Accidental Meeting

by Susette Williams

  “No problem. I’ll see you when you get here.”

  * * *

  Bruce looked at his watch for the umpteenth time since Abbey called. He still couldn’t keep from wondering why she slept so late, especially if she wasn’t out on a date. Heaven knows there was nothing on TV late last night. If anyone would know, he would. The throbbing in his ankle had kept him awake last night until he finally mustered up the energy to hobble downstairs and get his pain medicine.

  For some reason it bothered him when he thought Abbey might have been out on a date. He didn’t understand his relief at finding out that she wasn’t. Why should it matter to him what she did in her free time? Bruce knew he had kept her too busy to look for another job. Out of guilt, he knew he should pay Abbey for her time. Plus, something about her being fired didn’t sit right with him. As far as he could tell, Abbey had been an efficient employee at Abbot & Ellingsworth. If she were irresponsible, she wouldn’t have stayed there for six years. Something in this equation didn’t fit and he was determined to find out why. Someone would eventually allude to what took place. People couldn't resist gossip, or kissing up to the new boss.

  Bruce heard a car pull up in the driveway and pushed himself to his feet. Abbey was the only person he was expecting but he hadn’t expected her this soon. Not that he wasn’t happy to see her. Being cooped up alone in his spacious home drove him crazy. Which was obvious if he was looking forward to seeing the person who had caused this mess to begin with.

  Bruce opened the door at the same time the doorbell chimes sounded. “A… Angel." His sister reminded him of a younger version of their mother, even down to the narrowed eyes and pursed lips when she felt put-out. "What are you doing here?”

  “Hello, it’s good to see you, too,” Angel said in a sarcastic tone, cocking her head to the side. A few strands of short, brown hair tumbled across her face. “Aren’t you going to let me in?”

  “Sure.” Bruce stepped aside, allowing her to pass by him.

  “Can I ask you something?” Angel turned defensively, her hands on her hips as she glared at him.

  Oh, great. He sighed. Here it comes. “What?”

  “Don’t you find it odd that your sister had to find out that you had a car accident from your housekeeper?”

  “Doris told you?” Bruce felt his cheeks grow hot. How dare Doris interfere. If there were anything to worry about he would have called his family himself. “She needn’t have bothered you. I’m fine.”

  “Well, it wasn’t me she scared. It was mother. Mother called me and couldn’t believe I hadn’t called to tell her. She was equally surprised that I knew nothing about it.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.” And what there was to tell? He didn’t want to relay what happened to anyone, especially his sister. The irony of it was, she’d probably laugh her head off. It was embarrassing enough to have it happen in the first place. How embarrassing it would be to tell other people that you weren’t exactly hurt in the car accident, that you fell down the embankment backing up away from what you thought was a lunatic coming after you? He knew she wasn’t a lunatic now. Yet he’d be forced to go into details with Angel and he’d have to come up with an explanation for why Abbey, the woman who hit him, was chauffeuring him around. Even he didn’t know the answer to that question. She displayed a better Christian example than he would have.

  “Hmm… Well, I’m glad you’re all right. Have you eaten? I can make you something if you like." His sister put her purse down on the table in the foyer. "I don’t know why you don’t let Doris come and help more. You know she would.” Angel headed towards the kitchen, not waiting for him to answer. “You really ought to use both crutches. They’ll give you better balance. With one, you’re just going to throw your back out of whack. Hey, that rhymes.” Angel laughed.

  “Are you sure you’re not my mother?” Bruce muttered under his breath. Angel tended to be pushy on occasion. Especially when her motherly instincts kicked in. Bruce followed her to the kitchen and took a seat at the table while she rummaged through his cabinets.

  Why hadn’t he asked Doris to help more? Maybe because she made him feel uncomfortable when Abbey was around. It was nice being alone with Abbey. She always had a ready smile and when he did something that irritated her—she sang. Weird, but it soothed him when she sang Christian songs. Most of them he hadn’t recognized. They were upbeat and made his heart feel lighter. Maybe that was the secret to her happiness.

  The doorbell chimed again. Bruce started to get up but Angel hurried past him. “I’ll get it. You sit down and stay off that foot. Prop it up on the chair next to you while you’re at it. It shouldn’t be hanging down. That’s only going to make it swell up.”

  Of all times, why did his sister have to drop in for a visit? All right, it wasn’t a visit. He knew she was concerned. But he didn’t need her prying into his private life.

  There could only be one other person at the door and he it wasn’t his mother. She wouldn’t leave her… husband. Just the thought of it made his stomach turn. Bruce still couldn’t force himself to accept Ted as his stepfather.

  "I'll get it." Bruce grabbed for his crutch.

  "Don't bother." Angel left the kitchen quicker than he could and stand up.

  Abbey wouldn't stand a chance beneath his sister's scrutiny. Angel would find out the answers to anything she wanted to know.

  "Hello, may I help you?" Angel asked.

  “Hi,” Abbey said. She was holding a covered dish in her hands. “I brought Bruce something to eat.”

  “Wasn’t that thoughtful of her, Bruce?” Angel said in a sweet tone. “So, Abbey?” When Abbey nodded, Angel continued, “How did you meet my brother?”

  “Your brother?” Abbey looked from Angel to Bruce as if she were looking for the resemblance.

  “Yes, Bruce is my big brother.”

  “Angel is my sister,” Bruce reiterated. “But don’t let her name fool you.”

  Angel glared at him, then pasted a sickening-sweet smile on her face. The kind she used when she was ready to interrogate a person. No doubt she would try to find out if there was anything going on between them. His sister was a hopeless romantic. After ten years of marriage he would have thought she would have given up on matchmaking and realized there really was no ‘happily ever after’, except in fairy tales.

  "Why don't we go into the kitchen?" Angel took the covered dish from Abbey and headed down the hall.

  Bruce nodded. "Go ahead."

  Abbey went in front of him and he followed her to the kitchen. Angel sat the dish on the counter then opened a cabinet and retrieved a bowl.

  "It smells wonderful. What is it?" Bruce sniffed, while he looked over Angel's shoulder.

  "Stew," Abbey said.

  "I haven't had stew in a long time. Sounds delicious."

  "You should get off your feet, Bruce." Angel motioned to the kitchen table.

  "If you promise to get off my case." Bruce smiled.

  "You might be bigger, but I certainly have you at a disadvantage." Angel placed a fist firmly on each hip.

  He reluctantly obeyed, not because of the glare Angel sent him, but because his leg ached and he needed to prop it up so that his foot wouldn't swell.

  “So, Abbey. You didn’t say how you two met.” Angel pulled out another kitchen chair and helped Bruce elevate his foot.

  “I really can’t stay long.” Abbey wrung her hands, looking hesitantly at Bruce.

  Angel laughed. “I really get the feeling you aren’t going to tell me how you two met either.”

  “We bumped into each other. Happy?” Bruce eased his foot off the chair, grabbed his crutch and stood. “I’ll get your check.”

  He could hear Abbey’s dainty steps following him down the hallway. His sister had the habit of driving him crazy. No wonder it hadn’t taken her long to run Abbey off. He knew Abbey didn't want to tell everyone about their embarrassing encounter.

  Bruce picked up the envelope on the coffee table and
turned to Abbey. “Here. Next week you can pick up your check from accounting.”

  “Next week?” Abbey’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, next week?”

  “You’re still working for me… Aren’t you?” Bruce felt his heart miss a beat. He needed Abbey. Who else could he count on?

  “Well, yes, I mean no. I mean… I’m not exactly working for you.”

  Bruce silenced her with a finger gently laid across her lips. “You can pick up your check next week at accounting, unless you’d rather me pick it up for you.”

  “No… that will be fine. Thanks.”

  Bruce nodded. “Thanks for bringing me dinner.”

  “You’re welcome.” Abbey blushed. “I really should be going.”

  “So soon?” Angel stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “Hey, we’re getting together for Easter at my house. Mom’s going to be here and I know she’d love to meet you. Why don’t you come to church with us and then have dinner with us afterwards?”

  “I don’t know.” Abbey looked helplessly at Bruce.

  His sister hadn’t even mentioned it to him so he was as surprised as Abbey was. Bruce didn’t have an excuse for not going except that he needed a ride. Which was probably what his sister was thinking. Abbey could drive him and then Angel could derive tidbits of information out of her all afternoon.

  “I guess I could.” Abbey shrugged and looked over her shoulder at Bruce.

  Great, now he was committed. “I’ll let you know the details later. Thanks for stopping by, Abbey.”

  Chapter Six

  Week Two

  Shuffling through papers on his desk, Bruce contemplated talking Abbey out of going to his family’s house for Easter. He had thought about it a lot since Saturday and even more on their way to work this morning. Bruce knew it was only because he wanted an excuse not to go. The thought of Abbey going with him lessened his trepidation. It had been nearly eight years since his father’s death and a little over six years since his mother remarried. He shouldn't let the past, his guilt, or his displeasure over his mother remarrying so quickly keep him from being with his family.

  Knots wrenched at his gut when he thought back to the Fourth of July eight years earlier. He should have been at the family gathering. While other people were taking time off and celebrating, he was busy preparing for a business meeting. If he had been at the get-together and driven his sister home, his father would be alive today.

  Just then, Abbey walked into his office carrying two cups of coffee. “Black, like you like it.”

  “Thank you.” Bruce took the cup she offered and set it down on a coaster on his desk. “Since my assistant is on maternity leave, I would like to have you fill in for her—not just chauffeur me around. You already know so much about this company it would be very beneficial to have your input through this transition. Plus, you’ll be well compensated for your time. Does that sound acceptable to you?”

  Abbey covered a yawn and sat down in the seat opposite his desk. “Sure.”

  “Am I boring you?” Bruce thought Abbey would have been excited. She obviously needed an income and her job at the grocery store was not something that utilized her talents. He couldn’t believe she had been working there and helping him simultaneously. If Doris hadn’t told him, no telling how long Abbey would have gone putting herself through that grueling schedule. From the shadows beneath her eyes, he guessed she still hadn't caught up on her sleep.

  “Huh?” Abbey blushed. “No.”

  “That’s at least the third time you’ve yawned this morning.”

  “I’m sorry,” Abbey said and yawned again. “I can’t seem to help it.”

  “Didn’t you quit your job at the supermarket?”

  Abbey’s eyes widened. “How’d you know about that?”

  “That’s not an answer. Customarily, if someone asks you a question it’s polite for you to answer. Then you can ask a question in return. So, did you quit your other job or not?” Bruce was not going to let her finagle her way out of answering his question. Abbey had avoided answering his past inquiries concerning her departure from this company. He'd had to do some investigation of his own, but was as much in the dark about her employment history as the day he'd met her. Most people he'd talked to seemed oblivious to the reason for her dismissal. The overall consensus was genuine disbelief because she had a good reputation with her peers.

  “Yes. Sort of.”

  “Sort of? Either you did or you didn’t.” Bruce leaned his forearms on his desk, folding his hands in front of him.

  Abbey’s mouth quirked up on one side while she stared at him for a moment. “I put in my notice.”

  Bruce sat up straight in his chair.

  “I couldn’t just quit on them,” Abbey rambled. Bruce could tell how anxious she was by the way she tried to defend her decision. “They’re short handed and it takes time to train someone else. One of the other cashiers needed time off for minor surgery, too. I couldn’t just say, ‘Adios, thanks but no thanks,’ and leave them stranded.”

  “That’s commendable on your part, but how do you expect to keep up with this schedule for very long?”

  Abbey didn’t sound like the irresponsible employee Gary had made her out to be. Her behavior and concern for others didn’t fit that mold. Bruce couldn’t worry about that right now. For now, he needed to convince Abbey that it was ridiculous for her to keep up a pace that was obviously killing her. She could barely stay awake as it was. How in the world was she going to keep both jobs for an indefinite amount of time? He needed her. Surely the grocery store could replace her much easier than he could.

  “Ruby, my manager at the grocery store, said she would call a couple other applicants and hoped to hire someone else this week. If so, I shouldn’t have to work next week.” Bruce noticed Abbey had crossed her fingers. That small gesture amused him.

  “Good. Do you think you’re up to taking a letter for me?”

  * * *

  Abbey sat typing at the desk of an employee who had called in sick. With the hiring freeze initiated after the company takeover, there were a couple open positions, even her old position, available in the company. Earlier, she contemplated using the computer in her old office to type a letter for Bruce, but decided against it when she thought about the possibility of bumping into Gary. Up until now, they had only seen each other when Bruce was around. She didn’t fancy the possibility of running into him alone. The sneers he’d given her in the last week were enough to make her skin crawl and her stomach acids burn her esophagus. Thinking of it still made her stomach gurgle. She grabbed a bottle of acid relief medicine from her purse, shook a couple tablets into her hand and chewed them. As hard as she tried, she still couldn’t block out the images of his unwelcome advances right before she'd quit her job.

  If she thought it would do any good she’d tell Bruce what kind of person Gary really was. However, it would be her word against his. She would sound like a disgruntled ex-employee. No, she sighed, she couldn’t tell him the truth.

  Abbey finished typing her letter. When she realized there wasn’t any paper in the printer. She headed into the storage room to get some more. The door clicked quietly behind her. Grabbing a pack of paper, she turned to leave and collided with a solid object. “Oops. Sorry…" Her heart pounded in her chest when she realized who it was. "Gary, I mean Mr. Hartman. I didn’t see you there.”

  “So I noticed, among other things. I find it kind of interesting how you turned up at Abbot & Ellingsworth escorted by the new CEO. I’m curious, Abbey.” Gary reached out and entwined a strand of her hair between his fingers, twirling it. “Wasn’t I good enough?”

  Abbey took a step back.

  “I mean, you bypassed me and headed right for the top." Gary's eyes narrowed. "In fact, I don’t know of anyone else in lower management who was privy to the information of a take-over. So how did you find out?”

  “I didn’t know about it either until last week.” Abbey tried to step around Gary
but he blocked the exit.

  Gary laughed. “Sure. You expect me to believe that?”

  “I don’t care what you believe.” Abbey shoved past him, her steps picking up pace as she hurried out the door. For a moment, she sensed he was following her until she heard a deep voice call his name. She was too nervous to turn and look. Her hands shook as she opened the package of paper. Half a dozen pieces crinkled on the end when she stuck them into the slot on the printer. Calm down, she told herself and discarded the damaged sheets.

  * * *

  The look of fright on Abbey's face made Bruce's heart rate quicken. When he saw Gary following behind her from the copy room, it took everything in his power not to yell and chase after them on crutches.

  "Mr. Hartman." Bruce's voice sounded stern to his own ears, at least it wasn't wobbly from panic. Whatever happened between Abbey and her previous boss needed to come out in the open, especially when she looked so fear stricken being around the man.

  After a moment, Gary paused in his steps and turned toward Bruce. "Yes, Mr. Harrington. Did you need something?"

  Bruce clenched his teeth. Gary's response was well schooled, you'd never know anything had transpired. But something had. Bruce may not have known Abbey very long, but he could recognize trouble in the workplace when he saw it. After all, he hadn't risen to the position of authority as a CEO by not learning to assess his peers or his competition. "Yes, I'd like to speak to you in your office a moment, if you don't mind."

  "As you wish." Gary led the way as Bruce shuffled behind him.

  Once inside, Gary leaned on the edge of his desk. Bruce knew this tactic, he'd used it himself. Force the other person to sit so that you can look down on them. A matter of intimidation. It wouldn't work. Broken leg or not, Gary didn't know how much he was out of his league when measured up against Bruce. He may intimidate women, but that was about as much as the puny weasel could hope for.