Dominic

Chapter 21 (Just revised)

Unknown (Antonio Giovanni)

I had received word that she had been found! I had lost hope after searching for her for twenty-six years. I had kept wondering what she looked like until I was provided a picture and there was no doubt in my mind who's daughter she was...mine. She had my skin tone and most importantly my eyes and I was thankful to know that she looked nothing like her mother.

 I knew I needed to prepare for a trip to America; my daughter needed to know who I was. I knew the exact time and place that we would meet; Valentina Giossi was throwing her annual black tie affair and I was always invited, this year I would be there for sure. I knew my daughter was successful, beautiful, talented and had a good heart, it made me so glad knowing that she grew up loved.

 I hoped that once she met me and allowed me to explain why I hadn't been in her life she would give me a chance to at least be her friend and then maybe later on she would call me father.

I met a beautiful woman when I was twenty years old. I was wild and crazy back then and wasn't very responsible; the woman became pregnant and by the time I found out about the baby, she'd left and gone back to America and when I began searching for her, that is when I found out she used a false name.  So the woman, pregnant with my child, had just vanished.

 There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about that child, was it a boy or girl? Were they happy, being taken care of? What did they look like? Soon the woman's face faded with time but the memory of having a child out there never faded, it just got stronger as the years rolled by until one day my persistence paid off. The private detective that I had hired reached out to someone he had worked with in New York and within a year's time had managed to track down my daughter.

I had a complete dossier on her. I knew she spoke Italian, French and Spanish; she had actually spent a summer here in Italy, gone to school in Paris and New York and now owned a very successful cafe. My heart swelled with pride over her accomplishments and when I found out that Valentina Giossi was a client of hers and that she was seeing Valentina's son, I thought the gods had smiled favorably upon me and set this reunion in motion. I had written a birthday card, starting with the first birthday and continued it until she reached twenty-seven.   I would bring those to share with her. I had a beautiful bracelet that had been her grandmother's and pictures from my youth.

 I just hoped and prayed that I could fix the mountain of time that had grown between us and I was also sad that I would never be able to thank the man that raised her, to tell him he did a wonderful job with our daughter.

"Soon daughter" I said looking at her picture.  "I just hope you can forgive my absence in your life.  I would have never knowingly stayed away from you" I told her genuinely.  I had hoped and prayed that Dominic Giossi knew what a jewel he had in her, how precious she is, that she is to be treasured.

  I sighed as I picked up my phone and dialed a long distance number, a female voice answered.  "Valentina?  Yes, it's Antonio" I said laughing at her excitement.  "Yes, that's exactly why I was calling.  I would love to attend this year.  But I have only one favor to ask of you.  Please do not let anyone know that I am coming and I promise if you can do this for me all will be explained before the evening is over."  Valentina promised me that she would keep my coming under wraps.  I knew I could trust her.

"Niccolo" I said turning to the man next to me.  "Make all of the arrangements.  I want you, Lorenzo and Tommaso by my side."  

He nodded and said "Yes, Boss."  Normally I would not flaunt my wealth but in this case to stay under the radar we would take a chartered private jet.  We had used them before and I knew the crew were discreet and that they could be trusted. 

 I sat back in my desk chair thinking about her, il mio bambina (my child).  I pulled myself from my thoughts and went back to tying up lose ends and making sure that all my business was taken care of before my journey.  I had no idea how long I would be in New York but on the off chance that she will want to spend time with me I don't want to have to be running back to Italy because something was left undone.

My phone rang.  It was my second, Niccolo.  "Boss, everything is at the ready.  We can leave whenever you would like." 

 "Good, Niccolo, very good.  Call Constance and let her know that she will have four guests staying with her and that I'm not sure for how long.  Then get everyone ready; I will get Mary to pack me up.  Wheels up at six-thirty tomorrow morning." 

 He acknowledged by saying he would get everything at the ready.  By this time tomorrow I will be meeting my little girl for the first time.  I, Antonio Giovanni, was finally a father!  I had wanted this my whole life and despite the twists and turns of life I got my wish.