(Thomas)Mabel and Miles were eating their mac and cheese happily.The meal was their favorite but what made it even more special was that I had cooked it with them. Making mac and cheese wasn’t a hard task but I hardly cooked for myself.Although cooking with my kids evoked a very different kind of joy within me; I felt warm from the inside, which I rarely felt until recently, after my kids and the love of my life came back into my life again.“Uncle Thomas!” Mabel called out to me, breaking me out of my daydreaming, “Can we make cookies next time?”Miles nodded vehemently in agreement. I grinned at them and acted like I was thinking hard about it. I had an index finger on my chin with my mouth pursed. “Let me see, what would we need for cookies?”“Oh, I know, I know,” Miles jumped up, raising his arms as he left the table to get something.“No running, Miles! And you don’t leave the dinner table without finishing your food!” I called out to him.He slowed down to climb up the stairs
(Jack)I honestly could not tell you why I had agreed to do this.Mother's tears had worked on me like magic. I felt guilty because I felt like there was some truth to her words. However, I wouldn’t have let it get to this if she had not seen those pictures of me getting out of the jewelry store.I should have been more inconspicuous when I went out to shop. So many things had happened in our family in this past year that the media’s eyes were always on us.I thought Thomas had taken care of them but it seemed like they were still on our tail. I might have to take matters into my own hands.The way to the steakhouse was spent agonizing over what I should tell Ruby. Should I be honest with her and let her know that I would be going on dates for at least another month or should I let this month pass, find very good reasons to reject every girl mother shows me, and then take Ruby away on the holiday I had planned.Nothing in my life has ever been smooth so I know it would not be the case
(Lydia)The moment my eyes landed on Jack, it felt like the world was falling apart. My mouth fell open as I stared at him in shock.He took a seat right in front of a blonde girl and passed her a smile.What was happening?They were conversing together after ordering. Well, the girl was talking but Jack was nodding along, listening to her words.Was this a business meeting?But then again, the way she was batting her eyes at Jack, it did not feel like a dinner to discuss business at all.“Do you know them?” Nathan’s voice cut my attention from Jack and his company.I whirled around to face him, “Yes? Did you say anything?”“I asked you if you know them,” Nathan repeated his words, albeit a bit slower this time.An embarrassed smile crossed my face as I shook my head. “No, sorry. I was just looking 'cause the girl’s dress is just beautiful, don’t you agree?” I lied straight through my teeth. If I were to be honest, I would have to take another peek to notice what color the girl’s dres
(Thomas)I had worried myself sick the entire way to the restaurant that when I actually got there, I did not even have any idea what to do.I sat and blinked in my car before realizing that I had come here in search of Jack.I got out of the car and marched towards the entrance foyer. “Was there a reservation for a Mr. Lombardi?” I asked the person working at the front.The poor guy immediately started to nervously rifle through the lists of names in front of him.“Yes, sir. But here it says-”I didn’t bother listening to him. Someone will tell him who I was sooner or later.I walked into the main area of the steakhouse and started walking between the tables to find Jack. Although if he was here then there would be more than usual staff hovering over his table.Had I missed him?I walked ahead and was almost giving up the search when my eyes landed on a set of familiar red curls.The feeling of joyful surprise washed over me.But then my eyes moved to her company.It felt like my hea
(Lydia)For a moment, Thomas stood there frozen, as did I.The next moment I blinked and he was gone.“Excuse me,” I told Nathan and immediately got out of my seat. I couldn’t let him get away without letting him know that this was just a friendly hangout.I don’t know why it was so important for me to know that he had not misunderstood anything.Heart in my throat, I left the steakhouse without caring for any decorum but the moment my feet landed on the curb, Thomas’ car sped out of the parking spot.I watched it leave with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I went to look for my phone but realized it was in the clutch I had left back at the table.I felt like I had all eyes on me when I walked back into the steakhouse. I awkwardly smiled at the staff at the front who had probably seen me running out like a maniac.I didn’t regret it though, what I regret was that I had been too late.Thomas had left already.Just as I went to step into the main area of the steakhouse, I was stopped by
(Lydia)I had told myself not to get as much recently because anger never resolved anything, but as I watched my little sister stand on her tip-toes to kiss Jack, I lost my head a little bit.I quickly got out of my car and marched up to them before pulling Ruby away from him.“Jack,” I said, my voice like steel as I stared him down.Jack was surprised to see me, but a big smile crossed his features, “Lydia! How are you? I heard about your tour and wanted to say congrats in person!”I raised both of my brows at him and crossed my arms together. The expression on my face must be one that he had never seen before because his eyes narrowed. “What is it?” he asked, looking at Ruby before turning back to me again.“Lydia, did something happen at your dinner?” Ruby asked, looking utterly confused.I contemplated on what to do before I looked towards Ruby and said, “Can you give us two a minute?”She looked between the two of us as Jack’s expression filled with worry.Ruby looked unsure but
(Lydia)I was in my room washing my makeup off when there was a quiet knock on my door.“Come in,” I said, knowing it was Ruby on the other end.Sure enough, she poked her head in first before entering the room entirely.Ruby leaned against the wall beside the door and stared at me. I couldn’t see her but I could feel her eyes on me. I knew what she wanted to ask and it hurt my heart that I had to lie to her, but I gave Jack my word and until then I would hold off all information from her.“What did you and Jack talk about?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant but I knew her better. “You guys looked like you were arguing about something.”I bit my lips and then faced her with a neutral expression on my face. “I was just talking to him about Thomas. I got some texts from him and he seemed to have been drinking,” I shrugged lightly before continuing on, “You know how I get. I was just ripping one into Jack, telling him that he should watch over Thomas more.”“That’s all?” Ruby asked a
(Thomas)There was a funny taste in my mouth when I woke up, making me realize that I had gone to bed without brushing my teeth which was odd because I never skipped on brushing.However, even more odd was the fact that I had someone in my arms.I blinked open my eyes against the harsh rays of the sun and the first thing I noticed was red curls which I love more than anything in the world but in the moment, they were kind of all over my face. And it itches.I wanted to remove some of the hair and scratch a few places, but both of my hands were around Lydia’s waist and were held in her hands which were tightly locking them together.We were pretty much entangled with each other. I couldn’t have woken up to a better sight.Lydia’s flushed face was squashed by the pillow beneath her, making one of her cheeks appear chubbier. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. Her little nose wriggled in sleep, just like it had all those years ago. Her plush lips trembled like she was talking to som