Chapter 15 - A Tender Moment
John and Arthur went to bed drunk in the spare rooms. Grace and Tommy remained in theirs.
"Why are they here?" asked Tommy staring out the window. He thought it would be best to stretch his legs after spending most of the day on the bed. "What do you mean? John and Arthur? I thought that was obvious," said Grace. Tommy turned around gingerly to face her. One hand held his sore side. "Is it?" he asked. "Yes. They obviously came here for you. To see if what you said was true. They care about you," Grace replied. "And our business," said Tommy. Grace sighed.
"They care more about you Tommy," she said. Grace walked over to him and embraced him.
"Does it still hurt?" she asked kindly.
"No, it's just tender," he replied. Their faces grazed each other. Tommy removed his supporting hands to hold her. "Is something troubling you?" asked Grace.
"Oh after today, plenty," he replied truthfully. She lightly laughed at his honesty.
"Like what?" she asked. He paused for a moment not expecting her to ask.
"What'd she feel like?" he asked quietly.
"Who?" she asked confused.
"Who? She. It," he clarified darting his eyes down towards his stomach.
"Oh, " she said feeling foolish, "You know it's a she?"
"No, I just got tired of calling it, it," he explained.
"Ah, well, she felt like … like she was reaching out, like she knew I was there," she said. Tommy's sad eyes looked off into the distance.
"What? You don't like that?" she asked.
"No, that's not it," he said, " I don't think she likes me." She laughed a little.
"You don't really think that. She's not even born yet," Grace said.
"I know, but it's been six months Grace, and I've gotten nothing but pain in me side. And when I sleep, she … she wakes for other people apparently, but not me," he said sadly.
"Don't think like that," she said stroking his face.
"Sometimes I wonder if it is all a lie, and that this is something more serious," Tommy said hopelessly.
"Tommy would two people lie to you about this? Even one of your brothers who came with disbelief and will leave with none?" Grace asked seriously. Tommy half smiled.
"Well, let's test your theory shall we?" she declared. Tommy didn't understand until she placed her hands on his protruding stomach.
"You say she likes me better, right?" she said. They waited for what felt like ages, but nothing prevailed.
"Grace …" whispered Tommy. Disappointment clouded her judgement. She gave his belly a small caress and his lips a kiss.