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“Tom, what do you think about getting Chinese for dinner? Chris just texted me he won't make it in time so we're free to choose whatever we want,” Heather muses as she is walking into their living room where Tom is, for once, sitting on the sofa. Her eyes are still fixed on her smartphone, typing a quick reply to her husband.
“Sweetie?” She asks again a few seconds later when Tom doesn't answer.
She tucks her smartphone into the pocket of her summer dress only to see Tom being immersed in his phone. He sits tailor-fashion with a thin blanket wrapped loosely around his shoulders. It's not an unusual sight - he might be in his 60s but sitting cross-legged is still one of his favorite positions and the blanket, well, thanks to her husband it's no secret anymore that Tom easily gets cold - but the look on Tom's face has her worrying.
She rushes to his side, sitting down next to him and rubbing his knee soothingly. “Hey, what's wrong?”
Tom just shrugs and keeps his vision fixed on his smartphone. Heather takes a look at his screen and sees him scrolling slowly through a folder in his gallery filled with TFR on set photos. The picture he's currently looking at shows the Bering Sea cast sitting on a sofa within the set with Chris draped across their laps.
“It's all over,” Tom mumbles and Heather nods. Post-movie blues it is then.
“I know but you and Chris are already working on how many other projects? 15?”
“Make it 20,” Tom mumbles down-heartedly. “But Mission is over and… and…,” he almost sobs. “And I miss them.” He sniffs. “All of them… It's… it's never gonna be like that again.”
“Oh, Sweetie,” Heather mumbles, now rubbing Tom's back and nudging him to rest against her side. He complies without any resistance. Heather wraps her arms around him and places a soft kiss on the top of his head. Instantly, all built up tension seems to leave his body as he cuddles closer to her.
She hates to see him so devastated and sad but at the same time she's glad that he feels comfortable enough around them to let loose completely. It's been a long way since they first met. Since Chris and him fell head over heels for each other because of Chris’ white Cadillac and Tom's garage full of motorcycles. Well, not because of those vehicles. But they got them talking and they've never stopped ever since. And when Chris had come back home after his and Tom's first meeting (the next morning!) Heather had known instantly that the two of them would be more or less inseparable from then on.
Not that Heather is complaining. No, it's easy to love Tom and to be loved by him. It might not have been the same type of love at first sight as it had been between her husband and him but they've grown into it. So much so that she can't imagine a life without their personal movie star ever again.
“Shall we ask Chris if he's up for a quick chat? I know how much his voice soothes you.” Or makes you go feral in other situations , she adds only in her thoughts because now is hardly the right moment to mention that.
Tom shakes his head against Heather's side. “No, he's got work to do and I'm pathetic,” he wails.
Nevertheless, Heather pulls out her phone and shoots her husband a message, asking him if he has a couple of minutes. She doesn't get a reply but a few seconds later, she sees a string of messages popping up on Tom's screen.
Thinking of you xxx
I miss you xxx
But don't miss out on your chance to have dinner without me for once. Get yourselves some of this disgusting take-away you two enjoy so much!!
I love you xxx
Can't wait to be back home and sandwich you between me and my beautiful wife xxx
I LOVE YOU XXX
And I love you too, Heather (I know you're reading this) xxx
Heather watches a smile appearing on Tom's face. Her husband never fails to make him feel better. But this isn't enough and she knows Tom is not just missing Chris but the whole team. So while Tom is now busy replying to Chris, she takes her phone again and shoots a message to Simon. Tom and him have been close friends for such a long time now that she's sure that Simon doesn't mind being bothered to cheer Tom up and that Tom doesn't mind Simon knowing about this moment of vulnerability.
As expected, Tom's face lights up a bit more as Simon's messages are appearing on his screen a couple of minutes later.
I don't know what has gotten into my daughter but suddenly she wants to take you up on your offer of taking her on a heli flight
Teenagers I guess
I won't be mowing the lawn for you again tho
Heather watches Tom chuckling to himself, then replying to Simon. When he's done inviting both Simon and his daughter over for next Saturday, he leans back against Heather's side and she's quick to wrap her arms back around him.
For a long moment neither of them says anything.
“Thank you, Heather,” he whispers then and sits up properly. Their eyes lock for a moment before Tom leans in to kiss her softly. Even after all these years Heather sometimes still can't believe that she's actually doing this. That they are doing this. The three of them, all together. But she firmly believes that it's the best thing that could've happened to any of them and so she kisses him back.
It's a soft back and forth between them which at the same time makes her heart flutter and her body ache for more. But she doesn't want to go any further now, not yet, not without her husband, their soulmate, and Tom isn't pushing either.
At some point Tom's belly grumbles and Heather remembers that they were about to order dinner. “Now disgusting Chinese take-away?” She asks as they let go of each other.
“Yes, please!” Tom nods. There's still some sadness in his eyes but Heather knows that it will fade away until only the good memories remain. Hopefully Tom knows that too.