“Stop staring,” Kevin mumbled, as he slid onto the stool next to him. “Abby will be fine. She’s had decades of dealing with them.”
“Collectively, they have managed to say about ten words to me. Some of them expletives.”
A quick elbow below his rib forced him to turn his attention away from the small group huddled beneath an ornately decorated balsam tree. “Listen. In their own warped way they’re showing their love. Abby’s always been a little outside their comfort zone. You, my friend, are way outside of their comfort zone.”
Nick couldn’t deny that. He was a small-town athlete who had somehow made it big. Along the way he had also made some big mistakes. Several of which graced the pages of local gossip columns. All in all, a far cry from Boston’s elevated social strata.
“Hell, they’re acting like I’m from another planet. A far less intelligent one, at that.”
“Can’t fault them for that,” Kevin said, flagging down the bartender. “They’ll adjust. Just keep your eyes on the prize. Abby’s worth the effort.”
He shook off the urge to order a second draft. Alcohol wasn’t going to make the next few hours pass by any faster. Kevin was right. Once the dust settled there would be plenty of time to establish a relationship with her family. He turned his focus back on Abby, surrounded now by several generations of McCabe women. He watched her face scan the crowd, stopping only when her eyes met his. Nick tried to read her expression. A tentative smile followed by a roll of her eyes eased the tension in his gut. Maybe the worst was over.
Bridget appeared at his side, determined to reclaim her husband.
“That frown of yours is clashing with the theme of tonight’s party.” She rested a hand along the back of his shoulder. “Abby is taking her cues from you. Relax. The quicker you can find humor in these situations, the less likely you are to start hurling stuffed mushrooms at my extended family.”
A sharp cough had heads turning in their direction. Kevin dropped his head into his hands. It took several moments for his breathing to return to normal. “Geez, Bridget. Let it go. It was a freaking accident. I wasn’t aiming for your uncle’s forehead.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. No one believes you. Not even me.” Bridget pivoted toward Nick, avoiding the scowl on her husband’s face. “He’s a professional athlete. Tossing appetizers at a wedding reception, then claiming it was my mother wasn’t exactly his proudest moment.”
“Maybe not,” Kevin mumbled, “but it definitely makes my top five.”
Bridget leaned back, pushing her spine against her husband’s chest. “I’m not sure you’re a positive influence under the present circumstances. Let’s mingle before you corrupt poor Nick.”
He needed to circulate. Taking up residence at the bar was not the way to earn bonus points. Nick pushed his feet in the direction of the private gaming room where Abby’s brothers disappeared earlier. She had a soft spot for her brother Sean which pushed him to the top of Nick’s priority list.
Shoving his hands into the pockets of his wool trousers, he paused inside the French doors, waiting for his eyes to acclimate to the recessed lighting. The sound of raised voices had him rethinking his strategy. One sentence stopped him in tracks.
“I’m telling you, Abby wants nothing short of sole custody.”
Nick was almost glad he couldn’t hear the muddled response from Abby’s youngest sibling. Curiosity pushed him to close the gap, stopping mere inches behind Tim.
“Looks like I’m just in time to hear the punch line,” Nick said, forcing his clenched hands back into his front pockets. “Because that was either a really crappy joke or you’ve spent way too much time at the bar tonight.”
He watched the silent exchange pass between the two men. It was hard to read, but Nick suspected beneath discomfort was an iron level of defiance. The next words proved it.
“Listen. Our sister isn’t some baseball bimbo that you can string along. I’ve already started to put the paperwork together for full custody. With your reputation I’m guessing she doesn’t have a lot to worry about.”
Sean wisely stepped between them. “Hey, this is probably not the right time for this discussion.”
Anger was too close to the surface for Nick to step back. “Yeah well, you can take those papers and shove them. Abby and I have no intention of fighting this out in court.”
“Hell, you are a dumb jock,” Tim said, pressing his palm against the chest of his younger brother. “Who do you think asked me to get involved?”
The blood drained from his head, forcing Nick to lean against a pillar for support. “Abby would never screw me over like that.”
“I think she’s just making sure she beats you to the punch. Maybe you should take the hint and…”
His words were cut off by a sharp nudge from his younger brother. “People are starting to talk. Let’s take this conversation outside.”
Nick shook off the suggestion. “No need. We’re officially done.”
Instead of heading back toward the main salon, he turned and continued down the corridor, muttering furiously under his breath. Alyssa had wounded him with her betrayal. Now Abby was preparing to deliver a knock-out punch. Tim was right. He was a stupid jock.
He made it to the parking lot before a large, shivering figure blocked his path.
“Where the hell are you going?” Kevin asked, confusion clouding his features.
Moisture pooled behind his eyes, forcing him to stop a safe distance from his friend.
“Cutting out before I do something really stupid.” Nick lowered his hands in an effort to hide the involuntary shaking.
“Time out,” Kevin muttered, running his hand through his hair. “Abby is close to hysterics right now. Bridget told me to track you down. And here you are skipping out.”
His voice cracked, barely squeezing out the words. “She’s not my problem.” He pushed past Kevin, clicked his keychain and waited for the lock to pop. “But you can bet I’m about to become her biggest problem.”
A strong armed gripped his shoulder. “Slow down, man. Whatever happened in there can’t be that bad. Give her dad some time.”
Nick shrugged his arm free. “She played me, Kevin. These past few weeks have been a game to her. The whole time I’m trying to figure out a way to win her over, she’s plotting how to win full custody.”
He waited, hoping Kevin would somehow convince him that he was wrong. Silence stretched between them.
“Merry Christmas, buddy,” Nick said, climbing into the seat of his truck. “Please warn Abby to stay clear of me and my family. I’ll have my attorney contact her after the holidays.”
She turned away from the concerned eyes that tracked her movements in the rearview mirror. Hell, it was the holidays. Everyone was entitled to a few mood swings. Carlos should have picked a different profession if he couldn’t handle a few tears. The fact that she was now doubled over in laughter seemed to heighten his distress. It was probably a blessing that he couldn’t see her discarded heels sliding under the front seat.
Humming along to the holiday music warbling from a cracked speaker, Abby blocked an unwelcome image of her mother from her mind. Poor Cindy would need weeks to recover from tonight’s debacle. Dragging all three of her children out of the men’s room in the middle of her beloved club was undoubtedly a new low. Instead of a lecture on appropriate public behavior, Abby received a hug. Her brothers did not fare so well. According to Bridget, they were banished for the evening with a stern warning to fix their screw up. And fix it fast.
Abby didn’t stick around to find out more. Hailing a cab against Bridget’s wishes, she hid in the coat closet until Carlos pulled up out front. She was a mess. A clump of mascara lodged under her eyelid, clouding her vision. A twenty-minute marathon of popping stuffed mushrooms now threatened to leave their indelible mark on the vinyl seat of a yellow cab.
Maybe she needed a full-blown crisis to finally get her head on straight. Nick had taken all the risks. She had played
it safe, withholding her trust and her true feelings. Yet, until tonight, he hadn’t given up on her. He could have held on to his anger about her delay in revealing her pregnancy. But he let it go, choosing to instead make excuses for her inexcusable behavior. When she accused him of stepping out with his ex wife, he patiently disclosed the true nature of the relationship. Other men might have walked away but he stayed right with her. Until tonight.
With two enormous strikes looming over her head, Abby wasn’t sure how to recover. The only thing she knew was that this time it was her responsibility to make amends. Kevin warned her to keep her distance from Nick. At least until he had time to cool down. The thought of loitering on his doorstep on Christmas Eve caused her stomach to roll yet again. Scratch that option. Unless she faked a health emergency it was unlikely anything she could say would convince him to meet her at her house.
By the time she forked over money to Carlos, a plan began to take root in her brain. A small deception would still be required but at least it would be one she could live with.
It was after ten o’clock before she arrived at her destination. A quick shower coupled with a change of clothing had helped remove all visible signs of her earlier meltdown. Inside her body still quivered with distress.
Moving through Bridget’s kitchen, she grabbed a juice box and a small bag of oyster crackers. A flash of headlights told her the moment of truth had arrived. Instead of anxiety a bold wave of confidence swept through. Everything was going to be okay. This time she would settle for nothing less. Returning to the location of where their relationship started had been a stroke of inspiration. Her life had changed the night of Bridget and Kevin’s party. Tonight she hoped to make another monumental change.
Before the bell had a chance to ring, Abby stood in the open doorway. A look of tired anger soon greeted her.
“Damn, your brother was right. I am stupid.” Instead of turning away, which she half expected, Nick stood his ground. “Tell Kevin this wasn’t one of his brighter moves.”
“Blame me,” she answered, stepping back into the foyer. “My list of sins keeps growing where you’re concerned.”
Hoping he would follow, she marched to the loveseat angled directly in front of the glowing Christmas tree. “Five minutes. I know it’s asking a lot, but I just need for you to hear the whole truth.”
She waited. Indecision kept him rooted to the same spot. Abby had to turn away from the flat look in his eyes. Nothing less than she deserved, but it still hurt.
“I’m going to do this backward. Be patient.” With her head still turned away, she started with the most pressing revelation. “I love you, Nick.”
This time she didn’t have to wait. Nick shot forward, his eyes nearly black. “Your timing sucks, sweetheart. I might be gullible, even stupid, but I have some brain cells left.” He stopped only when their foreheads nearly touched. “You probably would have had better luck stripping down and trying to seduce me. At least we could have had one last screw.”
His words almost pushed her to retreat. But this time pride would have to take a back seat.
“Okay,” she answered, snapping open the button on her jeans. “Thanks for the tip.”
As her fingers made quick work of her zipper, Nick grabbed her hands in a vise-like grip.
“If sex is going to buy me enough time to explain my actions, then I’m more than willing to comply.”
The hold on her hands relaxed. This time his face registered confusion. “Stop. I surrender. Tell me what couldn’t wait for a meeting with our attorneys.”
“What I said before is true. You may not want to hear it or believe it, but it is true. I love you. Regardless of how this night ends that is not going to change.”
She pushed her hands into the plump folds of the couch, and sucked in a deep breath. “My brother only told you part of the story tonight. As soon as I realized I was pregnant I panicked. Tunnel vision had me focusing only on the baby and what I wanted. When you didn’t come back I decided I needed to figure out how I could protect my interests. I knew I wouldn’t have the money to wage war with you in court. Frankly I thought if you were already about to become a father you might be willing to let me slip out of the picture.”
“You were wrong.”
Her shoulders sagged. “I know. When you came back everything changed. You were excited about the baby. Alyssa wasn’t part of the picture. And you still wanted to be with me. Until tonight.”
Fear and frustration began to grow. She couldn’t read his expression. What if she really was too late?
“Nick, I can’t erase the things I have done that have hurt you. I can only tell you I’m not the same woman I was when we met. You changed that.”
Warm fingers slid across her cheek. “What happened to all those doubts?”
“Something told me that if I didn’t reach out and grab you up, I might not have another chance. I want you. Today. Tomorrow. Twenty years from now.”
Mischief danced in his eyes. “Is that a proposal, McCabe? If you really want to woo me properly the least you can do is get down on bended knee.”
She slipped to the floor without hesitation. “Want to take a chance, slugger? I should warn you my stomach is churning a mile a minute right now. You might want to decide quickly before I ruin another pair of your shiny shoes.”
Strong arms lifted her, settling her across the firm planes of his thighs. “Thanks for the heads up. That’s an image I don’t want when I look back on this night.”
He lowered his head, captured her lips, and erased the pain of a few hours ago. When he pulled back, she saw exactly what she needed in his expression. His next words sealed the deal.
“Nice offer. But I want to stick with the traditional ’til death do us part. I’m banking on it being a hell of a lot more than twenty years.”
She answered with her own kiss, demanding and hungry. It wasn’t until he shifted, breaking the connection that she knew he wasn’t finished.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Her mind raced but came up empty. Other than bewildered she was feeling pretty darn near perfect.
“I love you, McCabe. I figured you would hold out at least until I told you.”
She leaned back, snuggling against the warmth of his chest. “You may not have said the words, but your actions proved it over and over. I was just too blind and too scared to see it.”
His head came down, resting against the soft expanse of skin along her neck. “You coached me through my hitting slump. I figured the least I could do was coach you through your personal slump.”
“Well, hotshot, you did a damn fine job.”
Epilogue
Abby closed her eyes, crossed her legs, and tried to ignore the protest from her bladder.
The couch dipped as Nick shifted closer. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. At the time, it seemed like an ideal solution.”
She cracked her lids open, just enough to see the panic on her husband’s face. The pressure in her stomach tightened, until she finally released a flood of emotion. Her laughter, judging by his startled expression, shocked him to the core.
“That’s plain mean,” she said, looping her arms around his neck. “You know what happens when I laugh too hard.”
Every morning for the past two months, Abby awoke clutching Nick’s hand. The feel of his wedding band made her eyes burn and her heart soar.
“Run it by me again, Nick. I kind of zoned out after the part about the realtor submitting your offer.”
He pulled her against his chest and pressed his lips against her ear. “Pay attention. This might be the smartest thing I’ve done since putting a ring on your finger.”
Despite a chorus of dissenting opinions amongst well-meaning family and friends, Nick and Abby had decided against purchasing the red farmhouse across town when they got married. Refusing to accept defeat, her mother began a frantic search of available lots adjacent to the country club. According to Cindy, money was no longer an obstacle
barring her daughter’s ascent into polite society.
Although space was limited, and would only grow tighter when the baby arrived next month, neither was anxious to upgrade. Instead they crammed all of Nick’s belongings into her tiny cottage.
Abby nibbled the corner of her lip, trying hard not to grin.
Nick studied her face. “This is a win-win situation. The Lofton’s are anxious to move closer to their daughter. If we purchase their property, we almost double our living space.”
“But wouldn’t it be easier to just buy a bigger house, rather than tear down two and combine.”
He paused, moved his hands across her abdomen, and gently clutched her closer. “Who said anything about tearing them down? I was thinking more along the lines of turning their house into a guest home. Maybe build a playroom and an office over there.”
Abby leaned back and closed her eyes. “Hmm, do you think Mrs. Lofton will leave behind her collection of plastic pools? We could turn their backyard into a summer retreat.”
She listened with a smile as Nick continued to weave plans for their future.
It was still too early to call her mother. Nick’s surprise might test the bounds of Cindy’s unabashed love for her son-in-law. Life was pretty damn perfect.
About the Author
To learn more about Rita Oberlies, please visit www.ritaoberlies.com. Send an email to Rita at [email protected] or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Rita! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Samhaincafe/
A feisty auto mechanic and a hunky chef cook up chaos!
Kitchen Matches
© 2008 Marianne Arkins
Cori Weathers is a wizard with a torque wrench, but the moment she lays eyes on her cooking teacher, Micah DePalma, her lessons turn into a klutzy symphony of flying poultry and burning aprons. It makes no sense. He couldn’t be less her type: tall, skinny, and born with a silver spoon in his mouth. So why is her heart sputtering like a badly tuned engine?
The Catcher and the Lie Page 17