Chapter 653 A New Phase



"Do you know the difference between now and the last time you brought me here?" Lucy asked, an hour later as they got into Tom's car after she had been discharged.

"Tell me," Tom said as he started the car, and she scowled at him.

"You're taking me home yourself. You didn't abandon me like you did the last time," Lucy said as she fastened her seatbelt and Tom looked at her incredulously.

"Damn it, Lucy! You didn't have to remind me that I was such a lowlife jerk," Tom said, and she giggled.

"I couldn't help it. Sorry. This was definitely not how I envisioned spending our first morning together in my apartment," Lucy said, smoothly changing the subject.

"Well, it's barely seven yet. We can just return to bed and wake up like nothing happened," Tom assured her.

"Maybe. So, what's your plan for the day?" Lucy asked with interest.

"I will be hanging out with Harry. It's been a while we chilled together. And hopefully I can take you out on a date tonight," Tom said, thinking about Bryan's surprise engagement party.

"Oh, a date?" Lucy asked with a surprised smile.

"Yeah. Nothing very fancy though. When are you meeting with Jamal for your date?" Tom asked, and she shrugged.

"I'm going over to pick him up by noon," Lucy said and Tom nodded.

ƥαṇdαsηθνε| "That's fine then. We can spend the rest of the morning together and then you can drop me off at Harry's and pick me up when you come back with Jamal. Is that okay?" Tom asked, and Lucy flashed him a smile.

"It's perfect!"

They drove in silence for a while as Tom thought about Lucy's slip earlier.

He was sort of curious to know what had prompted her to make the statement she had made earlier about how he could stand seeing her in labor pain.

Was he reading too much meaning to her slip up or was she perhaps rethinking her decisions and ready to change her mind?

He also wanted to know if she remembered and had meant what she said in the car about sticking with him whether or not Dawn was his and loving Dawn as she loved him if she turned out to be his.

"By the way, I told my parents about Dawn before they left," Tom said, wondering if she would be okay to talk about it since she had said they put it aside until they saw the result.

"You did? I thought you were going to wait until we got the results," Lucy said as she adjusted in her seat to look at him.

"I figured it was best I tell them in person before they leave. You know how they are, if I tell them about it over the phone later they might want to fly down again, and I don't want them to," Tom said and Lucy smiled.

That was something both their parents had in common. Traveling on a whim the moment they received any news whether or not you wanted them to.

"I see. So? How did they take it? I bet Evelyn was happy," Lucy said, and Tom shook his head.

"On the contrary her reaction was surprising. She was more worried about you and how it would affect us," Tom said, and Lucy's heart did a flip flop.

"Really?" Lucy asked, and Tom nodded.

"Yeah. She must love you more than I thought," Tom said, and Lucy smiled sadly.

As much as she appreciated their concern, she thought it was sad that when everyone else should be thinking about the kid, they were more worried about her reaction.

"Well, you can ask her not to worry about me. If the result comes back positive, we would all have to focus on Dawn. That reminds me, did you say anything to Kimberly?" Lucy asked when she remembered Kimberly's text, not giving Tom time to respond to her statement about them focusing on Dawn.

"Why? Did she reach out to you again?" Tom asked with a frown.

"You did, didn't you? You really shouldn't have, Tom. I don't want to have a bad relationship with her if I can help it," Lucy said, and Tom scowled.

"Did she threaten you or say anything harsh?" He asked, and Lucy sighed.

"No, she didn't. She apologized for reaching out to me. I'm just saying, I don't want to be on bad terms with her. She was only trying to be nice and you didn't have to tell her I said anything to you or make her feel bad for talking to me," Lucy explained.

"I know how trusting you can be and I simply wanted her to understand that you are a no go area. I don't want another Anita situation," Tom said reasonably.

"Yes, I understand that. But you are being a bit too protective," Lucy said, and Tom snorted.

"Protective? I haven't even started yet," He assured her, and she giggled.

"I'm serious, Tom. We have to at least give her the benefit of doubt without letting our guards down," Lucy said and Tom sighed.

"So, what? You want to be friends with her?" He asked, and Lucy shrugged.

"If she happens to be the mother of your child, then yes! I'd rather we are friends than enemies," Lucy said and Tom shook his head.

"I am not sure I'm comfortable with that," he said with a frown.

"Trust me, you would be even more uncomfortable when I can't get along with Dawn because her mom has poisoned her heart against me. The enemy of a girl's mom is her enemy," Lucy stated, and Tom turned to spare her a glance.

She sounded like she had made up her mind to be actively involved in Dawn's life and was already thinking of getting along with the kid.

"Alright. You can do whatever you want. But if she bothers you or says anything unpleasant to you, you have to tell me," Tom said and Lucy gave him a nod.

"Sure."

"You know you don't have to do any of this, right?" Tom asked, and she smiled.

"I'm doing it because I want to. Also, I wanted to suggest something, but I do not know if it's too soon to do so," Lucy said, and Tom glanced at her. ραпdαs `nᴏνɐ| сom

"Let's hear it."

Lucy cleared her throat, "If it's okay with you, I want to suggest that if the result comes back positive you invite them down here instead of going over," Lucy said, and before Tom could respond she quickly spoke again.

"I'm not suggesting that because I am worried or feeling insecure about you traveling over to see them alone. I'm just saying so because it would be easier for us all to meet them. I will like to see them too," Lucy added as he drove into her street.

"My mother suggested the same thing," Tom said, and Lucy relaxed.

"Oh, really? Nice! So? Are you going to do that?" She asked as he parked the car, and Lucy smiled.

"Since you're also cool with it, I will invite them over," Tom said, not wanting to tell her yet that Evelyn had also suggested that Dawn moves in with him.

"And you should know that even if I had any plans of traveling, I would have made sure you come along with me," Tom added as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"Cool," Lucy said, and they both got out of the car and went into the house.

Inside the house, Tom urged Lucy to go in freshen up since the bathroom was too small to accommodate them both at the same time.

While she was at it, he went into the kitchen to heat up the meal which Adolf had delivered last night while she was asleep.

As Lucy walked into her bedroom, she grinned when she saw Tom's stuff arranged on the space she had left him on her dressing table.

She walked over to her closet and pulled the drawer she had reserved for him open. She felt a surprisingly overwhelming sense of satisfaction at the sight of his neatly folded undies in her drawer.

She opened the main closet door and something tugged on her heart when she saw a couple of his clothes hanging there.

She sighed as she closed the door and stepped back, then looked around her bedroom.

Even though having someone who wasn't her family or Sonia in her space in this manner was new to her, she didn't feel uncomfortable in any way.

Tom was like a part of her and it just felt right to have him with her and to have his stuff mixed up with hers.

After she had straightened the bed and properly put away the clothes they had worn the previous night which he had folded and kept on the padded vanity stool, Lucy freshened up and went out to find him, dressed only in an oversized tshirt, which she had stolen from Lucas.

She stood by the kitchen door barefooted, and watched as Tom moved around setting their breakfast on a tray.

Overwhelmed by an emotion she couldn't explain, she walked into the kitchen quietly and wrapped her arms around Tom's waist from behind, surprising him.

"Is everything alright?" Tom asked, and she bobbed her head even though she was standing beside him and he couldn't see her.

"Yeah. I just felt like embracing you," Lucy said, and Tom smiled.

"Then you should do it properly," Tom said as he took her arms and pulled her around so that she was standing in front of him.

"So, what's making you feel like embracing me?" Tom asked as his arms went around her and he gazed down at her as she looked up at him.

"I think I just like having you here," Lucy said and Tom grinned.

"If I had known that being in your apartment would make you more romantic I would have moved in a long time ago. Tell me, do you want me to sell my house and move in completely with you?" Tom asked with a teasing smile and Lucy giggled.

"Please, don't," she said as Tom's hand moved over her back and he raised a brow.

"You're not wearing anything under this, are you?" He asked, and she gave him a coy smile.

"Why don't you see for yourself?" She asked, and Tom chuckled.

"I will do that after you've had breakfast. Come now, I don't want it to get cold," Tom said as he kissed her chin.

"What if I don't want to eat breakfast yet? What if I want to eat you instead?" Lucy asked as she stretched on her toes to kiss him.

"What's gotten into you today?" Tom asked in amusement as he kissed her back, and she shrugged as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just trying to practice being naughty without any alcohol? How am I doing?" She asked and Tom laughed softly.

"You are doing more than good. But I will only be willing to indulge you after you've had breakfast," Tom said making her scowl at him as he picked up the tray and led the way to her bedroom.

"You're going to regret turning me down. I'm going to make sure of it," Lucy threatened as she followed him.

"I'm sure I will," Tom said and she gave him a stink eye as they both settled down on the bed.

Seated on her bed and having breakfast with her this way while she kept scowling at him, Tom couldn't help but feel like they had stepped into another phase in their relationship.

It felt like he had crossed another line with her. Or perhaps he had broken through another wall around her heart.

Yes, she had been with him in his house and all, but their relationship felt somewhat different now. Deeper in a way.

He could feel Lucy opening up her whole heart to him and letting him into her life unlike before.

He couldn't help but wonder what had prompted the changes in her. Was it just his short trip? Or was it because of Kimberly and Dawn? Whatever it was that had prompted the changes, he was thankful for it.

"What are you grinning about?" Lucy asked when she noticed the smile which had formed on his face.

"Seeing how your love for me increased in the space of a few days because I was away, I was wondering if I should perhaps take another trip. Perhaps a longer one…." The rest of his words were lost in a guffaw when she threw a piece of steak at him.