Chapter Eight
December 24th
Toronto City Limits.
Wow!
I never thought I would live to see Toronto again. Especially surviving the terror in the motel room. Tommy was able to get the roach off his shirt… we both fled the room after that. Leaving behind some clothes and maybe even some money. Both of us didn't care at the time. All we were concerned with was getting as far away from that hell pit as we could. Tommy, um he was very upset with me; he screamed for twenty minutes without once taking a break to catch some air.
Eventually he spoke to me again and all was back to normal. Phew!
Hours into the night Tommy pulled over at a rest stop so we could use the restroom. Never did we imagine the end to our interesting trip would soon come to an end. A couple who also pulled over were headed for our destination. They mapped us out a way into the city so we would make it home before Christmas dinner at moms house.
Evening hours were inching into place. Town lights one by one began to light up the shops. Some last minute shoppers were walking up and down the snow lined sidewalks carrying armfuls of gift bags.
Snow was beginning to fall lightly as we drove along the semi-crowded back road into the city--- watching curiously out the window as Tommy maneuvered the Mustang on to a more familiar site. Toronto's skyscrapers greeted us from across the lake. The same lake I fell in love with Tommy.
He walked away with my heart that day. I gave it to him without once hesitating. My young self needed someone to trust. Not like I had with my family and friends. I needed someone who would look at me, hold me and all around love me like I was special.
I felt and still do feel special whenever Tommy is near me. He has a way of talking with his whole body. His eyes shine brightly, his mouth smiles lovingly and even the way he touches me makes me feel important.
I never knew I could feel this way about one person, not until Tommy "Q" Quincy strode into my life.
"Just a few more minutes until we are home," Tommy spoke softly. Breaking our comfortable silence. The sound melting my heart all over.
Smiling I caught my reflection in the window.
I look happy---even after everything I really look happy.
"Tommy?"
"Yes?"
"The other night when we were making snow angels. You told me you were happy. Why did you say that?"
Tommy looked away from the road briefly to smile at me, "It felt like the right thing to say."
"How do you always know the right things to say?"
Tommy shrugged, "I don't. I say what I feel and what I know will make you smile."
He does. Because I'm about to smile right now. My lips lifted. See here I go. Spreading into a full blown smile.
"Even when you make me mad you always make up for it with your sweetness," I said. Still smiling at Tommy.
"I thought my body made up for it?" He flirtatiously questioned.
"And that."
He grinned. "I knew you loved me for my body."
"Among other things."
"Twenty seven bottles of beer on the wall. Twenty seven bottles of beer. Take one down, pass it around. Twenty eight bottles of beer on the wall!" Tommy and I both sang, laughing the entire time.
I thought I would retire the beer bottle song after making it so high up a couple days ago. I wanted to, but Tommy was the one who started singing and before I knew it we were laughing and giggling our way through one of the most annoying songs known to man.
This was the Tommy I loved. Singing silly songs together. It may sound corny but to me it means almost more than anything. If you can let your guard down enough to sing lame songs and joke around its priceless.
"Twenty eight bottles of beer on the wall. Twenty eight bottles of beer. Take one down, pass it around. Twenty nine bottles of beer on the wall!"
Traffic was slowly opening as Tommy drove along the main streets of Toronto. Soon we would pass by G Majors, meaning mom's house was fifteen minutes after that.
Yay! To say I am excited is an understatement. Just seeing Toronto again after the past few days is the biggest miracle ever.
"How far do you think we can get before we pass G Majors?" I asked grinning over at Tommy.
"Hmm, maybe to thirty?"
Gasping I started at him in shock, "How do you say? G Majors is still a ways away."
"Think again pumpkin," Tommy grinned over at me, "Look up ahead I can see the orange sign from here."
"How did we get here so quickly?"
"You never were good with directions Jude."
Scoffing I socked Tommy in the arm before continuing with the song. Just for that I was going to make it to thirty-one before G Major rolled past us.
Fifteen minutes later…
I'm home! I'm home!
I grinned widely as Tommy pulled the Mustang into my moms driveway. I am so excited I'm about to burst! I never knew how much I missed her, or the rest of my family until I was holding a pillow with a cockroach on it. In that moment I knew this trip was done for. Going home was so sweet.
"Look at how giddy you just got," Tommy commented pulling the gear into park, "You never get this happy around me."
"Sure I do. I just try not to show it," Smirking I stuck my tongue out at him.
Man I'm soooo happy!!
"Why would you do that?"
"If you saw me get this happy every five seconds your big head would blow up."
Tommy fiend hurt before breaking out in laughter. Aww, I love the way he laughs!
Before he could reply movement from the front of the house caught our attention. Mom and Sadie came running out the front door. Both wearing festive colors and bright smiles. Excitedly I open the door and jumped into the cool air. Hardly containing how giddy I was to see them after the nightmare of a trip I experienced.
"Mom!" I cried happily flying into her open arms. Instantly feeling the warmth from her infectious embrace, "I missed you so much."
"Sweetheart I missed you too," Mom grinned as she pulled me at arms length, "I'm so happy you guys made it here before we sat down to dinner."
"Hey little sis, you look," Sadie said approaching us, "Great."
I laughed. If only they knew what me and Tommy just survived. "You look awesome. Love the sweater."
Sadie smiled happily, "Thanks I found it on sale the other day."
Rolling my eyes at her I commented, "No wonder it looks so cheap."
Sadie gasped in horror. I don't think that was fiend. She really looked horrified.
Ah, home at last!
"Ignore her ladies, she lost all manners three days ago when she got into a fight on the freeway with Santa's ho's and an old man," Tommy chimed in as he joined the group.
"What?" My mom asked. Confusion written all over her face.
Shaking my head to ward off the nightmarish memories of days past. No one needed to know all the details of the fun we had. I'd rather bottle them up and throw it into the ocean.
"Never mind him. He lost his remaining brain cells when a cockroach landed on his shirt."
Okay so I lied. Now I can bottle them up and throw away the memories.
"Is everyone here yet?" Tommy asked.
Sadie shook her head. I could see the wheels in her head burning up. She was more than curious about what me and Tommy had said. Questions will be rolling off her tongue tonight at dinner. She picks the worst times to ask the worst questions.
"Not yet. Kwest and Don are watching a hockey game. Neither of them offering to help me and mom cook dinner."
"I've tasted Kwest's cooking before," Tommy cringed as he spoke, "Count that as a good thing he's staying out of the kitchen."
"Where's dad?"
Mom smiled kindly at me. I have to give her a hand, she really did keep our family together after the divorce. She had her time where she wigged out and me and Sadie both feared we had lost her for good. Instead she came back with her new husband completely renewed. Who could blame her for needing a break? Soon after her and dad started talking, together they called a truce and managed to stay friends. As funny as it is we still are a family… just with mom and Don and dad and Yvette.
"He called a little bit ago, seems he and Yvette are stuck in traffic. They should be here soon though."
Stuck in traffic! Noooo. I can't take the memories this soon in the game.
Glancing over to Tommy I caught him staring at me with laughter in his eyes. He too was thinking about our nightmare, since it did start out with us being stuck in traffic.
Before I could help myself I started laughing, pushing Tommy's over the lip as he joined in.
"Mom you were right," I could hear Sadie say through mine and Tommy's laughing, "They really do fit together perfectly."
"Of course honey."
Me and Tommy? Of course honey! We always have fit together, still do and always will. He's my missing half and I'm his. He completes me. He makes everything perfect and that's why I love him… that and he has a terrifically sexy body!
"We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin; Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year…"
"Guys!" Sadie called excitedly, "Look carolers!" She pointed towards two houses down where a group of people all dressed in nineteenth century outfits each holding a song book walked up the sidewalk singing one of my favorite Christmas songs. I smiled brightly as their voices carried louder as they made their was towards us.
"What a perfect way to begin Christmas dinner," Mom said. Her voice full of happiness.
"We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
Tommy's hand gently cupped mine as he pulled me in closer to him. A habit of his I adored.
The carolers paused in front of our house singing joyfully about the Christmas spirit. Sadie and mom joined in as well.
"Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.
We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some, so bring some right here."
Tommy's hand squeezed mine lovingly as we both sang along with the carolers. The sounds of the season filling my heart, wrapping me completely in warmth. Mom and Sadie smiled through their joyous singing. Sadie turned and grinned over at me. Smiling back I glanced up to look into Tommy's eyes.
"Merry Christmas Mr. Quincy," I whispered.
"Merry Christmas Mrs. Quincy," He whispered back.
"We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
The End
Thank you to everyone who reviewed and left me kind comments. They mean a lot and I hope you enjoyed the rest of the story.
Merry Christmas!