"Coat"
Two days later...
Her teeth were chattering as she tried to burrow further down into her coat. It seemed to be of no use, however; she could pull the collar up and pull the sleeves down and tie the sash even tighter, the chill would still find a way of seeping through. She was tempted to start jumping around, hoping that he motion would somehow combat the cold. Oh Lord, where was the #4 bus? Why was it always running behind?
"Sybil?"
She turned her head at the sound of his friendly and familiar voice. "Tom!" she blushed deeply, imagining what she no doubt looked like, bouncing from one foot to the other.
He looked at her and she could see that he was trying not to grin. "Um…is everything alright?"
Sybil swallowed and lifted her chin. "Fine! Just fine, or it will be, if the bloody bus gets here!" she muttered in frustration. They were the only two at the bus stop (just around the corner from their building). "Lord, it's freezing. I didn't think Ireland was supposed to get this cold!"
Tom chuckled and moved a little closer to her. He looked awfully…warm, in that thick, dark coat that he wore. Very warm and very…inviting. Imagine being enfolded by those arms inside those sleeves…I would never feel cold ever again…
She coughed and shook her head. God, what was wrong with her? Get a grip, Sybil!
Tom was laughing, and she realized he had been ever since she had made mention about the weather. "Irish winters can be harsh," he warned her. "My advice…well, you might want to invest in a warmer coat."
Sybil looked down at her coat and felt her cheeks burn. "My sisters got me this…" her voice faded and she looked away. She didn't talk about her family much. The memories were still very painful…
She glanced back at Tom and saw the humor from his eyes fade, replaced by sympathy and apology for drudging up the memory. "I'm sorry—"
"Oh, it's nothing," she dismissed, putting on a smile and forcing the sadness away. "And…I suppose you're right, this coat is pretty useless when it comes to extreme temperatures," she sighed. It wasn't an unnecessary expense, but ever since she and Suzy had moved to Dublin, money was rather tight. This was part of the reason why she was taking on longer and later shifts at the hospital.
Tom glanced at his watch, and then at the bus schedule, before surprising Sybil by removing his coat right there. "Tom! What on earth—?"
"Here, you take it for now." He took the warm, heavier coat, moved closer, and proceeded to bring it around her to wrap her up.
"But what about—?"
"I'll be fine," he assured, though she could hear the chatter of teeth already. "Seriously! I was just going to take the bus to run down to my publisher's office, but I can do that another day."
"But what will you do for a coat?"
"I have an older one in my closet," he said with a shrug. "It's a bit snug across the shoulders, but that's ok, it will suit for the time being. I'll wear that when I go pick Suzy up from school."
"But Tom—"
"Sybil…" he looked into her eyes and she stared back at him. "I'm not going to let you freeze while you stand around waiting for a bus. Please…take the coat."
She swallowed and her gaze fell from his eyes to his lips. Her own parted as if to say something, but whatever it was, it was lost as she looked at him. They were standing so close…and she honestly wasn't sure if the heat she was feeling was coming from the extra coat now draped around her body…or him, standing so close to her…
His eyes seemed to have drifted her mouth as well, and she felt him shuffle a bit closer, their chests nearly touching…
Sybil gasped at the sound of a bus door opening to her left. Good Lord, when had the #4 appeared? And why did it choose to show up now? However, she thought she should perhaps be grateful that it did come before…before…
She shook her head and turned to climb on. "Thank you," she called back to him. "But I'm not keeping it—this is a loan. Once I have enough to get a new one for myself, you're getting this back!"
He laughed and nodded his head. "Whatever you say, milady."
She smiled and waved at him, and he waved back as he nodded his head at the driver, who shut the door, and remained standing at the bus stop, his hands stuffed his pockets to try and keep the chill out as the bus pulled away.
"That was very kind of him…" a voice murmured to Sybil's left after she settled down on the bus. She turned and looked at the elderly woman who was smiling fondly at her. "Your fella, giving you his coat."
Sybil's cheeks darkened at the woman's assumption. "Oh! Oh…oh no, he's…he's not…"
"Oh hush, my dear, no need to explain," the woman chuckled. "I was young and in love once too!"
Sybil's face darkened even more. She melted back into her seat, pulling Tom's coat around her even tighter, trying her hardest not to lose herself in the scent of his aftershave that perfumed it…or in the words the woman had said about…"love"…