Chapter 27

Tommy decided to let Jude calm down for a while and he could gather his thoughts during the car ride to the Lodge. Jude spent the entire hour and half drive with her head turned to the window and refused to look at Tommy. Tommy, however, spent the entire ride staring at Jude. I can't believe how screwed up things are now, how did this happen? We were back to being best friends again, she trusted me and look what I did. I had to go and mess it all up again! I have got to make it up to her, somehow.

The limo came to a stop and as the driver came around to open the door, Jude finally turned in her seat to look at Tommy.

J: Look, I need this vacation. It is long deserved and I don't plan on having you ruin it. So let's just forget everything that happened for right now and have a good time.

The door was opened and before Tommy could even open his mouth to answer her, Jude was jumping out of the limo and heading towards the lobby to check-in.

T: That's just great, now she wants to forget everything and I am finally ready to talk! That just figures!

The limo driver just smiled and shook his head with a look of sympathy for Tommy and his problems with Jude. Tommy jogged up the front steps and fell into step beside Jude as they made their way over to find out where their rooms would be.

The woman at the desk recognized both of them immediately and soon all paperwork was completed and the doorman was leading them to their room. Jude had called a few weeks ago when Tommy had agreed to go on the trip with her and changed her reservation to a suite with two bedrooms. This seemed like a great idea at the time, but that was before everything that happened tonight. Jude just added this to her list of things that were already going wrong with her vacation.

Tommy and Jude made their way to their individual rooms and began to unpack, both drawing out the chore and dreading their next confrontation.

Finally, neither could avoid the situation any longer and Tommy made the first move. Stepping into the spacious living room that separated their rooms, Tommy drew a deep breath and lightly knocked on Jude's bedroom door. On the other side of the door, Jude nervously took a quick look in the mirror and made her way over to answer the door.

T: Jude, listen I thought a lot about what you said in the car and you are right, you have worked so hard and you deserve a break. So we are going to enjoy this vacation together, have a great time, get some work done and go home happy and refreshed. I promise you I won't ruin your vacation at all.

J: Uh, well . . . thanks. I think.

T: Iam serious Jude, we are going to have a great time.

J: OK, Tommy, I believe you.

T: Well in that case, it is very late and you need some sleep because we are going to hit those slopes early tomorrow.

J: Is that my early or your early?

T: Mine.

J: Oh God, you do remember Tommy that this is supposed to be my vacation right?

T: Trust me Jude, you will have plenty of time to sleep when you are old. Right now we are going to enjoy this beautiful place while we are here.

J: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Tommy took a step closer to Jude and took her hands in his. As he drew her into his arms, Tommy leaned closer to her ear and whispered very quietly:

T: I am so sorry Jude for everything. You mean so much to me and I never want to hurt you ever again. Get some sleep and if you need anything, I am just a few steps away.

Tommy gently placed a kiss on Jude's cheek, turned and walked over to his room, closing the door behind him.

Jude was still frozen in place when Tommy closed the door to his room. She didn't know what to think; one minute she hated him, the next she couldn't wait to see him again. The man could be so frustrating! As Jude lay in bed and closed her eyes to finally get some much needed sleep.