My Forever Hero

by Karen Legasy

  “What about your family and friends? We’re so far away. You’d be giving them up too.”

  “No, I wouldn’t. I’d visit and bring you with me. They’d come here too. I’m sure of it. I wouldn’t be giving them up at all, but going back to Canada would mean giving you up. I need to hold you and make love with you and see you every day. You’re part of me now.”

  “What if I go to jail? Or lose my business?”

  “That’s not going to happen, but if anything like that ever did we’d figure it out together. I don’t want to leave you.”

  Abigail gave her a lingering kiss. “I love having you here. Maybe you could get on with the New South Wales Police Force.”

  “Perhaps,” Marlee said, “but things have happened so fast I haven’t had time to think about it. All I’ve been able to think about is you and now that I’ve managed to get into your bed, I’m sure we can sort out the rest.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “A night on the boat was such a good idea.” Abigail beamed as they sat parked at her office tower in the early hours of the next morning. “I can hardly wait until our little holiday on the coast after this weekend.”

  “What are you going to say if anyone asks about your wobbly legs this morning?” Marlee smirked.

  “I’ll tell them they’re sea legs after spending a night on the boat.” Abigail tapped Marlee’s arm. “Only I’ll know they’re oversexed legs from multiple orgasms at sea.”

  “You’re glowing.” Marlee giggled as she rubbed Abigail’s arm. “We better talk business or something to prepare you for the office.”

  “I love the fact that we had a night off from talking about any strategic thinking or planning, but managed to make one crucial decision about you staying in Australia. How are you feeling about it this morning?”

  “I’m so happy.” Marlee leaned over and kissed Abigail. “I know it hasn’t been that long, but now I can’t imagine a life without you in it. What about you? Any second thoughts?”

  “No way.” Abigail’s lips met Marlee’s. “I’d better get to work before we get carried away.”

  * * *

  Tyler was eating breakfast by the pool when Marlee got home. He bit into a slice of toast slathered in Vegemite and her stomach retracted at the thought of eating the foul-smelling spread.

  “I didn’t expect to see you up so early.” She sat down and grinned at him.

  “Please,” Tyler said. “Do you have to be so obvious about your night of hot sex?”

  “You know I don’t kiss and tell. I’m feeling refreshed from that nice sea air after a good rest on the boat. I hope you had a relaxing night too.”

  “Hardly.” Tyler took another bite of toast. “Hannah came looking for Abigail last night. And she wanted to know where you were too.”

  Marlee’s grin turned into a scowl at the thought of that woman stalking them. “I hope you didn’t say anything to the bitch. It’s none of her business where I am and she needs to leave Abigail alone. What did you tell her?”

  “That you were out with a friend. She wanted to know who and where, but I said I didn’t know because it was none of my business.”

  “Good answer. What did you say about Abigail?”

  “I said I didn’t know where she was either. That really pissed her off. Especially when I told her that Abigail’s whereabouts was also none of my business.”

  “I’m sure she loved that.” Marlee chuckled.

  “She accused me of lying then stomped away.” Tyler brushed crumbs from the tabletop. “I’m glad Abigail insisted on replacing the security system. I hardly slept at all because Hannah makes me nervous.”

  “She’s really starting to get on my nerves.” Marlee rubbed a stress spot on her neck. “I wish I could talk to someone who works for her.”

  “Why don’t you get Abigail to give you a job at her company? That’s the only way you’ll find out what employees really think about Hannah.”

  Marlee was losing patience with the whole Hannah situation. “She doesn’t want me working there. Maybe I can figure out a way to question staff at the Canberra office. We’re going there this weekend.”

  “Who? You and Abigail?”

  “And Hannah.” Marlee wanted to gag.

  “That sounds like fun.” Tyler snickered.

  “Don’t laugh—you’re expected to tag along.” Marlee gave a big-toothed grin.

  “What are we supposed to do there?”

  “You’re going to keep me company while Abigail’s busy with Hannah.” Marlee was relieved to have Tyler along as a distraction during the day. “The bitch doesn’t know I’m coming. Abigail wants us to drive down on our own while she and Hannah travel together.”

  “I see.” Tyler nodded his head. “Abigail wants to bring her sex toy, but doesn’t want Hannah to know.”

  Marlee resented Tyler trivializing their relationship. “I’m not her sex toy. I’m her lover, and partner. She’s asked me to stay in Australia with her. I won’t be going back to my job in Ottawa.”

  “Good on you.” Tyler smiled and patted her arm.

  “Thanks.” She frowned, feeling slightly patronized by his reaction.

  Tyler seemed to sense her annoyance and leaned over to squeeze her shoulder. “I’m really happy for you, Marlee. That’s a big deal, but I thought you had to go back to your job for at least three months.”

  “I’m supposed to, but it’s not going to happen.” Marlee knew her life was here now. “My boss isn’t happy with me. I sent an email this morning saying I wasn’t ready to come back and he responded immediately asking if I was planning to resign. So I did. It feels strange to be quitting after fifteen years with the force.”

  “Wow, that’s a big deal.” Tyler piled his breakfast dishes. “Good thing you won’t need to work anymore now that you’re with Abigail. You’re lucky to retire at your age.”

  “I’m not retiring.” Marlee swatted his arm, irked by the tease. “I have a job to do right now and I’ll figure things out after that. What about you? When are you supposed to go back to your job? Those ribs of yours seem much better.”

  “My doctor’s slip gives me another seven days off then I’ll be reassessed to see if I’m ready to go back.” Tyler fondled the front of his shirt. “They do still hurt sometimes, especially when I try to sleep. Why do you think I’ve been up working late so often?”

  “I thought it was because you wanted to help Abigail.” Marlee raised her eyebrows.

  “Of course I do, but sore ribs are also keeping me up. You, on the other hand, aren’t getting much sleep either, but if anything’s sore on you, it certainly wouldn’t be your ribs.”

  “Are you ribbing me?” Marlee chuckled then turned serious. “Did you come across anything on the system last night?”

  “Nothing. I’m sure they’ve figured out we have a tracker on the network so I don’t expect much will be happening from now on.” Tyler stood up and grabbed his dishes. “I’m going to head in for a little nap. You could probably use one too.”

  “If my Ab can be working hard at the office, I won’t let myself sleep on the job.”

  “Your Ab. How nice. Dare you to call her that in front of Hannah. And by the way, when are we leaving for Canberra?”

  “Tomorrow.” Marlee led the way back into the house. “We’ll leave in the morning and I hope you don’t mind taking your car. I’ll pay for your gas, of course.”

  “You mean Abigail will pay now that you’ve relegated yourself to becoming a kept woman.”

  “Go have your nap and we’ll finalize plans later.” Marlee continued up the stairs to the bedroom where she’d left her laptop. She saw Kerry was trying to contact her so prepared for a video chat with her best friend back in Ottawa.

  “What’s going on?” Kerry glared into the screen, furrows in her forehead. “We heard you’re not coming back.”

  “News sure travels fast.” Marlee braced herself. “What did Diane hear?” Kerry’s partner, Diane, was a First Cl
ass Constable with the Ottawa Police.

  “How could you quit your job with over fifteen years of pensionable service?”

  Marlee smiled as she thought of Abigail kissing her earlier this morning. “I’ve fallen in love with someone here and I won’t leave her.”

  “You can’t be giving up your career for some woman you hardly know?” Kerry’s voice was strained. “You haven’t been there long enough for that and please tell me it’s not that Abby person you were sleeping with.”

  Marlee ran a hand through her hair, wishing she could say more. “She’s not who you think she is. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve met the most beautiful woman. She’s amazing, my other half, and I can’t leave her.”

  “Look at me.” Kerry leaned into the screen, eyes wide and focused on Marlee. “This is not you. Who is this dyke and what has she done to you?”

  “She saved my life.” Marlee shuddered at the thought of how close she came to dying out on the water.

  “She saved your life? How?” Kerry raised a corner of her mouth as though in disbelief.

  “I got stupid with my surfboard and Ab came to my rescue.”

  Kerry flung back in her chair and crossed her arms. “So it is that Abby woman. I figured she was a surf bum the way she flaunted about being naked with you.”

  Marlee resented her friend’s characterization of Abigail. “She didn’t flaunt and she’s not a surf bum. She’s a wonderful woman and wants me as much as I want her. I’ve never met anyone like her before, Kerry.” Marlee began to tear up. “Look at me. When have you ever seen me cry like this over a woman?”

  “So tell me about Abby, then.” Kerry rested her elbows on the table and put her head into her hands. “Why doesn’t she move to Ottawa with you? Why do you have to be the one to give up your career?”

  “It’s complicated. I’d like to say more, but I can’t right now.” She wiped her tears.

  “I thought I was your best friend. We tell each other everything.”

  “I’m sorry.” Marlee looked down, realizing her conversation with Kerry was probably not much different than Abigail’s with Hannah. Her eyes went back to the screen. “Can you just trust me for a bit on this? I’ll tell you everything as soon as I can. When you hear the story of events, you’re going to understand. My life has taken this amazing twist that’s hard to imagine.”

  “Does Gabe know you’re quitting your job and not coming back to Ottawa?”

  “No. I haven’t figured out what I’m going to say. This is all so new.”

  “He’s going to be so disappointed.” Kerry shook her head. “I ran into him last week and all he talked about was how anxious he was to see you.”

  “I feel bad enough as it is, do you have to make it worse by laying on guilt?”

  “If you’re that miserable, you’d be getting your butt back to your friends, family, and job. Our hockey team’s just not the same without you on it. I thought we’d at least make it up with a few more golf games next summer. Now that’s never going to happen.”

  “I’ll visit and hope you will too. Australia’s a beautiful country—you’ll love it.” Marlee wanted to reach out and hug her friend. “Once things get sorted out, I’ll fill you in and you’ll be so excited for me.”

  “Oh Marlee.” Kerry started to cry. “Please think about this long and hard before you do something drastic. I have to go now and cry myself to sleep.”

  “You can do it in Diane’s arms, like you have for the past twenty years. No wonder I never settled into a stable relationship. My other half’s been here all along and I’m so excited for you to meet her one day soon. Love you.” Marlee ended the call with mixed feelings. While she felt guilty about not saying more to her best friend, Marlee was so excited for the day Kerry could meet Abigail. She knew they’d love each other.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “I think I understand Hannah a bit more.” Marlee clung to Abigail’s inviting body while they lay naked in bed after a long day apart.

  “She’s getting on my nerves,” Abigail said. “I feel like I can’t breathe when she won’t let up on you.”

  “I had a video chat this morning with my best friend Kerry. She was upset with me for staying here and I felt scolded. She thinks I’ve lost my senses over some woman. I’m sure Hannah feels the same about you.”

  “Hannah doesn’t know we’re lovers,” Abigail said. “I don’t like being treated as if I’m an idiot who can’t make decisions on my own. The more I think about her getting into my email and reversing my decisions, the madder it’s making me.”

  Marlee massaged stress lumps between Abigail’s shoulder blades. “Kerry says she misses me and wants me back in Ottawa. I miss her too, but I’d long for you way more if I left.”

  “I need you in my life and Hannah has to get over it.” Abigail’s breathing was uneven as Marlee worked the knots. “It’s time I let her know how much you mean to me.”

  “I think it is too.” Marlee ended her massage with a kiss to Abigail’s neck. “Do you still trust her?”

  “I don’t know.” Abigail rolled over and smiled. “Thank you for the massage.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Abigail sighed. “She’s been my best friend for years. I should confide in her. My priorities have changed and lately it feels like she’s getting in the way. I’m thinking of telling her about us tomorrow.”

  “Can you wait until next week, after our little holiday? I don’t want her picturing us together in Merimbula. It’s our special time and I’d like to take our lovemaking to the next level.”

  “Ooh, sounds exciting.” Abigail nudged her nose against Marlee’s cheek. “Of course I can postpone it. What do you have in mind for us?”

  “Dirty stuff.” Marlee chuckled. “You’ll see. Now we’d better get some rest.”

  * * *

  After a hurried breakfast of fresh fruit and yogurt, Abigail left home to meet Hannah for a quiet Saturday morning at the office. They planned to clear up a few things before their drive to Canberra later in the day. Following their stint in the Canberra office on Sunday, Hannah was to fly back to Sydney in the evening and Abigail would continue on to Merimbula Monday morning. It was the perfect plan.

  Marlee had a lot to do to get ready for the weekend in Canberra then tryst in Merimbula, but her first priority was to tell Gabe about her decision to stay in Australia before he heard it from someone else.

  “Hey, what a nice surprise.” Her brother smiled into the screen from the desk in his study. “I’ll let Stephanie and the girls know you’re online. They’d love to chat too.”

  “No, wait.” Marlee was nervous and took a moment to clear her throat. “I need to talk to you first.”

  “About what?” His smile faded.

  Marlee took a deep breath. “There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to blurt it out. I’m staying in Australia and won’t be coming home.”

  “Oh Marlee. Don’t tell me.” He sighed. “I was afraid of this when you mentioned someone the last time we spoke. Who is she?”

  “Her name is Abigail.” Marlee’s eyes watered, her emotions taking over. “This is it, Gabe. She’s the one.”

  “Then bring her back to Canada.” He rubbed his forehead as though trying to relieve a stress headache. “You have a good job and can help her get established here.”

  “I’ll bring her to meet everyone soon, but I can’t right now.” Marlee couldn’t wait for the day when she could take Abigail to Ottawa. “You’ll love her, Gabe. She’s amazing and makes me so happy.”

  He leaned back and folded his arms as though a figure of authority. “What about your work? How are you going to manage that?”

  “I quit my job.” Marlee held her breath.

  “You can’t do that.”

  She wasn’t going to let him dictate to her. “I already have.”

  “Why do you have to be so drastic?” His voice escalated. “Can’t you just come home and think about things first?”

>   “I won’t leave her now.” Marlee glared into the screen, her breathing heavy with anger.

  “There has to be another way other than just quitting your job.” Gabe looked away, as though searching for solutions.

  “They wouldn’t give me an extension on my leave. I had no choice but to quit.”

  “Christ, Marlee, you shouldn’t have to quit. Why didn’t you talk to your union rep first?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m not moving back to Ottawa.”

  “This isn’t you, Marlee. What’s going on?” His voice shook. “You always wanted to be a cop so why can’t she move here?”

  “Because she can’t.” Marlee stared into his bloodshot eyes and felt awful for hurting him. “I know it sounds strange, but there’s stuff going on and I can’t explain it to you right now.”

  “That’s not acceptable.” His voice became harsher. “Am I going to have to come over there to find out for myself?”

  “Please don’t.” Marlee sighed. “I know you’re concerned and I love you for that, but I know what I’m doing. Please trust me on this, Gabe.”

  “You’re not making any sense. Does Kerry know?”

  “Yes, but only because Diane heard I quit the force.”

  “I want to talk to Abigail. Put her on now.” He was almost yelling as he jabbed a finger at his screen.

  “You can’t.” Marlee knew that bullying was out of character for Gabe and she felt sick at bringing out the bad behavior. “She’s at the office then heading to Canberra for the weekend.”

  “Where does she work and what’s her last name? I have a right to know.”

  “I’ll tell you everything soon.” Marlee sniffed, knowing that Gabe had every right to be upset. “I have lots to do and should let you get on with your evening.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Marlee. I’m your brother. I care about you. Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I will, but not today. Just trust me on this.”

  Marlee felt like throwing up when she ended the call. Her best friend and then her brother were being left out of her life. She’d never excluded them like this before and the hurt in their eyes was excruciating to see. The tissue was still crumpled in her hand as she approached Tyler in the workroom while he packed up his laptop.