Forever

The calm before

The next morning came and Tommy got up early. Scarlett was still asleep as he walked back in their bedroom. He noticed that she has been more tired lately even though they were on vacation. He wasn't sure why. Maybe it was just keeping up with two little ones. He sat down beside her and woke her up.
          "Hey, Ada is on the phone for you."
She winced as she got up and Tommy noticed.
          "Are you okay?"
          "Yeah, my body is just sore. I probably just slept wrong or something." She said.
He made a face because this has been happening lately and he wasn't sure why. Scarlett put a baiting suit on, brushed her teeth, and did her hair really quickly. She was downstairs on the phone trying to talk to Ada, but Tommy had his arms wrapped around her and he kept getting handsy. They were going back to Birmingham for Ada's wedding. It was tomorrow, but they were supposed to be flying back in a few hours. Tommy being Tommy wanted to mess with Ada.
          "Ada, you will see us around dinner time. Let me enjoy these last few hours with my wife."
          "Tommy, you've had her the whole summer. Just let me—"
          "I'm not listening, Ada. I'm too focused on her in this bikini." He said as he ran his hand down the front of Scarlett's body.
Scarlett laughed.
          "Tommy!" Scarlett laughed.
Ada started yelling over the phone and Tommy quickly pulled it away from his ear and they could still hear her. Scarlett started to reach for the phone, but Tommy wouldn't let her.
          "Tommy, let me talk to her."
          "I'm going to enjoy my wife now." He said to Ada.
          "Tommy!" Ada yelled over the phone.
          "Bye, Ada." He said and then hung up.
          "Tommy that was—"
He cut Scarlett off by picking her up.
          "Let's fuck in the pool before the kids wake up." He whispered.
She couldn't say no to him, so they did their thing in the pool. Eventually the family was out on the beach. Scarlett was waist deep in the calm water as she held Myles and Tommy had Bella.
"He really likes the water." Scarlett smiled as she dipped Myles in the water to his waist.
He just smiled and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Is it time for his nap?" Tommy asked.
Scarlett nodded and then got out of the water as Bella followed. Francis met her at the beach chairs. Scarlett wrapped Myles up in a towel and Francis smiled as she took him.
"Mommy, I'm hungry." Bella said.
"I've got it, Mrs. Shelby. You enjoy your last day."
"Thank you, Francis."
Scarlett got back in the water and wrapped her legs around Tommy.
"How long are we staying in Birmingham?" She asked.
"Just long enough for us to get the business side figured out."
"Your family is going to be so mad."
"I don't care. This is our life and I want to live it this way. Everyone grows up and goes their separate ways. It's life. They can get over it."
He kissed her and she pulled away.
"Yeah...I don't think Arthur or Polly will see it that way." She said.
"Not my problem."
She smirked and then kissed him. They were kissing and getting handsy until the sky went dark and it started to rain. They ran out of the water and got to the chairs. Scarlett looked at Tommy and just laughed.
"Why were we running? We're already wet." She laughed.
"I ran because you ran."
They both laughed and then he kissed her. The storm got worse, so they decided to just go ahead and take showers. Scarlett was wearing casual shorts with a white tank top as she sat on the couch and covered up with a blanket. Tommy came down in shorts and a t-shirt as he held Myles. He sat beside his wife and put her legs over his lap. The thunder and lightning got worse and Bella ran to Scarlett. She was terrified of storms. Bella got under the blanket and wrapped her arms around Scarlett's neck and then rested her head on her.
"It's okay, Bella. It's alright." She soothed.
A crack of loud thunder roared and Bella held on tighter.
"Mommy, make the storm go away."
"I can't make it go away, but I can protect you from it." She whispered.
"You can?" Bella asked as she raised her head up.
"I will always protect you from anything that scares you. Always, Bella."
She smiled and and put her head back down.
"I hope this clears up, so we can fly out." Scarlett said.
"Me too, because if not...Ada will somehow blame this on me."
Scarlett laughed and then she took a nap with Bella. A few hours went by and she woke up after Bella got up. Tommy sat back down and Ash jumped up. Scarlett started to get up, but Tommy pulled her back down to his lap.
"I have bad news." He said.
"We won't be flying back tonight because of the weather?"
"Ada was pissed."
"We will just leave early in the morning if the weather is clear." She said.
"I doubt that it will be."
After dinner Scarlett called Ada.
"My best friend won't be at my wedding. What's the point of even having a wedding." She said.
Scarlett had to hold in a laugh.
"Well...the man you're marrying will be there, so that's a pretty good point."
"I need you here, Scarlett. Everyone is driving me crazy and you will kick their asses. This wedding won't be the same without you. You should see what Linda planned for my bachelorette party...staying in and playing charades...no fucking drinking."
"I will be there if the weather clears up. I will do everything I can, Ada. I promise.
"Well...make the weather clear up." Ada said and then hung up.
Scarlett had wide eyes as she looked at Tommy.
"What did she say?"
"She told me to make the weather clear up."
He gave a small laugh.
"Only Ada." He said.
The night went on and so did the storm. Bella was in Scarlett and Tommy's bed and so was Ash. Scarlett was the only one who could get Bella to calm down during a storm. Bella held onto her mom tightly and Ash laid between Tommy and Scarlett. He also didn't like storms.
"You're a big bad guard dog and you're scared of storms?" Tommy said to ash.
Ash whined and turned his head towards Scarlett.
"Storms are scary for everybody, daddy." Bella said as she rubbed Ash's back.
The couple didn't get much sleep because Bella wouldn't sleep. Luckily the weather cleared up and they were on their way back to Birmingham. Scarlett and Tommy went ahead and got ready because they were going to be pushing it time wise. She walked downstairs.