by Amy Polino
“I want you all the time!”
Lonna laughed, reaching up and wrapping her arm around Abbie’s neck. She hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “You’ve got to be reasonable.”
Abbie was pouting. “I don’t like the idea of sharing you with him, either.”
“I’ll bet he’d feel the same way.”
That made Abbie smile. “Fuck what he wants. You’re mine!” She twisted on the couch, throwing one leg up over Lonna’s and hugging her with both arms, her face buried in the hollow of Lonna’s neck.
Lonna hugged back, squeezing tight. She rubbed Abbie’s back with both hands. “Please try to be patient, sweetheart. It’s going to be tricky for awhile.”
“I’ll try.”
“It’ll work out.”
“I hope so.”
“It will. I promise.” The sound of an engine suddenly invaded the room, growing louder. As soon as it peaked, it stopped. Lonna glanced at the clock. “Oh, good. He’s a few minutes early.”
Abbie climbed off her lap. “What a treat.”
“I’m sorry, Abbie.”
“It’s not your fault.” She looked into Lonna’s eyes. “I guess I’d better go hide in my room.”
“You’re making me feel terrible.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to. I just wish I could spend the rest of my birthday with you.” She leaned into Lonna and kissed her.
“I do, too.” Lonna placed a hand behind Abbie’s head and pulled her back into another kiss, sliding her tongue into Abbie’s mouth. Abbie moaned and climbed onto Lonna’s lap, kissing her deeply and caressing her breasts through the thin blouse.
Outside, a car door slammed.
Abbie sat up. “Fuckin’ shit!” The expression on her face was one of pure fury.
Lonna rubbed her arm, lovingly. “Honey, I’m so sorry!”
Abbie kissed her again, quickly, and then got to her feet. “I’m sorry, too. You hang in there, Lonna. I love you.”
Lonna smiled. She had tears in her eyes. “I love you, too.”
Abbie disappeared into the hallway, leaving Lonna alone on the couch. With Abbie gone, the room felt empty and dead.
Lonna took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. As the screen door opened, she wiped her eyes with the back of one hand.
* * *
“Hey,” Rick said, stepping in. In his left hand he held an empty coffee cup. “TV busted?”
Lonna felt like she was in a bad movie. She tried to feign a smile but couldn’t pull it off. “I thought we were going out. I didn’t want to get caught up with television.”
He stopped in the center of the room, gazing at her. “I don’t know if we’re going out or not.” His eyes shifted around. “Abbie home yet?”
“I think she’s in her room.”
“She say anything to you?”
“Does she ever?”
Rick shrugged. “We had a little fight this morning. I’m not really sure about dinner anymore. We out of vodka?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re usually drinking by now.”
“I thought we were going out. I didn’t know not drinking would be a problem.”
“It’s not. Just unusual, that’s all.”
Lonna got up. “Well, then I guess I’d better make myself a drink.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He sighed. “God, why do I even come home?”
“I don’t know,” Lonna muttered. She stepped into the kitchen.
Rick followed her. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He crushed his coffee cup and threw it in the trash. “Are you sure you didn’t talk to Abbie? You seem annoyed with me, too.”
The glasses she and Abbie had used for their morning cocktails were still in the sink. It saddened Lonna to think their wonderful morning together was now just a memory. She lifted one of the glasses out and rinsed it under the tap. “You seemed annoyed I wasn’t drinking.” She set the glass on the counter and grabbed the bottle of vodka, twisting off the cap. It was getting low, but there was another one in the cabinet.
“I was making a joke.”
“It didn’t sound like a joke. It was mean-spirited.”
Rick threw his hands up in exasperation. “Forget it. Let’s start over. Are we going out to dinner, or are we staying home?”
Lonna got the ice cube tray from the freezer and began plopping them into her glass. “How would I know? Isn’t that between you and your daughter?”
“You’re my wife. I thought I’d include you in the decision.”
“Well, it’s Abbie’s birthday. I think it should really be her decision.” She brought the empty tray to the sink and began running water into it. When it was full she returned it to the freezer.
Rick was stalling, trying to figure out what to do. It was obvious he didn’t want to confront Abbie. “You said she’s in her room?”
“I’m guessing she is. I know she’s home.”
“You want to do me a little favor?”
Lonna had retrieved the cranberry juice and was pouring it into her glass. “Before you ask me to do you a favor, can I ask what you two were fighting about this morning?”
“The damn iPod. Or Pad, or whatever. She knew she wasn’t getting it, but she acted all pissed off anyway.”
“Maybe you should have gotten it for her.”
“I’m done talking about that. She’s spoiled enough as it is.”
“Maybe you should try being nicer to her.”
“Are you going to do me a favor, or not?”
“What’s the favor?”
He sighed, rubbing his head. “Can you ask her if she still wants to go to Mario’s?”
Lonna put the juice back in the refrigerator. “I doubt she’ll want to go if she’s mad at you.”
“You’re probably right. The way she was screaming at me this morning, I got the feeling she hated my guts.” He glanced at her. “Now I know how you feel.”
Not quite, Lonna thought.
“Anyway, will you ask her? I notice you didn’t cook anything.”
“I thought we were going out! Why would I cook something? No one bothers to tell me anything.”
He frowned. “Sorry. I was going to call, but I had to bust ass all day again.”
“And what do you think I did all day?” Lonna had a brief flashback of Abbie looking up at her from between her legs, her face dripping wet. The corners of her mouth turned up in a little smirk.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing. I just don’t see why you would expect me to cook when we had plans to go out.”
“I said I’m sorry. Will you ask her? If she doesn’t want to go, we can order Chinese or something.”
Lonna stirred her drink, nodding. She took a little sip. It was very strong, stronger than she usually made them. “I suppose I could. But you know how she feels about me. We can probably forget about going out.”
“Yeah, but could you ask her anyway? Otherwise she’ll hold it against me. Tomorrow she’ll be whining that she had really wanted to go.”
“Good thinking. This way your ass will be covered, and you don’t even have to do anything.”
He glared at her. “Is that a yes or a no?”
“I’ll try. Do you want me to see if I can influence her one way or the other?”
He shrugged. “Let her decide. It’s her birthday.”
Lonna nodded and carried her drink down the hall.
Chapter 11
When Lonna reached Abbie’s bedroom door, she knocked three times and called out loud enough for Rick to hear from the living room, “Abbie? It’s me, your stepmother. I know you don’t like me, but I need to ask you something.”
Seconds later there was a click and the door began to open. Abbie’s face peeked out through the crack, looking at her. Her eyes quickly scanned the hall and, seeing no one else, came back to Lonna. She smiled, opening the door wider and stepping back. “You know I don’t l
ike you?”
Smiling, Lonna put a finger up to her lips. She entered the room and shut the door behind her. “Does this thing lock?” she whispered.
Abbie reached past her and turned a small dial on the doorknob.
Lonna set her glass down on the small table and the two of them embraced, squeezing each other tightly. “God, I missed you already!” Lonna said softly.
Abbie giggled. “I missed you too!”
They unwound and shared a long kiss, both of them very eager.
“I told you it would be okay,” Lonna said softly. “He’s been home less than ten minutes, and we’re back together already.” She smiled happily and kissed Abbie again.
“But how long will it last?”
“As long as we want. I made a decision while I was in there listening to him belittling me.”
“What was the decision?”
“The decision is, I no longer care what he thinks.”
“You mean, you want us to just do whatever we feel like, right in front of him?”
“Well, no. But this is your room. He’s got no right to come in here. So, if you invite me in, and lock the door, it’s none of his business what we’re doing.”
Abbie suddenly looked very happy. “He might figure it out after awhile. When he realizes how close we are now.”
“Maybe. But he won’t know for sure. He’ll just assume.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Yes. This can be our little sanctuary.”
Abbie hugged her again and began hopping up and down. “Oh, goodie, goodie! Lonna, this is going to be so fun!”
“I know!”
“You can sneak in here every night!”
“As often as I can. You bet.”
Abbie kissed her again. “So he sent you in to interrogate me?”
“I wouldn’t say that. He just wants to know what you want to do about dinner.” Lonna picked up her glass and took a sip. She then offered it to Abbie, who smiled and took a sip of her own.
“Can we sit on your bed?”
“Of course!”
The two of them moved over and climbed onto the small bed, leaning their backs against the wall and taking turns drinking from the glass.
“Do you think we should go out?” Abbie asked.
“It’s your birthday. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Anything?”
Lonna smiled and put an arm around Abbie. “You know it.” She took a big sip and handed the glass back.
“You think he’ll smell this on my breath?”
“Who cares? I say we stop worrying so much.”
Grinning, Abbie took a sizable gulp, coughing slightly. Her eyes were watering. “Wow, you really made this one powerful!”
Lonna laughed. “I made it for two.” She took the glass and had another sip. “Happy birthday,” she said.
“It is, thanks to you.” Abbie kissed her on the mouth and then rested her head on Lonna’s shoulder.
A sudden knock on the door startled them both. “Hey,” Rick said from the hall. “Did we make a decision?”
“FUCK OFF!” Abbie yelled.
Lonna giggled, spilling vodka and cranberry juice in her lap. “Hang on!” she called. “I’m trying to patch things up in here!”
They could hear Rick muttering through the door. “Son of a bitch!”
Lonna took a healthy mouthful of booze and handed the glass to Abbie. “That should hold him for a few minutes at least. Drink up, my little sweetheart.”
Abbie took the glass. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“Not necessarily. I suppose I’m trying to fortify you. I know you don’t want to deal with him, and I don’t either. The drinking helps me cope with that, and, I guess, I thought it might help you, too.”
“You’re very thoughtful.” Abbie took another sip.
“I’m trying to keep your birthday a happy one for you. Nothing else really matters to me right now.”
Abbie reached over with the glass and set it on the computer desk. She then wrapped her arms around Lonna and eased her down onto the bed, so that they were lying side by side. “Thank you so much. For everything.”
Lonna smiled. “Nothing’s too good for my little princess.”
Abbie smiled back, pulling Lonna closer and kissing her. They lay there for quite some time, just holding each other and breathing softly. It was very peaceful, and they were on the verge of drifting off to sleep again when Rick knocked on the door.
“What the hell?” he shouted. “I’m getting hungry out here!”
Abbie groaned, sitting up. “Jesus Christ! Go away!”
“I’d better go deal with him,” Lonna said. She also sat up, giving Abbie a little hug.
“I don’t want you to go!”
“I don’t want to go, either. But I suppose we’ve got to do something. Do you want some dinner? We could order something, and I could bring it in and eat with you in here.”
Abbie smiled. “That might work.”
“He said something about Chinese. What would you like?”
“Something with shrimp. Something spicy.”
Lonna kissed her. “Will do.”
“And maybe another one of those cocktails. With orange juice.”
They stood up and hugged in the center of the room. “I’ll bring you something good. Don’t worry. Hey, did you ever get your new computer working?”
Abbie dashed over to it. “Yes! Can I show you?”
“Goddamnit!” Rick said through the door. “I’m ordering dinner in two minutes! If either of you want anything, you’d better let me know!”
Lonna sighed. “I guess you can show me when dinner gets here.” She retrieved her glass and took a small sip, offering it again to Abbie.
Abbie took it and filled her mouth. She handed the glass back and swallowed, grimacing. “Good stuff,” she said.
They kissed quickly and Lonna ruffled her hair. “I’ll see you soon.”
* * *
When Lonna opened the bedroom door, Rick was standing right there. He tried to look past her shoulder into the room, but she slipped through quickly and closed the door behind her.
“What the hell’s going on in there?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were in there for twenty minutes.”
“I was talking to Abbie! You asked me to, remember?”
He shrugged, backing down the hall into the living room. “I just wanted to know what she wanted to do for dinner. I didn’t think you’d be in there that long.”
Lonna was getting more disgusted with him. She sipped from her nearly empty glass. “I’m trying to be civil with her. We were just starting to get along, after all these months, and you have to keep pounding on the door barking about food.”
“It’s getting late. I haven’t eaten since noon.”
“Well, order something then.” She pushed past him and took a seat on the couch, feeling sick. She tried to remember why she had married him and couldn’t.
“So we’re not going out?”
Lonna looked up at him. He looked pale and sweaty with the sunlight streaming through the windows into his face. “She’s furious at you. Didn’t you hear her telling you to go away?”
He flapped his arms. “Yeah, but...we gotta eat.” He studied her. “What were you two talking about for so long?”
“I told you. We were just starting to get along, and I was trying to cheer her up. It’s her birthday, remember?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Well, what do you want for dinner? We’d better order now, sometimes it takes them an hour to deliver.”
“Abbie said Chinese would be fine. She wants something spicy with shrimp.”
Rick spun toward the TV, grabbing a take-out menu from the little shelf beside it. “Okay. I can do that. What about you?”
“Chicken. Also spicy. Whatever they call it.”
He was studying t
he menu now, getting lost in the details. “Okay. We want a number 22.” He found a pen on the table and jotted a note on the menu. He continued studying it. “And a number 31.” A quick scribble with the pen. “And I’ll have the 16. You want egg rolls?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“Okay. I’ll get one for Abbie, too.” He pulled out his cell phone and wandered into the kitchen.
Lonna sighed, finishing her drink and settling back on the couch, waiting.
Chapter 12
When Rick came back from the kitchen, Lonna got up off the couch and stepped past him, intent upon making herself another drink. He glanced at the empty glass in her hand and decided to keep his mouth shut. Lonna made the drink slowly, wasting as much time as possible to avoid sitting with him. There were real concerns now, issues that hadn’t existed only a single day before, and she needed time to think them through. Stalling in the kitchen was only a brief respite. She really needed a day or two alone.
Well, maybe not completely alone. There was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to pursue her relationship with Abbie. It was by far the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her, and she couldn’t imagine feeling more love toward anyone than she currently felt toward her stepdaughter. The question was what she was going to do about her marriage.
She stirred her drink and set the spoon on the counter. For the time being, she would simply have to endure it.
When she returned to the living room, Rick was sitting on the couch, leaning back and staring up at her. He seemed to have no inner resources or any interests in doing anything at all, other than eating, fucking and being a meddlesome pain in the ass. She wondered again why she had married him.
“Food’s on the way,” he said. He looked at the drink in her hand. Lonna could tell he had a few good cracks ready to make about it, but he was holding back as best he could. With her already annoyed at him, and Abbie not even speaking to him, he was feeling the pressure to tread lightly.