A Million Wishes (28 page)

“
Lilah stop. They aren’t gonna want to keep us if you tell them how bad I have been.” Dom had tears in his eyes and he moved away from his sister and rubbed his fists against his eyes.

“
We have to be honest Dom. I want to stay here and these are nice people. Maybe they will let us see Dakota. Don’t be mad at me Dom please!”

“
Hey, come on now kids its ok. Dom come back over here and sit down. We want you to know you don’t have to be afraid to be honest with us. If ever there is something you need or want, you have to tell us, otherwise how can we help if we don’t know?”

Dom sat down again but wouldn’t look up; his focus was on the floor as if there were something really interesting there to look at. He was ashamed for all the fights he’d been in, but he had felt he had to protect them. Be tougher than anyone else so no one messed with him and his sister. It was up to him to protect her since Dakota wasn’t around anymore. “I don’t want to have to fight anymore. I don’t do it to be mean or to be a bad person. I did it to protect her, to protect us. When people saw how strong I was, how mean and tough I was, they left us alone. I had to take care of my sister. You get that don’t you Noah?"

“
I do son. But you don’t have to do that anymore. We are here to protect you and keep you safe. You come to us when you have a problem, we’ll figure it out. No more fists unless absolutely necessary, you hear me Dom?”

“
Yes Sir.” Dom let loose a deep breath and looked up, his eyes lighter; his posture less strained, like the weight of the world was finally off his shoulders.

“
You two need to know that this is your time to be kids and enjoy life. It’s not time for you to be adults yet. So you let us worry about the big stuff and you just do your best in school and be good to people around you and to yourselves. Stop beating yourselves up over the past and concentrate on what bright futures you have. Have fun. Think about your dreams and find the path to achieving them. Most of all, try to enjoy having a family again.”

“
So do you have a phone number for your brother or would we just need to go see him?” Miki asked, knowing how important their big brother was to them and that he needed and deserved to be a part of their life.

“
He has a cell phone.”

“
Good. Why don’t you go ahead and give him a call Dom and see if he can have dinner with us tonight. We can hold off and go to the grocery store tomorrow if we can meet him somewhere or go by and pick him up. Does he have a car?”

“
No ma’am he doesn’t. He works at an auto shop right by the school in the afternoon and his dorm is on campus so he walks everywhere he goes.” Dom got up and got the phone from the kitchen and called his brother. He must have reached him because he was talking in a low hushed tone and paced around the dining room as he spoke. Everyone had gotten quiet waiting.

Dom covered the phone receiver with his hand “When can we pick him up?”

“
It only takes about 15 minutes to get to the college from here. Can he be ready in a half hour?”

Dom nodded yes to Noah smiling and giving a thumbs up. Lilah hopped up and hugged them both. “Thank you! I can’t believe we finally get to see him! It’s been months.”

It wasn’t long before they were heading out the door and amidst the excited chatter of the twins they arrived at the dorms to find Dakota standing at the curb waiting for them. Miki had tears in her eyes watching the kids jump out and hug their brother. He looked just like Dominique just a little taller and broader shoulder. His hair was in braids where Dom kept his cropped short. The love between the kids was obvious. He was just as excited as they were. Noah and Miki stood there waiting for the excitement to calm down then introduced themselves.

“
Thank you for bringing them to see me. It’s been so long and when I tried to call them I could never get their foster parents to let them talk to me. They’ve been moved so much it’s been hard to stay in contact.”

“
We’re glad to see you kids together Dakota. You’re welcome to call and come see them anytime ok? If you ever need a ride, just let us know.” Noah clapped him on the back and ushered everyone back into the van.

“
Ok kids, where do you want to go eat?” Miki smiled back at them as they fastened their seat belts.

“
Tacos!”

“
Pizza!”

“
All of it sounds good to me.” Dakota said laughing at the twins.

“
How bout we take you to a little Mexican restaurant that makes the best tacos around?” Noah said as he eased back out into traffic.

The cheers in the back confirmed the choice to be perfect so they headed across town to tiny little dive that made the best authentic Mexican food around. Once they arrived and were seated with bowls of crisp chips, with salsa and queso. The kids caught Dakota up on how they ended up with the Canes and everything they knew about them so far. It was endearing watching the twins carry on a conversation. When one started the other would finish like they were two halves to the same brain. They did it without thinking; it just came natural to them. The obvious closeness they had reminded her of Callum. Her and her big brother had always been close and even though several years separated them that never kept them from having a close bond.

They mostly listened to the kids as they caught up what had been going on in each other’s lives, Noah and Miki only chimed in when they were asked a question. It was apparent how much the siblings had missed one another and the close bond they all shared. Dakota questioned them about their grades and praised them on keeping on point. He even praised his brother for defending his twin and patted her on the back lovingly when he found out just how hard she fought too. There was sadness in his eyes though. It was doubtful the twins saw it, but it was obvious to Miki when he apologized to the twins for not being able to be there to protect them both. Noah and Miki exchanged a knowing look and reached to hold each other’s hand as she directed the conversation to the oldest of the siblings.

“
Dakota, if you don’t mind me prying a little bit, where are you staying once the school year ends in a few weeks? I know you can’t stay in the dorm all summer so are you rooming with a friend?”

He fidgeted, looking uncomfortable, his big brown eyes darting back and forth between the twins then back to her.

“
No ma’am I’m not rooming with a friend. Not yet. Most of my friends are going back home to stay with parents over the summer so I’ve been trying to find a place I can afford. I only work about 20 hours a week right now at the shop and it’s been pretty slow so the boss hasn’t agreed to give me more hours yet. I’ve been looking for another part time job but nothings come up yet. I’m sure I’ll find something though.”

“
Well, I have a perfect idea Dakota. We have plenty of room and would all love to have you, so you can stay with us. In fact, I think the twins would love it if you started coming on the weekends, at least until schools out. By then we’ll be moving into the new house and we can start the summer by decorating your rooms. If you want another job we have a lot of work that still needs done and we would love to have you help if you wanted too. We’d pay you a fair wage plus you wouldn’t have to pay for rent, food or utilities so you could start saving your money.” Miki reached across the table and patted his hand.

“
I think Miki’s right. You belong with your siblings and we have more than enough room. We’d love to have you Dakota.” Noah was grinning at the shocked look on the young man’s face and the twins were full of excitement encouraging their big brother to say yes.

“
If you let me work it off I will. I don’t want to take a hand out or make it seem like I’m taking advantage of your kindness. I’m a hard worker Mr. Cane and I can do just about anything.”

“
Then it’s a deal son. Soon as school’s out we’ll move you out to the new house with us and once we get settled in you can help me finish the training course I’ve been building with my brother and my brother in laws. So what is your major anyways? I don’t think we asked that yet did we?”

“
Sounds good Sir, I sure appreciate it. I won’t lie I was starting to get real worried the closer the end of the school year it got. I’m a freshman so this year I’ve just done my basics but I’m going for a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Since I’ve gotten some scholarships and grants, I have to keep my GPA up. Plus…I like being the best.” His grin was one of cockiness and pride. Miki found it absolutely endearing to see him so focused and proud of his career choice that it made him want to work so hard.

“
That sounds great Dakota. I’ve met some really amazing and determined physical therapists that have really changed my life since I was injured in the war. I think that’s one of the most intense and rewarding positions a person can have. How’s your grade’s so far?” Noah asked, pushing his empty plate away and taking a drink of his water.

“
All A’s this year so far. I have finals next week so I’ve been studying hard to keep my grades on point. I expect it of the twins so it’s only fair to expect it of myself.”

“
I think that calls for dessert then! How about we all get a sopapilla smothered in honey!” Miki was smiling when she motioned to the waiter and ordered them all a sweet confection.

“
Well I find it interesting that’s what you are interested in since the training course I’ve been working on is for injured soldiers trying to get back in shape and regain mobility after injuries. We’ve also built a state of the art gym with an indoor pool. Swimming helped me so much with building my strength back up. Being a Navy guy I love to be in the water.” He was grinning as the waiter brought out their desserts and tucked into it with vigor. “God I love these things.”

Everyone laughed and followed suit, digging into the gooey sweetness.

“
I’d really like to see your gym and what you have built so far. Maybe I can get a ride out to your place this weekend and look it over. Are you going to have licensed therapists there or what?”

“
I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the way we’re building it is more like a training camp that SEALs get tested on and has a lot of other training stations for wheelchair bound guys. I have some Navy buddies that lost more than one limb that really need the upper body work outs and to be able to push themselves so they see they can do a lot more than they think they are capable of. It would be great to have an on-site therapy center now that we’re talking about it. May have to check into that and see what it entails.”

Miki watched the guys tossing ideas back and forth, watching the future expand before her and she couldn’t help but smile. Funny how you think your life will be on one destined path, and one incident no matter how big or small, can change the course of your life in ways you never imagined.

Chapter 24

Dakota Taylor

The last few years had been the toughest of Dakota’s life. It had been the end of his junior year of high school that his parents were in a fatal car crash and sent his world reeling at the age of 17. He had to grow up fast and did everything he could to protect his younger siblings, his twin brother and sister. They depended on him to be strong as they were bounced from home to home for one reason or another. The kicker had been when he graduated from high school and “aged out” of the system. The foster parents they had at the time were quick to shove him aside when state funding to help take care of him stopped. It was so hard when he had to leave his little brother and sister, and it ripped him apart when he went to visit them the next weekend and they were gone. The foster parents said that the twins had become unmanageable when Dakota had moved out, so they had called their caseworker Meghan, and had her come get them. That summer he had been lucky enough to have a friend let him sleep on his couch until fall semester started, and he moved into the college dorm, but he had barely gotten to see his siblings. He didn’t really blame Meghan. It seemed like she tried to keep them in contact, but he knew she was busy, simply overloaded with cases like his family’s. It didn’t make it any easier though that the twins kept getting moved around. Every time he found them again something happened and they were shuttled off to a new foster family.

By the time he found them the third time, and got a visitation to see them, his brother Dom was sullen and moody and Delilah was emotional and crying a lot. It ripped his heart out when she begged him to take them in. When he tried explaining he was living in a dorm with a roommate and that he couldn’t take them in, they withdrew from him for a time. He felt like he was failing them. Between keeping up with his studies, and working his part time job as a mechanic, he didn’t have a lot of time but he tried. Tried so hard to be there for them, encourage them and help keep them on track. He tried explaining that he was working hard to get his degree in Physical Therapy so he could take care of them. He knew in their logical minds they understood that, but it didn’t make it any easier when they missed him. Dakota just hoped they realized how much he missed them too, and that he was doing this for them. So they could be a family again. The mechanic salary he made sure wasn’t enough to support them all. Between it and his scholarship, grants, and student loans he was barely making ends meet himself. Hell, he was worried about being homeless for the summer come the end of the semester in just a couple of weeks.