Wildflower

by Prudence MacLeod

  “Dad...”

  “Would an eight by ten be sufficient?” asked Abby, “or do you want something larger for the wall.”

  “Oh something for the wall would be nice,” he grinned.

  “Very good, now you know what you’re getting for Christmas.” Hazel was blushing furiously, but there was a wild hope rising in her as well. Perhaps Abby did want this to go long term after all.

  As bed time rolled around, Hazel’s mother began to look quite uncomfortable. “Miss MacKai, that bed in Hazel’s room is quite small,” Lilly said at last. “Mabel has a whole room available at her house.”

  “Thank you Mabel,” smiled Abby as she nodded at the older woman, “perhaps another time. I would prefer to remain close to Hazel now.”

  “But the bed is so small.”

  “We’ll snuggle,” smiled Abby sweetly, “it’s not a problem. It’ll be just like the pajama parties in the old days.”

  “But...” Hazel’s mother ceased her objections as Abby turned those eyes of fire and ice on her. “If you would prefer Lilly, Hazel and I can seek out other accommodations,” said Abby, a trace of pure ice creeping into her voice.

  “No, no, that won’t be necessary,” Lilly replied hastily as she averted her eyes.

  “Lilly,” said Abby warmly as she reached out to touch the woman on the arm, “I know you are just concerned for our comfort, but trust me, we’ll be fine.” Lilly nodded her head and let it go.

  “That woman is all class,” Walton mused softly to himself.

  The bed was indeed small, and with Hazel’s height, she filled most of it. “I’m really sorry Abby; I’ll grab a blanket and sleep on the floor.”

  “Forget that,” grinned Abby. “If you think I am giving up this chance to snuggle with you, you are very much mistaken. Now get in that bed.”

  “Yes ma’am,” giggled Hazel as she got into bed and tried to make room for Abby. It was indeed a snug fit for them both.

  “There now, this isn’t so bad at all,” smiled Abby as she cuddled into Hazel.

  “Abby this is driving me crazy.”

  “Really?” grinned Abby as she turned and squirmed up so she could hold Hazel’s head against her breasts. “How so?”

  “Stop teasing me,” hissed Hazel softly as she lightly pinched Abby’s butt making her yelp. “Sshhh, my parents are on the other side of that wall.”

  “You started it,” giggled Abby. “Come back here now and let me hold you. So how is this driving you crazy?” She got no answer, but she felt the soft tremor in Hazel’s body and the dampness of the tear that fell on her breast. “Oh Hazel, I’m so sorry.” Hazel said nothing, she just hugged Abby fiercely.

  “Hazel,” Abby whispered softly, “I know this is not the best time or place for this, but there is something I feel I must say to you now.” Hazel cringed as she waited for the bomb to fall. Abby wasn’t going to be able to do the girl-girl thing and Hazel’s world was about to end. She lay very still in Abby’s arms. “Hazel Fillmore, I have fallen madly in love with you,” whispered Abby, “and I want you to marry me.”

  It was a long moment before Hazel could move. Finally it sunk in what Abby had just said. She pushed back and gazed deeply into Abby’s eyes. “Please don’t tease me like this Abby,” she whispered softly. “You know darn well that I am in love with you.”

  “So, is that a yes? Hazel, I am not teasing you, I am begging you. Please marry me and stay with me forever.”

  This time Hazel did not hesitate. “Yes I will,” she whispered softly. She had no chance to say anything more as Abby’s lips were pressed tightly to her own. There was a fiery passion in that kiss and Hazel melted under its heat. With a soft moan she wilted completely into Abby’s arms.

  “I am quite serious, Hazel my love,” breathed Abby as their lips parted. “I wanted to wait for a better time, but I could wait no longer.” She kissed Hazel again, and this time it was she who melted as Hazel came alive with passion and desire.

  “More,” breathed Hazel as their lips parted slowly. The passion was clear in her eyes, and she was thoroughly aroused. Her hands took on a life of their own as they began to explore Abby’s curves.

  “Hazel Fillmore, you parents are on the other side of that wall,” giggled Abby. “Yes my love,” she relented as she pulled Hazel closer and kissed her gently, “there will be plenty more, and our time will come soon enough. Come here to me now, I want to hold you while you sleep.” She pulled Hazel against her breast and cuddled her there as they drifted off to sleep. On the night before her grandmother’s funeral, lying in her childhood bedroom, Hazel Fillmore had just been proposed to and accepted. The wildflower had declared herself and all was well in Hazel’s world.

  Life Story

  Abby awakened slowly and stretched luxuriously. With a yawn and a sigh she relaxed completely, starting to drift off again. Suddenly she sat bolt upright, there was far too much room in the bed, Hazel was no longer there with her. Abby listened carefully; there was a soft buzz of voices from somewhere downstairs, Hazel’s among them. With a warm smile Abby arose and padded to the bathroom. It was busy so she returned to the bedroom and dressed while she waited her turn.

  A short while later all conversation in the kitchen stopped as Abby entered. She was dressed in jeans, T-shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a pony tail. Her smile lit up Hazel’s world as she greeted everybody warmly. “This is so unusual for me,” Abby said as she sat and Hazel served her breakfast, “I’m usually the first one up.”

  “This is farm country missy,” remarked Donnie, “folk have to be up in the morning.”

  “Your dad woke you up did he?” grinned Abby. Everybody laughed as he blushed to his roots.

  “How did you know?”

  Abby reached over and took his hand, turning it over. “You are not a farmer anymore sir, I felt no calluses on your hand when we met yesterday. I did feel them on your father and Terry. I therefore concluded that Terry was the only one still working the farm with his father. Since you do not farm, you would have no reason to keep farm hours, but your father, being a natural born tease, would surely take great pleasure in waking you up early as he once did. So how am I doing?”

  “You are way too sharp. You’re giving blondes a bad reputation.”

  “It’s a very bad mistake to discount someone because of their looks,” she responded coolly as she released his hand and returned to her breakfast. “You have a habit of discounting women Mr. Fillmore, and that is in part why your business is failing.”

  “Now you’re starting to scare me Miss MacKai,” he responded softly. “How did you know I’m in financial trouble?”

  “I’ve lived and worked in the business community in New York as well as San Francisco,” she replied. “I am now a self employed consultant, and this is what I do. You dress well sir, but there are signs of wear on both your clothes and your face as well as an edge in your manner. By the way you spoke to me when we met and again this morning I would guess you’ve been fleeced in a divorce by a blonde who was a lot smarter than you gave her credit for. How am I doing?”

  “Sadly, you are right on the money. So you’re an independent consultant, what do you charge?”

  “This is neither the time nor the place to talk business,” she replied more gently as she reached over and patted his hand. “You can always contact me through Hazel. Give it a week then call; we’ll see if I can be of any help.”

  “More tea sweetie?” asked Hazel as she put her hand on Abby’s shoulder and smiled. She was enjoying seeing Abby take the wind out of her older brother’s sails. Donnie could be such an arrogant ass sometimes and he had always teased Hazel unmercifully when she was a child. She poured Abby’s tea then sat beside her, still smiling.

  “What are you looking at me like that for?” asked Abby as she noticed Hazel’s smile.

  “Honey, this is the first time I have ever seen you in anything but retro glamour outfits,” laughed Hazel.

  “Oh yeah? Listen, thi
s city girl can do the jeans thing too you know. Actually, I brought jeans and boots in hopes of getting a tour of the farm. Any chances?”

  “Finish your tea and away we go.”

  “I’ll just run up and hang up my dress so the wrinkles fall out of it,” smiled Abby as she rose from the table. “Shall I hang up yours as well?”

  “I’ll come with you,” replied Hazel softly, dropping her gaze.

  Abby was a bit puzzled, but she said nothing until they were in the bedroom alone. “Honey, what is it?”

  “I don’t really have a proper dress Abby,” sighed Hazel, “that red one I wore to the dance is the only one I own and I can’t wear that to Gran’s funeral. I know you should always have one for occasions, but I have never been in the right tax bracket, if you know what I mean.”

  “How far is the nearest shopping center?”

  “Abby, I can’t let you...”

  “Did you or did you not agree to marry me?”

  “Yes I did,” replied Hazel as she pulled Abby into her arms and kissed her gently.

  “Then will you call it an engagement present?” breathed Abby as their lips slowly parted. “Every girl needs a little black dress, and with the right accessories it can work for any occasion. Honey, it’s Ok, we can afford it no problem; please let me do this for you. You need a dress for today; my world famous photographer has to be properly attired.”

  “Alright,” sighed Hazel as she gave in. She really did want to have a nice dress for the funeral; the locals would have a field day if she showed up in her black work pants. “We’d better get a move on if we’re going to be back in time.”

  “Change of plans,” announced Abby as they swiftly descended the stairs. “I need a few supplies so we’re off to town. We’ll be back in plenty of time, I promise.”

  “All class,” sighed Walton as he smiled and headed for the barn.

  Abby was driving pretty fast and Hazel was getting concerned. “Abby, what is it?”

  Abby sighed and slowed the car. “Hazel honey, there is a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “Whatever it is doesn’t matter to me. Go ahead and let it out so we can say goodbye to it forever.”

  “And therein lies my biggest fear,” sighed Abby. “Hazel, I’m a girl with real problems and you need to know a bit about them before you commit yourself to me. You see, I have some real issues around abandonment. Listen now and bear with me, it’s a bit of a story.

  “Little Abigail Aislin MacKai was born in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. By the time she was five, her father moved the whole family to Montreal. Two years later her parents divorced, father going west to eventually remarry, and mother going east to get drunk and stay that way. Grandmother MacKai had come with the family to Canada and had landed a great job almost at once. When the family split up, she stayed in Montreal and Wee Abby stayed with her.

  “Once out of high school I went to work for a firm in New York. They needed someone who could speak French so I was in. My boss was sweet and he furthered my education as well as paid me very well. He and his wife practically adopted me. There were a few passes at romance, but nothing special.

  “Eventually Harry sent me to San Francisco to set up a branch office. It was shortly after that I met Randy.”

  “Uh oh,”

  “Uh oh, is absolutely right,” sighed Abby as she slowed the car even more. “I fell head over heels in love with him, or so I thought. He was a handsome law student with long term career plans. For several months we were always together. I was so convinced that he was going to marry me. I had stars in my eyes, a song in my heart, and my brain in my pocket. I could see myself at his side while he went from law practice into politics and on to the senate. It all seemed so perfect; I did not see the warning signs.”

  “Warning signs?”

  “He never introduced me to his family, never once to any of their friends, and whenever I would mention marriage he’d just change the subject. Anyway, to make a long story short, I got pregnant.”

  “Oops,”

  “Big oops,” sighed Abby again as she let the car slow even more. “I told him and he literally ran away from me.”

  “Oh no,” whispered Hazel. “Just like I did.”

  “I searched for him for three weeks,” Abby went on, “but he avoided me completely.” Hazel’s head was down now and there was a tear in her eye. “It was about then that I thought I had the worst day of my life,” said Abby. “I woke up in terrible pain and just made it to the bathroom in time for my body to abort the fetus. I lost a lot of blood, but managed to clean myself up and get to my doctor.”

  “Oh dear gods, Abby,” sniffed Hazel as she reached for Abby’s hand. Abby squeezed Hazel’s fingers and continued. “The doctor patched me up and told me to rest completely for two weeks. I took a taxi home and Randy was waiting for me. He didn’t say anything; he just put me in a car and took me to meet his father. What a completely odious little man. He would neither meet my eyes, nor would he acknowledge my hand as I introduced myself. He told me my little ploy wasn’t going to get me into the family fortunes and made all kinds of threats. They made me sign papers saying I didn’t know who the father was then they gave me a cheque for fifty thousand and sent me home.”

  “Goddam rotten sons of...”

  “There’s more,” sighed Abby as she squeezed Hazel’s fingers again. “When I got back to my apartment I found out that they had been busy calling in some very big favors. There was a man there from the immigration department. He pulled my green card then gave me the deportation papers and a plane ticket to Halifax. I had three days to pack up and leave the country.”

  “Oh my god, Abby,” breathed Hazel, tears filling her eyes, “what did you do?”

  “I emptied my bank accounts, packed all my stuff and mailed what I could to my mother in Halifax then caught the plane. Once I landed I spent several days in a hotel just resting up then I went back to the airport and took the first flight out. It dropped me in St. John’s. The next day I bought the old place where I live now.”

  “Oh my poor Abby,” sniffed Hazel as she squeezed Abby’s hand as though she would never let it go. “My poor baby.”

  “Well, that’s my story sweetie, still want me?”

  “More than ever,” whispered Hazel softly. “You are so strong Abby. I don’t know how you managed to hold it together.”

  “Who says I did? Hazel, I wrestle with depression; mind numbing, brain chilling, suicidal depression. I have medication for it, but I try to save it for the really tough times. That day I was trying to decide what I should do, take the bottle of sleeping pills and drift away, or take the happy pill and get on with life. I was about to swallow the sleeping pills until I remembered my grandmother’s favorite saying. ‘Living well is the best revenge.’ I took a happy pill instead and here I am.”

  “Abby, what it must have done to you when I vanished like that,” breathed Hazel with tears in her eyes again.

  Abby pulled the car off the road and turned to take both Hazel’s hands in hers. “Hazel honey, that was truly the worst day of my life. When I couldn’t find you I wanted to die. I sat in my chair for several days and hardly moved. When my neighbor found me I still hadn’t washed the make up off my face from that night. Wanda brought me around and helped me discover what had happened. Hazel I swear to you, the thought of losing you was far worse than what Randy and his father did to me. If you still want to marry me, it has to be forever.”

  “Oh yes, my little wildflower,” Hazel smiled through her tears as she squeezed Abby’s hands tightly. “Once I have you tied to me, I will never let you go. You are surely the one Abby, for I can’t get you out of my thoughts, and I haven’t since I first saw you over a year ago. Your beauty is only matched by your intelligence and your courage. I would consider myself blessed beyond measure to spend my life with you.”

  “Then you are mine Hazel Fillmore,” laughed Abby as she hugged Hazel fiercely, “and I’m keeping you. Now let’s go
get you a new dress.”

  “Abby, there are thing about me too,” said Hazel softly as Abby pulled back out onto the road.

  “Let me guess. The young Hazel Fillmore is a closet lesbian, trapped on the farm, and she longs to escape. She moves to the city and there follows a few years of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Tiring of it all she returns to being herself and tries to find where she really fits in. There follows a book of photographs, and that leads to a fateful meeting with a certain blonde bomber.”

  “In a nutshell,” laughed Hazel delightedly. “The details can wait, but that’s it in a nutshell.”

  “Hazel, I don’t care about your past,” said Abby gently, “I just want to spend the future with you.”

  “And so you shall my love, so you shall. Abby, can you tell me something?”

  “Sure sweetheart, what would you like to know?”

  “Where do you get all those great retro outfits?”

  “Ok, I’ve always loved playing dress up,” laughed Abby as she pulled back out onto the highway. “When I bought the old house it was crammed full of old furniture and clothing. It seems that the owner had inherited a house full of things from an elderly relative and moved it all into her house hoping to go through it, but she had a stroke and was unable to. Eventually she passed away and the place was sold to me, bag and baggage. It all seem so sad to me that two women’s lives all came down to a house full of stuff that everybody was in a real hurry to get rid of. Two lifetimes of experience gone and not one single soul left to care.

  “I decided that I would do what I could to honor the memory and life of the woman whose house I bought. Her name was Bride Murphy and I try to do as I vowed. She had some wonderful clothes and I had several outfits altered to fit me. There is still a lot from the other woman still untouched. She was a lot taller than me, but I couldn’t bring myself to give them away, the clothes are so beautiful. You know what? I’ll bet some of it could be made to fit you.”

  “Are you serious?”