Change of Heart

Chapter 12: Actors

Light poured into the large windows of the room she slept in and bounced off the pastel colored walls and through the white cotton canopy that surrounded her bed. She opened her eyes slowly and blinked, stretching as she sat up in the queen sized bed, all alone. It was glorious, she felt refreshed and revived, and loathed climbing out of it, until she remembered the claw foot tub in the bathroom just off the bedroom she occupied. She hopped down from the bed and rummaged through the cabinet in the bathroom. She found vanilla scented bubble bath and poured it in the sparkling white tub. She ran the water and sat on the edge as she watched the tub fill up with water bubbles and steam. She wondered if Tom was awake. She placed a towel within reach and undressed, then pinned her hair up and sank into the warm waters of the tub. It was amazing, she couldn't remember the last time she'd been in a tub surrounded with hot water. She rested her head on the cold porcelain on the tub and closed her eyes. She couldn't wipe the contented grin off her face. As she rested her head against the porcelain tubshe heard a very polite knock at the door.

"I'll be back in about an hour, I've got to pick up my car and return the bike."

"Okay. Good morning, by the way."

"Good morning."

He laughed a little as he walked away from the door, reluctant to leave the aroma of vanilla that wafted under the bathroom door and into the bedroom. He hurried down the winding staircase, trying not to imagine Jacks in a bathtub and took a deep breath to clear his head and compose himself before hopping on the bike. As he revved the engine his cell phone rang, a small smile crossed his face as he saw who it was. Apparently his mother had discovered FaceTime.

"Oh my goodness! I can actually see you!!!"

"Hello mom."

"Oh Tom! You look so handsome, still wearing that old leather jacket I see...Tom it's really too cold out for that, there's snow everywhere, you need a proper coat! And hat!What are you sitting on outside in the cold?"

"A bike, mum."

"What on earth do you want to ride a bike for when you have a perfectly nice car to drive? Be reasonable Tommy. I miss you, you know."

"I know, mum, I miss you too."

"Do you, darling? That's sweet. I love you. Look at that smile, you really are so incredibly handsome..."

"Thank you."

"I won't keep you for too long, but your sister says your spending the weekend at Greystone, and I just wanted to see how you were managing."

"We're doing great," he tried not to make a face as he realized what he'd said; his mother's face became visibly more interested in his words. "The house is great."

"We? Who's there with you?"

She literally leaned forward towards the screen, Tom stifled a laugh.

"My friend Jacks, remember, I told you about her.

"The one from UNICEF....the beautiful one..."

"I guess."

"I saw the pictures Tom. She is beautiful. But I thought you said she was in Afghanistan."

"She hasn't gone yet. Her parents are in town to spend some time with her before she leaves. I'm actually on my way to pick them up."

"On a bike, darling?"

"I'm going to pick up my car mum."

"Well, if your meeting her parents shouldn't she meet yours? I hate not knowing this, you should have told me you were serious with this girl, I had no idea. What must she think of me, I haven't even called to say hello..."