{"id":921,"date":"2012-03-06T06:00:20","date_gmt":"2012-03-06T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=921"},"modified":"2013-10-01T12:54:09","modified_gmt":"2013-10-01T19:54:09","slug":"season-5-episode-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=921","title":{"rendered":"Season 5: Episode 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It was quarter to nine in the morning, and Tom had already been in his office for four hours. He rubbed his eyes, as if this would erase the dark circles that seemed to be a permanent fixture these days. He couldn\u2019t even remember the last time he\u2019d had a decent night\u2019s sleep. He took another sip of his coffee, barely noticing it was cold, and tried to focus on the tasks at hand. In the last few weeks he\u2019d fallen behind on some pretty big jobs, and the clients were starting to notice.
\nToday\u2019s the day I get back on track work-wise<\/em>, he told himself. At least then he\u2019d feel like he had control over one small part of his life.<\/p>\n

To avoid any unnecessary distractions this morning, he\u2019d barricaded himself in his office, locking the door – something he never did – pretending he wasn\u2019t there. He had almost convinced himself that the self-inflicted seclusion was entirely work related, but the tiny niggle in the back of his brain wouldn\u2019t let him forget the terrible thing he\u2019d done. If he didn\u2019t have so much bloody work to do he would have taken a week off and run away somewhere to try and forget the whole mess. That was the problem with owning your own business though: Holidays became luxuries only other people could afford.
\nThe phone on his desk rang and he snatched it out of the cradle quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello?\u201d he whispered, hoping that if there was anyone else in the office, they hadn\u2019t heard it. He could have let it go to voicemail, but he was waiting on an important client to get back to him regarding new sketches.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom?\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew that voice. Should have let it go to voicemail, after all.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Ana.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to see you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Tom gulped. He knew he was being totally chicken, but he really didn\u2019t want a confrontation. Not until he\u2019d figured out what the hell had happened the other night with Sarah and could think of some reason to justify his appalling behaviour. \u201cIt\u2019s not a great time Ana. I\u2019m\u2026errr\u2026there\u2019s a project that I need to get done and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She cut him off. \u201cTom, this is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sighed. He knew that tone of voice. \u201cOK. What about tonight? I could meet you for a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m on my way to the city now,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll be at your office in fifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d he said, as brightly as he could. \u201cSee you then.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wondered whether Mia had told Ana what she saw. Surely not. Didn\u2019t girls have some kind of pact where they didn\u2019t pass on secrets that might hurt their friends? Or was it the opposite; they always told each other everything? Ana hadn\u2019t sounded mad though, so that meant that she probably didn\u2019t know. Yet.<\/p>\n

At least Sarah was coming in late today. Those two going at it hammer and tong again was too awful to think about.
\nHe heard his door handle rattle; someone was trying to come into his office.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom couldn\u2019t decide whether to laugh or cry. So much for the late start.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, hi Sarah\u201d Tom called, silently pleading for her to go away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is the door locked?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026errr\u2026busy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to see you. Just quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had to get rid of her before Ana arrived. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you\u2026errr\u2026take an early lunch break? A long one. We can talk when you get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 9am,\u201d she said, puzzled. \u201cTom, open the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom slowly lifted himself off his chair, unlocking the door. Why didn\u2019t he have the guts to just tell everyone to get stuffed?
\nSarah looked fresh as a daisy and smelt familiar. Kind of like Ana\u2019s perfume<\/em>, Tom thought. She walked into the office and closed the door behind her, kissing him on the cheek and letting her hand linger on his shoulder for a moment too long.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you need to talk to me about?\u201d Tom said, escaping behind the safety of his desk. It didn\u2019t work. She followed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to say thank you for the other night,\u201d she purred. \u201cIt was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom looked uncomfortably at the floor. \u201cAbout that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSarah, you know the situation I\u2019m in,\u201d Tom said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair for either of us to\u2026 embark on anything that we\u2019re not ready for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we are ready!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom shook his head firmly. \u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears welled in her eyes. \u201cBut you told me you loved me.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

I did<\/em>?<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, sure, of course, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s, well\u2026 just as friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just at that moment the intercom on Tom\u2019s desk buzzed and the receptionist announced that Ana had arrived. Fifteen minutes my arse<\/em>, he thought. That had been five at the most. What was she playing at?<\/p>\n

\u201cAna\u2019s here?\u201d Sarah\u2019s voice had changed.<\/p>\n

Tom gulped. \u201cYeah, she needs to speak to me about something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to tell her about us,\u201d Sarah said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, no. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I should tell her? She has a right to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Tom stood up quickly, steering Sarah towards the door. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to her. Just\u2026 do some work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana walked up just as Sarah was leaving.<\/p>\n

\u201cSarah!\u201d Ana walked forward and embraced her, kissing her on both cheeks. \u201cWhat a wonderful surprise!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah looked at her warily. \u201cUm, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is everything going?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah looked from Ana to Tom. \u201cFine,\u201d she said suspiciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo great to see you,\u201d Ana said walking into Tom\u2019s office. \u201cMight see you around. Or not,\u201d she added, shutting the door in Sarah\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Ana turned to face Tom. He looked awful – tired and haggard. Her heart went out to him. \u201cAre you OK?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Tom looked at her strangely. Was it a trick question? She didn\u2019t seem<\/em> angry or uptight. She looked\u2026 concerned. Tom\u2019s face crumpled. Right at that second he knew unequivocally that he still loved her and, more than anything in whole world, he wanted to make their marriage work. He knew that he had to tell her the truth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Ana,\u201d he said miserably. \u201cI\u2019ve been such a fool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana raised an eyebrow, but didn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the other night I got horribly drunk and,\u201d he gulped, \u201cslept with Sarah.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom braced himself for whatever was coming next. He hoped it was bad. He knew he deserved it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked at her, confused. \u201cI did. I had dinner at her house and I thought I only had one glass of wine, but I obviously didn\u2019t, and then I woke up then next day in her room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t sleep with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom still looked confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom, she drugged you,\u201d Ana said gently.<\/p>\n

Tom looked stunned. \u201cNo. Uh-uh. No way. Sarah wouldn\u2019t do that.\u201d Would she?<\/p>\n

\u201cThink about it,\u201d Ana said. \u201cYou said yourself you only had one glass of wine. How is it that you don\u2019t remember anything of the night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was exhausted, obviously\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTom, I have proof,\u201d Ana said softly. \u201cShe put something in your drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat proof?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease will you trust me on this. Just this once.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom looked out the window, blinking. Sarah drugged him? His mind whirled, slowly trying to make sense of it all. It would explain a lot of things, like the fact he remembered absolutely nothing of that night. He stuck his head out of the office. \u201cSarah, can you come in here?\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way!\u201d Sarah\u2019s eyes opened wide. \u201cI would never<\/em> do something like that! I can\u2019t believe that you\u2019d take her word over mine, after all I\u2019ve done for you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh cut the crap,\u201d Ana interrupted. \u201cWe know you did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah\u2019s demeanour suddenly changed. \u201cListen you little bitch,\u201d she snarled. \u201cYou need to deal with the fact that it\u2019s over between you and Tom. He chose me<\/em>. Stop acting like a sore loser. Besides,\u201d she added cooly, \u201cyou have no proof of anything. It\u2019s my word against yours and we all know who he\u2019s going to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

She crossed her arms over her chest and looked smug. That was the last straw for Tom.<\/p>\n

\u201cSarah.\u201d Tom turned to face her, he mouth a furious white line. \u201cYou\u2019re fired. Gather up your personal things and get out of this office.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah\u2019s mouth opened and closed a few times; the perfect impression of an inner urban goldfish.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd leave the La Perla underwear behind,\u201d Ana added.<\/p>\n

Sarah\u2019s face flushed an unbecoming shade of scarlet. \u201cI told you I don\u2019t have…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s stashed in your bag,\u201d Ana said brusquely, cutting her off. \u201cGame\u2019s up, Sarah. Now who\u2019s the one acting like a sore loser?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah opened her mouth to protest again, but Tom took her firmly by the shoulders and steered her towards the door. \u201cGo,\u201d he said, so furious he could barely speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I almost forgot,\u201d Ana called after her. \u201cWillow and Mia passed on that they wanted you out of the house today. They\u2019ve packed your things. You can pick them up this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2026 bitch,\u201d Sarah growled, charging towards Ana.<\/p>\n

Tom stepped in front of her and caught her hands. \u201cGet out,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if you ever come near me or my wife again I will call the police and tell them exactly what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Tom and Ana regaled Mia and Willow with the story many times over dinner. They had just finished one of those perfect meals, which had culminated in a luscious, rich vegan chocolate mousse served with strawberries, blueberries and toasted coconut flakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me again how she flung the bra at your head when she was storming out of the office,\u201d Willow begged, wiping the tears of laughter off her face. Ana smiled, embellishing the story somewhat for dramatic effect. It was so good to see Willow laughing again she would have said just about anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m tired,\u201d Mia said stretching over the chair. She got up and kissed Tom and Ana on the cheeks, giving Tom a small smile that meant she was sorry for doubting him. He grinned back and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s my cue too,\u201d Willow said. \u201cLeave everything. I\u2019ll clean up tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Tom stared adoringly at his wife, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he whispered for the millionth time that day.<\/p>\n

Ana smiled gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. \u201cI know. Me too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you come home?\u201d he said<\/p>\n

Ana shook her head slowly. \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d she said. \u201cNot yet. I need\u2026 time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom tried not to look too hurt. He was hoping that they could forget this had ever happened and pick up where they left off. But he didn\u2019t want to rush her. Right now, he would do anything for this amazing woman, including giving her the space she needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere will you stay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe girls said I could move back in here,\u201d she said. \u201cUntil I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny idea how long that will be?\u201d Tom asked. \u201cI\u2019m not trying to rush you,\u201d he added hurriedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Ana said smiling sadly. \u201cBut I don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s going to be Tom. What happened between us was\u2026 well, it was pretty full on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom nodded and took Ana\u2019s hand, kissing it. This was not a conversation for tonight. \u201cTake as long as you need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana smiled at the handsome man in front of her, wishing more than anything she could forget all that had occurred in the last few months. But she couldn\u2019t. And didn\u2019t know how long it would be until she did.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was quarter to nine in the morning, and Tom had already been in his office for four hours. He rubbed his eyes, as if this would erase the dark circles that seemed to be a permanent fixture these days. He couldn\u2019t even remember the last time he\u2019d had a decent night\u2019s sleep. He took […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[202],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=921"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1300,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions\/1300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}