Four Months
Part three
"Mom," Thomas whispered to his mother. Nicole turned around from the sink where she was once again washing the dishes. "I think Dad's gonna call tonight," he whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Nicole whispered back.
"Because I'm afraid if I say it out loud it won't happen," Thomas replied honestly. "And I want it to happen." Nicole nodded.
"Nice, logical explanation," she commented. "Any logical explanation for the theory?"
Thomas shook his head. "No more logical than any of my previous theories," he replied, turning away from the sink.
Just then the phone rang. Thomas, having free, non-soapy hands, picked up the phone. Nicole felt her heart skip a beat as she dried her hands.
"Hello?" Thomas answered the phone. "Hi Dad," he greeted with a smile. "I thought it would be you." He paused. "School's going good, Dad, no problems. You know me. The letter? Yeah, we got it yesterday. Mom? Yeah, she's right here, hold on." He passed the phone to Nicole.
"It's Dad," he informed her, triumphantly.
"So I figured," she replied, taking the receiver and watching as her son left the room.
"Hey beautiful," she heard Peter's voice say on the other end, and she felt her knees go weak.
"How do you know?" she demanded. "I could have gotten wrinkles and gained a hundred pounds since you left."
Peter chuckled, and although he was by then who knew how many miles away she could almost see his smile over the line. "In a week?" he asked, disbelieving. "I doubt it. I say 'hi beautiful' because it's you I'm talking to. And even weighing three hundred pounds with wrinkles, you'd still be beautiful, to me," he replied with and audible smile.
"I see you haven't lost your touch," she commented. "How's the tour going?"
"Pretty well," he replied. "Tonight's our first night off, so Davy and Micky are out seeing whatever sights there are. Mike's in his room, relaxing, and I thought I'd use the time to call you."
"I've been waiting. Thomas said he thought you would call tonight," she informed him. Peter laughed.
"So he mentioned," he replied. "Any luck with him? Finding that...teacher?"
"None," Nicole replied somberly. "I want to find one but I haven't a clue where to look."
"Understandable," Peter replied. "Don't worry, I'm sure someone will come along," he assured her.
"I hope so," she replied.
"What about Joanne?" he asked, changing the subject to something happier.
"She's over Olivia's tonight," she replied. "It's just me and Thomas."
"How's she doing?"
"As well as she can," Nicole replied. She paused a moment and then jumped in before he could ask another question. "Peter, does it ever bother you?"
"Does what bother me?" he asked, confused.
"The kids? I mean, that neither of them is yours?"
Peter sighed. "Hun, we've gone over this before," he told her.
"I know."
"It doesn't bother me at all. They're great kids. If you're really worried about it, we can try for another when I get back."
"Really? You wouldn't mind another kid?"
"Not at all, babe," he assured her. "Besides, making kids is fun," he added with a smile. Nicole could hear the mischeviousness coming through in his voice, and she laughed.
"You would say that," she scolded him, laughing.
"So would you," he replied, and she was obliged to agree.
The two talked for the better part of an hour before they both decided to hang up in favor of affordable phone bills. Nicole hung up and left the kitchen feeling happier than she had been since Peter had been gone.
