Mis-directed email

chapter 25 - 26

CHAPTER 25

When Donald Carrera answered the door there stood Rosa and some large guy he'd never seen before.

"Donnie," was all she'd managed to say before bursting into tears.

With a stunned look over his sister's head he barely kept himself from jumping on the guy to pound him. What in blazes had this guy done to his sister? She was trembling and it was obviously this guys' fault.

Dominic introduced himself and showed his identification.

Barb stepped forward, placed her arm around her sister in law and took Rosa thru to the kitchen. Donnie glared at Dominic.

Stepping onto the porch he indicated that Dominic should have a seat. Shrugging Dominic sat and began to tell his future brother in law the events that that taken place since he'd received the first email from Rosa.

Donald Carrera had a hard time understanding the events that Dominic had just told him. How could his little sister have gotten mixed up with terrorist? That kind of thing didn't happen to ordinary people. But he'd seen that Dominic was telling him the truth and judging by his sister reaction they had been thru hell. Asking just an occasional question he let Dominic get thru the telling before he began to go over the events again. Dominic was impressed that he'd managed to tell his story without Donnie's fist sending him over the porch railing. He knew that if it had been his sister, he'd be tempted to strike first and get the details later. Already his admiration for Donald Carrera had raised a notch. The man was willing to listen and that was more than most men would do, if a stranger had delivered their sister home for the holidays in tears with a haunted look in her eyes. Yes, he liked Donnie very much and would enjoy having him as a brother-in-law.

Barb had taken Rosa's arm, her other arm around her shoulder, as she led her toward the kitchen. One look at Rosa's bruised and shadowed eyes and Barb realized that some quiet and a cup of tea was exactly what she needed. Barb knew that Donnie would get the complete story from Dominic. Rosa did not need to relive the events. She looked as if she would crumple if a small breeze hit her. Barb chatted about the baby. Telling Rosa that she'd felt the baby move just recently and couldn't believe what an overwhelming feeling it was. Donnie had felt the movement and had choked up. Barb just knew that the baby was a girl. Being safely at her brother's home, Rosa's tense shoulders slowly relaxed. Suddenly Barb could not keep the question that had leaped in her mind when she'd first seen Rosa holding Dominic's hand.

"So are you guys going to get married" she suddenly said. Rosa's flushed face made her regret the words. But the light of love in her sister in laws eyes answered even before Rosa could stammer that she hadn't known Dominic that long. "We haven't talked about marriage yet." She said as she twisted the ring on her hand. Barb's eyes had already widened before she decided to change the subject.

Nodding Barb changed the subject back to the coming baby. Then Barb asked innocently if Dominic liked children.

Rosa suddenly burst out crying. Barb felt guilty and at the same time knew that her question was not the cause of the tears. Rosa haltingly told Barb what had happened over the last four days. Barb's mouth dropped at several of the events that Rosa described. But watching Rosa's face light up every time she mentioned Dominic's name she knew that there would soon be a true wedding. Not one that was for show or to play a part. She saw the love that softened Rosa's eyes and the dreamy expression on her face.

When Donnie and Dominic came into the house almost an hour later Barb suddenly decided that it was time to help her favorite sister in law.