Seasons of Change

3

Nina's heart was pounding as Dominik pulled up along the curb for arriving passengers. Junior and Sophia were already waiting for her under a big sign that read "2".

It had only been eight months since she had seen them last but they looked like little adults. Junior was fourteen and Sophia fifteen.

"Look, Lizzy!" Nina pointed an outstretched hand towards the window.

"Sophia!" she shouted out the window to her older sister.

Dominik put his truck in park, turning the flashers on.

"Oh My gosh, I'm so nervous," Nina gushed, fanning herself as she stepped down from the truck.

"Momma!" the teens said in unison.

Nina hugged them both at once, she and Sophia were crying happy tears, "I'm so happy your dad let you visit, I missed you guys so much!"

Dominik lingered behind his girlfriend, giving her space to welcome her children.

"You guys," she began, "I know this might be weird, but this is Dominik, my boyfriend."

Junior gave him a shy, brace-filled smile and nodded.

Sophia grinned, "My mom has told us all about you."

"Oh hush," Nina teased the girl, before taking her bags and placing them in the bed of the trunk.

"Is Rocco going to visit?" Sophia asked as she climbed into the seat next to her sister.

Nina hesitated, "Possibly, I think he's going to see you guys at Marisol's. We have to figure out what his dad wants to do."

Sleeping with Krist had complicated things in ways that she never would have expected. The biggest issue had been with Rocco and his being allowed to visit. Krist no longer was bringing the little boy to visit regularly and when Rocco did come over either Atira would take and pick him up or they would have Marisol pick him up from Krist's mother.

The worst part was that everyone knew why these new rules were in place. "Because Nina couldn't keep her hands off that married man." Forget the fact Krist was married and the one who'd broken the commitment to his wife, it was she who was the wrong one.

The only person who was clueless about the one-time indiscretion was poor Dominik. As far as he was aware, nothing had happened between her and her ex since they were teenagers and she hoped to keep it that way.

Dom, unfortunately, seemed rather fond of Krist, talking about what a solid guy he was and how Krist had been stabbed in the process of trying to back him up. He had suggested even doing a double date with the two of them and Krist and Atira. Ha. Not happening!

He'd been completely oblivious to the tension between the three of them when they crossed paths at Ocean Shores on Valentine's Day. She and Krist hadn't spoken a single word to one another while Atira looked ready to pounce at any moment.

In hindsight, Nina knew she couldn't have expected anything good to come from sleeping with Krist, she wasn't even sure what she wanted from it beyond physical release. No, it had been more than that. For her anyway.

She still for some reason had feelings remaining for him at the time and was struggling with her divorce. It felt good to have Krist confiding his issues in her and to have him tell her how sexy she was, how badly he wanted her, and how he regretted the things he had done to her.

It was all the same shit he had said to her the first time she and Fabian split up. Shady ass Krist had almost convinced her to come back to Portland so they could be together...and then she discovered he was working things out with Lainey.