Thomas was nervously pacing in front of the house. Ophelia didn't stop crying, probably because he was so nervous. 'Here, I found her pacifier,' Lucinda says and puts it in Ophelia's mouth. The little girl stops crying. 'Thomas, are you sure you want to visit your family?' 'Yes, they deserve to know,' Thomas says, opening the car and putting Ophelia in her seat. The eighteen month old smiles at her dad and then falls asleep. 'We can always turn around if you change your mind.'
Lucinda knows about him and Paul, it was better if she did. But she is kind and thinks about his feelings. She loves him and in a way he loves her too. Thomas closes the door and takes a seat at the wheel. 'Thank you for doing this,' he says and takes Lucinda's hand and kisses it. 'Of course,' she smiles and kisses his cheek.
On hour later Thomas stops the car in front of the Hanlin house. He lets out a nervous sigh. 'I should've called first,' he says breaking down in panic. 'It's okay, honey,' Lucinda calms her husband. Oh yeah, they got married after Paul got the letter. But Thomas didn't mind mentioning that.
Thomas finally gets out of the car and walks nervously to the front porch. He looks back at the car with his little girl and the woman who loves him. She nods. Thomas rings the bell and waits patiently at the door. Anna Hanlin opens the door. 'Hi, mom,' Thomas says. Anna looks like she's seen a ghost. 'Thomas?' She asks surprised and reaches out to touch him, to make sure he's real. 'Yes,' Thomas says. 'Oh my god,' Anna cries and hugs her son. 'You've aged,' she cries and hugs her son tightly.
'Thomas?' A voice he missed so much asks from behind him. Sookie walks from the sidewalk to the front porch, as surprised as her mother. 'My god! It's really you!' Sookie lets out. She hugs her brother who stopped hugging their mother. Sookie starts crying happy tears. Her brother has returned. 'I'm sorry,' Thomas mutters as he starts crying too. 'Come in, please, then we can talk,' Anna says and opens the door wider. 'I err, I have company in the car,' Thomas says and looks back. He nods and Lucinda gets out of the car and then takes Ophelia out of her seat as well. Anna looks confused, Sookie does not.
'I have a lot to explain,' Thomas says as Lucinda and Ophelia stand by his side. 'I think so too,' Anna says and lets her family inside. Sookie guides the guests to the living room while Anna takes some beverages and cookies from the kitchen. They each take a seat.
'As you know Paul and I dated until I broke up with him,' Thomas starts speaking. 'On Christmas,' Sookie says. Tom looks at her with an eye roll. 'I broke up with him because I cheated on him with Lucinda and she got pregnant with Ophelia,' Thomas says in one breath. 'Oh, Thomas. Why didn't you tell us?' Anna asks taking his hand for comfort. 'I was ashamed, mom,' Thomas says and looks at his feet. 'I felt like dad,' he continues to speak. The room falls silent. 'You are nothing like your father young man. You are more caring and lovable than he ever was,' Anna says and wipes a tear from his cheek. 'Thanks,' Thomas mutters.
'I'm glad you decided to tell us,' Sookie says with a crooked smile. 'I could tell by your reaction you knew,' Thomas says to his sister. 'I read the letter for him,' Sookie says coldly. Thomas sighs. 'You knew Sookie?' Anna asks confused. 'He sent Paul a letter in September where he explained everything. Paul was too heartbroken to read it so I read it with him once you left after helping us move into the dorms,' Sookie says. 'You didn't tell me?' Anna asks disappointed. 'It was not my secret to tell, mom,' Sookie says and takes a cookie.
Later that evening they enter Valentine's Diner. 'It really is as beautiful and cozy as you described, Tommy,' Lucinda says. Anna and Sookie share a look hearing the nickname. It's what their dad used to call him, he hated it after he left. No one was allowed to call him Tommy since then. 'Lucinda, my name is Thomas,' Tom finally says. Lucinda rolls her eyes and hands Ophelia to Tom once he's seated.
Valentine joins the table to take his order. 'Do you know what you want or do you want to look at the menu?' he asks, not really looking at the people he's asking. 'We already know,' Anna, Sookie and Thomas say. 'The menu please,' Lucinda says. Valentine looks up, a little surprised to see Thomas with a baby in his lap. 'I'll fetch a menu for the young lady,' Valentine awkwardly says.
Paul walks into his father's diner and is shocked when he sees the Hanlin family. Sookie notices him and smiles awkwardly. Thomas turns around and is as surprised as Paul. Thomas gives Ophelia to Anna who's sitting next to him and stands up. 'Hi,' Thomas says. Paul frowns and looks at his hands. 'Err... hi,' Paul silently says. 'How are you?' Thomas asks. 'Fine,' Paul says and looks past his ex-boyfriend to see the little child giggling. 'She's adorable.' 'Yeah, she is,' Thomas nods and turns around to see Ophelia clutching Anna's hair. Paul sees this as an opportunity to sneak away. He had not expected that.
Once upstairs Paul lies on his bed. He looked so handsome. More handsome than Alex and Alex is perfect. Shit, he was not over him. He was not over him at all and it has been over a year. There's a knock on his bedroom door. 'Paul?' Thomas asks hopefully. For a moment Paul was silent, hoping Thomas would leave. 'Paul? Please?' Paul sighs and opens the door. 'I didn't know you would be here,' Thomas says as Paul opens the door. 'It's my father's diner and I live here, you knew exactly I was going to be here,' Paul says and leaves the door open as he sits on his bed.
'You're right. I was hoping I would see you,' Thomas says and walks into the comforting room. 'Tom, you have a child and a woman, why are you here?' Paul asks a little annoyed. 'I don't love her Paul.' Paul looks at him, not really knowing what to say or do. 'I married her, but I don't love her. I like her as a friend, but nothing more. I'm so angry at myself that I made that mistake and lost you,' Thomas says silently. 'You should be,' Paul says. Thomas sighs. 'I still love you Paul, I always have,' Thomas says taking Paul's hand. 'I have a boyfriend.' 'Oh, I'm sorry,' Tom says and lets go of his hand. 'And you have a wife.'
They sit in a silence that is both awkward and comforting. They just look at each other, not saying anything to spoil the moment. Sookie knocks on the open door and looks at her brother and best friend. 'Ophelia is throwing a tantrum and Lucinda wants to leave the public place. We're taking the food home,' she says and then leaves again. They both get up looking at each other.
'Can I kiss you?' Thomas asks in a whisper. 'What?' Paul asks surprised. 'Can I kiss you? As a goodbye?' Paul just nods. The young men kiss. Clutching each other by the shoulders and crying, because now it really is a goodbye. They let go of each other to take a breath. Thomas hugs Paul and plants a kiss on his forehead. 'Bye,' he whispers and leaves Paul alone in his room.
On the way back to Lucinda's place Ophelia has fallen asleep and Lucinda stares out of the window. 'You kissed him, didn't you?' She asks a little hurt. Thomas is silent. 'I know. I know you will never love me like you love him. But can you try? I want Felia to have two loving parents,' Lucinda says and looks at her husband. Thomas fights back his tears and nods. 'I'll try,' he says and takes Lucinda's hand.
187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLViiPE0nX
