Tempting Fate

by A N Busch

  It took only moments for Abigail to stop her tears and stand up straight again. She turned off the now cold water, dried herself, and walked into her room naked, with all the confidence of a Playboy model. Her husband would give her real passion and it would be stronger and better than any dream.

  When the alarm went off hours later, Abigail found herself in the arms of her husband. Held tight to his naked body, the two of them lay alone. They kissed again as he led her silently into the shower with him. Thoughts of Abigail’s earlier shower never crossed her mind as together the two of them stood in the raining warmth and made love again.

  Her day passed quickly. All her work, every sketch, came out perfect the first time. Everything came together so quickly that she confidently went into her boss’s office and showed him her work.

  He was very impressed, “Abigail, this work is amazing! Please make a copy of everything for me, I would like to show it to the partners.”

  “Not a problem sir. Would you still like me to do a mini- formal presentation for you tomorrow morning?”

  “Oh no, that won’t be necessary. If the company that you are showing this to turns it down they just might be crazy. They have turned down quite a few firms already.”

  “I had heard that. High standards I suppose, or maybe this job was just meant for me.”

  “I think you might be right. This is beyond wonderful and the best work you have ever done.”

  “Thank you sir, I’m glad you like it.”

  She was in very high spirits when she picked up her children after work. That evening she spent time with her husband; they talked and laughed on the couch like they hadn’t in years. Romance was renewed between them and Abigail felt like she was twenty-four again. She fell asleep in her husband’s arms and slept peacefully through the night. No dreams of Westly would haunt her thoughts in the morning.

  Abigail awoke Saturday feeling refreshed as a gentle breeze blew around the room from their open window. Her family had their first free weekend in a long time - a clear spot on the calendar was a rare thing. She was done with so much of her project that she decided to spend the day exclusively with them. After breakfast everyone went outside. The children played while her husband did yard work and Abigail spent time weeding and tending to the garden area.

  The rest of the day was spent outside as well - riding bikes with the kids and playing tag in the backyard. Abigail’s husband cooked out on the grill, and after dinner it was not long before all three of the kids were yawning. Brady fell asleep at the table while Abigail was loading the dishwasher.

  Her husband carried him to bed as she tucked the others in before they went back outside with a bottle of wine. The two of them gathered a pile of wood from the side of the house and built a small fire. Abigail lounged in her chaise beside the fire pit sipping wine and staring at the stars above her. The sky was clear and she could see Orion above her. The night air was crisp but the fire blazing beside her was wonderfully warm. Sometime after she poured her third glass of white wine, she fell asleep. Her husband woke her up after the fire had become nothing more than a pile of embers and hot coals. He carried her up the stairs and put her into bed; with a sweet kiss on the forehead, she was fast asleep.

  Her dreams that night were a blur, snapshots really. They were not as vivid as they had been other nights. Abigail felt as if she were watching a slideshow this time - not playing a part in her dreams but watching it from afar.

  Moving pictures of a younger version of herself and Westly together in the grass by Wader’s Lake reading. Watching old movies in Westly’s room, his head in her lap and her hands playing with the spikes of hair. Lying together on her bed wrapped in his arms talking. Late night walks around the campus just the two of them. Sitting on a bench outside the oldest building on campus on a clear night looking up at the stars. Passing notes to each other in history class; holding hands under a desk. Sitting in the odd little coffee shop just off campus together. Parties and outings with her, now their, friends. Nothing she could not easily push out of her mind the next day.

  Sunday went by in a blur for the most part. Most of the presentation for her trip was completed. But she went into her office to add a few more elements here and there. New ideas would fly into her head at times faster than she could write them down. And the more she looked at the list of things, the more would come to mind. It was hard not to want to include everything but it just would have been too much. Too many small details could become overwhelming.

  It was almost eight-thirty in the evening when she looked up at the clock for the fist time. She had missed dinner and her stomach was letting her know. She went over her presentation and added a few more notes to it. The next time she looked up from her work and at the clock again, it was nine-forty. Where had the time gone?

  Abigail went upstairs and found that the kids were already in their beds. Her husband was getting out of the shower with the music blaring. When she entered the bathroom and shut off the radio, he jumped and turned around quickly. Holding the towel up to cover himself he said, “Hey, you startled me. I didn’t hear the door open. What’s going on?”

  “You had the radio so loud, you wouldn’t have heard a bomb go off down the street. Nothing is going on; I just worked so late I didn’t get to say goodnight to the kids.”

  “Sorry about that, I tired them out again today in the yard. It’s warm for this time of year.”

  “Well I’m going to head downstairs and find something to eat; come join me if you’re not tired yourself.”

  “I’ll be down shortly. There is a salad in the fridge I made for you and some grilled chicken in the microwave you can heat up if you would like. I thought you might come out of your dungeon hungry.”

  “It’s not a dungeon butthead.” Abigail grabbed the hand towel off the sink and whipped it at him. He jumped out of the way and just smiled at her. Abigail knew what that cocky smile meant and took off running, “Oh, no!”

  She was at the bottom of the stairs before he caught up with her and tackled her to the ground. She was expecting it and turned the tables the only way she knew how, a karate move he had insisted on showing her long ago. Once she had him pinned down, she couldn’t help but start laughing. She complained so much about him showing her for her own protection and the only time she used it was on him.

  “All right you got me, get off.”

  “Oh, no way. You thought you were smart and could get me, now you must laugh till you cry.”

  “Abigail Nickole, don’t you...” It was too late; she had found his ticklish spot and was going at it. She was laughing right along with him at first then he was kicking and trying to throw her off him. At some point it became more about trying to hold him down than tickling. He was starting to get frustrated now and she could tell, but a few more minutes couldn’t hurt. He was going to be agitated with her either way.

  When she final gave him a kiss and got up, he was cussing up a storm and she was laughing even harder. Her laughing only made him complain more, which made her laugh harder.

  “Hunny, I love you! Why are you so mad at me? I was just trying to show you that I love you,” she spoke half laughing but with a childish whine.

  “It’s not that damn funny, you stop laughing at me! I don’t know why you have to do the things you know are going to drive me nuts. I don’t do things to get you upset. Tried to have a little fun with you and... STOP. Laughing. At. Me!”

  It was too late. Abigail was back rolling on the floor with laughter. He was so cute when he got angry. He was storming into the kitchen now and she was trying hard to stop her giggles. She stood up and wiped the tears from her face. Why was it so hard to stop? She took a few deep breaths before she went into the kitchen behind him. He was turning on the microwave and still cussing under his breath.

  “I’m sorry hunny. I thought we were playing, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Don’t give me that crap, you know I hate to be tickled. You know how to get me all
worked up. I don’t want to hear that, ‘I do it to show you how much I love you,’ crap again either.”

  She went up to hug him and he jerked his arms up quickly as if to fend off an attacker. He was so jumpy it almost made Abigail start laughing again, but she was able to control herself and raised her hands taking another step slowly toward him. “I’m sorry, I’m done. Promise. You can calm down now.”

  “I’ll try to calm down, but don’t do it again.”

  “I won’t; I promise I won’t do it again... for a while,” She could promise not to do it again but only for a couple weeks. He was just too fun to pick on to give it up entirely.

  Abigail grabbed the salad and some dressing out of the fridge and set it on the table before she pulled out her chicken. She started ripping the meat into strips and putting the pieces in the salad.

  “So, did you want to hear about what I have been doing in the office all day?”

  “Yes. Do you want something to drink?”

  Abigail shook her head yes and started talking about the project. She was done with her salad in no time but still talking. She was trying hard not to overwhelm him with every little detail but excitement about it made it hard to stop herself, “I really can’t believe it all came to me so easily. I mean it was not nearly all the pressure I thought it was going to be.”

  “It sounds like you had fun doing this, you haven’t talked this way about your work in years. Where did this idea come from anyway?”

  “I’m not really sure. I wasn’t happy with what I had been doing and thought I might get some ideas from some old textbooks. I saw an old hand-drawn picture from one of the books, and it got my mind going in one direction, then it just branched out into this old New York City kind of feel, with a lot of black and white. Like you were looking back in time almost.” Abigail only stopped for a moment to take a drink of her water, “Then I had this really vivid dream where I just saw it all come together in front of me. It was like a sketch at first then all the pieces started to fill in. When the outside was complete, I was compelled to go inside. I felt like I was watching as everything inside came together. Then...” The vision of Westly there in the building with her popped into her mind.

  “Then… what?”

  “Oh nothing, I um, woke up and could still see everything clear as day.” Her brain was so busy relating her dreams of Westly to her work on the building that she almost didn’t hear her husband the next time he spoke.

  “Are you done?”

  “Oh, yes I am. I don’t have to work tomorrow morning, but I have to get the guest room ready for Aunt Melissa. I am going to drop the kids off in the morning and then pack my bags and get the room ready.”

  “I appreciate her coming to help out for a couple of days while you are gone, but you know I could handle it alone.”

  “I know, I told her about going out of town and she offered. I couldn’t say no, she misses the kids.”

  “I know; she hasn’t been over this way in what, three months or so?”

  “Four or five I think. My flight info and where I am staying is on the fridge already.”

  “Okay. By the way, I think you’re going to do great out there; if they don’t want this building, you can build it for me.”

  “What are you going to do with it?” She asked as she carried her dish to the sink.

  “We can just scale down the size and I will open my own accounting firm.”

  “I thought you didn’t want your own because of all the work you would have to do. Change of plans?”

  “For that building to come to life and for you, I would do it.”

  Abigail just shook her head at him and yawned. It was getting late so she decided not to wash the dishes tonight and take care of them in the morning. The two of them went upstairs and got in bed. In no time her husband was lying next to her snoring lightly, almost lulling Abigail to sleep.

  Chapter 17

  The next morning went by like normal, getting up and getting everyone ready for his or her day. Abigail loaded the kids in the car and before she got in, her husband was right behind her holding on tight to her waist. She turned around and hugged him tightly. He kissed her like she was going to be gone longer than just a few days. “I love you Abigail, please have a safe trip. Knock them dead out there. Then again, its New York City so I guess I should say, ‘Break a leg!’”

  “I’m not going to be on Broadway,” All she could do was shake her head and laugh at him. “I’ll be back before you know it. I love you!”

  He got in his car and was out of the driveway in a matter of seconds. The drive to school was short, and when they got there, Christian wasted no time jumping out of the car. “Hey I’m going to be gone for a couple of days. Aren’t you going to give me a kiss and a hug?”

  “Oh yeah, sorry Mommy,” he said hopping back in the car and looking around before giving her a kiss and a hug. “I love you Mommy, have fun.”

  “Have a good day baby, and don’t forget Aunt Missa will be here to pick you up right after school. You don’t need to take the bus to Mrs. Z’s house today.”

  He said okay, shut the door, and was gone in a flash. Brady was crying even before they got to Mrs. Z’s house. When she pulled him out of the car, he held tight to her. “Brady baby, it’s just a couple days. I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.”

  “But Mommy what about the wizard, what if he gets you? I’m not a knight so I don’t know how to fight his dragon. I don’t want you to have to stay there.”

  “There are no wizards or dragons in New York that are going to get me hunny. I’ll be just fine, I promise. Would you like it if I called and said goodnight?”

  “Yes please; I don’t think I can sleep without talking to you Mommy.”

  “Okay, I’ll try to call you every night before bed. You be a good boy for Aunt Missa and your Daddy while I’m gone now. I love you baby boy.”

  “I love you Mommy.”

  Abigail took the kids inside and hugged and kissed them goodbye again. Mrs. Z. came over to help them with their things and say good morning.

  “Good Morning Amy! Just so you know, I am taking a business trip out of town for the next few days and my aunt is coming into town to help out their father. She will be picking them up and dropping them off.”

  “Oh okay, that’s not a problem. I’m going to get my notebook and have you write it down for me. I’ll just need you to write down her name and that she has permission to pick the kids up and on what dates she will be picking them up.”

  “Okay, I wish I had thought of it sooner Amy. I would have had all this information ready for you.” After she wrote everything down, she waved goodbye to Mrs. Z and glanced over to Brady who was playing a card game with Adam.

  Abigail washed the dishes in the sink and went to get the guest room ready. She changed the sheets and put out fresh towels then did a little dusting in the room. Packing took the longest; she didn’t know what to take. How cold was it going to be there? She didn’t have a coat. She packed a couple of her suits and some jeans and the only two sweaters she owned. If it were too cold, she would just get a coat there.

  She changed into something nice but comfortable for the flight and then went down to make something to eat. The house was almost too quiet, but it was a nice change. Abigail carried her lunch into the office and started packing her briefcase. She was afraid of leaving something behind that she would need so she carefully gathered everything she had done on the project. When she got her briefcase to the front door beside her luggage, the front door opened, and Abigail jumped as she turned toward the intruder.

  “It’s just me jumpy, relax!”

  “Aunt Melissa, you’re here,” she said as she extended her arms out to her aunt for a hug.

  “Well, who were you expecting? The Easter bunny? Santa maybe?”

  The two of them laughed and Abigail helped her carry her bags up to the guest room. “Aunt Missa it’s only a couple days; what all did you pack?”

&nbs
p; “That one is gifts for the babies; you know I couldn’t come without bringing something for them Sugar. Got any coffee?”

  The two of them went back down to the kitchen and Abigail started a pot of coffee for her aunt.

  “So Abigail, what is new with you that is not work related?”

  Abigail answered as she reached into a cabinet for two coffee mugs and the small sugar and creamer bowl, “Not much really, the kids are excited to see you for a couple days, but they’re not too happy that I’m leaving.”

  “Well they will forget all about you being gone in no time Sugar. I’ll take good care of them, I promise.” Melissa got the creamer out of the fridge and poured a small amount into the dish.

  “There is something I wanted to get your opinion on though.”

  “What’s that Sugar?”

  “Yes, there is some in the sugar bowl already,” Abigail said lifting the lid to double check.

  “You want to run what’s in the sugar bowl by me?”

  Abigail looked at her confused for a moment, “Oh, no sorry, I thought you were asking for sugar.” Abigail twirled the placemat around in front of her as she sat down at the table. Maybe she didn’t need to talk to her aunt about the dreams.

  Her aunt sat down at the table across from her with a cup of hot coffee in her hands. “So Sugar, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

  She might as well ask her. Maybe she could recall something for her. “Well,” Abigail could not help but talk shyly about it; she still was not totally sure that talking about it with her aunt was a great idea. “I have been having these dreams that are really, I don’t know, odd I guess.” She waited a moment before going on as Melissa cleared her throat. She was not sure if it just happened or if it meant something. “They’re about a guy and I’m in college, everyone I knew is there. I don’t really remember him though; his name is Westly in the dream. He is kind of great, romantic and very handsome, loving and kind, perfect in everyway.” Abigail continued to play with the corners of the placemat and stare at it, afraid of what expression might be on her aunt’s face. She hadn’t really talked this way about the dreams before. Then again, she had not had that many of them when she had mentioned it to Rachel.