Chapter 71

The next couple of seconds were very tense. There they were, Samanta, feeling her should leaving her body any time, and Dominik, unable to look away from this woman, not knowing why.

“Excuse me?” Dominik walked up to her and tried to touch her, but he remembered their culture have rules preventing men from touching stranger women, so he refrained. “Lady. Are you alright?”

A man came in suddenly and said something to the woman.

Samanta thanked the gods for Amir's intermission, her perfect excuse to run away.

Dominik stood there, still confused from what had just transpired.

Samanta walked away as fast as she could towards the only place she knew she could  prepare for her speech. She met Charlotte there. Sitting on a chair, skimming the brochure for the event. She looked up and realized Samanta was freaking out, pacing back and forth, trying to take off the outfit she was wearing. She needed air.

“What's the matter?” Charlie stood up. “Are you okay?” Sam insisted on taking off her attire.

“Help me out of this” she muttered.

Her friend helped her out.

“What are you wearing?”

“It's a burka” she responded, upset.

“A what…?”

“Take it off!” she screamed and her friend obliged. She pulled back the fabric and Sam could breathe. What is he doing here?” Said Sam under her breath.

“What? What do you mean?”

“Dominik.”

“What about him?”

“He's out there.”

“Out here?” Charlie was confused.

“He's here. In the museum. Dominik is here” Samanta emphasized every word.

Her friend's jaw hit the floor.

“What are you talking about?”

“You heard me. He was right there in front of me…” She tried explaining her friend, but Amir interrupted.

“Can you explain to me what is he doing here?” Samanta turned suddenly towards her husband's voice. “Did you invite him?” Amir seemed offended.

“No. What are you saying? I don't know why he's here.

“Ant the girl? Where is she?” Amir looked around.

Sam looked around, too and looked at her friend when she realized her daughter was nowhere to be found.

“Charlie, find Aháva” Charlie nodded and rushed out of the room.

Sam and Amir stayed, arguing.

The first time they ever argued in their many years of marriage.

*****

“So, your dream is going to Disneyland?” Asked Dominik in a playful tone. He could not understand why this little girl had warmed his heart so easily.

“It's my biggest dream” answered the little girl.

“Really? Who is your favorite princess?” Asked Dom. That little girl irradiated such sweetness.

“Snow White and Rapunzel! Did you know they were both royals from Germany?”

“Germany? No, I did not know. I am from Germany.”

“Yes, I knew when you called me.”

“Did you, now? How did you know?”

“Auntie Charlie says Germans speak as if they had something stuck in their throat.”

 Dominik laughed out loud. That girl was amazing.

“Wow! You are one smart cookie” commented Dominik. “I don’t talk like that. Do I?”

The girl nodded.

“Oh! Here you are. Come here, sweetie” Charlotte's voice made Aháva look.

“Sir, this is…”

“Her aunt” said Charlie, interrupting the child, with a frown.

“Yes. Auntie Charlie” Aháva smiled.

“Love, daddy's looking for you” Charlotte smiled. “Why don't you go find him?” She interrupted her again.

“OK” responded Aháva, pouting. She crossed her arms and turned to Dominik. “Nice to meet you, sir…”

“Dominik. My name is Dominik” he introduced himself to her.

“Nice meeting you, Mr. Dominik” she said, with a wink.

He winked back.

The child rushed to find her father.

Dominik watched her run, with a huge smile on his lips.

“Beautiful child. She is very smart” said Dominik looking at Charlie. “What is her name?”

“Aháva” said Charlotte without a thought.

“Pretty name” he said.

“Yes” muttered Charlotte looking at him from head to toe. “Tell me. What brought you to this foreign, far away land, mister…” she looked defiantly into the man's eyes, “Weigand.”

“What?” Dominik was surprised. “Do I know you?” He asked, confused.

“No” Charlotte answered dry, “I've watched you play many times. You're an Icon.”

“Oh! Thank you, You are too kind…”

“You're too far away from home…” noted Charlie.

Dominik shrugged.

“I have some personal issues here” he started to feel uncomfortable form the stranger's interrogation. “If you excuse me, I will mind my own business” he apologized and left.

“Have a nice day, sir” she said, as he walked away.

Charlotte turned around suddenly, unaware of a man walking by absent-mindedly. They bumped into each other and the man's glass of Champaign spilled on Charlotte.

“Oh my God! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you…” Carlos was very embarrassed.

“I noticed” she answered begrudgingly, trying to shake the drink off her top with her hands.

Carlos looked up and was left speechless. The woman before him was beautiful. And what was best, he had already met her.

“Charlotte?”

She looked up to face the man.

“Carlos?”

They met at Samanta's wedding, six years back. Charlotte was very attracted to this man with strong arms and dark eyes. Carlos was dazzled by that angelic face and those gray eyes. They ended up between bed sheets. However, although they tried to keep in touch after that night, distance and time dissipated any hints of romance between them.

“Are you ok? Sorry I showered you in Champaign. I'm so clumsy.”

“It's alright, It's just a top. I didn't like it that much” she answered nervously. “Are you ok? Did I hurt you?”

Carlos denied with his head, with his eyes glued to that blushing pretty face before him.

“I'm fine, Thank you” he said.

“What are you doing here? Why didn't you say you were coming?”

“I wanted to surprise Samanta.”

“Auntie Charlie, mommy needs you” Aháva appeared out of nowhere.

“Wow! That is Aháva?” Carlos bent over to get down to the child's level.

“Aháva, say hi” said Charlotte.

“Hi” the child looked at Carlos like he was a freak.

“You don't remember me?”He asked. Aháva shook her little head. “I'm your uncle Carlos!”

The girl looked up to her godmother. Charlie nodded.

“He's uncle Carlos.”

The girl looked at the man again and, after a couple seconds, she hugged him.

»Hold on” Charlotte pointed her finger at Carlos. “You're here… Dominik is here, too” she muttered.

“Dominik? Have you seen him?” Carlos stood up and tried to find Dom among the crowd.

“Oh God!” Whispered Charlie. “OH MY GOD!” She reacted. “It was you? You brought him here.”

“Please, listen to me. Dominik didn't…”

“Stop it! I can't believe you're doing this to Sam.”

“What happened to mommy?” Aháva was scared, thinking something had happened to her mother.

“Nothing, sweetie” she picked her up in her arms.

“Charlie, please, let me explain.”

“No. Save it. I don't need no explanations. I'm bringing the girl to her mother.”

“I'm coming with you” said Carlos.

“You're staying here. The last thing Sam needs right now is more stress.”

Charlotte rushed away.

“Did you find something?” Dominik's voice startled him. “Oh! I see you met that strange lady” he commented as he noticed Carlos watching the blonde walking away with the girl in her arms. “The event is about to start. We should go downstairs.”

“Dominik. I have a feeling things will go terribly wrong.”