Author's note: Just a short chapter this time. I thought this bit would stand better on its own. If you are joining the tale here for the first time (perhaps because it's popped up in a different category) you might enjoy it better if you read the preceding couple of parts first. Thanks for the positive comments, I hope you enjoy...
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For the second time today, Tom grabbed his coat from behind the door on his way outside. He took his time ambling towards Nikki's flat, wanting to give her as much time as possible to change before she had to see her parents. He pretended not to notice the unfamiliar car parked outside with two distinctly parental-looking people looking at him and trying to decide if he was the man that currently had custody of their daughter. But he couldn't keep that up for long without giving them the impression that he was a complete simpleton so he had to "notice" them and head over to where the man opened the car window.
"You must be Nikki's parents. I'm Tom, nice to meet you. Safe journey I trust?"
"Tom, nice to meet you too. We can't thank you enough for looking after Nikki. You've no idea how much it's eased our minds to know that she's had someone keeping an eye on her."
"No problem. It's made a change from the norm. She's really been no bother. To be honest, she's spent most of the time asleep." Well, that was true. Tom decided to leave out the fact that most of her waking moments had been occupied by acts of mutual stimulation of the very best kind.
"Why don't you folks come in?" Tom continued. "Nikki should be down in a minute, I told her you were here."
"Great, thanks. By the way, I'm Ted and this is Barbara."
Tom nodded at the introductions and lead them from the car back to his house. As he walked them in the front door, he was relieved to find that the place didn't smell too much of sex.
He was just in the process of offering them a seat and asking if they wanted anything to drink when Nikki made a timely arrival. She was wearing the clothes that Tom had brought her and was making a good, if slightly melodramatic, job of looking like she'd just woken up. She'd even messed up her hair a little to make it look like it had been slept on.
She looked adorable in a cute kind of way and Tom realised that he was smiling at her. Damn, I'm falling hard for this one. He thought to himself.
"Nikki!" Barbara came about as close to squealing as you might expect a fifty-something year old woman to do. "How are you feeling?"
Tom headed to fetch the drinks as Nikki tried to placate her. "I'm fine. Stop fussing. I feel much better now I've had some rest and food."
They spent an hour or so in easy conversation. Tom stayed in the background as much as possible but Barbara in particular kept engaging him in the discussions. He could see the family resemblance. Particularly between mother and daughter. Barbara was in good shape for her age and Tom found himself hoping that Nikki would age just as well. Hang on a minute there sonny. Don't get ahead of yourself. You've only just met the girl. He mentally chided himself. What's gotten into me?
Eventually, Ted stood up and announced: "Right, time to get you home little lady. We've already imposed on Tom enough for one weekend.
No one could think of anything to add to that so Nikki grabbed her bag from upstairs (she'd put most of the stuff Tom had taken from her flat back into it earlier). Ted and Barbara thanked Tom again. Nikki added her thanks and held Tom's eyes a moment -- a gesture that contained much more meaning than her words.
As her parents turned to leave first, Tom managed to give Nikki a wink and blew her a kiss. She smiled and returned the act.
And then they were gone. And Tom was alone again. In many ways, it was nice to have his house to himself again, but really, he felt a little lonely.
