Making Jane Proud

Chapter 40 - It's All a Question of Timing

"Morning love."

"Hey mum." Ellie traipsed into the kitchen to find her mum kneading dough. She headed straight for the fridge and poured herself a glass of orange juice, sitting at the table while she drank.

"Are you having a hypo?" her mother asked. Ellie nodded. "That's your third one in a couple of days, honey. You don't usually have them this often – when are you seeing Dr John?"

Dr John Westphall was Ellie's endocrinologist; she had seen him for over a decade and he knew her medical history better than anyone other than her family. "Today." She was still having gastric trouble and it was causing her blood glucose levels to remain unstable, making her think there was more to it than just an aversion to spicy food, so she'd made an appointment with the doctor she trusted the most.

Sophie set the dough in a covered bowl and put it into the warming drawer to rise further. "Is Tom going with you?"

"He's going to help dad and Johnny rebuild the shed."

Although still early, golden sunbeams danced through the room from the large windows covering two walls, warming the timber floorboards and casting a soft glow over the area. Her parents had remodelled the kitchen a few years back, adding modern appliances but keeping the same style of cupboards and bench-top, so that the room looked very much as it had when she was growing up. It was comforting in a life that was filled with change. She looked at her mum, the hair that had once been as vivid as her own now faded and softening to white around her face, her eyes older and wiser but still as lively and intelligent as ever. Ellie got her height from both her parents; her dad stood six foot and her mum five foot nine.

She yawned as she got up to place the glass on the sink. "Can I help you with anything?"

Sophie was pulling a variety of bottles and containers from the pantry. "No love, I'm just making a marinade. Why don't you go back to bed for a while? The bread won't be baked for another hour."

Ellie yawned again, nodding. "Okay." She put her arms around her mother, kissing her cheek. "I love you mum."

"I love you too, honey." Sophie returned the embrace, rubbing Ellie's back as a mother does, in soft, soothing swirls.

Opening and closing the door as quietly as she could, Ellie tiptoed to the bed and got back under the covers just as Tom stirred. Reaching out a long arm, he pulled her close and she snuggled against his warm chest, breathing in his scent as she kissed his neck. She felt his lips in her hair and sighed, closing her eyes, as they both lay silent and content until sleep claimed them again.

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"Have you planned anything for today apart from your doctor's appointment?" Tom asked as they both dressed in shorts and a tee shirt. His hair hadn't been brushed yet and damp curls rioted atop sides still short from filming. Holiday beard growth stubbled his chin and his blue eyes shone brightly at her. When Ellie replied in the negative he smiled. "Good. I want you all to myself for a couple of hours this afternoon, Miss Cunningham."

"Yes, Tom-sir," she giggled as arms wound around her and she was pulled firmly against him. "Are you planning to take me somewhere and have your wicked way with me?"

"I thought I already did that in the shower," he murmured against her ear, taking the lobe in his mouth and making her gasp. "I made the earth move for you, if you remember."

At that Ellie laughed out loud, recalling the small tremors of aftershocks that had occurred in the midst of their passion. "So your prowess is causing earthquakes now, is it? Modest much, love?"

Tom grinned. "I call it as I see it."

She put her mouth to his neck and blew a loud raspberry, making them both giggle helplessly until Sophie called down the hallway that breakfast was ready.