Hazy Shade Of Winter
Chapter 5: Christmas Past, Part 4
Author's note: Just a quick one- to thank the reviewers, Jess. Rachel, Tanya, misscarletbelle, samitiny, judetomfan101, M, R & V. Tis the season to be thankful!
Chapter 5: Christmas Past, Part 4
"Hang on to your hopes, my friend..."
"That's an easy thing to say..."
"But if your hopes should pass away..."
"Simply pretend..."
"That you can build them again..."
The reception finally ended. Relieved, Tommy left with Jude, carefully steering his black sports car through the icy streets of Toronto.
Reaching their apartment, Tommy silently walked upstairs with her. He removed his coat, suit jacket and shoes, and gratefully stretched out on their couch. Jude snapped on just the small light next to him, bathing the room in a soft, hazy glow, before removing her red satin pumps and sitting down besides him.
Wordlessly, she began rubbing his neck and shoulders. As she did, Tom felt his muscles unclench and his pulse slow.
"You like?" she whispered.
"Yeah..."
"I know tonight was a shock for you..."
"Yeah... I've emailed him... But I never expected him to just show up like that..." Tommy sighed, then continued.
"He wants something Jude. I just can't imagine what..."
"I know." she said, compassion and understanding evident in her voice.
"He said he wanted to see me for the holiday... that he had something to give me. And that it was something my mother would have wanted..."
"Not too much pressure there..." Jude remarked, then continued.
"He didn't look too well."
"No, he didn't..." Tommy agreed. "Jude, I just... don't know what to think... What to expect from him now..."
She brushed her lips against the side of his forehead.
"You don't have to figure it all out tonight..."
"No..."
"You're tired. So am I. Why don't we just... go to bed."
"Yeah..."
They slept late the next morning. Atypically, Jude woke first. She stretched, sat up and glanced over at Tommy. The peaceful expression on his face made her slide right back down and curl up tightly against him. She could have happily stayed there with him all day, but her stomach began rumbling. Jude tried hard to ignore it, but her hunger just grew.
Reluctantly, she rose from their cozy bed, sliding her feet into the thick, fluffy white slippers, Sadie gave her last Christmas. She padded into the kitchen, having decided to do for Tommy what he had done for her and cook him a special meal. However, Jude was a far less skilled chef. Since they moved in together, she had produced some disastrous dinners, including one time when her "Cajun-Style Blackened Chicken" set off the smoke alarm. Their whole building had to be evacuated before she had the chance to explain anything. But since then, her cooking had improved somewhat. She could manage a decent brunch for the two of them.
Taking a recipe card from the box her mother gave her, she began mixing the ingredients for her family's special pancake batter. When it was ready, she poured it carefully onto the grill, using cookie cutters to form the initials "J" and "T", as well as Christmas trees, wreaths, bells and stars. When the holiday shaped pancakes were done, she took them off the grill, placing them on a plate in the oven to keep them warm. She then placed some Canadian bacon and several links of Tommy's favorite spicy sausage on the grill and cooked them.
She had just finished making everything, when a bleary-eyed, still shirtless Tommy stumbled sleepily into the kitchen. Jude smiled and put down her spatula as he reached her.
"Hi" he whispered.
"Hi"
They shared a sweet morning kiss, and Tommy's eyes widened.
"What's that I smell?"
"Pancakes, Canadian bacon, spicy sausages..."
"You made all that?"
"Yes" Jude smiled proudly.
"No fires?"
"No!" Jude protested, playfully smacking his arm.
"Ouch!" Tommy yelled teasingly, then added.
"I am impressed."
Together, they put the food on the kitchen table and started to eat.
"This really is good." Tommy told her.
"Thanks"
They ate for a few minutes, then Jude said.
"You know, I was thinking..."
"You usually are..." her boyfriend remarked.
"But why am I getting this weird, scary vibe."
"I have no idea." Jude told him.
"I was just thinking... we should have some people over. Christmas afternoon."
"I thought we'd be visiting your dad then." Tommy commented, remembering what they had done last year.
"He and Yvette are going away. Taking the babies to visit her mother. So, we've got that time free... And I kind of promised Jamie and Speed they could come by... Take a break from their families..."
"You mean, give their poor families a break from them!" Tommy joked.
"Maybe." Jude smiled mysteriously. "So, I figured we could ask some other people too. Mom and Sadie. Kwest, Georgia and EJ. Wally, Kyle, Kat, Patsy and Mason..."
"Not Karma?" Tommy remarked sarcastically.
"No. That would be complete and total bad luck..."
Jude had hated Karma from the moment the sultry, slutty diva won the third Instant Star contest. The feeling was mutual and Karma had spent months spreading rumors about Jude and doing everything possible to damage her career- and destroy her relationship with Tommy. Finally, Jude got fed up, slapped her rival across the face, and told her in no uncertain terms to back off.
Karma had been hostile, but quiet, ever since.
Jude now looked at Tommy; their eyes locked as they shared the same thought. But it was Tommy who vocalized it.
"You're thinking... We could have my dad over then too."
"Yes. Or before, or right after everyone else comes. Whatever you want. I just thought..."
"That it would be easier this way." he finished for her. "Less of a big deal, somehow."
"Yes." Jude agreed.
Tommy's face grew serious as he carefully thought the idea over.
"You could be right about this." he agreed, then added.
"Let him come early. Before anyone else does. Better to get it over with."
"So, you're going to call him?" Jude asked.
"Yes. Right now."
Tommy reached for the phone. The conversation was brief and to the point.
"Done." he announced.
"Not quite..." Jude said, smiling mischievously.
"We still have a party to plan..."