“Fine.” The phone’s ringing punctuated her consent. “Bring your toothbrush.”
When she picked up the receiver, a woman said, “Good morning. May I please speak with Matthew Foster?”
Abby’s knees buckled, and she grabbed the counter to support herself. Was someone trying to call her husband? Or could the woman be referring to Tommy? “Are you calling about my six-year-old son?”
“No. The person I’m looking for is an adult.”
“I’m sorry, but Matt Foster is deceased. Is this call possibly about something I can help you with?”
“Uhh, no. I’m very sorry for your loss. Thank you.”
Before she could say anything further, the woman broke the connection. Replacing the receiver in its cradle, Abby wrinkled her brow. “Some woman wanted to talk to Matt.”
Robert waved his hand. “It was probably a solicitor.”
“Maybe. But how would anyone connect him with this number? The phone has never been listed in his name.”
~~~
Only a deaf man could help but overhear Abby and Rob’s argument reverberating through the house. Matt couldn’t deny getting a small amount of pleasure from their dispute—until Rob bellowed that he’d be moving in.
The floor seemed to vanish under his feet, and his heart felt as if someone was squeezing it. How could he sleep in Abby’s guest room, knowing she was making love with Robert on the other side of the wall? Lucy would probably let him sack out on her sofa, but if he left at night, the next thing he knew, Rob would push him out of the house totally. Which was exactly what the bastard wanted.
As soon as Abby left with Rob to run errands, probably for their wedding, Matt took the boys shopping. Their first stop was the music store where he bought a few beginner piano books and a copy of the sheet music for In My Life. With Tommy’s innate ability, he could learn a lot from studying on paper what he already knew how to play.
After that, they visited a discount store and bought two notebooks along with a child’s dictionary. Then, on the way to the lumberyard, Matt picked up the copies of his résumé from the typing service Malcolm Carlisle had recommended.
“What’re ya gonna make, Dad?” Tommy asked while they strolled between the stacks of wood.
Matt’s heart sang, hearing his son call him Dad. “Something for your mom.”
Royce ran his hand along a board. “What’s it gonna be?”
“I don’t really know, yet. She likes to cook. Maybe a spice rack.” Since it was his first project, he needed to keep it simple. “Or do you think she’d rather have a hope chest to keep her mementos in?”
“What’re mentos?” Tommy’s forehead puckered. “I don’t think my mom has any of those.”
“I’m sure she does.” Matt chuckled. “Mementos are souvenirs to remember special occasions. Your mom probably has your first pair of shoes and a bunch of your drawings.”
“While he selected several wide, cherry boards, Tommy tugged on his jeans. “How big are ya gonna make it?”
“I’m not sure.” Matt pursed his lips. “I guess about the size of a wagon—but deeper so your mom can put stuff like photo albums in it. Don’t say anything. It’s a surprise. I don’t want to disappoint her if it comes out crummy.”
Royce shook his head and assured him, “It won’t be crummy, Dad.”
The boys made Matt feel tall enough to compete in the NBA. Thank God he had them to boost his spirits. He hadn’t heard a thing from either of the employment agencies, and he’d already put quite a dent in the little money he had.
As soon as he finished painting the house, he had no choice but to look for some type of manual labor to tide him over until he could find an engineering position. The only thing his years in a prison cell qualified him for was grunt work.
Chapter 12
On returning home, Tommy rushed back to the piano while Matt called directory assistance. Leonard and Ben had been released in a group of men before him. Since Matt hadn’t had the vaguest notion where he would end up, he told his friends he’d look them up once he got settled. His buddies both lived less than an hour away, one in Philadelphia and the other in Flemington, New Jersey.
“So, I guess Julie didn’t slam the door in your face,” Matt said when Ben answered.
“Mac!”
“No, it’s Matt.”
“Get out. That’s too freaky. Your memory came back?”
“Nope. The military ID’d me from my prints.” He told his friend about his wife and Tommy, and when Ben asked about Abby, Matt sighed. “It’s a long story, and I don’t want to run up her phone bill. I thought maybe we could get together this week with Leonard.”
“Great. What about today? I need to get away from here for a while, anyway, and give Julie some breathing room.”
Matt knew the feeling well. “Okay, but I’m babysitting this evening, so you’ll have to come here.”
“Sure. I’d like to meet your rugrat. I’ll call Leonard. He can take the train up from Philly, and I’ll pick him up in Newtown on the way to you.”
“Come about five-thirty. The two of you can help Tommy and me figure out how to make dinner.”
Ben chuckled. “If you guys don’t mind grease, I’ll whip you up a Danvers’s special.”
Matt was almost afraid to ask about his friend’s wife. “So—how is everything with Julie?”
“Not good.” Ben sighed in his ear. “I’ll tell you about it later, Matt.”
“No! Call me Mac tonight. And tell Len, too. Whatever you do, don’t refer to me as Matt.”
He gave Ben directions to the house, and shortly after he hung up, Abby and Robert strolled in the back door. She glanced toward the living room and huffed. “I can’t believe Tommy’s at that piano, again. It’s stopped raining. He needs to be out in the fresh air.”
When Abby returned from sending Tommy outside to play, Robert kissed her. “I’m going home to check in with my answering service and pick up some things for the night. I’ll be back between five-thirty and six.” He winked at her. “Why don’t you wear the dress you had on the night we got engaged. I really liked that one.”
Robert left without uttering a word to Matt. The dirty look he threw him said it all. Matt jerked his head toward the back door. “So, that jackass is really going to stay here tonight?”
“Yup.” Abby leaned back against the kitchen counter. “And if anyone’s to blame, it’s you. If you’d kept your lips to yourself, Rob wouldn’t feel like I need a chaperone.”
Matt peered at her sideways. “You don’t care if your son knows you’re sleeping together?”
“Tommy will understand we’re getting married. After all,”—she shrugged, heading for the hallway—“I can’t very well ask Rob to stay on the sofa when I’ll be his wife in a month.”
“Don’t keep reminding me,” Matt muttered. In the next few days, he was going to have to come clean with her.
“What’d you say?” She stepped back into the kitchen.
“Nothing. It wasn’t important. By the way, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a couple of friends to spend the evening with Tommy and me. That’s what I was planning to do tonight. If it’s a problem, I can call them back and—”
“Friends? I didn’t think....Did you remember something?”
“No. And I do have friends. Very close ones. We went through hell and back together.”
“Oh. You mean the guys who were POWs with you.”
“Ben, Leonard, and I saved each other’s lives more than just a few times. They’ll be here about five-thirty, so I can introduce them to you before you leave for the concert.”
She opened the freezer and rooted through it, removing a large roast. “If that’s the case, I’ll be sure to cook plenty for dinner.”
“I told you Tommy and I would fend for ourselves for supper. Besides, Ben cooks.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Mac. You don’t invite someone to dinner and ask him to prepare his own meal. And I know you would end up
scorching it.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re about as helpless in the kitchen as Matt was. He could char soup.”
“Oh, so you think I have a propensity to burn stuff, too?” He trapped her between his arms against the fridge. “Tell me something, Sweetheart. Do I use too much heat when I kiss you?”
A deep flush spread up Abby’s neck to her face. Her embarrassed silence spoke volumes.
“No?” He lifted his eyebrows. “I didn’t think so.”
~~~
Matt spent three hours in the basement and thought of an even better idea than a simple keepsake chest for Abby. Once he drafted a design for the project, he measured and cut the wood.
At five o’clock, he opened the basement door to the kitchen and a heavenly aroma greeted him. He peered into the oven at a rib roast with little potatoes, carrots, and onions arranged around it and a green bean casserole bubbling on the rack above it. On top of the stove, sat a cookie sheet with a towel over it. He peeked under the fabric and found little balls of dough rising.
Oh, man, homemade dinner rolls. Smiling, he shook his head. The woman could be willful and headstrong at times, but she was very generous to do so much for him. When Abby strolled into the kitchen, his breath caught in his chest. She’d swept her blond hair on top of her head and was wearing a short black cocktail dress that showcased every curve.
He dragged his gaze over her bare shoulders, down to the top of her full creamy breasts, and continued south to her sheer black stockings and stiletto heels.
“I sent Tommy to play at Royce’s to get him away from the piano. He’ll be home for dinner around five-thirty.”
Matt took her hand and spun her slowly, admiring her from all angles. The make-him-drool dress hugged her figure as if she’d been poured into it.
“Wow. You look....” He whistled, gazing into her eyes. “As scrumptious as dinner smells.”
“Scrumptious?” Abby snorted softly. “Not beautiful or stunning?”
“Oh, no. I’ll buy tasty, delicious, or even tempting. Those shoulders of yours are so appetizing, I’m salivating.” Stepping behind her, he pressed his lips to the nape of her neck and murmured as he nibbled his way toward one of the dress’s straps, “I need to take a little bite to see if they’re as luscious as they look.”
~~~
“Don’t you dare!” Abby slipped under Mac’s arm and escaped into the living room. Participating in his fun and games had gotten her into enough trouble the night before.
“Come on.” He followed her. “You can’t flash all that delectable flesh and not let me have even a sample.”
“No, you’ll ruin your dinner,” she said in the same tone she used to discipline the boys.
The confused expression on Mac’s face said her word choice led him to believe she was playing his game. And who knew, maybe she was without meaning to. He seemed to constantly suck her in the same way Matt had.
Reaching out, Mac grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, growling, “You’re such a tiny thing I’ll still have plenty of room left.” He dipped his head and nibbled playfully on her neck and shoulder.
“Last night was more than enough.”
“Now that I’ve gotten a taste, I want it all.” His mouth blazed a hot trail over her throat, leaving her so tense she could barely draw a breath. In the span of seconds, her knees turned to jelly. His hands slid under her short skirt and cupped her fanny, yanking her against him. He ground his hard body into hers while he kneaded her bottom.
“I shouldn’t do this,” she murmured as he tumbled her onto the sofa.
“I know, but do it anyway.” He covered her mouth in a frenzied kiss.
As she arched her back and let his hands roam unbridled over her body, reality suddenly seized her.
Robert. She couldn’t do this. Pressing her palms forcefully against Mac’s chest, she panted, “Stop. Please.”
He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. “You don’t really want me to stop, do you?”
“My body doesn’t want you to.” Her chest shuddering, she dragged in a labored breath. “But I do. I can’t do this to Rob. If you can’t accept that, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I’m sorry I took things too far.” Mac let out a frustrated sigh, pulling her skirt back down. “Dr. Grant may be right about my inclination to repress unpleasant memories. I think I’m deliberately forgetting about the dentist.”
A sharp knock sounded on the front door. Abby bolted straight up and fussed with the locks of hair that’d escaped during their tussle. She dashed toward the hallway. “I’d better go redo my hair and my makeup.”
~~~
Matt answered the door, thankful Abby had stopped him when she had. He let his friends in and threw his arms around them. “Ben, Leonard, damn, you both look great. You’ve put on some weight.”
Ben slapped him on the back. “You, too, you ugly son of a bitch.”
Leonard peered at Matt’s mouth and smirked. “The bridgework looks great.”
“Especially with the lipstick.” Ben snorted.
Matt frowned and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “Stuff it, Danvers.”
His friend raised his eyebrows and glanced around the room. So where are your son and the young lady who did such an expert job of applying your makeup?”
“Shhh....quiet, wiseass. Don’t call Tommy my son around her. I’ll explain later.”
Abby strolled back into the living room and stopped short.
“Abby I’d like you to meet my buddies, Ben Danvers and Leonard Washington.” Matt turned to his friends. “Guys, this is Abby Foster.”
She smiled and extended her hand to Ben. “It’s very nice to meet you.” As she turned to Leonard, she hesitated, clearly unsure of herself.
“I guess Mac didn’t mention I’m a bit darker than him and Ben, huh?”
“Uh, no, he didn’t.” She smiled and offered him her hand. “Probably because he knew it wouldn’t make any difference.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Leonard shook her hand, returning her smile “I think I already like you.”
“Mac hasn’t told me much about either of you other than you were POWs with him.”
“Yeah, he can be pretty closed-mouthed sometimes,” Leonard agreed. “We’ve been friends over six years, and I still don’t know a damn thing about him.”
Ben inhaled a long deep breath. “Mac, I thought we were gonna throw something together for supper. Or is that someone else’s meal making my mouth water?”
“It’s ours. Abby insisted on fixing dinner. You’re in for a treat. She’s a fabulous cook.”
“On top of being beautiful, smart, and having a gorgeous smile?” Leonard grinned at her.
Ben shoved Matt. “Hell, idiot, why aren’t you asking this girl to marry you?”
Matt stared into her eyes. “Unfortunately, as they say, I’m a day late and dollar short. She’s already engaged.”
A soft knock drifted in from the kitchen. “Abby, Honey.”
Rolling his eyes, Matt jerked his head toward the back of the house. “Speak of the devil. You’ll get to meet the lucky man.”
The four of them strolled into the kitchen to greet Robert, and while Abby introduced Ben and Leonard to him, Tommy ran in the back door straight to Matt. “Dad, I hit the ball eight times this afternoon.”
Ben and Leonard both did a double take at Matt.
“That’s super, Buddy.” Matt scooped his son up and hugged him. “See how much planting your rear foot helps?”
Robert scowled at Abby. “What’s with Tommy calling him Dad?”
Tommy tightened his arms around Matt’s neck, taking obvious pleasure in enlightening Rob. “Mac is my daddy, now.”
“What?” Rob did a double take and squinted at Abby. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”
“Yes. I’ll explain at dinner. It has nothing to do with you and me, so don’t get excited.”
While Matt introduced Tommy to his friends, Abby pul
led the casserole out of the oven and slid the dinner rolls in.
Matt took the dishes she removed from the cabinet. “I think the four of us can handle this. Go enjoy your evening.” Then he whispered at a barely audible level, “If you can, with your feet planted solidly on terra firma.”
She shot a dirty look at him.
Matt turned to Robert. “There’s a full moon tonight, isn’t there, Webber? Abby expressed an interest in space travel last evening.” He shot a smug look at her. “I think you ought to get your fiancé to show you the moon tonight—and maybe a few of the stars while he’s at it.”
Abby shoved past him and muttered under her breath, “You’re as funny as sand paper on a sunburn.”
~~~
During dinner, Matt listened to his buddies tell him about their situations. Apparently, Ben’s best friend had comforted Julie one night five years ago, and things had gotten out of hand. They’d had a daughter and Ben suspected the only reason Julie hadn’t already married his pal, Mark, was because Ben hadn’t been MIA long enough to be declared dead.
“She insists she still loves me, but she can’t bring herself to take little Sara away from her father. Julie says she needs time. Truthfully, I don’t see how it’ll change anything.”
“How’s Mark’s relationship with her?” Leonard asked.
“A lot better than mine was when I left for ‘Nam. I never told you guys this, but Jules and I were trying to have a baby for over a year. She hoped it would exempt me from being drafted.”
“It’s a shame you weren’t successful,” Matt mumbled. “Apparently, I was ROTC, so I didn’t have that out.”
“College was never an option for me.” Ben shrugged. “As you both figured out, I don’t read very well. Julie had all sorts of fertility tests, and everything seemed to be fine.” Ben glanced at Tommy and leaned toward Mac and Leonard, whispering, “She was trying to convince me to get tested to see if I was shooting blanks. At about the same time I got the Greetings—You are hereby ordered for induction into the United States Armed Forces letter. We were still fighting about me having the test when I shipped out.” Ben stared down at his plate and shook his head. “She isn’t going to want me back if I can’t give her more kids.”
The Memory of You Page 19