Prompt 026: gentle as a lamb
Sarah was vacuuming when the doorbell rang. She peered out the window and saw Tom at her doorstep. Swallowing down her nervousness, she answered the door. Her smile was hopeful, but guarded. She wasn't sure how comfortable he'd be around her, even after all that time apart.
She most certainly did not expect to be engulfed in a sudden hug, then lifted off the ground and spun around a few times. She let out a shriek of surprise, then wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "H-hey! You'll make me sick!" she laughed.
He set her down, but didn't let go. "Couldn't hurt your looks any, stinky Sarah."
Now there was a nickname she hadn't heard in forever. She buried her face in his shoulder, the familiar scent of his wool coat a comfort. "Watch your mouth, jerkface, or I'll tell Mom."
Schreber and Thorn appeared from the kitchen, both alarmed by Sarah's shriek. Schreber relaxed immediately, silently watching the family reunion. Thorn remained worried, but for a different reason.
"Do you want to come in? It's almost lunch, I could fix you something." She wiped at her eyes.
Tom took her hand. "Don't start crying again," he complained, his own voice wavering a bit from unshed tears. "Get your coat, I want to take you out for lunch. Then maybe you can help me pick out some paint for my apartment."
Sarah beamed, clearly liking the idea, then turned and glanced back at the living room. "I should put the vacuum cleaner away..."
"I can f-f-finish for ye," Thorn piped up, awkwardly looking anywhere but at Tom. Schreber smiled a little, waving her along with his hand. "Go on, we'll be fine."
Sarah didn't hesitate to grab her coat. Tom gave Schreber a "I'm-not-mad-at-you-but-we'll-talk-later" sort of look and escorted Sarah out the door.
She most certainly did not expect to be engulfed in a sudden hug, then lifted off the ground and spun around a few times. She let out a shriek of surprise, then wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "H-hey! You'll make me sick!" she laughed.
He set her down, but didn't let go. "Couldn't hurt your looks any, stinky Sarah."
Now there was a nickname she hadn't heard in forever. She buried her face in his shoulder, the familiar scent of his wool coat a comfort. "Watch your mouth, jerkface, or I'll tell Mom."
Schreber and Thorn appeared from the kitchen, both alarmed by Sarah's shriek. Schreber relaxed immediately, silently watching the family reunion. Thorn remained worried, but for a different reason.
"Do you want to come in? It's almost lunch, I could fix you something." She wiped at her eyes.
Tom took her hand. "Don't start crying again," he complained, his own voice wavering a bit from unshed tears. "Get your coat, I want to take you out for lunch. Then maybe you can help me pick out some paint for my apartment."
Sarah beamed, clearly liking the idea, then turned and glanced back at the living room. "I should put the vacuum cleaner away..."
"I can f-f-finish for ye," Thorn piped up, awkwardly looking anywhere but at Tom. Schreber smiled a little, waving her along with his hand. "Go on, we'll be fine."
Sarah didn't hesitate to grab her coat. Tom gave Schreber a "I'm-not-mad-at-you-but-we'll-talk-later" sort of look and escorted Sarah out the door.