Wildflower

by Prudence MacLeod

  “Of course I am,” laughed Abby, her bright mood fully returned. “When you come out to the place we’ll spend a day playing dress up, what do you say?”

  “Oh Abby, that sounds like such fun. I’ve always wanted to be a clothes horse, but never could afford it.”

  “Well we can now and I insist. We start right here right now.” She was pulling into the parking lot of a shopping mall in Amherst as she spoke. She stopped the car and opened her purse. “Use this,” she said passing Hazel her credit card.

  “Oh Abby, I couldn’t,”

  “Better get used to it sweetheart. As soon as we’re married I’ll get one with your name on it for you.”

  Hazel gazed into Abby’s eyes for a long moment, the love she was feeling clear on her face.

  “Abby, am I to be your kept woman?”

  “Hazel, I proposed to you and I fully expect to provide for you. You did say you wouldn’t try to uproot me, and that is way too far to commute to St. John’s; besides, I want you to concentrate on your photography.”

  “You really mean this?”

  “I really mean it Hazel my love,” replied Abby as she squeezed Hazel’s hand tightly.

  “Then the name on the credit card should be Hazel Elaine MacKai,” whispered Hazel softly.

  Home Again

  By the time the shopping was done, Hazel had a new dress, shoes, purse, and accessories. Abby pushed the limits of good judgment as she sped back toward the farm, but they managed to arrive safely and in time. “Cutting it a bit close aren’t you girls?” asked Walton as they fled past him and up the stairs.

  “Yes sir, three minutes tops,” called Abby as she raced up the stairs and disappeared into the bedroom, Hazel right on her heels.

  Hazel was already wearing her new outfit and only had to adjust her hair a bit. She gave it a few strokes with a brush and turned to see Abby already dressed. “How did you manage to change that fast?”

  “Magic,” laughed Abby as she ran a brush through her golden hair then pinned on the pill box hat. “How do I look?”

  “Perfect, let’s go my movie star bride.”

  “Oh I love the way you say that,” purred Abby.

  “Not now Abby, not now,” admonished Hazel as she hurried a giggling Abby from the room and down the stairs, “no time girl, no time.”

  The playfulness vanished when they reached the church. Up until this point Hazel had refrained from visiting the coffin, preferring to celebrate her grandmother’s life in stories and memories. Now she could no longer avoid it and the tears burst forth as she said her last goodbye to her beloved grandmother. Abby seemed to magically produce tissue from thin air whenever it was needed and Hazel needed one often. She cried softly through the entire service except for when she was called upon for the eulogy. The emotion plain in her voice, Hazel nonetheless managed to speak clearly and fondly as she talked of her grandmother and of the things she had learned at the old woman’s knee. Later, as they stood waiting at the grave site, Hazel whispered in Abby’s ear.

  “Abby, that thing you do to honor Bride Murphy, I think I will do the same for her. I will practice carefully all the skills she taught me and I will think of her as I do.”

  “I believe she would be proud,” Abby replied gently. “I know I am.” She gave Hazel’s arm another gentle squeeze and they fell silent once again.

  Back at the house Abby slipped back into her waitress role as she did her best to meet the needs of the more elderly women. Smiling sweetly at her, Hazel joined in. They made small talk with everyone and Hazel smiled more than once as Abby plugged her book and told everyone that she was becoming a world renowned photographer.

  Walton smiled gently as he watched the two of them. Abby was very skilled at making small talk without letting anyone learn anything about her. Everyone left that evening with the impression that Hazel was a well known photographer of wildlife and that Abby was her agent.

  Next morning they toured the farm then said their goodbyes and headed back to the airport. By late afternoon they were back in St. John’s, sitting in Hazel’s living room. “So what do we do now?” asked Hazel softly as she passed Abby a cup of tea then sat beside her.

  “Want to come home with me?”

  “Oh god Abby, I’d love nothing better, you know that,” sighed Hazel.

  “I know sweetheart,” smiled Abby as she patted Hazel’s hand. “You have obligations here in the city and I have to get home to Hubby and that damned proposal. Come visit next days off?”

  “Absolutely,” replied Hazel as she gazed into Abby’s eyes.

  “Say it like you mean it.”

  Hazel pulled her close and kissed her passionately, holding the kiss until Abby had melted completely into her arms. “Absolutely,” she breathed softly as their lips slowly parted.

  “Hazel honey,” sighed Abby, snuggling deeper into Hazel’s arms, “want to set a date?”

  “November eighteenth.”

  “Was that her birthday?”

  “Yes it was.”

  “November eighteenth it is. I’ll get this darned proposal out of the way and get to work organizing the wedding.”

  “Can’t I help?” asked Hazel mischievously.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Say it like you mean it.”

  Abby raised her lips to Hazel’s and kissed her deeply. “Absolutely,” she breathed.

  “Abby, I don’t want to let you go,” sighed Hazel as she hugged Abby tightly, rocking back and forth.

  “I know dear heart, I don’t want to go, but I have groceries to buy and a dog to retrieve. Want to come to the store with me?”

  “You bet,” sighed Hazel as she rose from the couch. “I’ll try to be adult about all this Abby, but I’ll probably pout every time we part.”

  “I know sweetie, I know,” sighed Abby as she put on her coat, “me too.”

  After the grocery store, Hazel went with Abby to pick up Hubby and to meet Edna. Billy was home too and there was no way out of it, they had to stay for dinner and share their story. Abby had expected to be in Jamaica Point by dinner time, but it was nearly dark by the time she dropped Hazel back at the apartment. A teary goodbye, a quick kiss and she was on the way home, this time with joy in her heart.

  As she walked through the door Abby saw that there were several messages on her machine. “Ah well, first things first,” she said to Hubby as she set about unloading the car. Eventually she sat with a cup of tea and began to check her messages. A few could be easily deleted, three were from Harry wanting a progress report, two more enquiring about hiring her services, and one from Hazel.

  “Hi sweetie, I know you aren’t home yet because I didn’t give you enough time, but I miss you and wanted to wish you sweet dreams. I’ll call you tomorrow after work Ok? Sweet dreams.”

  “You’re a sweet dream Hazel Fillmore,” smiled Abby as she turned off the machine and climbed the stairs for bed.

  “Hi honey, I’m home,” called Tommy as he came through the door, then, “Oops, sorry Hazel,” as a sleepy Hazel came tottering out from her bedroom. “I forgot how late it is.”

  “It’s Ok,” she laughed as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “It’s really good to see you again.”

  “Everything went Ok I see.”

  “Tommy, it was wild and magical and .....”

  “So who proposed, you or Abby?”

  “Abby,” she smiled dreamily. “Oh Tommy, it was all so mixed up. We weren’t there more than two minutes when Donnie started hitting on her.”

  “Some things never change.”

  “Yeah, well, Abby shot him down in flames,” laughed Hazel. “You should have seen her Tommy, she was wonderful. He started on her again the next morning and she cut him apart. Honey, this gal can take care of herself and me in the bargain.”

  “So tell me more,” he prompted as he hung up his coat and headed for the refrigerator. Hazel followed him into the kitchen and sat to the table before continuing with
her story.

  “Well, at first everybody was in awe of her. After a while she did something and nobody could quite tell what, but she was waiting on the older ladies and stuff. I’m telling you everybody loved her.”

  “Even Lilly?”

  “Well, maybe not Mom, but she’s no match for my Abby, when Mom tried to send her away for the night rather than let her sleep in my room by saying the bed was too small, Abby offered to take me to a motel where there would be a much bigger bed. Mom shut up then.”

  “Wow, I wish I could have seen that. What did your dad think of her?”

  “She had Dad eating out of her hand in minutes. He says Abby is all class and I have to agree with him.”

  “So do I Hazel, after the way I behaved she had every right to feed me to the dog, but she didn’t. She didn’t try to put a wedge between you and me either. Walt is right, she’s all class. So when is the wedding, or is there going to be anything official?”

  “The wedding will be on my grandmother’s birthday, November eighteenth,” replied Hazel softly. “Want to be the best man?”

  “Love to, not having a bride’s maid?”

  “Bet your boots,” she laughed. “Can you share the duties with Irene?”

  “Be my pleasure. Get a ring yet?”

  “Not yet, but I think I might soon. Somehow I have to find the means to get one for her.”

  “Maybe I can help you out there,” he grinned as he passed her an envelope. She opened it to find a cheque for fifteen hundred dollars made out to her.

  “Tommy, what is this?” she asked, a bit puzzled.

  “I sold the rest of the books to a Newfie specialty store out in Vancouver. Girl, you are now officially out of print.”

  “Tommy, you’re the best boyfriend I ever had.”

  “Woman, I’m the only boyfriend you ever had,” he replied primly, “try again.”

  “You’re the best friend I ever had,” she said, smiling brightly, a twinkle in her eye.

  “Much better,” he laughed. “Hazel my love, I am so happy for you.”

  “Thanks sweetie, so how is it going with Charlie?”

  “He wants to get married.”

  “Got a ring?” asked Hazel, mischief in her voice.

  “No,” he replied emphatically, “we’re boys and boys don’t do the ring thing.”

  “No?”

  “Ok, so I’m buying him a ring,” laughed Tommy.

  “When’s the big day?”

  “First of October,” he sighed, a wistful smile on his face.

  “Can’t wait?”

  “Can’t wait. Want to be the best woman?”

  “Love to,” she replied delightedly.

  “I’ll keep up my end of the expenses until you’re ready to move out,” he promised.

  “Tommy, how did we get so lucky?”

  “Maybe it was our turn honey,” he smiled as he steered her back toward her bedroom. “Sweet dreams.”

  Singing softly to herself Abby busied herself about the house. It was still early, but she’d already walked Hubby on the beach and started a load of laundry while she made herself a breakfast. “Hello the house,” called Wanda as she poked her head through the door.

  “Come in Wanda,” called Abby, “tea’s ready.”

  “Wonderful.”

  “So how was the shopping trip?” asked Abby as Wanda joined her at the table and poured herself a cup of tea.

  “Overwhelming actually, I so rarely go anywhere that I got a bit of a culture shock. There was so much to choose from that I couldn’t seem to make up my mind.”

  “That can happen. Growing up in Montreal I always thought of myself as a big city girl, but when I first hit New York I was totally blitzed. I didn’t know where to look first.”

  “That was exactly what happened to me,” sighed Wanda as she took a sip of her tea. “So tell me about your trip.”

  “It went pretty well I thought. I met the family and think I can get along with them Ok.”

  “So is that completely necessary?”

  “Afraid so, they are to be my in-laws after all.”

  “So, Hazel proposed did she?”

  “No, I did,” laughed Abby. “After what happened to me the last time I didn’t want there to be any guessing games going on. As soon as I was certain she was the one and that she felt the same, I popped the question.”

  “Well now, things sure have changed since I was a girl.”

  “So how do you feel about all this?”

  “Oh no Abby,” breathed Wanda as she laid her hand gently on Abby’s arm, “I think it is quite wonderful.”

  “Honest?”

  “Honest and for true.”

  “Care to be the matron of honor?”

  “Oh dear lord yes,” enthused Wanda. “When’s the big day?”

  “November eighteenth, that was Hazel’s grandmother’s birthday.”

  “That’s sweet, so have you started making any plans yet?”

  “Not yet, I have a report to get out of the way and Hazel has a few days work to make up, but as soon as she gets a couple of days off, she will come out here and we’ll get right to it.”

  “Any ideas at all?” asked Wanda searching for even a hint.

  “Retro, we both want to do it in retro outfits.”

  “Well,” smiled Wanda, “Bride was married in her grandmother’s wedding dress and I think it still might be here somewhere.”

  “Yes it is. I tried it on one night last winter and it actually fit me. I will need it adjusted a bit, but that’s the one I want.”

  “Bride Murphy would be proud of you Abby.”

  “Thank you Wanda,” blushed Abby softly. “That does mean a lot.”

  “So have you bought her a ring yet?”

  “Not yet, but I have to soon. I want to give it to her when she comes out.”

  “Have you thought about giving her Bride’s rings?”

  “Oh my god Wanda, no, I didn’t think of that,” exclaimed Abby, “but that would be perfect. I put them in my own jewelry box intending to wear them myself one day, but they will be perfect for Hazel. Her hands are bigger than mine so I’ll have to get them sized up for her. Oh Wanda, thank you so much for the suggestion and for being my matron of honor.”

  “All my very great pleasure Abby,” smiled Wanda. “Will your family be able to come do you think?”

  “I’m not going to invite them. As I’ve said before, Mom’s a drunk and Dad’s new wife is jealous of me and shows it. Why would I want to spoil my wedding day with that? No, I’ll send them each an official announcement and a photograph after the fact. We will all enjoy ourselves so much more this way.”

  “So who’s going to give you away?”

  “I am going to ask Harry to come up for that. The man is closer to a father than any other I have ever known. If he can’t make it, I’ll ask Edna Parsons.”

  “Well my dear, you have a lot to do in the next few days,” sighed Wanda as she rose to go, “so I’ll leave you to it. If there is anything I can do...”

  “You and Keith have dinner with Hazel and I when she comes out?”

  “Absolutely, we’re both dying to meet her.”

  “Stop by for tea tomorrow?”

  “Count on it,” smiled Wanda as she disappeared through the door.

  “And so to work,” smiled Abby as she rose to her feet and headed for her office.

  The Visit

  It had been a full week of hard work and phone calls, but it was over. Outside the Foggy Morning Café, a time displaced movie star paced back and forth anxiously in the parking lot, a huge floppy eared dog right at her heels. She stopped to glance at her watch for the hundredth time and then resumed her pacing. Suddenly her wait was over. “Hey gorgeous, looking for me?” asked a rich contralto voice and Abby spun around to see that smile that lit up her world.

  “Absolutely,” she gushed as she hurled herself into the waiting arms of her lover. Hazel kissed her deeply, not caring one whit who mig
ht see. “Mmmm, I think somebody missed me,” she purred.

  “Stop teasing me and let’s go,” laughed Abby as she dragged Hazel toward the car.

  “Oh Abby, I’ve got something to show you,” grinned Hazel as she opened her purse and pulled out her new driver’s license. It had a beautiful picture on it; she’d obviously made herself up for the occasion.

  “Wow, what a babe, so you’re legal now?”

  “Yes my darling. Tommy has been making me drive him everywhere so I can get in some practice.”

  “Bless his heart,” laughed Abby. “As soon as we load up at your place, I get to be the passenger. Are you all packed?”

  “All packed and ready to go. I’ve got six rolls of film and my digital just in case.”

  “Did you pack any clothes?”

  “Yes Miss Smarty,” retorted Hazel, “I packed some clothes. Oh Abby, I can’t believe it is finally happening. I’m finally going to spend a few days with you out in your world.”

  “Me too sweetie,” sighed Abby as she turned into the parking lot of Hazel’s building. “We’re so close now I don’t want to take any chances. We grab your things and head for Wendy’s then we’re out of here before anything can mess us up.”

  “Stay right there,” laughed Hazel. “I’ll just run up and grab my bags and we’re on the way.” Abby was amazed at the speed as Hazel bolted for the building. She was back in a very few minutes, wearing jeans and carrying three suitcases which she stowed in with all the groceries in the back of the car.

  “Three bags?” smiled Abby as she slid over to the passenger’s seat. “Moving in I hope?”

  “I wish,” sighed Hazel as she settled herself behind the wheel and adjusted the seat and mirrors, “but I thought I’d leave a few things out there if it is Ok with you.”

  “I think it is a splendid idea,” replied Abby as she scooted over to the middle beside Hazel and fastened the seat belt. “As a matter of fact I love the idea. This will make it so much more real to me sweetheart.”

  “And to me,” Hazel agreed. “Ah, here we are at the restaurant of choice.” Hazel smiled at the way people automatically treated Abby with deference. She commented on it as they sat to the table.