Standing there alone with Sonia, Lucy could tell that Sonia was really pissed, "Before you say anything, I know you are pissed...."
"I'm mad at you, not just pissed. You messed up, Lu. And I'm not pleased with you," Sonia said the moment Bryan left, and Lucy sighed.
"I know. I was just really worried about Dawn. I'm sorry," Lucy said apologetically.
"And you weren't worried about Tom? I suppose Dawn is more important to you than Tom. He asked you to let it go, yet you chose not to listen to him, especially in the presence of everyone. I hope Tom doesn't let you off easily."
"You know Tom is more important to me than that. I admit that I was wrong. I should have listened to him. I'm not sure how to face him. I was just too worried about Dawn to even see reason with him."
"And you think he was saying that for himself and not your sake? Isn't he refusing to let you contact or concern yourself with Kimberly because he is worried about you? He was trying to protect you from having everyone in his family talk to you harshly, yet you ignored him that way! How can you not learn? Was Anita's episode not enough to teach you? If Tom ignored you the way you just did to him, would you be pleased? Quit embarrassing him in front of his family! What is wrong with you?" Sonia asked in a slightly raised voice, letting Lucy know that she was really pissed.
"What do you mean quit embarrassing him? When have I ever embarrassed him? Today was an error," Lucy said with a frown.
"The other day at breakfast, when you raised the issue there, I was mad that Tom didn't take your side, but later, I realized you brought the subject up without first discussing it with him. This is his family. You should do better!"
"I will apologize to him. I probably should do so now," Lucy said, and Sonia scowled.
"Yes, you should. I will forgive you only after Tom does," Sonia said before walking away, leaving Lucy with no option but to go face Tom.
Lucy walked into the bedroom just as Tom was heading to bed after his shower, and Lucy sighed, grateful that he was yet to go to bed.
Not minding that he was naked, she made her way to him and hugged him from behind just before he could get on the bed.
"It's over five minutes already," Lucy said, and Tom raised a brow.
"Five minutes?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Remember, we can't stay mad for longer than that," Lucy said, and Tom nodded.
"Yeah. You always conveniently bring that up when you do something wrong. And who said I was mad at you? You asked me to come freshen up without you, and that is exactly what I did," Tom said as he removed her hands, which were wrapped around him.
Even though he was acting so calmly, she knew he was mad at her. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I was wrong. I shouldn't have argued with you about it that way, and I shouldn't have ignored you in the presence of everyone," Lucy said, and Tom sighed as he turned to look at her.
"I'm exhausted, and I need to go to bed...."
"Let's resolve it, please...."
"I'm tired, Lucy. We had a beautiful day. Everything was going so perfectly well, but you just had to ruin it. Why? Why do we both always have to have something to apologize for? It's either I'm the one apologizing for something, or it's you. Isn't it exhausting? This was supposed to be a perfectly normal day for us. I was trying my best to prevent this from happening tonight, but you didn't listen...."
"And I'm sorry," Lucy pleaded.
"Sorry? Don't you think you are sorry only because things didn't go your way? I'm sure my parents didn't respond the way you expected them to, else you wouldn't be here apologizing to me. You promised me you would stay out of it just this morning, but what did you do? The exact opposite," Tom said, and Lucy nodded as tears gathered in her eyes.
"You are right, and maybe I needed to hear it from them all to get my head straight. I was just so worried about Dawn..."
"That is what I don't understand! Why are you always so stubborn when it comes to issues that concern Dawn? Why do you keep fighting with me over her?" Tom asked in a controlled voice.
"I'm sorry. I really am. I promise we won't fight over Dawn or Kimberly ever again," Lucy promised, and Tom sighed.
"That was what you promised me the other time. I can't even trust you to keep to your words anymore," Tom said with a shake of his head, and then he took a deep breath as he held her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"Please, Lucy, you really should stop concerning yourself so much with this. You really have to stop. I don't like any of this," Tom pleaded, and she nodded.
"I will stop. As a matter of fact, I have stopped. She is leaving tomorrow after all...."
"You're not going to try to stop the governess or ask her questions, are you?" Tom asked, and she shook her head.
"I won't. It's their family business. I shouldn't interfere or meddle," Lucy said, and Tom looked at her for some time, wondering whether or not he should believe her.
"C'mon! I'm serious. I won't interfere anymore," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.
"Alright."
"That doesn't mean I can't keep being friends with Dawn anymore, right?" Lucy asked, and Tom groaned.
"It's a harmless friendship. Everyone needs a friend," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.
"I need you to understand that I'm not doing this for myself or because I want to control you...."
"I know. I know," Lucy assured him.
"If you know, then please listen to me. After Dawn leaves tomorrow, you shouldn't call Kimberly or try to reach her," Tom said, and Lucy nodded.
"Alright. That's fine, but that doesn't mean if Dawn tries to reach me, I won't speak with her," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.
"Why do you care about her so damn much?" Tom asked, and Lucy smiled.
"Maybe it's because she looks so much like you and reminds me of you, I don't know. Or maybe it's because I started caring about her from the moment I thought she was yours. But she is a really sweet kid, and I love her," Lucy said, and Tom scoffed.
"She isn't all that sweet. Jamal is sweet. She isn't," Tom said, and Lucy nodded.
"That's because of how she was brought up. It's not on her. That is more reason I'm worried about her," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.
"I'm tired. You should go have your bath and join me on the bed," Tom said, and Lucy looked at him hopefully.
"Does that mean you've forgiven me?" Lucy asked, and he shrugged.
"Have I ever stayed mad at you for long? You're the one who stays mad for long," Tom said, and Lucy embraced him and kissed both his cheeks and lips.
"Thank you. So, why don't we shower together and wash away the bad tension?" Lucy asked suggestively, and Tom grinned as he followed her back into the shower.
"Now I'm ready to call it a night," Tom said with satisfaction some minutes later after they stepped out of the shower, and Lucy nodded.
"Me too," She said as they got on the bed. Lucy snuggled closer to Tom, and he wrapped his hands around her waist.
"Tom?" Lucy called after some time, and Tom, who had been about to doze off, opened his eyes.
"Yes?"
"About the Christmas party, I told you about earlier today."
"What about it? Have you perhaps changed your mind?" Tom asked with a yawn.
"No. I remembered that your mom talked about a family vacation for Christmas. Do you think it's okay if I suggest to her that the family go on a vacation during New Year instead so that we can host the Christmas party?" She asked, and Tom nodded.
"I think everyone would like the idea of hosting a party for Christmas and a vacation by New Year," Tom said, and Lucy raised her head to look at him.
"You think so?"
"Yes. How about we tell them about it tomorrow? I'm sure no one would object if I raise the subject," Tom suggested, and Lucy beamed a smile at him. n-(0vElBIn
"That's so sweet of you. Thanks," Lucy said, and Tom smiled.
"Anything for my Queen," Tom said with a yawn.
"We can sleep now," Lucy said before adjusting to give Tom a kiss on his forehead.
"I love you," She said, and Tom kissed her forehead as well.
"I love you more, my Jewel. Goodnight," Tom said as he cuddled her, and Lucy smiled as she slowly drifted off to sleep.