Playing at Forever - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,21
he didn’t have enough of it.
“We have to figure something out, Tom. You have no idea how bad things are getting for you out there. I’m starting to get desperate.”
“It’ll work itself out. Don’t worry about it.” Tommy sat up, looking at the clock. He wanted to make a quick stop before going to Amy’s. He hated showing up empty-handed.
“I am worried about it. You should be too.”
“I’ll worry about it later on. But for right now, I’ve got some things to take care of. We can talk more tomorrow.” He stood up, Graham doing the same.
“I’m staying in Myrtle Beach. You know that’s like a two hour drive, don’t you?”
“That’s what I pay you the big money for, Graham.” Tommy patted his friend on the back. “We can put it off for another few days, if you’d like. To save you the trip.”
“How about I try calling first?” Tommy grinned, nodding his head.
“Have a nice drive,” Graham only rolled his eyes before Tommy shut the door behind him.
Penny laughed as Amy fretted about the kitchen, trying to make sure nothing was out of place. Both Amber and Darla sat on either side of her, watching their mother with wide eyes. “What is she doing Aunt Penny?”
“She’s getting ready for company.”
“She doesn’t do this whenever the Logans come over.” Penny laughed, shrugging her shoulders.
“Mommy, I think something is burning,” Darla told her mom, sending Amy into another tailspin. Penny only laughed harder.
“Well, I’m so glad you think this is funny, Penny.”
“I just don’t understand why you’re going so crazy about it. I mean, it’s just Tommy.”
“Just Tommy. Uh-huh.” Amy pulled open the oven, her face falling. “My cake didn’t rise!”
Penny laughed again, shaking her head. The doorbell rang and Penny looked at Amy, who’s eyes were panicked. “Come on, girls! Let’s go see who it is!”
“Penny, wait! The cake!”
“Don’t worry about it!” Penny laughed as she slid her chair backward, the two young girls already running toward the front door. By the time she caught up with them, they’d already thrown the door wide open.
“Well, hello,” Tommy told them, looking up at Penny for a moment and smiling before kneeling down to be at eye-level with the much shorter girls.
“Who are you?” Darla asked.
“I’m Tommy. I went to school with your mom and Penny a very long time ago.”
“Really?” Tommy nodded. “You look familiar.” Darla studied him for a moment. “You’re on Aunt Penny’s wall.” Penny laughed, patting Darla on the head. “At The Seaside, you are!”
“Come on, girls. Let Tommy inside.”
“Are you in movies?” Little Amber asked, and this time it was Tommy’s turn to laugh.
“Sometimes.” He rose to his full height, holding out a bottle of wine and a box of cookies. “I brought dessert.”
“Aw, you hear that, Amy? Tommy brought dessert!” Penny called into the kitchen. A moment later, her friend appeared in the walkway, a look of relief on her face.
“How sweet of you, Tommy!” Penny did her best to keep a straight face. “I see you met my girls. This one here is Darla,” Amy touched her oldest daughter on the shoulder. “And this little one here is Amber!”
“Tommy’s in movies, Mommy. Did you know that?”
“Of course she knew that, silly. Don’t you remember her saying that he was a better actor in her plays?”
“Darla!” Amy’s cheeks flared bright red and Penny heard Tommy laugh. Not a little chuckle, but a full-on rumble of laughter. Amy shrugged, a helpless look on her face as Tommy leaned forward and pulled his old friend in for a hug. “I’m sorry,”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s the truth anyway.” Tommy told her.
“Why don’t you girls go set the table?”
“Want to help us?” Amber asked Tommy. Penny watched as he was instantly taken in by the girls, each of them taking one of his hands and pulling him into the kitchen.
“I can’t believe Thomson Davis is in my kitchen, helping my little girls set the table.” Penny watched him lift Amber up onto his shoulders, so that she could grab the plates out of the high cupboard. Darla squealed as he acted as if he might drop the plate.
“It really is quite a sight, isn’t it?”
For just a brief moment, Penny allowed herself to imagine that this was a regular occurrence. Family dinner at Amy’s, Tommy playing with the kids while she and Amy talked about work. In her vision, though, there was another little girl in the kitchen—this one with dark hair, much like Tommy’s.
She chased it away though,