by Anne Kemp
“And the second step?” Ben wondered.
Abby shrugged her shoulders. “As soon as I figure that out, I’ll let you know.”
“Make it quick, okay?” Ben was tossing a pillow in his hands.
“Or what? You’ll bully me with your down pillow?” Abby’s reply was dry, as was the smile that played on her lips. Ben threw the pillow at her as Andrew was walking into the room.
“Picking on a girl?” he shot at Ben, as he grabbed Abby and pulled her onto his lap.
“Better than starting a fight with her stupid boyfriend,” Ben retorted.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Abby quickly interjected.
The room was quiet. Abby looked from face to face. “What?”
Andrew was staring at the floor as Ben and Tracey made up an excuse to go downstairs. As the door closed behind them, Andrew stood up, causing Abby to fall backward off his lap and onto the bed.
“What just happened?”
Andrew’s eyes flashed with irritation as he turned to her. “Abby, I just spent the last half-hour trying to rearrange my trip so I could stay a few extra days. Why? So I could be with you. But don’t worry. I couldn’t make it happen. I’m on a flight out tonight to go home to London.” He shook his head. “You don’t think I’m serious, do you?”
Abby sat up, playing with the rings on her hands. She had lain in bed the night before, holding him and fighting back her own tears. Abby couldn’t figure out why the gods had smiled on her in such a screwed-up way. She had always thought that this type of thing only happened in the movies. Could she really fall this hard for someone in just a few days? At what point is the risk truly for passion and love, not just for the adrenaline rush?
“Andrew, I don’t want to move forward on any of this if my heart’s not in it.” She stared at the floor. “In a short amount of time, my whole world has flipped upside down. Losing my job, coming here, Ben, you? Can you see why I need a moment to breathe?” She looked up at him, meeting his gaze. “Do I feel something for you? God, yes! Every part of me has tingled since the day I met you. I never thought that having these feelings could be so instantaneous. And freeing. I honestly had kind of given up. Then you show up.” Standing, she walked over to position herself in front of him. “You sweep in here, with your smile and humor, making everyone happy. And your kisses. Those sweet, soft lips that I love pressing mine against.” She leaned into him, kissing his lips slowly, letting hers linger on top of his for a moment.
“Then stop pushing me away.” He was breathing heavily into her ear.
Abby couldn’t argue with that. “I need you to understand where I am right now, at this point.” Taking a step back, she let out some air. “When I commit to anything, Andrew, it’s one-hundred-and-ten percent. Which is why I’m so hesitant. I know how determined I get and how I can give up myself a lot of times, when I should have something in reserve.” She let out a small sigh. “For the first time ever, I’m one-hundred-and-fifty percent for myself. It’s someplace I don’t think I’ve been before. And one thing I’ve learned about myself is that if I’m not happy with me, I’m not going to be good to anyone.”
Andrew nodded curtly. “Abby, fine. You go and take some deep breaths or whatever it is you think needs to happen. I’m leaving on the 7 p.m. flight out. Tonight. Maybe by then you’ll have an idea of what you want.” He turned on his heels and quickly exited the room, leaving her alone.
Right where she feared she’d always be.
#
Abby must have dozed off for a few minutes. She hadn’t heard Ben come in. She opened her eyes to find him staring down at her.
“Andrew’s outside,” he said as he sat down next to her.
Abby closed her eyes to shut the world out again. “Shhhh.”
“He’s crazy about you.”
Abby moaned. “I know.”
Ben looked at his sister, lying half on the bed, with her feet still firmly planted on the floor. “Why do I feel like your position on the bed says a lot about how you approach life and men?”
Abby’s eyes flew open. “What do you mean?”
“Well, half in and half out. It’s like you didn’t firmly commit to the bed, the way you’re lying there.”
“You can’t say that just because of how I’m lying here,” she snapped.
“Bollocks. I’m just simply trying to point out that maybe you aren’t being completely honest with yourself right now.” Ben poked her in her ribs. “What’s the harm of just trying?”
Abby sat up, poking him back. “Well, you put time into something and maybe it goes nowhere. Or he might meet someone else. Maybe I do. I just think it’s a big decision to have to make in the middle of everything else I have going on right now.”
“Relax.” There was a smile playing on Ben’s lips. “Look at Tracey and me. Three years of being friends and suddenly we’re more. Do we know what’s going to happen?” He shook his head.
“Oh, stop making sense.” Abby smiled at Ben. “You give good brotherly advice.”
“I’m trying.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes longer, Abby listening to the sounds of movement coming from downstairs, the signs of Tracey still being in the house. Ben was up and packing a few more boxes.
“Daryl’s here. He and Leigh are inside talking.”
Ben’s eyes lit up. “He’s here? How?”
Abby shot him a sly smile. “I called him and told him to get his ass down here. Those two are married and they are incredible together. He needed to be here, too. For Leigh, if nothing else.”
Ben was nodding his approval. “Impressive.”
“Yeah,” she giggled. “Now you get to meet more family.”
Ben stopped what he was doing and faced Abby. “Cool. The ones I know now are pretty awesome.”
“Yeah,” Abby said, flashing a big grin Ben’s way. “We are pretty awesome, huh? Now your sisters just need to figure out their love lives.”
“Abs, you can’t just have a Hollywood ending.”
She groaned again, staring at her feet. “I know, Ben, what girl wouldn’t want that?” Abby smiled at her brother. “Let’s go inside.”
Andrew was nowhere to be seen as they headed to the main house. Tracey thought she had seen him walking down the driveway and Ben guessed he wanted to cool off a little so he probably went for a walk.
Abby had no time to process any thoughts at all. Once they entered the main house, Leigh’s laugh and Daryl’s voice took over her train of thought. They were standing in the dining room hugging and laughing.
“Well, I see things are better in here,” she said to the duo.
Leigh was beaming, her face lit up and glowing. “I picked the right man, Abby. Lucky for me he’s not only forgiving, but understanding as well.”
“And lucky for both of us you have a sister that wanted to see you happy,” Daryl added as he kissed the top of his wife’s head.
Ben and Tracey walked through the door right behind her. It was Daryl who held his hand out and approached the pair. “Ben? I’m Daryl.”
They shook hands, which made Leigh and Abby both fight tears, seeing the two worlds beginning to merge. With all of the madness that the last few weeks had been, Abby was ready for them all to be in a good place again as one family unit.
“Well, I think we may need to celebrate a little tonight,” Leigh said, winking at Daryl.
“Andrew has to be at the airport by six for his flight,” Ben said.
Leigh shot a look at her sister. “He’s leaving tonight?” she asked in her “I’m judging you” voice.
Abby shrugged sadly. “Work calls.”
“Ben and I are studying and packing his things, so we’ll be here if you need any help,” Tracey offered.
Daryl took Leigh’s hand, beaming at his wife. “I’ll do whatever my wife needs. I just can’t believe the burden you held for so long.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Christ, Daryl. Don’t let her think it’s okay for her to be
a martyr. You’ll have a raging lunatic on your hands in no time.”
The group let out another burst of shared laughter. As the ruckus died down, Ben asked Daryl if he’d like to see the pool house he had rented for so long, and they disappeared outside with Tracey to take a quick tour of the grounds. This left Leigh and Abby alone in the dining room.
Leigh sat down at the head of the dining room table, quietly surveying the room around her. “I picked all of this out. Piece by piece. Brought Maria and Ziggy in to work here. Kept an eye on everything, just like Dad asked.” She sounded sad, but her face read of relief.
Abby took a deep breath and sat next to her sister. She was prepared to go for it with one last speech. “Leigh, it’s okay. If you need to sell the inn . . . ”
Leigh was smiling wickedly now. “I’m not going to sell it, Abby.”
Abby’s jaw dropped with a tiny grin of disbelief beginning to play at the corners of her mouth. “Are you serious?”
“I am. You’re right. You are a third of this inn and I think you will do a marvelous job at keeping it going.” Leigh patted the dining room table, smiling at her sister. “Maria and I both agree Ziggy should be kept away from the roof. And don’t let him ever try to resurface this table.”
Abby jumped for joy and grabbed her sis in a big hug.
“I’m going to do amazing things with La Cantina, Leigh. I promise!”
“I have no doubts, Abby. None at all.” She looked at her watch. “Well, Jack will be ready to meet soon. Let’s tell him together when everyone gets here, shall we?”
Abby’s grin was ear-to-ear. Getting to tell someone that La Cantina was not for sale would be the best line she got to deliver to anyone ever.
Leigh pulled back and looked adoringly at her little sister. “Dad’d be so proud of you, Abby. So would Mom.” She kissed Abby on her forehead. “I wish I had the balls to do this full-time.”
Abby smiled. “Now I can take the torch and pick up where you left off.”
“Yeah . . . well, fly, little birdie.” Leigh pulled back and made a kicking motion at Abby with her right foot. “See? I’m kicking you from the nest.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Please, I jumped.”
Leigh nodded. “And Andrew?”
“That’s still a work in progress.” She narrowed her eyes and wagged a finger at her sister. “And when I say I’m declaring independence, it’s in all things. So don’t you dare go butting your nose in there, either. Got it?”
Leigh held her hands up in surrender. “Hey, I’m obviously not the one to give advice. I almost ruined my marriage. Lesson learned.”
It was Abby’s turn to kiss Leigh’s forehead. “Good.” She headed out the front door, turning as she reached it. “Just wish me luck?”
Leigh smiled, standing in the light of the dining room window looking ten years younger than she had the night before. “Luck, Abby. Nothing but luck to you.”
Abby flashed a big grin, crossed her fingers and headed out the door.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Abby’s gait showed she was as deflated as she felt inside. She had spent the last hour and a half walking the property and the neighborhood trying to find Andrew, with no luck.
Trudging up to the front porch, she sat down in one of the lounge chairs. She surmised that if she were to stake out the front yard, eventually he’d show up. Not that I’m even sure what to say anymore, she thought sadly to herself.
A noise at the other end of the porch startled Abby out of her daydream about “things to say to Andrew to make it all better.” The front door had been opened a slight crack. It was Maria checking on her.
“Saw you come walking up the drive, girl. Looks like you’re dragging a little.” She stepped out onto the porch to join Abby. “You okay?”
Abby shrugged, trying to disguise her crestfallen face, but not able to. “Eh. I can’t find Andrew.” She looked up at Maria sadly. “I wanted to . . . well, make things right. As right as I can, anyway. I’m not sure what that means yet, I just know I need to see him.”
Abby was using the tips of her sneakers to trace a heart in the sand on the porch floor. “Maria, how do you know? How do you know it’s okay to take a chance? You know . . . with love or whatever it may be that seems like it’s love.”
Maria threw her head back and laughed at Abby. “You and your sister with your overanalyzing.” She breathed out a heavy sigh and sat down next to Abby on the lounger. “You never know if it’s a good idea to take a chance. That’s why you take them. Chances, risks, leaps of faith.” She put her arm around Abby, squeezing her close. “You’re gonna find out that’s all you do in life. No one ever knows. Like with you taking over the inn.”
Abby sat there for a few minutes in comfortable silence before she smiled at Maria and stood up.
“Thank you, Maria.” She looked at her watch. “Almost time for Leigh and me to meet Jack and give him our apologies that we are pulling the offer.”
Maria nodded. “First you should go and check in the pool house one more time, Abby.”
Abby eyed the woman suspiciously. “For what, exactly?”
“Just go. And remember, Abby. You don’t find love. It finds you.”
#
Abby burst through the door of the pool house, expecting to find Andrew sitting there waiting. However, she instead found it was neater than it had been earlier. Upon further inspection, Abby realized Andrew wasn’t the only thing missing from the pool house. His bags were, too.
Taking a big breath, she walked outside, prepared to go across the lawn and into the meeting with Leigh. As she was walking across the yard, a familiar figure was heading her way, holding up his hands as if he were under arrest.
“Truce?” Andrew asked sweetly.
Abby gasped, and stifled the yelp that was threatening to escape her lips as she dashed into his arms. He held her close as she gripped his body close to hers.
“I thought you left!”
Andrew pulled away so he could see her face fully, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair. “I told you, I had to meet my boss today. I packed my things and put them in Ziggy’s cab to save a step later.”
Abby felt her insides shaking. She realized at this moment that the thought of losing Andrew had been a little more than she could bear right now. That has to mean something!
“You already met with your boss?” She was holding his face in her hands, and smiling at him. It was setting in that she was truly happy in his arms and couldn’t imagine this feeling going away anytime soon.
He nodded. “I did. We met at Ricky’s.”
“Ricky’s? Well, that was convenient.”
“Actually, we met there more out of need. The family I work for, the Rhyses, are buying Ricky’s.”
The words had more of an impact on Abby than either one of them could have expected.
“The Rhys family? You work for them?”
Andrew’s answer was slow and premeditated. “Well . . . yes. They buy property all over the Caribbean and rebuild or revamp it for turnaround or to keep. Depends on their mood, really.” Abby noticed Andrew’s eyes darken ever so slightly. “Well, depends on the mood of the sister, Colleen. She and her mother, Brittany, have interesting tactics when it comes to business. Not the nicest, those two.”
Abby felt ill. “What about the men? The father?”
Andrew’s face was questioning. “Their father is a decent man, I guess. Jack has always been good to me. For that matter, so has Jack Jr.” He caressed her shoulders as if trying to get the genie out of Aladdin’s lantern. “The fellows are good, honest men. Why, Abby?”
Abby, in her shock, was still trying to comprehend everything. “Andrew, your boss is staying here at La Cantina. Did you know that?”
Andrew shook his head. “No. He never mentioned it. But he asked if I’d sit in on a meeting here with someone he is thinking of buying out.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I honestly figured it was a neutral territory for some local selling o
ff one of the old sugar mills or for a real estate agent to conduct his business.”
“Andrew, I hope you don’t get in trouble for all of this, but . . . Jack Rhys is here to buy La Cantina. He’s planning on making an offer to Leigh today.”
Andrew’s face twisted in confusion. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure! I took the reservation myself. He’s here. And he’s not going to be happy . . . ” Abby took a second to pause for dramatic effect . . . “because we’re not selling it, Andrew.”
Andrew stood expectantly in front of Abby, waiting for her to continue.
“We’re not selling it because I’m staying here. I’m going to run it.”
Abby didn’t have to wait long for Andrew’s reaction. As soon as she uttered “I’m going to run it,” he swept her into his arms and twirled her around the yard, quite similar to the way Ziggy had twirled Maria one afternoon many moons ago when Abby had first arrived on the island. Giggling and kissing and spinning, Abby knew she could live happily if she was killed by a bolt of lightning knowing this was her last moment on earth.
“I’m so happy for you! Brilliant, Abby! Absolutely flipping brilliant!” His gaze was filled with prideful admiration. “So, you’re not going back to Los Angeles?”
“No. Well, eventually I’ll need to go pack things up or sort them out, but I’m going to stay here for a bit. We have some of our own rebuilding and revamping to do.”
“And you’re okay with this?” Andrew’s signature sweet gaze was in full throttle and Abby couldn’t break free from him.
“I am more than okay with it. It was my idea!” she answered, giggling. “I’m thrilled. And I’m thrilled you like the idea, too.”
He grabbed her in another big hug, setting her down gently on the ground after one last spin. “Well, this makes it easier to come back here now as we work on Ricky’s. Jack wants us both to be very hands-on with this project. Seems this island is pretty special to him and his family.” He winked at her. “And, now, you’ll be here.”
Abby felt that warm heat surge through her body as she realized this wouldn’t have to be a long-distance relationship, at least not for a while. It’s almost like we’ll be taking our time to get to know each other, she thought. It’s the best of both worlds.