Did I fall in love?|Tom Holland (ENGLISH VERSION)

Chapter nineteen

Ever since we got home Tom has been focused reading his book and I'm sitting here next to him. He keeps his head on my shoulder as he turns the page in a few minutes.—Aren't you hungry? — I ask because it's been an hour since we came from the hospital.Tom closes the book so he can face me.

—A little.

—Okay, I'll go to the kitchen and bring you dinner.I leave Tom's room and head downstairs to the kitchen to get dinner.When I enter the kitchen Nikki is tidying up.

—Is there still any food left?— I ask, trying to show my presence.

—Oh Julie, yes there is, the boys and I already ate but I saved it for you and Tom, I thought you would be hungry later.Nikki has gone to the fridge to get the food she's been saving for Tom and me.

—Well, I'll warm up and be ready soon.

After sticking the food in the microwave, Nikki turns to me and sits down and motions for me to sit down too.—Harry told me that Tom and Olivia broke up, and that pictures of you two were spread around at school, I'm so sorry.

—Oh it was nothing, you know Nicola, it's really funny how Olivia set this up just to have an excuse to break up, just because she's with someone else. By the way, the picture of me and Tom was taken when we were at the village market, how is a picture of two people in line at the market proof that we're supposed to be dating?—Actually, Olivia was always a very troubled girl and she always ended up dragging Tom into her problems, which is why I always wanted my son to separate from her. -Nikki said a little worried.Ever since I got here, everyone has a bad impression of Olivia and I always heard Nicola say she didn't want Tom to be with her, even the boys always commented on their mother's concern.-I have a question. — I said hoping for Nikki's approval so she could question him about something that's been running through my mind.—You can ask whatever you want, my dear.—Well, I know you don't like Olivia and you seem very worried whenever she's around, and I wanted to ask...Has she really done anything serious besides what she does at school?Nikki was silent, maybe she wasn't expecting my question, which makes me think it's something so bad I might not want to hear it.Nikki takes a deep breath and then returns to talking.

—That happened some time ago, long before you came here to live. It's been about 3 years since Tom has been dating Olivia and everything she does he had to go along with her. I don't think my son is the type to get carried away by someone's words, much less do what others tell him to do. - Nikki pauses a little, looking fresh - Maybe he did it to get attention or to provoke me, since at that time our family was going through a difficult time, my marriage was already on a thread and I know he was affected therefore. Tom was never one to show his feelings, he was just frustrated and arrogant towards people.Nikki's eyes water, which tells me the big news is coming.—One night I was here at home, in my office editing some photos for a client, and I got a call from a gentleman, and it wasn't that this gentleman was the school porter who was watching the school to be able to close, and he told me called saying to go get my son because he wasn't in a good condition to go home alone. So I drove to the school and the gentleman was waiting for me, he was worried and then we ran to the back of the school, under the football field stand...Nikki stops talking and tears are already running down her face.—From...under the counter, there was my son, I had never seen him in that state, his clothes came with a very strong smell of smoke, which led me to think that he had smoked and the smell of alcohol was even more intense. . I tried to wake him up but got no response and when I checked his pulse he was very weak. I was terrified, it was like I couldn't react, so I asked the man who was still there to call an ambulance and I went with my son to the hospital.I'm in shock, I knew there had to be a reason Nikki cared about Tom's "friends", especially Olivia, but I never thought it would be such a heavy story.

—I spent hours waiting for the doctors to tell me how Tom was doing, but I already suspected that he would have taken something, I was so, so afraid of losing my son. The analyzes and tests he did showed that he had consumed large doses of various drugs and apart from the amount of alcohol in his blood, he really could have died. But after a few days, he left the hospital and we went back home, but he shut himself in his room and never spoke to anyone and it got even worse because he got a suspension from school. Then I learned that a few other students had also been suspended, including Olivia, and so I immediately deduced that my son was dating these people and almost put his life at risk.—I don't know what to say, I'm sorry you went through this.—Yeah, I really try to put that in the past, but I was never calm knowing he was with Olivia, but now that it's over I feel a huge relief. And now you're here, it's like a miracle, you've become someone very special to Tom, he really feels he can trust you, you've changed him, he's back to smiling and having fun. I'm so grateful to you for bringing my boy back. Nikki smiles, wiping away tears.We get up from the chairs and I hug her, making her smile.—You're a wonderful person, Julie, the boys and I are so lucky to have you living with us.—Oh, I'm so lucky too, to be welcomed so well by your family and to have someone in this country so far from my home.We wipe our tears and Nikki takes the food out of the microwave and puts it on the plates.—Are you sure you can handle all this?—Yes, I think I can.I grab the plates of food and leave the kitchen, go upstairs and head towards Tom's room. I open the door with my foot, because I have both hands full.

Tom was looking at his cell phone, and then he looks at me trying to force a smile.—Sorry for the delay, here's dinner!!!— I say cheerfully, trying to break this tension that has suddenly set in.—It looks good and I'm so hungry. He picked up his plate and started to eat.—Everything is fine? You got a little tense when you were looking at your cell phone.—Only group messages about Olivia and Jack.—Are you upset, are you jealous? I ask.—To tell you the truth, I feel a lot better now that I'm not with Olivia anymore.—That's good. — I say a little in a whisper, because I remember what Nikki told me.—Good?— Looks like I didn't speak that low. — Yeah... I think it's a good thing, so I can spend more time with you.I respond with a smile.—I've finished eating, I'm getting a little tired, I think I better go to sleep.—Okay, I'll take the dishes to the kitchen so you can sleep now.I grab the plates so I can take them to the kitchen as I get ready to go, Tom grabs my wrist.—You go in the kitchen, but then come back, right?—I don't think so, you need to rest and so do I, I'm getting sleepy too.—Okay,— Tom agrees, with a sad little face.I head for the door and prepare to close it.—Good night sleep well. I say smiling, closing the door right away.After washing the dishes and putting them away, I go upstairs and go to my room. I read a couple of chapters of my book and end up falling asleep.