The Sun and Her Moon | CHONI |

Fourteen

'Wow this is a nice area' Toni said as she looked out of the window. 'Yeah it's pretty quiet around here' Cheryl nodded. 'It's beautiful' Toni said eyes still watching everything go by through the window. 'Not as beautiful as you' Cheryl thought but didn't say. As Cheryl pulled her car up to her gate she reached for her phone to open them. 'You live here?' Toni asked in awe. 'Yes this is home' Cheryl shrugged opening the gate. When Tommy heard they were at Cheryl's house he looked through the window. 'Wow Cheryl who else lives here?' he asked innocently. 'Just me' Cheryl smiled. 'This giant house just for you?' Tommy asked. 'That's right' Cheryl answered. 'Sorry, I don't think he's ever seen a house this size' Toni looked at the redhead. 'It's fine Toni, he's right it's a big house for one person' Cheryl shrugged. She pulled up and parked on her drive as the gates shut behind them. 'Okay come on' Cheryl opened the car door suddenly insecure about what Toni would think to her home. She waited as Toni got Tommy from his seat and placed him on the ground. He started to skip towards the door obviously excited to see Cheryl's home. 'Tommy we have to wait for Cheryl, you need to be respectful of her home' Toni called. 'He's fine Toni, I want him to be comfortable here' Cheryl smiled and Toni was sure she felt her heart swell.

Cheryl unlocked the door and motioned for Toni and Tommy to go inside. As soon as Toni stepped inside her mouth dropped at the foyer. 'Cheryl you have a beautiful home' she complimented. 'Thank you Toni, do you guys want to follow me through to the lounge?' Cheryl smiled. Toni nodded and followed the redhead with Tommy in tow. 'Make yourself at home' the redhead smiled 'Tommy you can use the coffee table to play on if you'd like?'. Tommy nodded eagerly 'yes please Cheryl, could you help me get them out of the packaging?'. 'Sure' Cheryl nodded as she sat on the rug. She opened the packaging and poured the toys over the table 'there you go'. 'Thank you!' Tommy shouted. 'You're welcome' she said as she ruffled his hair before standing up. 'Toni can I get you guys anything? Water? Juice maybe?' Cheryl asked trying to be a good host to her guests. 'Yes please, juice if possible' Toni smiled as she sat right on the edge of the couch. Cheryl laughed 'Toni please make yourself comfortable please, you don't need to be polite'. 'Okay' Toni laughed as she sat back against the couch looking at her son who was quietly playing with his new toys.

Cheryl came back in with drinks for the mother and son handing them to Toni. 'I'm sorry I don't have any children's cups so I put Tommy's in a mug so he could use the handle to make it easier for him, is that okay?'. 'That's perfect Cheryl but where should I put it, somewhere where he can't spill it and ruin something' Toni laughed nervously as she looked around Cheryl's spotless home, Tommy was good for his age but he was still a young child and could be clumsy. 'I'll just put it on the table with him, if it spills I'll clean it up no big deal' Cheryl shrugged taking the mug from Toni and placing it next to Tommy who gave her a big smile and a polite thank you. Cheryl sat on the couch next to Toni and passed her the remote to the television. 'I don't know what you guys normally watch but I'm sure it'll be on here'. Toni accepted the remote and turned to look at probably the biggest TV she had ever seen. 'Okay lets see, you wasn't kidding, this plays any channel known to man' Toni laughed. She settled on Spongebob Squarepants for now, it was one of Tommy's absolute favourites and hers if she was honest. Tommy sang along to the theme song as he continued to play with his toys as Toni smiled at him before feeling eyes on her. 'A talking sponge that lives in the sea?' Cheryl laughed. 'Of course it makes perfect sense' Toni laughed.

'Mommy I need the bathroom' Tommy turned to his mom. 'Okay kid, Cheryl do you mind?' Toni asked. 'There's one just at the top of the stairs, if you want to use that one' Cheryl smiled. 'Is that okay?' Toni asked. 'Of course' she nodded turning her attention back to the cartoon playing. She tried to deny to Toni that she was enjoying it but she wasn't even bothering to hide it now as she laughed along every now and again. It made Toni smile every time she saw the redheads face light up. Toni took Tommy's hand and led him upstairs to the bathroom which she surprisingly found straight away as their were multiple doors. Seeing Cheryl's home gave Toni a little insight into the woman's life, it was beautiful and luxurious although the redhead's personality didn't reflect that. Toni thought Cheryl was one of the most humble and sweetest people she'd ever met. She couldn't help but feel she'd be a little lonely if this was her home though. She helped Tommy used the bathroom as he pointed to the bath that he said looked like a swimming pool, it was of course an exaggeration but the bath was huge compared to a standard bath. 'Okay let's wash your hands so we can get back downstairs' Toni said as she lifted Tommy up to the sink. As they entered the lounge again Cheryl looked up 'did you find everything okay?'. 'We did thank you, so what take outs get delivered around here?' Toni asked sitting back down next to Cheryl.

They had decided on pizza and Toni insisted on paying so as soon as Cheryl had opened the gate to let the delivery driver in she grabbed her wallet and ran, literally ran to the door composing herself before she opened it. 'You're crazy' Cheryl giggled as Toni came back into the room 'I was thinking we could eat on the back porch, the sunset is really beautiful from there' the redhead blushed. 'Sounds perfect' Toni smiled 'come on kiddo, follow Cheryl pizza is here'. The pair followed Cheryl passed the stairs and to some double doors that led onto the back. 'Wow Cheryl you wasn't wrong, the sunset looks amazing'. Toni placed the pizzas onto the table as she took it all in, the way the light reflected on Cheryl made Toni's jaw drop. 'Toni are you okay?'. 'I was just thinking' Toni said meeting the redheads eyes. 'About what?'. 'About how absolutely gorgeous you are' Toni winked before turning to Tommy and lifting him into a seat. Cheryl was glad for the red lighting of the sun because the way her cheeks were burning she was sure the colour would match her hair. Toni took a seat and looked back at the redhead 'are you joining us?'. Cheryl didn't answer she just smiled and took a seat. They were chatting about their day at the aquarium when Tommy spoke up, his face covered in pizza 'what's that Cheryl' he said pointing across the outside seating area. 'Oh that's my hot tub and down there...' Cheryl said pointing to the far end of the garden 'is the pool'. 'You have a pool?' Tommy eyes were wide 'can I see?'. 'After we've eaten I'll show you if you'd like?'. 'Yes please!' He put his full attention into eating his slice of pizza. 'Don't rush you'll throw up' Toni laughed. When they had finished eating Tommy was practically dragging Cheryl up, Toni was about to tell him but Cheryl mouthed 'it's fine Toni' and she let it go. 'Actually where's does the trash go, I'll take it then meet you there' Toni asked. 'Toni I'll do that' Cheryl said but Toni just raised an eyebrow 'fine just around there at the side of the house'. Toni smiled as she picked up the trash while Cheryl took Tommy to look at the pool.

Toni threw everything out and walked back around the house as she noticed the little lights coming on automatically as it got dark, it looked really pretty, she wouldn't mind spending a few more date nights here with Cheryl. As she reached Cheryl and Tommy she stopped as to not interrupt their little conversation but it didn't work, they both turned to look at her with a smile. 'Can I play on the grass?' Tommy asked letting go of the redheads hand. 'Of course' Cheryl smiled as she watched him run in circles around her large garden. 'Lucky this is here or he might just have jumped straight in' Toni laughed looking at the glass pool fence. 'Yeah I chose to have it in so people didn't trail grass straight into the pool when I used to have garden party's, clean feet are a must' she smiled. 'Veronica is coming tomorrow with one of her boy toys Archie to have a pool day if you want to join?' Cheryl said looking at the pool. 'I don't know Cheryl I don't want us to get in the way' Toni looked at the redhead. 'Don't say that, you'd be doing me a favour, I wouldn't have to watch Veronica and Archie all over each other' she laughed turning her attention to Toni 'I'd really like it, if of course you're not too busy?'. 'Nope I'm not busy and I'll do you a deal' Toni smiled 'I'll come tomorrow if you agree to a coffee date with me on Wednesday, I'm off work and Tommy will be at school. That is if you're not busy?'. 'I'd love that Toni, you've got yourself a deal' Cheryl blushed. 'Mommy, Cheryl look!'. The pair turned around to see Tommy laid on the grass pointing to the stars. 'Come on' Toni said grabbing Cheryl's hand. 'Toni what are you doing?' Cheryl laughed as Toni laid on the ground next to Tommy. 'Watching the stars silly' Tommy laughed answering for his mother. Toni sat back up and pulled Cheryl down and the redhead obliged with a grin. She laid down next to Toni staring up at the stars as she reached for the other woman's hand. Toni accepted turning her head to face Cheryl 'thank you for today we really enjoyed it'. She lent over placing a small kiss on Cheryl's cheek and the redhead couldn't hide her smile. 'Mommy you just kissed Cheryl!' Tommy laughed. 'Yeah and now I'm gonna kiss you' she laughed reaching over, grabbing her son and pulling him on top of her placing quick kisses all over his face as he squealed with joy. 'Help me Cheryl' he managed to shout out through laughter causing the redhead to sit up and tickle Toni until the little boy could escape.  He ran behind Cheryl wrapping his arms around her so she could protect him from tickles as his mother. 'You guys cheat' she said laying back against the grass 'two against one isn't fair, I'll get you both when you least expect  it' she did an evil laugh. Tommy jumped on her chest but before she could tell him to be careful he laid against her and grabbed Cheryl's hand so she'd lay down as well. Suddenly quiet and relaxed the trio were left only listening to their thoughts and the crickets in the distance. Cheryl had never felt so carefree, Toni brought out a side to her that not even she had seen where she can have fun without any judgement. She knew they had only had one date and everything was new but Cheryl was already hoping for more nights like this one. More nights that were filled laughter and happiness thanks to Toni and Tommy.