In the Interlude

Chapter 52.1 - When You Know, You Know

A/N: So this is it. The last chapter. The end of the road of this story. I must say, I feel a bit emotional uploading it. It's a bittersweet feeling. I've lived with these characters for six months. Thinking about Aïcha and Tom day and night, feeling their happiness and pain, and the toll of each and every decision they made. It's going to be tough to say goodbye. That's why I have an epilogue under my sleeve. A first draft has been written but it still needs major editing to be worthy of this ending, and you my dear readers.

Thank you, each and every one of you, for your reads, votes and comments. You can't imagine how much they mean to me. I loved reading your reactions and various feedback. They helped me make this story more solid, more grounded, more real.

I hope you'll enjoy the end of this emotional roller coaster. It was a long chapter, so I cut into two parts. I must admit, I might have shed a tear or two. Without further ado ...

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"Come," said Tom, holding Aïcha's hand and pulling her up to her feet. "Dinner is ready."

She followed him back to the dining room where he had set the table: white porcelain plates framed by perfectly polished silverware, a centrepiece of Tulips - her favourite -, and three little round wooden candle holders. He pulled the chair out for Aïcha to sit on.

"This looks so fancy, Tom."

He grinned looking pleased, and pressed a kiss in her hair before disappearing into the kitchen.

Aïcha fidgeted in her seat, untying and tying back the silky ribbon belts of her blue wrap dress. Looking around, her gaze fell on the big Victorian mirror on the wall. She was greeted by the woman she was still not used to seeing and passed her hand over her uncovered neck. She felt as if she was on the front seat of a roller coaster ride - and God knows how she hated roller coasters. As if she was hovering on the top, stopping so high just before taking the bloody plunge, whether she was ready for it or not.

Tom came back moments later carrying a large plate in one hand, and a gravy boat in the other.

"It smells really good! Thank you for making this."

He smiled and sat across from her and started to pour some sparkling water into their glasses. "Oh, it's nothing. I hope it tastes as good as it smells."

Taking a sip from her glass, Aïcha admired the perfectly cooked roast beef, slices thin as paper, surrounded by autumnal and colourful vegetables. The gravy boat was filled with mushrooms swimming in a rich sauce. Everything looked delicious.

Tom cleared his throat. "You look beautiful tonight. I remember that dress. It's ... You wore it the first time you came here," he said, his eyes travelling over her face.

Looking down at herself, she smoothed the dress over her thighs with her hands. "Yes, I did." She was surprised by her unconscious choice of clothing. It was one of her favourite dresses and she didn't think twice before choosing to it wear today. She certainly didn't intend to stir any old memories. Although the memories were always there, never forgotten - a testimony of their time together.

When she took her first bite, she closed her eyes and moaned in bliss. The meat, the vegetables and the sauce almost melted in her mouth. "Hmm, this is so good. It's heaven in my mouth." She took a second bite. It was just as good as the first.

Tom's hand froze around his fork - the sound coming from the back of her throat was the same she made whenever he kissed the back of her neck. He wanted to kiss her so bad, take her upstairs, pin her beneath him and watch her come undone under his hands. But it wasn't about that tonight. And he had, yet again, to remind himself of that.