A Day Later...

My rainbow at the end of the storm

My triumph at the end of the day

My path strays from the offered norm

And still I look to him to guide my way

I sang softly the next day—trying to fine tune the melody as Kwest tweaked with the soundboard in the other room, and I smiled at him as he gave me a thumbs up sign. The lyrics seemed to please him. He crossed his eyes as I stuck out my tongue at him, and I couldn't help but snicker as I plucked at the strings of my guitar. He could seriously be a real ham when he wanted to be. I was just about to start singing another bar when Kwest's face suddenly froze in an expression of awe, and I looked over my shoulder to see Tommy leaning against the studio door casually. My heart plummeted to my toes.

"Let's take five, Jude." Kwest said firmly from the other room as I nodded mutely while still staring at Tom. Neither one of us said anything as I finally managed to find my voice enough to squeak.

"And the prodigal son returns." I remarked hoarsely as Tommy winced at the hurt he heard in my tone. I knew that was harsh but I couldn't find it in me to just jump up and run to him with open arms.

"I guess I deserve that." Tommy said knowingly as he slunk into the room, slowly circling me cautiously—almost afraid that if he came too close then I would explode.

"You guess?" I asked sarcastically as Tommy shrugged.

"I know I deserved it, Jude. I just need you to pretend things haven't been strange around here lately, okay." Tom said as I grimaced at his statement. He was kidding me right? I mean he wasn't just asking me to forget the last four days, was he?

"Why have you been hiding out, Tom?" I asked forcefully as he ran his fingers through his hair haphazardly before beginning to pace the room.

"Because I have things I need to work through—dragons I need to slay." He said in a low tone as I stared at him a moment in hesitation. He reached out to touch me, but I drew back quickly almost pushing over the stool I was sitting on as I stood up. The hurt that shot through his eyes as I backed away from himripped through me, but I was hurting too. It had only been a week since he left, but the point was that he had walked away—leaving me to pick up the pieces at the studio.

"Where's my Hercules, Tom—the man that would have accomplished amazing feats just to overcome any obstacles stopping him from getting what he wants?" I asked softly as Tom looked up at me with a pained expression.

"Where's the girl that trusted me once?" Tom asked just as softly as I walked up to him as every step I took felt heavier and heavier as if my feet didn't want to listen to the rest of my body. As I neared him, I leaned over until our cheeks almost touched.

"She became a woman who lost her trust in the one person she thought never would walk away." I said as my voiced quivered pitifully. I could hear his breathing catch as he moved over enough our shoulders rubbed together, almost as if the sudden contact gave him strength. I looked up into his eyes mournfully.

"Where did you go, Tom?" I asked uneasily as I saw his pupils dilate as if he were not even paying attention to me—as if he had become absorbed in his own thoughts.

"You don't know what you're asking, Jude. Just trust me, please. Give me time." He pleaded despairingly as a sudden commotion outside the studio door caused us to turn toward the entrance in startled unison. The door slammed open, and I could see the entire staff of the studio looking in on us in amazement as a beautiful, willowy woman stood in the opening with her hands planted firmly on her hips almost as if she were an Amazon warrior woman who had stepped right out of the history books. I saw Tom close his eyes and count slowly to three in a gesture I had seen him use a million times before when he was trying desperately not to lose his cool.

"You're awful quiet, Tom. Something tells me you're not over-joyed to see me." The woman said with a menacing laugh as I looked between her and Tom curiously.

"What's going on here?" I asked in a whisper as I felt Tom's hand inconspicuously squeeze mine forcefully almost as if he were begging me to trust him silently as he faced the woman with a look of pure disgust. I stared at him a moment as the silence grew to a point that it had just become plain uncomfortable.

"Who are you?" I asked the woman quietly even though I kept my eyes focused on Tommy's face as I did. She snickered as she leaned casually against the door jam—watching Tommy with a predatory gleam in her eye.

"I guess every one missed the memo, Thomas." She said bitterly before turning her cold eyes toward me.

"I'm his wife." She said matter-of-factly as a collective gasp vibrated throughout the room. Tom watched as my expression fell—crumbling in on itself like a flimsy house made out of cards. Holy Jesus, Mary, and Jehosaphat!