"So, I was wondering when you were going to come see my parents," she persisted, leaning toward him.
Dominic quirked a brow. What was she talking about?
"Why would I come see your parents?" He hadn’t meant to blurt out the words in such a careless way, but his irritation was starting to get to him.
"Well, I thought it was obvious." Red tinted her cheeks.
Dominic groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Let me make this obvious. Margaret, I just don’t feel that way about you, but one day you will meet someone who does. You just have to open your heart and seek the Lord's face. I don’t want to court you. Not now, not ever."
She took a step back, arms crossed, a pained look on her face, as though she’d been punched in the stomach. "Look, maybe we just need to get to know each other better," she protested defiantly.
"No, Margaret," Dominic said with conviction. “It’s not that. We’ve known each other our whole lives. I’m sorry. It’s just not going to happen. In fact, I’m interested in someone else.”
“What?” Margaret’s entire face turned red now, and Dominic could envision smoke spurting from her ears. “Who is it? What’s her name?”
As Dominic searched for the right words, they heard soft singing. Dominic looked to see who was approaching, and his face lit up. Snow was approaching, wearing a blue dress and a white apron that Maam had made for her. Her eyes were bright and smiling, and he walked down to meet her halfway.
"Sorry I took so long," she said. "I got a bit lost."
"That's okay. You're here, and that's what matters," Dominic said, grinning.
Margaret cleared her throat.
"Margaret, this is Snow. Snow, Margaret is Damaris' best friend."
"Hello. It's nice meeting you.” Snow flashed a smile.
Margaret looked at her from head to toe condescendingly. "Likewise. Well, I should be going now."
As Margaret left, Snow and Dominic walked down the lane.
***
Adriana had to admit she was glad to see Margaret leave. Something about that woman made Adriana uneasy.
Yes, she had wanted to visit Dominic while he was at work, but the real reason she’d offered to bring him his lunch today was so she could make another secret phone call to Mrs. Clement before visiting Dominic at work. To her relief, Megan was still safe, though deep in mourning for her aunt and mother. Still, however, Mrs. Clement had not found the will or any hidden evidence at the estate.
Adriana hated keeping the fact that she was alive from Megan, but she and Mrs. Clement agreed it was the best option for both Megan’s and Adriana’s safety.
In her heart, Adriana knew she had to tell Dominic her story and ask him for help. And soon.
As Dominic and Adriana walked down the lane, ice covered the skeletal tree branches like a crystal glaze, sparkling in the sunlight, as a few lone flurries blew from the rooftops. Dominic smiled as he looked around at the view and nodded to Adriana. “Isn’t it beautiful here?”
“Oh, yes,” Adriana said. “I love it here. I think this must be the most beautiful place in the world.”
And that wasn’t a lie.
“I would definitely agree with that,” Dominic said proudly.
“So, is it just me or did I just notice some animosity back there?" Adriana asked.
"Yes, you’re not wrong. Margaret has had it in her head for a while that I am going to court her.”
"Really? And are you?"
Dominic shrugged. "I have never loved her or liked her in that way. She knows it but keeps hoping. Actually, she considers you a threat."
Adriana stopped. “Really? Why?”
Dominic stopped and took Adriana's hand. "What can I say? You are not a threat to her because I don’t love her. You are the one who has my heart. I need to be honest.” He took a deep breath. They were such good friends, he hoped he wasn’t about to ruin what they had, but he couldn’t keep this from her any longer. “I’m not good with words. I know we are friends, and I hope this doesn’t make you uncomfortable. I understand if you don’t feel the same way, but I have to tell you this. I know you might have a family out there, but we have no way of knowing. All I know is I’m here with you now, Snow, and I love you."
With every word he spoke, Adriana’s heart pounded faster and joy filled her soul. "I feel the same way, too, Dominic. It started as being grateful towards you for all you did, but it has grown into something else. You have a place in my heart. I love you, too." Her eyes wandered to the ground, as realization set in.
This was it. She couldn’t lie to him anymore. It was time he knew the truth. All of it.
Dominic raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "But?"
“Well, first of all, Damaris told me you’d be shunned if you left again.”
“Of course, she did. I don’t care about that. I’d do anything to be with you.”
Adriana shook her head. "But there is so much I have to tell you. You don’t know me, not really.” Dread filled Adriana’s belly. Would he reject her once she told him the truth? Never speak to her again? “Besides, I don’t want you to be shunned.” Just the thought of him being shunned for leaving with her made her feel guilty.
“Of course, I know you, Snow.” Dominic reached up and gently touched her face.
Though she wanted to lean into him, she just looked into his eyes. “My name isn’t Snow. It’s Adriana Daniels.”
“What? You remembered?” Dominic grinned. “That’s great!”
“No.” Adriana shook her head. What a mess she’d created. “I’m so sorry, Dominic. This entire time, I’ve been lying to you, but it was to protect all of us. I didn’t have amnesia. I was afraid to tell you who I was.”
Dominic stared at her, and she couldn’t read his expression. Anger? Confusion? Hurt? All three?
“When you found me, I mentioned someone trying to kill me. My brother-in-law tried to kill me. Twice. Before the car crash, he sent an assassin to cut out my heart.”
“This man sent someone to cut out your heart? What kind of sick person would do that?” Dominic asked, dumbfounded. “Who could do this to you?”
“It’s a long story. Let me back up,” Adriana said. "I have a child that needs me."
Dominic's eyes widened. "You have a child?"
"No, she’s not my daughter." Adriana breathed in and said, "She’s my niece, my sister's child, Megan."
Dominic slowly nodded. “Megan. That’s the name you were saying in your sleep. And who is Jordan?”
“Jordan was my sister.”
“Was? What happened to her?”
Adriana told him everything, starting from when Jordan had married Henry. She told Dominic how she’d suspected Henry was abusive, but Jordan had denied it for years, defending Henry. She told him about everything from Jordan’s death to how she ended up here.
“She left me everything, including Megan, and he will stop at nothing to kill me so he can take it all. He doesn’t even love her. He’s keeping her from me just to hurt me,” Adriana explained, then paused, trying again to read his expression. “I’m so sorry I lied. I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid to tell you who I was, and I was afraid to make up fake information about myself, not sure if I could keep the story straight. So I just pretended to have amnesia. When you told me that you used to be a police officer, I wondered if you could help me somehow. I hope I haven’t lost your trust and that you don’t hate me. But if you do, I understand.” Adriana looked at the snow-covered ground, expecting the worst.