Secret Love

Goodbye Mr Tom....

It seemed her plan had been needless. Tom hadn't run.... in fact Tom wasn't the problem. As it turned out, SHE was.

Once the icecreams had been eaten, the sticks used as makeshift swords - with Tom being resoundingly beaten in every fight -  there had been a vote on what to do next. Flick had voted for lying in the shade watching Clare and Jenny run themselves ragged, Nancy had suggested going to British Museum and Tom? He'd, unintentionally, trumped them all. And indirectly outed their relationship. How? With four little words. Boating in Hyde Park.

The minute the suggestion left his mouth, there was silence. Three pairs of eyes swivelled to Flick. "Mum?" Jenny slipped her hand into her mum's and squeezed it. "Please?" She said quietly, her little face now pale. Flick looked at her, tears suddenly sparkling in her eyes.

Tom felt instantly he'd done something terribly wrong. Looking first at Flick, then Nancy, he stammered, "I... I'm sorry... did I say...
Nancy guided him to the side while Flick spoke quietly to the girls.

"It was the thing John did with the family. They had a tradition of going on the rowing boats for birthdays. He'd wear a captains hat, and they'd be on the HMS Birthday. He always had a sense of the ridiculous they loved. Clare was last to get that treat, and Jenny was supposed to be the following February.... After John died, Flick couldn't face it. They've never been since...."

"Oh Jesus, I'm so sorry, Nancy... I ..." Tom looked over at the three of them hugging tightly. Nancy smiled and shook her head.

"No. Come on, it'll be ok. She knows you didn't know. I think you two need to talk tonight, Im taking the girls home at six anyway, so...." she smiled gently. "If it's any consolation Tom, she blushed when she told me about you.  Flick never blushes...."

Before they could chat any further, Jenny ran up and, without any preamble, held his hand. Looking up at him, she smiled, obviously completely taken by him. Nancy smiled and looked away, Tom smiled and looked at Flick.

"Mr Tom?"

"Yes, J?"

She gave a pleased little 'ooh!' At him giving her a  nickname, then looked at her mum who nodded encouragingly.

"Mr Tom? May we go on the boats, and may you row, and may you and me go on one and Clare and Mum on the other, and may we go all the way around?"  She looked very pleased she'd remembered it all.

Tom felt his chest tighten, and strangely, his voice was tight. He looked at her softly, nodding. "If it's ok with mum, it's more than ok with me." He hunkered down and said,"Thank you, J, you're a very special young lady. You know that?"

Jenny giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. "Thank you!" She whispered, turning tomato red. Then she turned to her sister, and, in true 11 year old style, she stuck out her tongue.

"See! Mr Tom thinks I'm special ! He even calls me a special name! Nah, nah na-na nah!" 

Clare was standing with her mum and now looked muderously at her younger sibling. Flick stifled a laugh. Tom stood, guiding Jenny back over. "Now Jenny, that wasn't kind. I think you're both special. Yes, and you Clarebear...."

Clare's eyes widened, and she grinned. Harmony, it seemed, had been restored. They scampered away together, gathering their things, Nancy close behind.  Flick turned to Tom. "Im sorry about before..." she trailed off, unsure and unable to say more. Tom tipped her chin up with a finger.

"No, it's me who's sorry. Unintentionally, though it was, I upset you. All of you. I never want to do that. I think tonight, once the girls have gone, you and I should have a talk. Don't worry, nothing bad, jyst establishing some ground rules for me to follow? You mean the world to me, Flick. You ARE my world." He looked down at her and, without letting go, her chin, leaned forward and kissed her softly.