chapter eighteen
that doesn't mean she loves me
Thursday 22nd February 2018

"Tom, can you help Lyra with her boots please?" Olivia stressed only a slight bit when her family went on walks. Lyra and Asher were over-excited from meeting Tom's dog, Bobby, who jumped and licked the kids at every opportunity.

Today was supposed to be a stress free walk with Lizzy, Eric and their dog Bear. A celebratory walk after their newly-engaged state. The couples first mistake was saying they'd take their dog. The second mistake was asking Tom. The third mistake was asking for Bobby to join. These three factors had got the kids into one of the biggest frenzies Olivia had ever seen them in.

"Bobby. Sit. Calm down." Tom grumbled to the dog as he knelt down to squeeze Lyra's walking boots on and tie the laces. "Sorry, Via, I should've left him at home." He sighed but was happy he'd at least trained him enough to sit.

"Forget it. He's here now." Olivia grumbled as she helped Asher put his coat on and zip it up.

"Oh, but you wish he wasn't?" Tom retaliated to her sharp and irritated tone.

"No, of course I don't wish that. I love Bobby." To affirm this, she reached down and petted the dog and scratched under his nose. He nudged her hand softly and breathed heavily.

"So why are you acting like this?" Tom wasn't sure why Olivia was in such an awful mood. He hadn't seen this side of her before, and it was unsettling. The children hadn't misbehaved, nor had Bobby really done anything wrong.

"Mummy, I need the toilet." Asher complained. Tom knew this would push her over the edge.

"Oh man, Ash. I thought mummy asked you earlier to go. I'll help." He spoke before Olivia could even let her anger out on the boy. The mother had just got him into all his walking clothes, only for them to now come back off. Tom could understand her frustration.

"Mummy always gets like this when we go for a walk." Asher admitted as Tom turned away from the toilet to give the boy the privacy he needed.

"Why is that?" Tom asked politely.

"Because me and Lyra are always naughty. We don't like to go on walks, so we misbehave. But we didn't want you to know and upset mummy in front of you." Tom was impressed at his honesty, and turned back round when the toilet flushed to help him back into his coat and shoes.

"But I don't understand why she's still angry when we haven't even been naughty." He spoke quietly and walked over to the sink to wash his hands.

"I think mummy has a lot of emotions going through her head at the moment." Tom answered and picked up the boy after he'd washed his hands. He was too old for it, but the boy appreciated the male figure in his life enough to want it.

"But I thought you made her happy?" Asher asked whilst furrowing his eyebrows.

"I do." Tom smiled, his heart beat beginning to rise as he thought about Olivia laughing. "But that doesn't mean she loves me. She still has to figure that out, whilst trying to be happy for Auntie Lizzy." He tickled Asher quickly as he said: "And I think Bobby is the one misbehaving today."

Asher giggled at the dog comment. But as it died down he thought about Tom's words. "Do you think mummy is jealous of Auntie Lizzy and Uncle Eric?"

"Not at all, Ash." Tom explained.

"Then what if she doesn't love you?" He asked a question Tom wasn't sure how to answer. Even the words made his heart hurt with every slow and agonising beat. Tom kissed Asher's forehead before answering.

"I don't know, but I will try my best to still see you guys." It was all he could manage. He wouldn't let the boy grow up on fake promises. After this, Tom carried him back out to the front door, where Olivia, Lyra and Bobby were all waiting patiently. Olivia even had a smile on her face as Lyra chatted to her about Bear.

"Are we all ready?" Tom chirped as Lyra gripped his free hand. Olivia had Bobby's lead, seeming as he was taking care of her children, it was only fair. Once Bobby and the kids had been secured in the car, Tom pulled Olivia aside. He pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry." She sighed. Olivia pulled away from Tom and brushed her lips against his, revelling in his warmth.

"Asher told me how they behave when I'm not here. You were probably regretting today, so I understand. But I'm here now, okay? Every time you go on a walk, I'll be here to help." He insisted it, and didn't let Olivia argue. Tom placed a long kiss on her lips, and pulled her hips close to him.

"Let's go." Olivia whispered with a smile and let Tom open the car door for her. As she drove, she apologised to her children for being mean for no reason. They took it well. Especially with Bobby with them to keep them company.

"Do you think the ring is big?" Lyra asked no one in particular as the car whizzed past trees and fields.

"I don't know, Lyra. It's not long until you'll find out." Tom tried to calm the girl down. The girl scrunched her nose up and the man thought she may be imagining it in her head.

Soon, Olivia had pulled up in a large open car park surrounded by forest. It was sunny, but the wind was nippy and the family were happy they'd worn thick coats. As soon as Bobby was let out of the car, he darted off and Lyra tried to chase him.

"Lyra!" Tom shouted over the loud win. "Baby come back, you know how mummy feels about you running off." She came back with a grin, her feet slamming against the stoney floor.

"Sorry Tom." He smiled and leaned down to put a bobble hat on her head.

"Warm?" Tom asked and she nodded. She put her gloves on as Olivia and Asher came round the other side of the car.

"Mummy said we could play with Bobby if we went together, Ly. Let's go!" Asher jumped into the air with excitement and the pair ran off after Bobby. Their giggles could be heard from mikes away, so Tom and Olivia had no problem with keeping track of them.

"Are you okay?" Olivia asked as she took Tom's hand and they walked slowly towards Olivia's children. Tom stopped and looked at his girlfriend with a look she'd never seen him make before. Love? Belonging? She wasn't sure. He leaned towards her and cupped her cheek with his warm palm.

"Never better." He smiled at her. Olivia moved forward and brushed her nose against Tom's. Then she kissed him sweetly. As she pulled away, she noticed another car.

"Ready to meet the family?" She laughed as Tom's face transformed into the different stages of nerves. A dog suddenly came bounding up to them and neatly knocked Tom over. "Hi Bear. Who's a good boy?" Olivia cooed at the dog.

"Liv!" There was a squeal as Lizzy and Eric walked towards them, holding hands with happy grins on their face. Lizzy let go of Eric's hand and engulfed her sister in a hug.

"Lizzy. Congratulations, I'm ecstatic for you." Olivia gushed as her sister squeezed her tightly. "Guys, this is Tom." She finally managed to say as Lizzy let go of her.

"It's so lovely to meet you both." Tom started before Lizzy pulled him in for a hug. The man kissed her on the cheek and gave her a beam. "Eric, congratulations." Tom spoke as Eric made his way towards the marvel actor.

"Thanks man. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm a huge fan." Eric gushed. Tom stuck out his hand but Eric dismissed him and pulled him into a tight hug. "So you're the man who finally charmed Liv here." He nudged his soon-to-be sister in law with a mischievous grin.

"I'd say it was the other way round." Tom smiled at his girlfriend, and placed a hand on the small of her back. Lyra, Asher and Bobby then came running over with heavy breathes.

"Let me see the ring!" Lyra squealed as she bounced next to her auntie. Lyra was anything but materialistic, but she had always had a fascination with her mother and aunt's jewellery and loved to see it shimmer in the light.

Whilst Lizzy extended her hand for the girl to guffaw at, Eric slung his arm around Olivia and pulled her in for a side hug. "It all went so well, perfectly even, thank you for all your advice, Liv." She shrugged off the thanks, giving the man all the credit, to which Eric kissed her forehead proudly.

"How'd you do it?" Tom queried, starting conversation with actor.

"Why?" He nudged the God of Mischief and winked. "You wanting some tips?" At this, Olivia spluttered and coughed lightly, with wide eyes. Tom began to scratch his neck nervously, not wanting to put either of them through more embarrassment by saying the wrong thing.

"Tips on proposing to your own fiancé, Eric? That's a bit of a peculiar suggestion..." Tom chuckled as the family began to walk towards the woods, the kids and dogs running off ahead.

"Peculiar, but you wouldn't need any tips Tom." Lizzy giggled with a sly smirk pointed at Eric. "I would pick you over Eric any day." She pretended to fan her face as she looks at Tom, and the adults burst into laughter, excluding Eric of course.

"Just because he's British!" Eric whined, and pouts at his fiancé. She cooed before giving in and showering him with apologies.

As they entered the entrance of the woods, Olivia grabbed Tom's hand and squeezed it lovingly. He looked down at their intertwined fingers, and let his own thoughts wander. And he couldn't stop them when they took him to the image of their combined hands, but sat on Olivia's finger, was a large diamond.

word count: 1712
note: took a month long break, I apologise, but hoping these next few chapters will be worth the wait! <3