by Amy Polino
Lonna took a seat on the opposite side of the couch. “Oh, good. Did you order Abbie’s spicy shrimp?”
“Sure. I got her a whole quart, the large. Same for your chicken.”
“Thank you.” She sipped her drink and set it on the table.
“So what’s the good word around here?”
Lonna briefly toyed with the idea of faking severe stomach cramps, anything to get out of having to sit and chat with Rick. He probably didn’t want to chat, either, but likely felt obligated. It was just another sad reality of their marriage, she supposed.
“I don’t know.” She thought about lying to him and saying she was at work all day, but decided lying wasn’t a good idea. Then she quickly reconsidered and decided lying would be fine. “I was at work all day.”
“Yeah. How many hours they giving you now?”
“The same. Six a day. Just enough to keep me from qualifying for health insurance.”
“Well, that’s alright. You’re on mine, you don’t need their insurance anyway.”
“I suppose.”
“Nothing on the TV?”
“You can put it on. I hadn’t really thought about it.”
Rick glanced at the three remote controls on the coffee table. “Nah. Last time I tried, I spent ten minutes trying to change the channel. When I gave up, I couldn’t even get the TV to turn off.”
Lonna laughed softly. It was probably true. “Most people wouldn’t brag about that.”
“I wasn’t bragging. I could probably take apart everything in this house, including the cars, and put it all back together again, but these damn remote controls always confuse the hell out of me.” Rick worked as a mechanic and prided himself on taking things apart and putting them back together. “Anyway, if you want to turn it on, it’s fine with me.”
Lonna reached over and picked up a remote, switching on the TV. She was in no mood to watch it, but it would be a welcome distraction. They sat there and stared at a documentary about owls for a little while. Lonna took occasional sips from her glass, trying to relive the morning in her mind, when it was her and Abigail on the couch. It had been almost magical. She was sitting in the exact same spot as when Abbie had leaned over and put an arm around her, kissing her on the mouth for the first time. She smiled to herself, remembering that Abbie’s lips had been cold from the ice cubes. Cold and soft. They had warmed up quickly, though, and the two of them had stretched out –
“I never cared for owls,” Rick said. “Fuckin’ spooky-ass birds. More like a big winged-cat or something.”
Lonna nodded. “Me, too.”
Rick looked at her. “What?”
She looked at him and sighed. “Me, too,” she repeated.
He nodded. “Okay. If you say so. You feel alright?”
“No. I feel kind of sick.”
“Maybe you ought to give that vodka a rest.”
Lonna was holding the glass in her hand. She raised it to her mouth and took a long drink.
“Or not,” Rick said.
“It’s not the vodka. I’ve felt sick all day. My throat hurts. The drink feels good on it.”
“Oh, shit. You’re probably coming down with something. I’ll probably have it by tomorrow.”
“Not if we’re careful,” Lonna suggested. “I’d feel terrible if I got you sick.”
He looked back at the TV. “Shit. I don’t know why I look forward to the weekend. Now I’ll be looking forward to Monday. And on Monday, to another weekend. I must be crazy.”
“Maybe.”
They sat and watched the documentary for a little while longer. Lonna finished her drink. When she set the empty glass on the table, Rick reached forward and picked up one of the remotes. He began pushing buttons, trying to get rid of the documentary. Little menus kept popping up on the screen but the channel wouldn’t change.
“Damnit! How the hell do you change it?”
Lonna showed him which buttons to press. “Just press this one to go up, and this one to go back down. Or enter the channel number, if you know what one you want.”
“I don’t know which one I want. I just don’t want to see these damn owls anymore. Who the hell wants to sit in their living room and watch some filthy looking thing like that while it flies around chewing up mice?”
“Well, what do you want to see?”
“I want to see the delivery guy’s car pull up with my dinner.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
Rick found a black and white movie featuring cowboys shooting at one another from behind wooden outhouses. He set the remote back down. “This looks alright.”
Lonna began to massage her throat with one hand, trying to play up the idea of her being sick. She thought it would be the perfect solution to get through the weekend without having to make any major decisions. “God, I can hardly swallow. I need another cold drink.”
Rick sighed. “I don’t see how that’s going to help.”
She returned to the kitchen and placed her glass in the sink, taking down a new one from the cabinet, a very large novelty glass that looked more like a vase. She then made herself another cocktail, using up the last of the open bottle of vodka and breaking out the spare. She made it extra strong and mixed it with orange juice, adding plenty of ice and stirring it with a long handled spoon.
When she came back out into the living room, Rick’s eyes bulged comically and his mouth opened in astonishment. “Holy smokes! Are you expecting company?”
Lonna grinned sardonically. “Ha ha. There’s hardly any booze in this. Haven’t you ever heard of drinking lots of orange juice when you’re getting sick?”
“Yeah, yeah. Damn, you really think you’re coming down with something, huh?”
“I know I am. It hurts to even talk.” She took a sip from the vase. It was even stronger than she’d thought.
Rick sat and watched her put it down on the coffee table. It dwarfed everything around it. He was going to make another crack, but thought better of it. “So what’s going on with Abbie, anyway? Is she going to come out here and eat with us when the food guy gets here?”
Lonna sat down. “I don’t know. I doubt it.”
“She’s really that mad at me?”
“I think so. Didn’t you hear her yelling in there?”
“Yeah, I heard. But she can’t stay mad forever. Even if I’d have gotten her that stupid thing, she’d be tired of it by now.”
“Maybe you should bring her dinner in there and eat with her. I’ll stay out here, and give you two a chance to talk things over.”
Rick looked unhappy with the suggestion. “I don’t think so. She’s welcome to come out here, but I’m not going to eat my dinner in her bedroom.”
“I really don’t think she’s going to want to come out here. She’s furious at you.”
He seemed to think about it. “Shit!”
Lonna sighed. “Maybe I can take it in there for her. I think I was making a little progress with her earlier.”
“Just hand it to her through the door. Otherwise she’ll probably catch your cold.”
“It’s her birthday. She’s not a monkey. We’re not just going to toss a sack of food through the door. If you’re not going to go in there and eat with her, then I really think I should.”
“She can come out here. Otherwise, forget it.”
“You can forget it. If you’re not going, I am.”
He glared at her. “Fine. You go. I’ll watch TV.”
Lonna picked up the big drink with both hands and took a sip. She almost laughed. Things were actually working out quite well. Now she had the perfect excuse to avoid him all weekend. The idea of spending the next two days locked up with Abbie in her bedroom sent shivers of excitement throughout her entire body.
They watched the cowboy movie for a few more minutes, not speaking. The action had ceased and now two of the men were sitting in a saloon, talking things over. Lonna soon heard
a car approach the house, followed by the slam of a door.
Rick looked out the window. “Finally.” He got up, digging his wallet from his back pocket.
Chapter 13
While Rick was paying the man at the door, Lonna got up and retrieved plates and silverware from the kitchen. She also took a few paper towels and stuffed them in her back pocket. When she met up with Rick at the coffee table, she set one of the plates and forks down for him, and picked up her giant screwdriver.
He watched her. “You’re bringing that it Abbie’s room?”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to keep running back and forth every time I want a sip. Don’t worry, I’m not going to share it with her.” Lying to him came easily now, there was not even the slightly tinge of guilt.
“Why don’t you ask her to come in here and eat. I don’t like the idea of you two shut up in her room.”
“I’ll ask her, but remember, it’s you she’s mad at. If you want her to come in here, you’re going to have to be the one to convince her.”
He set the bags of food on the coffee table and marched down the hall. He grumbled something, but Lonna couldn’t make it out. When he reached Abbie’s door, he knocked softly three times and called out, “Abbie?”
Her voice was barely audible through the door. “What?”
“Dinner’s here. I got you some spicy shrimp. Why don’t you come out and eat with us?”
“Leave me alone.”
“Abbie, come on. You can’t stay mad at me just because you didn’t get some outrageously expensive birthday gift. Why don’t you come out and eat dinner and we can talk about it?”
“I don’t want to talk to you. Leave me alone!”
“Quit being a brat! You’re nineteen now, it’s time to start acting like it.”
There was a pause, and then the sound of the lock being disengaged. The door opened a crack and Abigail peeked out at him. “You’re right. I am nineteen now. And I’m sick and fucking tired of you always telling me what to do.”
“Abbie...”
“No! I don’t want to hear it! Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“I don’t want you hiding in there all night. All weekend. It’s not normal.”
“I’m trying to do my fucking homework! I don’t have time to sit in there with you listening to your stupid fucking stories about clogged fuel injectors.”
Rick clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. “I’m not asking you to listen to any stories. Just come eat dinner! It’s your birthday, you shouldn’t be spending it alone in your room.”
“I’m not coming out.”
Rick glowered at her. “You going to live in there?”
“Unless you’re planing to throw me out.”
“I’m not throwing anyone out! I’m just asking you to come eat dinner!”
“Why would I want to eat dinner with you? Do you think I would enjoy the experience?”
“Jesus Christ, Abbie, just get in there and eat!”
“Fuck you!” She slammed the door and locked it.
“Little bitch!” He stormed back down the hall, avoiding eye contact with Lonna. “Fucking spoiled brat.”
“You handled that well,” Lonna said.
“Don’t start. She’s being unreasonable.” He sat down and tore open the bags, looking for his pepper steak. When he found it, he dumped some onto his plate and began fumbling with a carton of rice.
“I’m going to bring some dinner in for her.”
“Good luck. Ten bucks says she won’t even open the door.”
“Well, I’m at least going to try. I can’t sit in here eating while she’s probably crying in there, alone and hungry on her birthday.”
“I told her to come eat. She made the decision not to.”
Lonna was still holding her drink and the two plates and forks. She walked down the hall and knocked twice on Abbie’s door. “Abbie? It’s your stepmother.”
The lock clicked and the door opened up. They smiled at each other. “What do you want?” Abbie said it harshly for Rick’s benefit.
Lonna handed her the enormous drink; Abbie’s smile widened considerably when she realized what it was. “Would you like some dinner? It’s okay if you eat in your room.” She handed over the plates and the forks.
“Okay. Maybe you could join me.”
“I’d like that. Hang on, let me grab the food.” Lonna winked at her and quickly returned to the living room, rearranging the take-out cartons and putting the chicken and shrimp and two small containers of rice into one bag.
“You eating in her room?” Rick asked. His mouth was full, but he jammed in another forkful anyway.
“Yes. She invited me.”
“Don’t forget your egg rolls.”
Lonna took two of the egg rolls and added them to her bag. There were already some packets of soy sauce and other assorted condiments at the bottom. “I’ll try and cheer her up. Maybe she’ll come out for some cake later on.”
Rick looked up at her. “Shit! I didn’t get any cake.”
“I bought one yesterday. It’s in the refrigerator.”
“Oh.” He nodded, shoveling in more food. “Good.”
* * *
When Lonna got back to Abbie’s room, she set the bag down on the desk as Abbie closed and locked the door. As soon as it was locked, they wrapped their arms around each other and became lost in a long, lingering kiss. They stood that way for nearly five full minutes, their mouths becoming busily reunited. When they finally had enough, they smiled happily and kissed each other softly on the lips and then embraced tightly.
“Thanks for coming to visit me,” Abbie said.
Lonna giggled. “Thanks for having me.”
“I feel like having you right now.”
Lonna kissed her again. “What do you say we eat first? Then we can have a little birthday party in your bed.”
Abbie laughed, hopping up and down. “Yes, yes, yes!”
“Grab the bag, sweetie. I’ll get the plates.”
They sat on the bed together and dished out the food, the plates balanced on their laps. They took turns sprinkling soy sauce over their dinners and then began to eat, pausing to take occasional sips from the large cocktail Lonna had prepared.
“This is even stronger than the one we had this morning,” Abbie said.
“Too strong?”
“No, I love it!” She handed it to Lonna, who took a big sip and set it on the desk.
“I’m glad. That should last us for awhile.”
Abbie scooped some food into her mouth and chewed happily. “Food is good, too. You want to try some shrimp?”
Lonna smiled and opened her mouth, waiting.
Giggling, Abbie scooped up some more, making sure to get a couple of shrimps on the fork, and then carefully raised it to Lonna’s mouth, sliding it in. Lonna closed her lips over the stem of the fork and Abbie slid it back out, leaning over and giving her a little kiss while she chewed.
“It is good. Here, try some chicken.” Lonna scooped up some of her dinner and fed it to Abbie. Soon they were feeding each other every other forkful, and taking turns eating from each other’s plates. When the plates were empty, they shared an egg roll, and then another. They passed the drink back and forth, washing down the food and catching a little buzz.
“You want some more dinner?” Lonna asked.
Abbie thought about it. “Maybe a little. But no more rice.”
Lonna set their plates on the desk and they each took a carton of food, eating directly from the containers with their forks. They shared, and fed each other several more times, laughing and feeling very happy. When they were both full, they set the food aside and resumed working on the drink.
Lonna took a large swallow, really feeling the booze kick in. She passed it to Abbie, who tried to emulate her and ended up coughing some of it back out. “Oh, all over my good skirt!”
Lonna remembered she ha
d some paper towels in her back pocket and took them out, wiping at the spill. Abbie spread her legs a little so Lonna could get at the worst of it. “Why don’t you take this off, sweetheart?”
Abbie smiled. “You don’t like it?”
“I do like it. I’d like it even better on the floor.”
Abbie undid the clasp and removed the skirt, tossing it across the room. She was now wearing only a blouse, stockings and panties, all black. “How’s that?”
“Much better. Although that blouse looks a little confining. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable without it?”
“I was just going to say the exact same thing about your pants.”
They both laughed and began undressing. Abbie’s shirt and Lonna’s jeans were soon lying on the floor.
“Hey,” said Abbie. “You know something?”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve kissed you a hundred times, and even eaten you out. But I still haven’t seen your breasts.”
“You think this is a good time?”
“I know it is.”
Lonna giggled and unbuttoned her blouse. Abbie helped her, and when it was wide open Lonna lifted her bra up, exposing both of her milky white breasts. “Peekaboo!”
Abbie twisted on the bed, smiling, and took one in each hand. She began caressing them. “They’re so pretty, Lonna! And so soft! Everything about you is so wonderful!”
“Oh, you’re too sweet.” She leaned forward and kissed her.
Abbie lowered her head and pressed her mouth to one of Lonna’s nipples, pulling it in and licking it with little circular motions. Lonna moaned softly, running her fingers through Abbie’s hair. After a minute Abbie leaned over further and took the other one into her mouth, working the nipple with her tongue.
“My god, Abbie, you’re getting me all wet again.”
“I hope so. I can’t wait for another taste of that juice.” She went back to the first breast and continued her suckling.
Lonna leaned her head back against the wall, elated. Abbie played with her breasts for several more minutes and then Lonna gently gripped Abbie’s head, pulling her up and into a kiss. She slid her tongue into Abbie’s mouth, feeling herself grow even wetter.