In trying to find a way to break away from having the readers cry every time. I hope I found a way to bring a little humor to this story. Everyone deserves to find joy deep down. Jude and Tommy need it… I have this chapter and Chapter nine also being part of the whole "date" theme… These two focus completely on Jude and Tommy.
Chapter Eight
For the first time in months Jude felt as if she were fifteen again. The same girl who sat on the pier, with the water rippling into small waves, the sun glistening down over the city around them, and Tommy's strong arms wrapped around her. His body had felt big and comforting pressed into her back. His large hands covered hers as he showed her how to find the right chords on the guitar. When her eyes had met his, she knew she would never see him the same way again, that was the day her heart began to beat for the first time.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she took in the sight of her husband. Tommy stood inside the doorway dressed in a dark blue suit, the tie a lighter shade in silk, matching the pattern colors of her dress. Kat had definitely had her hand in coordinating their outfits. Tommy's hair had been styled, it had been weeks since she had seen his hair with product in it. Self consciously Jude ran her hands over the imaginary wrinkles of her dress, her nerves were beginning to take over. Her eyes glistened with love and tears looking at her husband. It had been months since she had looked at Tommy and didn't see his cancer, all she saw was the man she fell in love with as a teenager.
"You're beautiful," Jude whispered loud enough for him to hear her.
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to say to you?"
"Maybe," Smiling shyly Jude replied, "How is it whenever I look at you I have this overwhelming desire to tell you how much I love you?"
"Maybe it's because whenever you look at me you can see how much I love you?" Tommy asked.
"Possibly," Jude answered as she stepped closer to him, "You really do look handsome."
Leaning his weight on the cane he had been using for the past month Tommy smiled as Jude made her way towards him. Whoever had the idea for Jude and him to have a romantic night together deserved to be kissed. His body may have been in pain but when he looked up at his wife, every ounce of his cancer slipped away. Her blonde locks had been curled and loosely tied at the back of her head, her make up light, her blue dress dancing with each step.
"You're perfect," Tommy slipped out as Jude stood in front of him.
Jude smiled up at him mischievously, "Why Mr. Quincy I do believe you fancy me," She cooed in a lame attempt to speak in an American Southern drawl.
"Always have Mrs. Quincy."
Jude took Tommy's free hand in hers and led him slowly over towards the table that had been set up for them. Victoria and Sadie had gone all out, Jude looked around in amazement. The back patio had been transformed into a romantic setting. The balcony pillars were wrapped in tiny white lights, every other row white stemmed roses peeked out from the wires. Candles white in all shapes and sizes were spread out filling the remaining gaps around the table. White rose pedals scattered across the surface of the concrete, leading a path to the table in the middle of the patio. Jude led Tommy down the pathway her eyes filling with tears of joy. Her mom and sister really put their hearts into making this night special for her.
"It's gorgeous," Tommy breathed from next to her.
"Yes," Jude took in the fine china with crystal glasses, the white lace table cloth that draped across the small structure, "Yes it is," White, red and pink rose petals sat neatly around an arrangement of white candles, each candle placed gently around a vase of long stemmed roses in the exact colors of the petals on the table.
Tommy shook his head in wonder, when Jude had told him she was planning this night out, he had no idea it would be this special. He had taken Jude out a few times for romantic dinners but none of them compared to this one. The stars twinkled from up above, the moon shining brightly against the canvas of the dark sky, with the candles flickering about Tommy felt his heart beat for the first time in months.
"I helped my mom make dinner," Jude spoke as the silence between them became too much for her, "Help being the key word,"
Tommy chuckled, "Did you stir or pour?"
Looking up at him in mock horror Jude clutched her heart, "Who says helping only involves stirring something?"
"I've tasted your cooking before," Wincing Tommy ducked to miss Jude's hand as it knocked into his arm, "Lucky I'm still alive."
"Hey!" Jude tried to pretend anger but the glint of laughter in Tommy's eyes made her smile, "Okay fine! I chopped some of the vegetables and stirred the sauce," Chuckling softly Jude shook her head, "My mom wouldn't let me go any where near the main course."
"Always knew I loved your mom."
Stopping in her tracks Jude turned to face her husband, "Oh that's it buddy, you will so pay for that later,"
Tommy's eyebrows shot up suggestively, "Is that a threat or a promise?"
Jude left Tommy's question unanswered, she pulled out one of the wooden chairs, the one which had a pillow resting on the seat. She had made sure that one of Tommy's therapeutic pillows made it's way outside, ever since the spinal tumors had been multiplying Tommy found it harder and harder as the days passed to sit comfortably. Anything to make Tommy as comfortable as possible Jude made sure to do.
After taking their seats Jude and Tommy ate their wonderful dinner in gratefulness. It had been a long time since they were able to enjoy one another's company, free from the misery of Tommy's illness…free from having to care for a little baby. The night had been made especially for them, a joint effort from a team of women who loved Jude and Tommy dearly.
Hours passed as the two sat together enjoying the date that would forever make their love be known. Tommy and Jude's laughter mixed in with the candles murmur's, twinkling about in a dance that the moon and stars used to fill the sky with its overwhelming beauty.
