But life doesn't always balance.”
The music changed.
Slow.
Couples moved onto the dance floor.
Lily ran toward them.
“Dance!”
Sophia shook her head.
“No.”
“With Mr. Moretti.”
“No.”
Dominic looked relieved.
Lily grabbed his hand.
“You have to.”
“I don't dance.”
“Everyone dances.”
“I don't.”
Lily looked at Sophia.
“He said the same thing about singing.”
Sophia laughed.
Dominic realized too late that he had lost.
Minutes later he stood on the dance floor with Sophia.
His hand rested carefully at her waist.
Her fingers touched his shoulder.
There was a respectful distance between them.
Neither seemed sure what to do with it.
“You really don't dance?” Sophia asked.
“I know how.”
“You just said you don't.”
“I said I don't. Not that I can't.”
“Of course.”
“What does that mean?”
“You seem like the kind of man who learned seventeen things he claims not to do.”
“Such as?”
“Dancing.”
“One.”
“Cooking?”
“No.”
“Swimming?”
“Yes.”
“Playing piano?”
Dominic's eyes shifted.
Sophia stared.
“You play piano.”
“I used to.”
She smiled.
“Two.”
He looked at her.
“What else?”
“Falling in love.”
The words escaped before Sophia could stop them.
Her smile vanished.
Dominic became very still.
Neither spoke.
Then Lily crashed into them holding Mr. Whiskers.
“Rabbit dance!”
The moment broke.
Sophia laughed nervously.
Dominic stepped back.
“I need to make a call.”
Her face changed.
“Is this about the photograph?”
“Yes.”
“Don't lie again.”
Dominic looked at her.
Then nodded.
“Come with me.”
They walked behind the farmhouse.
The music became faint.
Dominic showed her the image Marco had sent.
Sophia looked at the photograph.
Color drained from her face.
“That was taken after Lily was born.”
“I know.”
“How did you get this?”
“It was inside the abandoned sedan.”
Sophia sat down on the porch step.
Dominic crouched beside her.
She stared at the image.
“I don't understand.”
“Who knew you were at St. Vincent's?”
“Everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“My family. Hospital staff. My landlord. Lily's father.”
Dominic's attention sharpened.
“You never mentioned him.”
“There was nothing to mention.”
“Is he alive?”
Sophia hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Name?”
“Daniel Carter.”
“Carter is your name.”
“We married young.”
Dominic's expression remained neutral.
“Divorced?”
“Separated before Lily was born.”
“Why?”
Sophia looked at him.
“That has nothing to do with this.”
“Maybe.”
“Dominic.”
“If someone has watched you for four years, I need to know who had a reason.”
Sophia stood.
“I am not giving you permission to investigate my life.”
“Someone photographed your child.”
“Our child.”
Dominic paused.
Sophia's eyes filled.
“Daniel is Lily's father.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
Her voice trembled.
“You don't get to turn him into a file because you found one picture.”
“Then tell me why he isn't here.”
Sophia looked toward the barn.
For a long moment she said nothing.
Finally:
“Daniel left.”
“When?”
“Three weeks before Lily was born.”
“Why?”
“He owed people money.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“What people?”
“He never told me.”
“What did he do?”
“Construction. Cards. Betting. Anything that promised quick money.”
Sophia folded her arms.
“One night two men came to our apartment. Daniel told me they were friends. They weren't.”
“What happened?”
“They asked where he was.”
“And?”
“I didn't know.”
Dominic's voice lowered.
“Did they hurt you?”
“No.”
Sophia swallowed.
“They scared me.”
Dominic stood.
“Names?”
“I don't know.”
“Description?”
“It was four years ago.”
“Sophia.”
“One had a snake tattoo on his neck.”
Dominic stopped breathing for half a second.
Sophia saw it.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You know something.”
Dominic looked away.
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
“Dominic.”
“Matteo Romano has a man named Carlo Vescari.”
Sophia waited.
“He has a snake tattoo.”
Her face changed.
“No.”
“It could be coincidence.”
“You don't believe in coincidence.”
“No.”
Sophia stared toward the lights.
“So this isn't about you bringing danger to us.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“It's both.”
“What do you mean?”
“If Daniel owed Romano people money, they may have watched you because they expected him to contact you.”
“For four years?”
“Debt isn't always about money.”
Sophia turned.
“What else would it be about?”
Dominic didn't answer.
She looked at him.
The wedding music continued behind them.
People laughed.
Someone shouted for Emma.
The normal sounds made the conversation feel more frightening.
“Dominic.”
“I need Marco to find Daniel.”
“No.”
“Sophia—”
“No. He left us.”
“If he is connected to this—”
“He abandoned his daughter.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
Dominic's face went still.
Sophia immediately regretted it.
He had told her about Isabella.
But grief and abandonment were different wounds.
“I spent months waiting for him,” Sophia said. “Every time someone walked down the hall, I thought he had come back. Every unknown phone number—I answered.”
She wiped her cheek angrily.
“Then Lily was born. And eventually I stopped waiting.”
Dominic's voice softened.
“You shouldn't have had to.”
“I survived.”
“I know.”
“Don't sound proud of me.”
“Why?”
“Because surviving isn't always admirable. Sometimes it's just what happens when there isn't another option.”
Dominic understood that too well.
Before he could answer, Lily appeared around the corner.
“Mommy?”
Sophia immediately wiped her face.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Grandma wants you.”
Sophia turned toward the house.
Then Lily looked at Dominic.
“And Mr. Moretti too.”
“Why?”
Lily shrugged.
“She said now.”
Margaret was in her bedroom.
The door was partly closed.
Emma stood outside crying.
Sophia's heart dropped.
“What happened?”
“She got dizzy.”
Sophia rushed inside.
Margaret lay against the pillows.
Her breathing was shallow but steady.
She smiled when she saw Sophia.
“Stop looking like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I'm already dead.”
“Mom.”
“Sit.”
Sophia sat.
Dominic remained near the door.
Margaret pointed.
“You too.”
He obeyed.
Margaret looked at Lily.
“Sweetheart, go find Aunt Emma.”
“I found her already.”
“Find her again.”
Lily sighed but left.
Margaret waited until the door closed.
Then she looked at Sophia.
“You were crying outside.”
Sophia frowned.
“How did you know?”
“I've been your mother thirty years.”
She looked at Dominic.
“And you have the face of a man planning murder.”
Sophia's head snapped toward him.
Dominic said, “I'm not.”
“Good.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Then opened them.
“Whatever trouble you two brought into this room, fix it before you waste time being stubborn.”
Sophia squeezed her hand.
“Mom, don't.”
“I'm not giving a dying speech.”
“You sound like you are.”
“I'm giving advice. Dying people can still be annoying.”
Sophia laughed through tears.
Margaret looked at Dominic.
“Take care of them.”
Dominic said nothing.
Margaret's eyes sharpened.
“That wasn't a suggestion.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
Then she turned to Sophia.
“And you.”
“What?”
“Let someone.”
Sophia blinked.
“What does that mean?”
“You've spent years proving you can do everything alone.”
Margaret squeezed her fingers.
“Congratulations. You proved it.”
Her voice softened.
“Now stop.”
Sophia's tears fell.
Before she could answer, Dominic's phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
He ignored it.
Margaret noticed.
“Answer.”
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
“Learned something from those eight minutes?”
Dominic stared at her.
Sophia had told Margaret.
Of course she had.
His phone stopped.
Then immediately rang again.
Marco never called twice without reason.
Dominic stepped into the hallway.
“What?”
Marco spoke quickly.
“We found Daniel Carter.”
Dominic's body tightened.
“Where?”
“New Jersey.”
“Bring him in.”
“There's a problem.”
“What?”
Marco paused.
“Daniel says the debt wasn't his.”
Dominic frowned.
“Whose was it?”
“He says Sophia's husband didn't disappear because he owed Romano.”
“Daniel is her husband.”
“I know.”
Marco's voice dropped.
“He says he disappeared because four years ago he stole something from Victor Romano.”
Dominic looked toward the bedroom door.
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Dominic went completely still.
Marco continued.
“And Daniel says he hid it somewhere Victor would never dare search.”
“Where?”
There was another pause.
Then Marco answered.
May you like
“With Sophia.”
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