Chapter 942: That Should Change.

Chapter 942: That Should Change.



The Sunday morning sun filtered gently through the trees, casting light across the cabin and stirring the group from their deep, restful sleep.

The previous day's hike had taken a toll on everyone, and they had all collapsed into their beds the night before, exhausted but exhilarated.

Tom was the first to wake, his body protesting the early hour but his mind already replaying the adventures of the weekend. He rolled over and watched Lucy sleep for a moment, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, and he couldn't help but think about how she had defended their course against Jade the previous day. The thought of it made him grin.

His feisty little lady.

She had changed so much from shying away from confrontations to facing them head-on and refusing to back down.

"What are you smiling for?" Lucy asked without opening her eyes, but a smile played on her lips.

"When did you wake up?" Tom asked, surprised that she was awake.

"While you were grinning," she said as she opened her eyes.

"My body feels as though a train ran over it," Lucy complained.

"Yeah. Mine too. I think it's a result of the hiking. It's been a while since I did such exercise," Tom said and Lucy yawned.

"I'm hungry."

"I don't think the others are awake yet. Let's go see what is in the kitchen," Tom suggested as he got off the bed, Lucy rose as well, and together they made their way to the kitchen.

Not wanting to rouse the others, they both tried to be as quiet as possible as they ransacked the cupboards and refrigerator for snacks.

Lucy settled for a pack of cookies and two apples, while Tom took a pack of potato chips. As they returned to their room, they froze when they heard a door opening upstairs, and immediately sprinted for their room on tiptoes not wanting to be caught.

The moment they got into their bedroom and shut the door behind them they both burst into a peal of laughter as they fell on their bed.

"Why did we run like thieves?" Lucy asked as she bit into her apple and Tom chuckled.

"I have no idea," he said and she giggled.

"When are we leaving?" Lucy asked and Tom raised a brow as he tore open his pack of chips.

"Why? Are you tired already?" He asked and she shook her head.

"Nah. I just wanted to know if there are any other activities planned out for today," she said as she bit into her apple.

"I don't know yet. But I'm sure they will tell us when everyone eventually wakes up."

"If we feel this way tired, I wonder how Sonia feels," Lucy said thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should go check on her?" she asked Tom.

"You are going to disturb her sleep. Do you think if she wasn't okay we would all sleep for this long? Bryan would have raised everyone," Tom said and Lucy giggled.

"You have a point. Bryan is very protective of Sonia and Ryso," she said with an amused smile. "I'd be too if I were him," Tom said and Lucy grinned but said nothing.

They both ate their snacks silently for a while until Tom broke the silence, "So, are Lucas and Tyler coming for the reunion?" Tom asked and Lucy grinned.

"Yeah. I'm surprised they are coming though. I think Lucas is coming mainly because he wants to see Amy," Lucy said with a giggle as she remembered Amy's joy when she received the package from Lucas.

"And Tyler is coming because he wants to see you?" Tom joked and Lucy giggled.

"He's coming because it's our class reunion and he doesn't want to miss out on all the fun. My parents are going to be so happy to have Lucas and me at home," she said with a grin,

thinking of the surprise they planned to pull on their parents.

Away from there, Philip and Aurora who had freshened up, moved around in the kitchen together preparing breakfast for their exhausted guests.

Eventually, the scent of coffee brewing and all the noise they were making as they cooked roused the others.

One by one, they emerged from their rooms, yawning and stretching, still feeling the pleasant ache of muscles well-used.

Tom and Lucy were the last to step out, both yawning and stretching too as though they had just woken up.

"Did you just wake up?" Sonia asked, eyeing Lucy and Tom with interest.

"Yes. Why?"

"You look too bright-eyed for someone who just woke up," Jade observed.

"And there are crumbs of cookies on your shirt. Were you eating in your sleep?" Sonia asked,

was looking forward to spending time with everyone, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it this

much."

"Me too," Tom admitted.

Lucy sat up after a moment of silence and glanced at Tom, "You know what just occurred to

me?"

"What?"

"I think this is the first time we are both just sitting here in the living room this way," she said

and Tom raised a brow.

"For real?" He asked and she nodded.

"Yes. I think we mostly just stay in the room and eat in the dining. We only stay in the Den when we have company," she said thoughtfully.

"And we've been to the pool," he reminded her with a grin.

"Yeah. But my point is, we are either going out or staying in the bedroom. We don't really

explore the house. For instance, there are rooms I haven't been into in here," she said and Tom raised a brow.

"Really? What room?" He asked curiously.

"I've never been to the gym, I don't know what the staff quarters look like, I've never been to the wine cellar, the home theater and the game room," she listed and Tom chuckled. "Will you believe me if I told you I often don't remember I have such rooms in this house?"

He asked, and she giggled.

"Well, that should change," she said, thinking that it was time to begin to make the place her home and not just a house she lived in with Tom.

"Okay. So, do you have any plans?" He asked and she nodded.

"Yes. Every day of this week I'm going to visit one of the rooms after work, and then by the

weekend I'm going to look around the whole place. When the family comes around for

Christmas we will make a list of activities for everyone to participate in so we can put the

whole place in use," she said and Tom grinned.

"I like the sound of that..."

"But before then, we will put the gym into use. I think we both need to exercise more after

that hiking experience," she said and Tom nodded.

"Okay, ma'am. Your wish is my command," Tom said before rising.

"Let's go to the bedroom, else I just might put this living room into use now by dozing off

here on the couch," he said and she giggled as she rose and together they went upstairs to

their bedroom.

After unpacking and freshening up, they got into bed, ready to call it a night. As Tom wrapped

his arm around Lucy and pulled her close, she sighed with contentment.

"You know what I'm most grateful for about the weekend?" she asked with a yawn.

"What?"

"I'm glad we have such a group of friends like them," she said softly.

"Well, I'm even more glad I have you," Tom said, his voice thick with sleep.

Lucy smiled, "Me too, love. I'm glad I have you too. I love you," she said with a yawn.

"I love you so much more," Tom said before dozing off.

******

Quick Announcement. I'm sorry, every one. Contrary to what I planned, I've been adviced by

my editor to start Jamal's story as a stand-alone and fresh story. OWN will be ending at chapter 1000. I'm going to start Jamal's story immediately it ends. I hope you support me and add it up in your library. Thanks.