Scars

With a soft groan escaping her throat, Tonya forced her eyes open enough to find her ringing cell phone. “Hello?” she muttered groggily without looking at the caller ID.

“Sorry did I wake you?” Brian’s cheerful voice glided through the device putting a small smile on her lips as she rubbed her eyes.

“You do realise that it’s the holidays and I was hoping to sleep as long as possible.” She replied. “What are you doing up so early anyway?”

“Sorry babe, I’ve been up for hours, went for a surf and it’s really not that early.” He replied.

“What time is it?” Tonya asked rolling over so that she was led on her back, looking up at the ceiling.

“It’s almost ten thirty.” At those words, Tonya’s eyes widened, her upper body lifting quickly off the bed.

“Seriously? Fuck!” she cussed loudly pushing back the covers and clambering clumsily out of bed. “We’re supposed to be at my parents at one and I’ve got the pumpkin pie to make first as well.”

“Baby calm down, you’ve got plenty of time to get everything sorted.” Brian replied calmly. “Just take a few deep breaths to relax.”

Tonya did as he said, her eyes closed as she kept the phone held next to her ear.

“Better?” he asked after he’d heard her taking several deep breaths.

“Much thank you.” she replied with a smile. “But I’m going to have to go if I’m going to get this pie done. I’ll talk to you later though?”

“Most defiantly. Have a good Thanksgiving.” He replied.

“You too, I’ll call you once we’re home. bye.” She told him as she made her way out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

“I’ll look forward to it. bye.” He replied before ending the call.
Keeping the smile on her face, Tonya walked into the kitchen and started work on the pie, taking a shower and getting ready as it was in the oven.

“Right, if you can draw yourself away from that phone we’ve got to get going.” She said to Jake as she grabbed the pie off the kitchen counter.

“Coming.” he muttered his fingers gliding quickly over the buttons wearing a smile on his face.

“Can you hold this?” she asked as they got into the car. “The last thing I need now is for it to slide off the back seat or something and get ruined.”

Jake took the pie and held it on his lap while Tonya drove, surpassing most of the speed limits and not taking notice of numerous traffic laws as she wanted to get to her parent’s house on time.

She pulled into the driveway just two minutes before one o’clock, noticing a familiar car parked in the driveway in front of the garage doors.

“Looks like Patrick and Liz are here already.” She said as they exited the car and walked up to the front door.

“Perfect timing as always Tonya.” Her dad greeted as he opened the door before she could knock.

“Happy Thanksgiving pops.” She greeted with a smile, leaning up to kiss her fathers cheek.

“Happy Thanksgiving Granddad.” Jake said with a smile.

“What you got there son? Is that the pumpkin pie?” he replied as Jake nodded. “Take it through to your Nan in the kitchen.”

Jake did as he was told, greeted his Nan with a kiss on the cheek and a hug before quickly making his way back into the front room where everyone was watching the football.

“What’s the score?” he asked sitting down next to his mom.

“Saints are up by ten” Patrick replied not taking his eyes off the screen.

“Cowboys will make a comeback.” Jake replied with a smile.

“I highly doubt it son.” His other grandfather, Thomas said keeping his eyes on the ball.

“Wanna make it interesting?” Jake said with a smirk.

“Five bucks says Saints will win.” Tom said holding out his hand for the bet.

“Oh Lord, what have you two done to my son!” Tonya exclaimed with a small hint of a smile as she watched them shake hands.

“He’s getting more and more like his father every day.” Liz muttered with a small smile.

“You are seriously going to take money off your only grandson?” Jake muttered with a pout as he stuffed his hand into his pocket to retrieve the money he owed his grandfather.

“Damn right I am, you’ve got to learn son.” He replied with a wink as Tonya’s mother, Sylvia entered the room.

“Okay, get your butts to the dinner table, I’m about to serve up.” she said with a smile before quickly leaving the room again.

“You heard the woman.” Tom said turning off the TV with the remote as he stood, the others following suit and heading into the dinning room.

They all took their seats at the table, and began to serve up the dinner, Thomas stood at the head of the table with carving knifes in his hands. “Watch and learn son, next year you can have a go at doing this.” he said pointing the knife at Jake with a smile.

“Really?” Jake asked, his eyes widening with excitement.

“Of course, you’ll be the head male of the family soon, best get you learning to carve the turkey.” He replied.

“Unless things progress with Brian hey mom?” he replied nudging his mother with a wink as she blushed.

“Brian?” Patrick asked “That young man we met at Jake’s competition a few weeks back?”

“Yeah, he and I are, well, we’re kinda dating.” She replied with a shy glance up at her mother.

“It’s okay sweetie, Johnny let slip to your Aunty Paulette a few weeks back. We’re happy for you.” she said with a smile.

“So it’s serious with you two then?” Liz said, her gaze cold.

“It’s getting that way, yeah.” Tonya replied smiling.

“So that’s it now is it?” Liz spat ignoring a warning glare from her husband. “Luke’s all forgotten about and you’re allowing another man into your bed.”

“It’s not like that at all.” Tonya protested quietly feeling her anger rise.

“I know exactly what it’s like. Luke would be disgusted in your behaviour.” She replied harshly.

“Now wait just a minute!” Sylvia called out across the table.

“No mom, it’s okay.” Tonya said, setting down her cutlery as she took a deep breath. “What do you want me to do Liz? Mourn Luke for the rest of my life?”

“I want you to remember him.” Liz replied loudly. “Not disgrace his memory by jumping into bed with-“

“Stop right there Liz!” Tonya yelled. “Don’t you dare imply that I’m some kind of a whore jumping into bed with random men. I haven’t been with anyone ANYONE since losing Luke, until I met Brian, and even now we’re taking things slowly. And as for forgetting Luke! Do you really think I could do that? Really? He was my best friend, my childhood sweetheart, my first love, my husband, the father of my child who if you’ve failed to notice is becoming more and more like his father every day in looks and personality. I still wear my wedding band and I’ve even have a tattoo done! So don’t you dare try and say that I’m not remembering him or disgracing his memory.” She paused to catch her breath before turning to face her mother. “I’m sorry mom, this all looks amazing, but I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.”

She left the dining room and slowly made her way up the stairs, finding her way to her childhood bedroom. it was just as she had left it all those years ago; the eggshell yellow walls covered in posters of various rock stars, the pale lilac bed covers, the lamp on the bedside table with the well-read copy of The Hobbit sat beside it. And then there was the dresser with the photo frames sat on top, all of them holding a photograph of her and Luke together, each photo marking an occasion of some kind. Birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, graduation, prom, their wedding and the first photo of them with their son.

She sighed as she picked up the one of them at the hospital with Jake in her arms a small smile gracing her lips as she turned and made her way over to the bed, sitting on it with her legs tucked under her, the photo in her lap as she gazed at the happy faces smiling back at her.

She remembered that day as if it was just yesterday. Luke hadn’t left her side the entire time and when he had first taken Jake into his arms, tears has slipped down his cheeks. He had led on the bed with them for hours, until the nurse had insisted that he let them both rest.
The soft knock at the door drew her from her memories. Wiping the tears away from her cheeks, she softly called out for whoever it was to come in. she looked up to see Patrick open the door cautiously. “I don’t want to hear it Patrick.”

“I’m not here to cause anymore trouble.” He said quietly stepping into the room, his eyes landing on the photo frame in her lap.

Her eyes followed his, landing back on the photo. “I still love him Patrick. I think about him everyday.” She said her voice barely above a whisper.

“I know my lovely.” He replied stepping forward and sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I need to move on though. I can’t mourn him for the rest of my life.” She continued.

“I know, we’re not expecting you to.” he said with a small smile.

“Liz seems to think I should be.” She muttered.

Patrick sighed, “Liz…well, you know she hasn’t always dealt with losing Luke in the best of ways. I don’t know why exactly, but she got worse after his birthday. I don’t know what to do any more.”

“Patrick I’m sorry. I knew there was something up with her, I just didn’t think.” She replied reaching over to place her hand on his.

“Don’t worry about us lovely, and forget about what she said. You need to be happy and by the sounds of things this Brian guy is just the ticket.” He replied.

Tonya smiled and nodded, “I think he might just be yeah.”

“Good, it’s been long enough. It’s about time you found someone good enough.” He replied with a wink. “Now, there’s a perfectly good dinner going cold down there, you coming?”

With a widening smile, Tonya nodded once more as Patrick stood from the bed, offering his hand to help her up.