Chapter Five - It's sometimes possible to see the unusual as the norm...

Entering her flat that evening after a hectic day of trying to avoid Mike, Liza gave a smile of relief when she saw that Tom wasn’t anywhere around the flat. 

She honestly couldn’t stand his trouble again, not with the way she was feeling. In fact, she prayed he should not come back…But as soon as she said it, guilt replaced the thought and she grimaced. 

Of course she wanted him to come back. He was the only one she had, the person who truly loved her. 

Having lost her parents at an early age, to be raised by an indifferent aunt who only cared about her painting and pets, she had grown with the determination to not only find a good career that would give room for other things, but to also find love and marriage. 

So yes, she wanted Tom to come back but in a better mood than the previous night. 

Maybe they could talk; maybe the talks of marriage would make him change, seeing that she was ready to settle, even if she would be the one sponsoring the wedding. 

All she had to do was to tell Mike she’s cool with her present secretarial position at the company and then start her wedding plans with Tom. 

A wedding means marriage. Marriage means home! Home means Happiness and Happiness means a loving husband, children and pets. Though she would love to be a Stay at home, it’s not realistic. Not with Tom unable to hold onto a job for long. Besides, her present job is paying a good salary and with the present economy, they need all the help they can get financially in building a good future for their kids.

So yes, while she might not be taking the promotional offer, she will continue with her present position as the assistant secretary to the boss. And though she knew Mike would have to get a PA soon, she nevertheless hoped that in three or four years time, there would be an opening for a promotion she may gladly take. By then, they should be settled with one or two kids of their own so she can handle more work at the office.

Hmm, delicious! What a delicious thought, a husband and children to love and spoil! Homemade food in the evenings and a cuddle on the rug before bedtime stories.

Truthfully, nothing can beat these feelings. Not an offer of money and definitely not an offer of a promotional job.

Well, as soon as Tom walks through the door, she is going to grab him and they will definitely have a much needed conversation. A conversation that is bared of nothing but the truth. Truth and expectations.

She really needed to know Tom’s expectations towards her and of course she needed to also intimate him on what she was expecting from him as her husband and the head of the family.

He has to stop the habit of raising his voice and hands on her whenever he is provoked. She really doesn’t want to raise her kids in a hostile environment.

Having grown without parents, she had been forced to live in a cold environment with an indifferent aunt who only cared about her painting and pet. A pet that seemed to have inherited her mistress’s coldness. Proud and snobbish, you can always see the cat raising her snotty nose into the air whenever Liza was passing.

It had even scratched her face once, when she stupidly tried to rescue her from the rain.

Well, after that incident, Liza learnt her lesson and avoided both the mistress and the pet most of the time. Having realised there was no place for her in their lives, she tends to spend her time writing in her room or on most evenings, spend a lazy day reading her favorite magazines under the tree in her aunt’s little but well tended garden.

So she planned to make Tom understand that, in their home, there would be no coldness and indifference. If they were going to do this, then they have to be on the same page. She would never allow her kids to grow in fear of their father.

No. Her children will not grow wondering why their mum married their Dad. They will grow in a happy atmosphere and they will always be grateful to God for blessing them with two loving parents that are kind and understanding.

Oh yes! She can’t wait for Tom to come back home. She will apologise for yesterday, and then she will apprise him of her thoughts and plans. Happy, he would kiss her romantically and everything would be fine.

Wow, what a brilliant decision! She thought with a smile. 

And, having assured herself this might be for the best, she happily grabbed herself some snacks and moved to the kitchen table to fantasise about her home and future. 

Indeed, life could be rosy if planned well, she thought again with a laugh.

******

It was in this mood Tom met her as he let himself into the house quietly, having seen her car parked at the front of the house. 

Seeing that she was preoccupied and didn’t notice his entrance, a brief flash of irritation was expressed on his face before he quickly masked it as he quietly moved to stand beside her. 

After a brief reluctance, he tapped her on the left shoulder and Liza jumped in fear. 

  “What?” He asked smugly.

  Trying to calm her beating heart, Liza moved backward before replying.

“I’m sorry, just that for a moment there, you scared me.” She explained with a small laugh of apology.

 “Hmm.” was the only response he gave while looking at her.

 “Em…I…Tom. . . I. . .” 

She really didn’t know what to say or how to start, so she stopped. 

 “Tom did what?” He asked.

Wondering how they ever got into this situation, Liza tried again. 

“Tom, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ruining our date yesterday, it wasn’t intentional. I was really looking forward to it but my boss was just a pain in the butt.” 

She rushed her words while looking into his eyes with all sincerity while Tom kept staring at her for long seconds which seemed like a year. 

And just when she thought he was going to ignore her, Tom gave a smile and gave her a hug. 

Happy, she exhaled her breath in a whoosh sound and returned his hug ecstatically.  

“I miss you.” She told him.

But instead of the verbal response she was expecting, she was surprised when he raised her to the kitchen table and gave her a deep kiss that curled her toes. 

And that’s another thing she loved about Tom, he was a good kisser, he could melt her heart with just a single kiss.