"He's different but the same" I took a sip of the tea that had just about cooled down. My mum always made the best tea; it had been a while since I had seen her face to face but we chatted on Skype often and kept in close contact despite the distance.
"In what way?" She pressed; Mum was a therapist until she had me. Her focus and advice had always made her the perfect person to talk to and I was eternally thankful for the amount of tears she had wiped from my face and hugs she had given me.
"He's more attentive than he used to be and so much more laid back and open and friendly than he was when I was last with him" Mum nodded, encouraging me to keep talking "but it reminds me of what he used to be like, before he started to neglect me."
"So, it's like he..." Mum took a sip of her own tea as she searched for the word "evolved?"
"Yes" I agreed "exactly like he evolved." I pulled a face "this is so complicated."
"You're wondering if he's changed enough" I looked down into the mug "you still have feelings for him."
"I don't know" I sighed "I don't want to fall into the same trap. I hate that I wear my heart on my sleeve, I keep trying to think things through logically but it's hard to go against how you feel."
"The heart wants what the heart wants" Mum smiled and squeezed my hand "you were always such a sensitive child and God knows you were dramatic too."
"I was clearly born to write" I said with a grin.
"Things will work out, dear" she said, taking my mug and hers to the sink "but first things first, when are you going to see him again?"
***
It was weird thinking about going to Tom's house to help him assemble IKEA furniture but here I was in the passenger seat of his car, listening to him tell me about how he had gotten a new bed frame last week. His car was still a Jaguar but a newer model; it was much bigger too, no longer a two door car. I was pleasantly pleased however by that fact that it was still the same make, I had always admired Jaguar's and often told him how much I liked that he drove one. I distinctly remembered also telling him how sexy it was that he drove a Jaguar and I felt my cheeks warm as I looked at him driving. Damn it...
"I wouldn't have had to get a new bed frame if it wasn't for Serenity" he sighed. I froze. Who was Serenity? Was that his new girlfriend? Why wasn't he asking her to help him? Did... Did they break a bed or something, what? Ew! "You two will finally be able to meet" Tom smiled "I bet you two will be the best of friends before the end of the day."
"I'm sure we will" I said looking out the window. The busy streets and shops did nothing to distract me. When we stopped at a traffic light I watched one woman in particular as she crossed the road. Her arms bore a couple of bags, obviously she had been enjoying a day shopping with the two other women (her friends presumably.) She was tall and slender with long golden hair. I wondered if Serenity looked like that. Or like the lady behind her, a short brunette who was dressed in a shirt and pencil skirt. My stomach churned as we got closer to Tom's home. Maybe this was a bad idea.
***
Tom opens the door to let me into his townhouse first. I step in and look around. Most of his furniture was on the traditional side, following a colour scheme of dark browns and reds. I had expected something modern; leather and glass; blacks, greys and whites but instead it was old; comfortable. I liked all the rich colours and the gentleman's club feel of the house.
"Nice digs" I complimented, looking over my shoulder at him.
"It's alright" he said, taking my coat "come." I follow him up the stairs and into a room at the end of the hall. It's his bedroom. An IKEA box sits on the floor, begging to be put together. "Oh I thought she'd be in here" he said with a frown.
