"Fire & Ice" by Gratiana Lovelace (Revised for Wattpad, 2015) (Completed)

Ch. 11: Ominous Tidings

"Fire & Ice" (Revised for Wattpad), Ch. 11: Ominous Tidings, August 22, 2015 Gratiana Lovelace

(An original story copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace, 2015; all rights reserved)

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with images of actors representing my dream cast--including Richard Armitage as Thomas Kane and Anne Hathaway as Caroline Walters, Doris Roberts as Mrs. Burns, Tim Gamble as Peter Wendt, Brian Protheroe as Martin, Mary McDonnell as Mary, Seth Green as Todd, Raven Symone as Fiona, and Logan Lerman as Allen, Andrew May as Paul Foster, and others as noted in the image credits.] [(1) "Fire & Ice" story logo]

Author's Mature Content Note:  "Fire & Ice" is romantic thriller story with mature themes (D for drama, S for sensuality, and V for violence) of love and relationships. Most chapters will be PG or PG-13. However, if you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer.

Author's Recap from the previous chapter:   Caroline's introduction to the Division on Monday went smoothly--despite the elephant in the room. And the Director Peter Wendt advised Paul Foster to leave Thomas and Caroline and their family alone. Paul Foster did not take it well--perhaps because he is worrying about his financial situation. And Mrs. Burns day with Trevor was unsettling as she noticed that a jogging man in a gray sweat suit seemed to be loitering about the park where before she brought Trevor back to her apartment early. Sometime later, Paul Foster received at text that Bambi and Thumper exited the forest. And the man in the gray sweat suit waits for his next orders.

"Fire & Ice", Ch. 11: Ominous Tidings

It is a long Monday for Caroline's first day on the Job May 23rd--as Mondays usually are. And Caroline and Thomas don't get home until around 7:00pm. Thomas even brings some materials home with him--on his flash drive that constantly hangs around his neck on a lanyard--that he'll read later in order for them to get home earlier. Since Thomas and Caroline are carpooling and living together, he has to adjust his work schedule—but happily so for him. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Thomas and Caroline pick up Trevor from Mrs. Burns as they walk to their apartment and then they walk into their own apartment.

Trevor: "We're home!" Trevor says loudly to no one in particular—as if the apartment is a person that needs greeting. Almost three and a half year old toddlers are so cute!

Caroline: "Trevor, let's get dinner started and you can tell us about your day. Would Daddy like to pour us all drinks while we chat?"

Thomas: "Sure. Juices all around?" He asks cheerfully and everyone nods. Thomas relishes his new found family and its attendant responsibilities/chores.

So, Thomas sets about to pour out the fruit juices--with Trevor having his drink in a sippy cup. Caroline was never much of an alcohol drinker and that became nonexistent after she became pregnant with Trevor. Caroline not drinking alcohol is a good thing--because though she doesn't know it yet, she is pregnant.

Caroline: Opening up the freezer, she looks at their choices and says. "Well, we have a twenty minute pizza option, or we can brown some hamburger and make sloppy joes."

Thomas: "Caroline, it has been a long day--and you need to rest and ice your arm." She nods. "Why don't we bake the pizza—since it cooks itself and we don't have to stand over it? Then, we can try to get home earlier tomorrow and I'll make us sloppy joes."

Caroline: "Works for me." She sighs gratefully.

Trevor: "Me too, Mommy and Daddy!

So, they make their salads and then chat and snuggle on the couch while their pizza cooks.