Episode 20

She texted Tom that very evening.  Not really knowing how to express her feelings over such an impersonal message, she instead asked him to meet her at a nearby park – she figured that was nice neutral ground to carry on a serious conversation.  His text came back almost instantly, readily agreeing to the meeting tomorrow morning.

Kelsey arrived in the park right on time.  Despite the spring thaw, the weather was still very chilly and Kelsey shivered in her light sweater as a breeze blew her hair back in the wind.  She saw Tom sitting patiently on a bench – he looked as if he had already been here some time.  When he saw her he jumped to his feet and loped casually towards her, a grin plastered on his face (possibly to hide nerves). “Kelsey!” He greeted her hopefully, “how have you been?”  Kelsey smiled up at him – she had missed seeing those stormy-blue eyes light up at the sight of her. However, she replied cautiously.

“Um, alright. And how are you?”  He led her to the bench and they both sat down, their bodies angled slightly to face each other.

“Better now that you and I have a chance to talk, rationally.” Kelsey nodded.  Their last attempt to talk had ended pretty badly, to say the least. “Anyway,” Tom continued, “you called me here for a reason.” He then looked at her, waiting for her to start the conversation where she felt comfortable.  Kelsey paused for a second to process her tumult of thoughts.

“I wanted to talk. About you and me,” she said, slowly, her chocolate eyes watching his, trying to read his reaction.

“I had assumed as much,” he admitted.  “I take it that you saw the interview last night?”  Kelsey decided that now was not the time to divulge the nature of her plan to test his sincerity, so she merely smiled slightly in agreement.  “And?” he asked, curiosity eating at him, hardly daring to hope.

“And I want us to try again?. Please.”  Tom beamed at her in absolute delight.

“Of course!  Kelsey, I promise to never ever be stupid again.  Who cares about image?  It’s only you that matters to me.”  Another chilly gust of wind attacked the couple and Tom noticed Kelsey’s involuntary shiver.  “Here,” he said, still grinning idiotically, “take my jacket.” He ignored her half-hearted protests and took off his black leather jacket.  Draping it over her shoulders, he took her hand and pulled her to her feet.  They walked and talked for hours.