Chapter 41

Thomas stood up from the bench, "What're you doing here alone? Aren't you under surveillance?"

She shrugged, "Nobody came and said that. The Belles have actually been avoiding me. When I asked mother, she said I was free to do as I pleased."

"That is strange."

"Strange? You're a grown man eating strawberries at this hour which are probably rotten." She casually sat beside him. One look from her and Thomas sat down too. The stars sparkled their way through the black sky.

"Why are you not in bed?" Carina's question hanged in the air for a while. Thomas almost didn't want to answer.

"Fine, ignore me. You're great at that anyways." Her voice turned bitter. He sighed.

"When you live on your mother-in-law's money, insults and degradation comes free. My wife kicked me out."

"I thought she loves you? You can never degrade the one you truly love. Unless you are my mother." Thomas laughed at that.

"You haven't changed a bit."

"But you have", she rubbed her forearms. Thomas automatically lent her his coat.

"How did you know I was cold?" She looked awestruck.

He smiled, "I haven't changed as much as you think." The garment brought warmth and the nostalgic smell of Thomas. But there was something else.

"Do you smoke?"

"Yes. How did you find out?" She gave a hearty smile for the first time in many years.

"It smells like Thomas. But an adult version of him." She brought her knees to her chest, a familiar warmth bubbling inside.

"I miss old times", she confessed. He hummed.

"Remember when I wanted to write my name on the moon?"

"As clear as daylight", he smiled at the fond memory, dimples poking his cheeks.

"You asked me once.. If I would paint the moon for you. " Their smiles grew wider.

"Now I realise, I would." Carina blushed a little, doe eyes widening.

Thomas continued, almost lost in the moon and absorbed in the night,"I would even paint the town red with my blood if you asked. If 'you' asked."

"But I would never ask that." Thomas turned to look at her, almost snapping from the daze.

"I would ask for only one thing. And that is, for Tommy Ainsworth to be a free bird, to flap his wings and leap into the happy places. And leave the demons behind."

Carina gave a sad smile, "I'm afraid that isn't possible."

"Because he built a home. And he is about to father a child."

The magic of the night ended in an instant.