Chapter 3 Tales Of Faeries
It was when they were sitting around the table after eating dinner, having their dessert, that Thomas's mother spoke up after Rose and Julia had retired to bed for the evening. "Thomas?"
"Yes, mother?" he inquired of her, looking up from the apple pie and setting down his fork respectfully.
"I know you enjoy your job at Downton, Thomas. But I wanted to ask if you would consider returning here and reopening your father's shop. I do not wish to pressure you into something that will make you unhappy, but with no money coming in from it.. Well, our savings is nearly gone. Your sisters and I, we need you here, Thomas. I know this seems sudden, but the truth is that I should have asked you on your last visit with us. I apologize for that, but you know how I hate to ask for help."
Thomas blinked, clearly taken aback at her request. "Yes, I do know, mother. I do wish you had told me sooner, but only because I could have been helping you. Clearly, the money I have been sending is not enough?"
"No, not really, son. With the rent on the shop we aren't using, food and clothing, it isn't enough."
"Downton has been where I stay for a long time now, mother. But that does not mean that I have always been happy there. In fact, most of the time I was not. The people there, or at least most of them, are not very open-minded about people like Andy and I. The things they say and do are hurtful often. Being hurt and afraid and hiding is not conducive to making a place feel like a home. Leaving would not exactly break my heart. But where I go, my Andy goes. We had actually already spoken of opening a shop together. If I came back here and reopened father's shop, Andy would come as well. We are a pair, mother. Would you really be alright with that?"
"I believe so, Thomas, yes," she replied after taking a small sip out of her white with pink roses porcelain teacup and setting it down carefully. "Having two men to support and protect us can only be good. As to your.. inclinations, I'd like to think, despite your father's issues, that I taught you right, my son. You know how to be respectful in private, and discreet in public. What happens between Andy and you in private is your business and no one else's. That is all I really have to say about the matter, except I wish you to be sensitive to your sisters. I honestly don't know how they feel about this. Perhaps you could speak to them before you go to find out?"
"Of course, mother," Thomas said, inclining his head in agreement. "I do not wish to hide my relationship from my family, because I would never disrespect Andy that way. I love him, after all. But I do not wish to make others I care about uncomfortable, either. I am sure, regardless, that living here will be infinitely better than Downton. I believe I speak for both of us when I say we will be very happy with this arrangement."
"Yes," Andy echoed his lover's statement. "We are very pleased, Mrs. Barrow. We will give Mr. Carson our notice upon our return to Downton Abbey. We will then work out our two weeks before returning here to live. Thomas will reopen the clock shop for business, and I wish to sell plants and flowers. Nature is what I know best. You could say I will be returning to my roots."
Thomas laughed softly, reaching out for Andy's hand and linking their fingers affectionately. Thomas's mother even smiled at his joke, though she quickly hid it behind her teacup.
"Well, then," Amelia said to them both. "I am glad that is settled."
When Thomas and Andy headed to their room for bed after finishing their pie they were surprised to see Rose and Julia waiting for them in the hallway patiently.
"Rose, Julia," Thomas said to them in greeting. "Is something wrong?"
He noticed how his sister's eyes drifted down to their hands where his fingers were linked with Andy's and their palms were pressed close, but he did not let go.
"No, Thomas," Rose replied softly, the two of them looking up at their brother's face now. "We just wanted to know if.. Are you coming home to stay?"
"Yes, Rose. My Andy and I will be returning here after working out our two weeks at Downton."
"Good," Julia spoke this time, smiling at him and Andy, Rose doing the same. "We have missed you, brother. And you deserve to be happy."
"Thank you," Thomas said in surprise, visibly squeezing Andy's hand in his with clear pleasure.
"Of course. You're our brother, Thomas. Happiness is all that we've ever wanted for you," Rose informed him.
"And it does not hurt that our new brother is so cute, either," Julia teased them both, though she was clearly serious, too. "Almost like the little faeries in the garden from the tales mama used to tell us before papa forbade it. I miss those stories."
Thomas shared a look and a secret smile with Andy before transferring his attention back to his sisters. "Thank you. I am glad you both approve of my love for Andy, and his for me. It took a long time for us to finally find each other, and I would not give him up for the world."
"And those who matter would not expect you to," Rose replied boldly, though truthfully, Julia nodding in agreement as her sister put her hand on her shoulder. "We'll say goodnight now before mother comes up to bed, and we'll see you in the morning."
"Yes," Julia said quietly as they withdrew together to their shared room down the hall. "Goodnight, Thomas, Andy."
"Goodnight, Rose," Thomas returned. "Julia."
"Goodnight," Andy echoed, his expression clearly dazed and amused both somehow.
Then the two men retreated into the oasis of their room for the night as well.