Master's Apprentice (Completed) Undergoing Edits

This is how a Heart Breaks

Author's note: The heartbreak begins...

_____________________

Christmastime 1988

"Amazing! The singers were spectacular and did an excellent job performing!"

Aila threw her hands up and started to belt out The Phantom of the Opera tune at full-blast.

Tomas merely laughed as she twirled around in the sidewalk of New York City and tasted the snowflakes on her tongue.

"This has been the greatest Christmas present ever...besides baby Jesus, of course!", she chided.

"I'm glad that you liked it," he teased.

"How did you ever get tickets? I thought they were booked for the Christmas season?", she asked.

"I reserved them months in advance. In fact, I might have thought of this idea during our honeymoon..."

"Oh, Tomas. You didn't have to do this, but seeing the musical again was just marvelous! It was pure dead brilliant," she declared.

"What?", he must have heard wrong.

"Oops. Sometimes I forget you don't speak Scottish, pure dead brilliant means really good."

"Nice to know. Is there some other slang you can teach me, my angel of music?"

"Stop it, Tomas," she shrieked as he attempted to chase her down the sidewalk. "You're not the Phantom of the Opera you know. I've always pegged you as a Raoul."

"What does that mean for me?", he winked as he placed his hands on her waist.

"You proposed to me singing "All I Ask of You", what do you think it means? Our love will stand the test of time!", she stated as she pumped her fist in the frigid air.

"It's only been what...9 months since we were wed? Isn't it a bit early to call it?", he seemed to be deep in thought, but let out a chuckle once Aila's face turned bright red.

"Tomas! Refrain from playing around and be serious!", she attempted to hit her purse against his frame, but he ducked and chucked a snowball at her.

"I do not know what has gotten into you? You are acting like a child!", she whined.

"So not like you at all?", he questioned.

"That's it! You're sleeping on the couch tonight!", she turned around and stomped off.

"Aila, please forgive me. I meant no harm. I'm so used to being so stoic and...."

"Tightly-wound?", she added.

"Quiet! As I was saying, I'm trying to prepare myself for the role of being a father by loosening up."

A chill in the air seemed to gather around the newlywed couple and the wind seemed to howl against them, yet they did not heed the warning.

"Tomas, is that your fear?", she inquired as she patted his back several times.

"My father died when I was young and Opa...well, he has not been the most supportive father figure. I want our son to have the very best in life."

"You don't have to be so hard on yourself, Tomas. Sure, tragedy stuck you early on and left you an orphan, but that does not mean that you do not have what it takes to be a great dad. I am certain you will be a wonderful father to our son."

"How would you say, if you say so, in Scottish?"

"Tomas! Fine. If you are expressing disbelief in what I say, you can say 'Aye Right' back to me. ok? Can we talk about something else now?'