Chapter 21

Dominik smiled from the obvious embarrassment the woman sitting next to him was feeling.

“Don’t worry. You don't need to be sorry. Life was merciful to him, the people who suffer from the disease that killed him, usually agonize for decades …” he cleared his throat. My father never liked going to the doctor, so I think that's what kept him around for so long. “He had the disease, but he never had the symptoms. It only took him knowing he had it for it to consume him…”

Samanta could sense the profound sadness Dominik's words contained. Although she had not experienced the loss of a parent, she was very empathetic and it always heartened her to see others in pain. She noticed her eyes were watering.

The car stopped.

“Your father must have been a great man” she said in a shaky voice, and then cleared her throat.

“He was not only my father, he was my friend, my accomplice … my angel. He supported me from the start, with this whole football thing. Soccer, I mean. My mother, because of the condition the doctors diagnosed me with, preferred I pursued more … artistic activities.”

“Condition?” Sam looked at him a little bit more closely.

“At age six, I was diagnosed with A.S. also known as Asperger's.

“Really?” she opened her eyes in surprise. “That's fascinating.”

“Do you really think so?” Dom looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Normally, people look at me like I was a freak.”

“I don't think you're a freak. As a matter of fact, I hold the belief that every person society deems “special,” are actually outstanding. Genuine, sincere, loyal, intelligent…”

“Thank you, for your nice words” Dom smiled, pleased.

“Don't even mention it” Samanta smiled brightly and Dominik felt a whole lot of unknown feelings whirling inside him.

Never before had a woman made him feel all these things like she did.

They sat in silence for a couple seconds, staring at each other.

“We're here” he broke the silence.

Samanta looked around and it took her a couple seconds to realize where they were. The view of the sea was amazing, there were people walking from one side to the other, enjoying the sun. They had come to Dockweiler Beach.

Wasting no time, Dominik took off his shoes and socks, walking barefoot.

“Done. Now you go” Dominik urged Samanta to do the same.

She bore her feet and even rolled back her pant legs to keep the sand off of them.

“Are you sure about this?” Sam asked before leaving the car. “Someone could recognize you.”

He turned around, grabbed a cap from the back seat and put it on, along with his usual shades.

“I think this will suffice” said Dominik.

Samanta looked at him frowning, and proceeded to look all around, like she was trying to find something or someone.

»What's wrong?” he inquired.

“I'm trying to find the guy who brought me here. Blond, over 6ft tall? He was just here…”

Dominik took off his shades and looked at her confused. Those jokes always went right over his head.

“I am right here” he said.

“I know. I'm kidding” she said, biting her lip in embarrassment, remembering Dominik had just told her he had Asperger's, people with this condition always took things very literally. It was insensitive to use sarcasm around them.

Without another word, they both got out of the car and headed for the beautiful tails in the park. They walked for a long time, talking a little bit of everything, all the while feeling more and more relaxed by the nice feeling of sand between their toes.

Almost 15 minutes went by between walking and having ice cream. Sam joked and Dominik had to make a huge effort to try and understand her silliness. It felt great being able to spend some time with someone who made him feel so good.

“I am really enjoying this” he said, out of the blue.

“What now?” Samanta stopped ad looked at him.

“This” he answered, pointing at himself and her. “You, me… Being able to be myself, not having to pretend around you…”

Dominik stood in silence as he noticed Samanta coming close to his face.

He leaned back.

«What is she doing?», he asked himself and felt tempted to jump away from this, but he kept it together.

Sam stared right into his eyes, leaned in a little closer and rose her hand.

Dom closed his eyes and felt her fingers picking something off his cheek.

He opened his eyes in a brisk.

“Lint” she said and winked.

Samanta reacted quickly, she panicked when she realized what she was about to do could have made it all too complicated. What she had with Dominik was different. It was nothing, but also, it was everything. That's how she felt. Free, but trapped at the same time, and it freaked her out because the last time she felt like this, things didn't really work out.

On the other hand, Dominik was very confused from Samata's attitude. This woman leaned in far closer than normal and this, for neurotypical patients, that meant intimacy. He tried not to make a big deal out if this.

“Oh! What flirty lint”  he said and they both laughed out loud.

Time went by and they talked about a little bit of everything.

On the beach, people came and went, children ran from one side to the other, playing, some built sand castles, couples held hands, walking and a couple kisses were shared between the waves.

Dominik felt tempted to hold Samanta's hand, but resigned. He was not good taking the first step although he did try a couple times. He did not want to risk rejection.

“You know? There's something I really want to know about you” she said.

“What do you want to know?”

“How come you managed to escape your busy schedule to come meet me tonight?”

“I'm supposed to be resting in my hotel room, but I didn't feel like staying there, bored to death. Let's say this is our little secret” he winked at her.

“Not so secret” commented Samanta.

“What do you mean?”

“We're being watched” she said, pointing over her shoulder. “One behind that store over there and another one by the coast guard post, the one by the hot dog stand and two more on that bench” Sam pointed them out one by one, discreetly, by slightly moving her head.