Chapter 15 He's getting married

RILEY

The transfer from Bayview General to the private medical care center went smoothly.

As we drove into the valley, Domi stared out the window with a look of wonder.

“Mommy, look at all the trees!” he exclaimed as he peered out at the forest. “And all the birds! There’s a red one, see it, Mommy?”

A genuine smile appeared on my face at his excitement.

I held his little hand in mine, stroking the peach-soft skin with my thumb.

“I see it, honey. I bet we’re going to see all kinds of pretty birds.”

“And other animals?” Domi asked hopefully, his eyes widening.

It was nice to see him so excited after days of being sick and exhausted. Signs of his illness were still there, but as his vibrant blue eyes met mine, he looked like the wonderful little boy I knew.

“Probably other animals too,” I confirmed, squeezing his hand lightly. “Just keep an eye out, okay?”

He nodded eagerly and shifted his focus back to the window.

Dale glanced back at us from the passenger seat, a small smile on his face as well. Killian hadn’t shown up for the transfer, but he’d sent Dale in his stead. I was told there was some sort of work issue with the company, but Killian would be joining us later for a medical discussion with Dr. Raphael.

It was perfectly fine with me. Though I obviously didn’t know Dale very well, he was likeable and easygoing.

“Mommy, when is Killian coming?” Domi asked out of nowhere, tilting his head. “I want to play with him later.”

I blinked in quiet surprise.

I couldn’t fathom how Domi had become attached to Killian so quickly. Was it because of their shared blood? Was there something biological that made him so interested?

No, that was crazy.

Domi was just a curious little boy, and Killian, for all his faults, was probably fascinating.

“He’ll come see us later,” I gave him an easy answer, squeezing his hand gently. “But play time is going to have to be short, honey. We have to talk to Dr. Raphael so he can take a look at you.”

Domi briefly pouted at that. “But he will come see me, right?”

I nodded.

Satisfied, Domi bounced once in his seat and then rested his cheek against my shoulder. “I can’t wait.”

I carefully adjusted and pulled him as close as the seatbelt would allow, breathing in the familiar smell of his hair. It was a comfort I couldn’t explain.

 I closed my eyes for a moment as my thoughts wandered.

The other day, when Domi had asked why Killian told him not to call him his “uncle”, I had awkwardly brushed it off. I didn’t quite know how to explain things to him in a way that didn’t raise more suspicion.

“He just doesn’t like being called ‘uncle’,” I tried to play it off. “It makes him sound old.”

Domi had giggled and accepted the answer easily enough, which was a relief.

When he was three years old, he’d asked if he had a daddy, and I kept it vague and simple, telling him that his daddy moved away a long time ago. He hadn’t questioned me about it again. But now…

How was I going to eventually tell him that Killian wasn’t just a nice stranger, but his father?

***

The car soon pulled up to the medical center.

I gently rubbed Domi’s arm. He’d been dozing against my shoulder for a while, and at my soft touch, his eyes blinked open sleepily.

“We’re here, sweetie,” I murmured.

He gave a small yawn before sitting up and peering out the window at the medical center in front of us.

The building was beautiful and surprisingly peaceful thanks to the endless forest surrounding it. I could see a small pond on the grounds, along with a garden filled with wildflowers.

“Are there fish in there?” Domi asked with quiet intrigue.

Dale unbuckled his seatbelt. “Yes, there are. Lots of pretty fish. We can show you later, okay?”

His tone was gentle and patient, and I had to admit that he really did have a way with children.

Domi nodded happily, and once we pulled up to the front entrance, I helped him out of the car.

A group of staff members was waiting for us outside, all dressed in scrubs with welcoming smiles. They seemed friendly enough, but when I noticed the woman standing beside them, I couldn’t stop myself from frowning slightly.

Sophia.

Of course she was here.

It seemed impossible to escape the beautiful redhead, and I forced myself to keep my expression neutral.

“Come on, Domi,” I murmured as I took his hand. “Stay close to Mommy.”

His fingers tightened around mine as I led him toward the front entrance. A few staff members approached to offer assistance, and I smiled at them gratefully.

Meanwhile, Dale walked toward Sophia, his expression immediately suspicious.

“What are you doing here?’ he asked bluntly, lowering his voice.

“I’m here to help with admission,” Sophia replied with a look of exaggerated innocence.

“There’s no need, I’ve got it handled,” Dale said curtly. “You can go ahead and – ”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Sophia snapped.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her a short distance away. Once they were out of earshot, their argument continued, though I couldn’t make out the words. Judging by their expressions, however, it didn’t seem particularly friendly.

A minute later, Dale briskly walked away, and Sophia headed in our direction.

I tried not to show my disappointment.

Dale was much better company than she was, but I reminded myself to stay polite.

“Hello,” Sophia said smoothly. She lowered herself to Domi’s level. “Are you Dominic?”

My son nodded shyly, his grip on my hand tightening slightly.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she continued. “I’m Sophia.”

When he didn’t respond, she frowned, and I gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“Can you say hello to Miss Sophia?” I prompted softly.

“Hi, Miss Sophia,” Domi replied, but he still seemed a little cautious.

I couldn’t blame him. Sophia had never exactly been the warmest person I’d met.

Sophia straightened and glanced at me before gesturing toward the entrance. “You can follow me inside.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what Sophia wanted, but she remained professional throughout the admission process. She explained parts of the facility while I completed the necessary paperwork, and the medical staff did their best to keep Dominic comfortable while we prepared for his stay.

Eventually, we were led to the multi-room suite where we would be staying during his treatment.

I stopped short when I stepped inside.

The room was larger than my entire apartment, furnished like a luxury hotel suite rather than a hospital room. The only difference was the medical equipment carefully placed throughout the space.

I stared around in disbelief.

If this room alone was any indication, Killian truly had more money than I could comprehend. This kind of care was something most people could never dream of affording.

I supposed, for that, I was grateful.

Domi, meanwhile, looked far less overwhelmed. He immediately wanted to explore every corner of the suite, and I allowed him to look around while keeping him within sight.

“Just don’t touch the equipment, buddy,” I reminded him.

“Yes, Mommy!” he replied excitedly.

As he moved toward the windows overlooking the forest beyond us, Sophia approached me.

“So, are you satisfied?” she asked quietly, making sure Domi couldn’t hear. “I’m sure you’re feeling pretty pleased with yourself.”

 My eyes flicked toward her. “Excuse me?”

“Killian dropped everything to arrange all of this for you and your child,” she said, her voice edged with accusation. “I hope you understand how much of a risk he’s taken by doing so.”

I wasn’t in the mood for an argument, but before I could respond, she continued.

“I figured it out, you know,” she said. “You’re the girl who called Killian five years ago.”

My chest tightened, and as I turned to look at her, a lump formed in my throat.

So she remembered that conversation too.

“Sorry about all that,” she said, though her tone carried no apology. “But how was I supposed to know you were telling the truth back then? Anyone would have thought you were just making something up to get Killian’s attention.”

“If you’re finished showing us around, you should go,” I said calmly. “It’s been a long day, and I need to help Dominic settle in.”

Sophia’s expression darkened. “You think you can just dismiss me?”

“I just don’t see the point in continuing this conversation,” I replied evenly.

She stepped closer, invading in my space. Her eyes hardened.

“I was trying to be nice,” she said. “But now I see there’s no point. So I’ll speak plainly. Even if you told Killian the truth about that phone call, it wouldn’t change anything between you.”

She paused.

“Because he’s going to be getting married soon.”