Chapter 3 - Families

Tom came back on the next day about 5 Pm. The man felt exhausted. He hated going to those business trips. They were important to his company, but Tom just hated to leave his family. Every time he went on such a trip he felt lonely and a little afraid. Maybe this obsession was ridicules, but he was afraid that his wife is going to get an affair one day or his kids are going to slip through his fingers and run away. He couldn't stop himself from worrying.

That's why he entered their house with a big smile on the face and expected to hear music or TV or his kid's voices from somewhere, or even get a huge welcome hug from them all. None of that happened. Tom put his bags down and started taking off his shoes. The house was silent. He heard a little something from kid's room, something like cartoons, but they were also unexpectedly silent. It still made him smile.

He found his wife sitting on a couch and starring out of the window. At first, Tom thought that she was waiting for him, but after a few moments he realized that if she waited for him she would have seen his car. Amanda was clearly stalking someone. She was gazing at that old house, which was empty. It totally wasn't usual.

"Uh… "

"Oh, that's you, Tom." Amanda turned around and smiled a little embarrassed. "I didn't hear you!"

"I suppose you didn't… Hello sweetheart." Tom went to his wife and hugged her tightly. "It's good to see you."

"I missed you a lot." She smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"I don't know. Looks like you miss something there more than me."

"Uh, don't be ridicules, Tom." Amanda didn't look him in the eyes, but quickly went to the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I can make you something."

"I would go with a sandwich." Tom smiled to her and sat at the kitchen table. "So, what's new in here? Any interesting activities or scandals? Maybe something with that house…"

"Well…" Amanda couldn't look him in the eyes. "We have new neighbors."

Tom thought something like this when he saw a car next to that old house. He didn't really care what happens on this street or about that whole council thing, but his wife was really into it, so he supported her. On the other hand it was kind of nice to be the one, who gets to know news first. This time was the same. They have new neighbors. It's probably one more little family. Not a big deal. But Amanda acted somehow strange about it.

"Have you already met them?"

"Yes, yesterday. I baked an apple pie and went to say hi. They were pretty nice and polite." Amanda was making the sandwich, while talking uncomfortably. Tom found it really strange. "It's two boys actually."

"Do tell."

Amanda passed him the sandwich and sat next to him. She was clearly trying to find words. Even in that situation Tom remembered how adorable she was. Now she was much older than the first time they met, wasn't that slim and her hair looked different, but she was still that girl he fell in love with. Her innocence was so cute and made her look a little bit younger.

"Their names are Kurt and Blaine. Kurt has just finished collage. He is going to be a performer in our local theater and dreams about Broadway. Well, I find it insane, but he's young, you know? When we were his age, we also thought that everything is possible." She smiled at Tom and talked again. "Blaine is going to be music and arts manager. It's his last year in collage. They are nice, polite, intelligent boys. I liked them."

"It's great that we didn't get a couple of party sharks, who would destroy out peace." Tom said, but still looked a little worried. "Then why were you stalking them if they are so great?"

"Honestly…" Amanda sighted. "I don't know. I guess, I felt interested, because they are new here and behave different."

"What do you mean "behave different" ?"

"God, I don't know. They are young boys, who move into a quiet steer and say that they just want to settle down a little." Her cheeks turned a little red. "Why don't they live in the city centre? Why do they live together and not with their girls or whatever? Am I the only one, who thinks it's weird?"

Tom sat still for a moment longer. He was clearly thinking. He had to say that his wife had a point. Boys don't usually do something like those two. Performer and arts manager are great jobs, but somehow a little too dreamy. What were their names again? Kurt and Blaine? Even that sounded unfamiliar to him. Somewhere deep inside he knew that this street is not going to be nice to them.

"By the way, one of them has a pregnant girlfriend." Amanda crossed her arms and glared at Tom.

"How do you know?"

"They told me themselves." She sighted. "Well, not exactly. When we were talking someone called and told Kurt that some "friend", called Mercedes, is going to have a child in a few hours. Then they stormed out of the house and drove somewhere leaving me alone."

"And you decided that Mercedes is one them girlfriend?" Tom wasn't as sure as his wife.

"Who else can she be? I have to tell you, Kurt looked scared like hell."

"Please, Amanda, we can't be sure. If they said Mercedes is a friend, they would probably mean exactly that."

"I guess you're right."

She moved on his lap and hugged him tightly. They stayed like that for a moment. They both just loved those moments. They didn't get to do that often, because kids were always around or Tom was working. There was a lot of moments, when Amanda really missed her husband, missed tenderness.

"How was your trip?" she asked simply, kissing his forehead.

"Pretty good. I missed you though." Tom answered and kissed her on the lips a little longer and with more passion. "And kids…"

"And kids." She mumbled quietly and returned a kiss. "Now you should go and say hi to them. Joe's already asked me when you're coming back."

"Yes, you're right."

Tom stood up and walked to the staircase leaving his beautiful wife in the kitchen. Amanda still had a small smile on her face.

"You should invite them for a dinner." Tom said before climbing up. "It would be nice."

"Who?" She asked carefully.

"Kurt and Blaine."

When the next morning Amanda opened the door to her garden, she heard someone singing. Her whole body felt that beautiful voice flowing into her, making her relax. The voice was high and clean. For a moment she thought that it belonged to an angle. She went through the garden towards the sound.

No more talk of darkness,

Forget these wide-eyed fears.

I'm here,

Nothing can harm you -

My words will

Warm and calm you.

After a moment listening with closed eyes she realized that it was a boy. That voice was so unique, something she never heard before. Amanda recognized the song. She loved "The Phantom of the Opera" and this song always remembered her about the feeling she had with Tom.

Let me be your freedom,

Let daylight dry your tears.

I'm here with you, beside you,

To guard you and to guide you...

Now Amanda knew where the sound is coming from. It was pretty close to her and she could hear singing so clear as if it would be next to her. It was her new neighbor's garden. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that it was Kurt, but it didn't matter in a moment. The woman felt a little ashamed because of listening, but she couldn't stop herself. The voice and words were too beautiful.

Say you love me every waking moment,

Turn my head with talk of summertime...

Say you need me with you now and always...

Promise me that all you say is true -

That's all I ask of you...

The sound was getting lower and lower and then stopped. Some kind of trance filled Amanda's body and didn't let her go. She finally found herself sitting on the bench with a nagging feeling of the desperate need for more. She would have probably sat there for a long time, but then she heard someone talking.

"You're early today." Amanda recognized that it was Blaine.

"I couldn't sleep." Kurt answered slowly. He sounded tired. So different from the singing before.

"You're still worrying about Mercedes, aren't you?"

Amanda was listening and shame was growing inside even more than before. It's not who she is. She doesn't listen to private conversations. She doesn't stalk people. But now she just did. The fence was high, so she couldn't see them, but heard how Blaine walked across the garden and probably set next to Kurt.

"She's going to be fine. She's a strong girl. A fighter." Blaine's voice was much softer now.

"I know, but seeing her so weak in that hospital bed and her daughter in the incubator… And Sam. Oh god, have you seen Sam? He's devastated." Kurt sighted. "That breaks my heart."

"I know, sweetie. I know."

Then Amanda heard sobbing. Kurt was crying. Realization hit her so hard. Mercedes wasn't their girlfriend. They talked about that Sam guy. He must be the father, but she still heard Kurt crying on the other side of the fence. Mercedes must be a good friend to him. Most people don't care about their friend that much, but they did. A mother's instinct quickly woke up in her and all that she wanted was go there and hug them both.

"Sorry for cracking up and ruining your shirts." Kurt chuckled a little. "You have to change if you want to get that job."

"I can just miss the interview and stay with you if…"

"Oh no. Don't even think about it, Mr. Hummel-Anderson." Amanda suddenly started smiling wildly. They were too cute to be real. "You want that job and you won't miss it just because I had a nervous breakdown." Short silent. "And because we have to pay for this oh so perfect house."

"You said you will take care of me."

"And I will. But I have to get my fee first and it's not going to happen until the opening night. Sorry, but that's how it works."

"Don't be sorry." Amanda could hear Blaine smiling through his words. "It is a great opportunity for me and I really do want to get it."

"I'm sure you will."

It was silent again. She could hear the grass shivering and some more chuckles. Curiosity was killing her inside. Amanda almost saw herself standing up and looking over the fence, but she was moral enough for not doing that.

"Enough, Blaine." Kurt's voice came and it was different, deeper. "You have a job interview and I have to work on my performance. There is still a bunch of lines I have to learn."

"Ok you…" Amanda heard Blaine standing up. "Promise me you won't work too hard and don't get sad about Mercedes again. She's going to be fine. Promise?"

"Promise."

"I love you."

"Love you too."