by Iris Abbott
Three
A few days later Abigail received a phone call from Caroline. She invited Abigail and the children to the home football game at the local high school. It was scheduled for the following Friday night. “I promised a few of my students I would come out and watch them play. I thought Emily and Jay would enjoy it too. So, how about it? You guys are welcome to come over to my place for dinner before the game.”
Abigail was delighted with the invitation. It would be great to spend time with the children while getting out of the house at the same time. “Well I have to say that is the best offer I’ve had all week. Jay loves football, so count us in! Should I bring anything for dinner?”
“No, my apartment has a tiny patio out back and I have an even smaller grill. I thought we would have a miniature barbeque. Sort of like a tailgate party before the game, only at my apartment instead of the school parking lot.”
“That’ll work,” Abigail promised her friend. “I tell you what though, I have to bring something. How about some of my famous pasta salad? It’s even better than what they serve at the corner deli on Main Street.” Abigail made arrangements with her friend and hung up the phone. She actually had something to look forward to now! Befriending Caroline was one of the best things she’d done lately.
******
Friday night on the way to the football game Abigail observed her son. Jay was so excited he practically bounced in his seat. “A bunch of my friends from school have older brothers that play on the football team. They are all going to be at the game. Can I sit with them mom? Please!” he pleaded in that little boy voice of his. The one Abigail always had trouble saying no to.
“As long as you stay in sight of the bleachers and you check in with me at halftime.” Abigail turned into the high school parking lot as Jay mumbled a response. “Wow, look at all these cars. The parking lot is packed. Who are we playing tonight?”
“Cross county rivals,” Caroline replied. “Even though it’s fairly early it’s the game of the season, or so I’ve been told.”
“That sounds promising. We are sure to run into several of my friends and acquaintances. I can introduce you to everyone and if you’re lucky you will get a date or two.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “I don’t need a date. I swore off of men long before I moved down here. You however are another story. Since this is the game of the season and it involves two county schools, I’m sure our esteemed superintendent of schools will be here.”
Abigail gave a most unladylike snort that sent Emily and Jay into gales of laughter. “Oh please tell me that’s not why you invited us here tonight. Even if he is here, he’ll be too busy working to take notice of me.”
“Who are you talking about mom?” Jay asked as they exited the car.
“Oh nobody important,” Abigail answered, but whether she was trying to convince herself or everyone else, nobody really knew.
Their tickets purchased, the group made their way to the bleachers. “Look mom,” Jay addressed Abigail. “My friends are passing the football around on the sidelines over there. Can I go play? Please!”
“That’s fine Jay,” she agreed. “Just remember what I told you earlier. Make sure you check in with me at halftime and make sure you stay with your friends. Don’t wonder off on your own or with people you don’t know.”
“Thanks mom,” Jay called over his shoulder. He was already on his way to join his friends.
The women and Emily made their way to the bleachers to enjoy the football game. “I know several people over there in that section and it’ll be easy for Jay to find us at halftime,” Abigail explained as she made her way toward the center of the home team’s bleachers. Once they were settled, Abigail introduced Caroline to a handful of people she had gone to school with. A few of the single guys seemed interested and Abigail had hopes that her new friend would leave the game with a couple of phone numbers.
A couple of rows down from Abigail, Mason was visiting with the principal of the home school and his family. He heard Abigail’s laughter and glanced over to see her sitting amongst a group of thirty some-things including a couple of single men. They were men who happened to have a notorious reputation as playboys. He felt a stab of jealously slice through his gut. I don’t have a claim on her at least not yet anyway, he reminded himself.
“…Don’t you agree Mason?” Jim Thompson asked.
Mason hadn’t heard the beginning of the principal’s statement. “I’m sorry Jim, what was that? I didn’t catch the beginning.” It irked Mason that he had been caught staring at Abigail like a teenager with his first crush.
Jim cleared his throat and looked at Mason with a knowing look in his eyes. “I was just commenting about the new science teacher. She comes across as a little aloof. I hear she’s already turned down several dates from coworkers. She seems to know her way around the classroom though and the students have taken to her. It looks like Abigail Montgomery has taken her under her wing.”
Mason didn’t want to become embroiled in a discussion about Abigail. “If Ms. Montgomery is looking out for her then I’m sure she’s in good hands.”
“I never meant to imply otherwise,” Jim reassured his boss. He started to say something else, but thought better of it and changed his mind. Since when was Mason Blake so defensive of Abigail Montgomery? An awkward silence fell between the two men.
“I’ve been in one place too long. I see a few board members I should speak with and I should also say hello to the visiting principal.” Mason shook hands with Jim Thompson and made a hasty retreat. He’d seen the speculative look in the older man’s eyes when he’d jumped the gun to defend Abigail. He was going to have to work harder at keeping his emotions under wraps when it came to Abigail Montgomery.
He waffled on whether or not to go speak to her. He could always go over and introduce himself to the new science teacher. Not wanting to draw any more attention than necessary to Abigail or bring attention to them as a couple, Mason figured he should head in the opposite direction. While walking he mulled over his use of the word couple. He dated often, but hadn’t been in a serious relationship in what seemed like forever. He had never thought of himself and Abigail as a couple before either. The more he thought about it the more he liked the idea and that was a definite first.
He spotted Mitch Ward, the principal of the visiting school and headed that way. The two men shook hands. “Nice to see you again, Mitch. It looks like your students came ready to play tonight.”
“I certainly hope so. Coach Brown has been working them hard.” Cheers erupted all around them as the home team scored a touchdown. “Damn,” Mitch muttered, “the games just started and we’ve already got to dig ourselves out of a hole.”
Both men turned toward the field to watch the action. Mason tried to focus on the game, but he couldn’t get Abigail out of his head. He sighed inwardly. He might as well use the lull in conversation to reflect on whether or not he would like to pursue a relationship with Abigail. After all she was everything he would look for in a partner and then some. She was a wonderful loving mother and sister. She was friendly and funny and the chemistry between them was electric. Just thinking about her was making his body tingle. An idea began to form in his head. Just maybe he should toss his one golden rule out the window and pursue a relationship with Abigail. Each was defiantly in need of the other right now. He had his problem with the interfering school board and she had her custody problems with her ex-husband. If the two of them were involved in a committed relationship, it would quieten the matchmakers on the school board and possibly hold her ex-husband at bay.
Abigail tossed her friend Caroline an innocent look over her shoulder. “So what do you think of my friends Charles and Nick? We went to school together. They are both decent men or I wouldn’t have introduced you. They have somewhat of a reputation, but honestly most of that is hype. I really don’t see either one of them as the love them and leave them type or I wouldn’t have introduced you,” she rushed to
assure her friend.
Caroline glared back at Abigail. “Don’t you dare play little miss innocent with me. I know exactly what you’re trying to do. I told you already, I’m not interested in dating right now. I have plenty of baggage I have to work through on my own without adding anymore.”
“Okay, I get the message.” And I was right, you are just like Annabel, Abigail mentally added. “You can never have too many friends though, especially when you’ve just moved to a new town and state. There’s not that much time left in the game before halftime starts. After Jay checks in we can walk around and I’ll introduce you to a few more friends.”
Caroline was about to reply when one of Jay’s friends rushed up the bleachers. “Ms. Montgomery, Ms. Montgomery,” he yelled until he came to a stop in front of Abigail.
Abigail noted that the little boy was out of breath and she felt a chill work its way down her spine. “What’s wrong?” She worked hard to keep the panic out of her voice. “And where’s Jay?” she asked the boy.
The boy looked at Abigail nervously. “He’s still down by the fence with the rest of our friends. We were tossing the football around and Jay twisted his ankle running after the ball. He says it hurts really bad and he can’t stand on it. I think you better come check on him.”
“Of course, I should check on him,” Abigail agreed. She looked at Emily and Caroline. “Let’s go see what kind of trouble Jay’s found for himself,” Abigail announced. Outwardly she appeared calm, but inside like any good mother she was frightened for her child. Abigail, Caroline, and Emily carefully picked their way down the bleachers following behind Jay’s friend.
Mason was standing on the other side of the field. He immediately noticed the disturbance. He also saw that it involved Abigail. That fact wasn’t too hard to miss since he had been staring at her instead of the football game. He didn’t stop to think about appearances. He just took off running. He intercepted Abigail at the bottom of the bleachers.
“Abigail, what’s wrong? And don’t try denying there’s a problem. I saw the commotion from across the field.”
Abigail continued walking and Mason automatically fell in line with her steps. She didn’t want to ponder on how good it felt to have him there. She needed to concentrate on Jay. “My son was throwing around a football with some of his buddies on the sidelines and he got hurt.”
Abigail finished talking just as Jay came into her sights. She felt relief pour through her at the sight of him conscious and even standing. Her relief turned to anger when she recognized her ex-husband talking to Jay. She marched ahead of the rest of her group and enfolded Jay in an enormous bear hug. “Are you all right, honey?” Abigail watched as Jay turned pink, probably from the embarrassment of her use of a term of endearment in front of his friends.
“Oh mom, I just twisted my ankle. That’s all,” he promised as he struggled out of her stronghold.
“Well, we are going to get that taken care of right now. If nothing else we need to get you home so we can elevate it. A little ice wouldn’t hurt either.”
Then she remembered her ex-husband. Oblivious to everyone else and the scene she might create she turned on her ex-husband. Deep in her gut she knew his being there wasn’t a coincidence and she wasn’t going to let him get away with it. “And what are you doing here?” she demanded to know as she poked a finger into his chest.
Roger glared down at Abigail. Then he threw up his hands and took a step back. “I don’t want any trouble here. I’m just supporting the local football team. Maybe you should watch that temper of yours, Abigail.”
Abigail started to follow, but Mason wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her from moving any closer to her ex. That didn’t stop Roger from trying to goad her in to a confrontation. “He’s my kid. I can see him anytime I want. Besides this will only help my court case.”
“What do you mean?” Abigail frowned. He had her full attention now.
“You let Jay get hurt while he was unsupervised at a football game. Then you poked me in the chest when I dared to inquire about my own child’s wellbeing. My lawyer is going to have a field day with this one. Thanks, Abigail. Could you make this any easier for me?” He sent her a nasty smirk.
Abigail clenched her fists and tried to take another step toward Roger. “Why you…”
Mason tightened his hold and whispered in her ear. “Don’t give him any more ammunition. Calm down Abigail.” He needed to get control of this situation before it escalated, for Abigail’s sake. He looked over at Caroline. “Take Emily to the parking lot. She doesn’t need to be here for this.”
He waited for Caroline and Emily to get out of earshot before turning back to Roger. “Now, you need to leave Jay, Emily, and Abigail alone. Making a scene at a football game isn’t going to help anyone’s cause, especially yours.”
Roger bristled at the unknown man ordering him about. He wasn’t taking orders from anybody, especially some random man that was probably warming his ex-wife’s bed. “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready. And you can’t make me leave any sooner.”
Mason was never one to back down from a challenge and this was a challenge he was willing to take for Abigail’s sake. Mason waved his arm and a deputy from the sheriff’s office working security for the game came running over. “This man is harassing Ms. Montgomery and her son. Would you please escort him off the grounds, and make sure he doesn’t return.”
The deputy lifted his arm toward Roger. Roger stomped off, but looked over his shoulder at Abigail. “This isn’t over, not by a long shot, darling.”
Abigail shivered at the words. Knowing Roger they were a veiled threat. She had to bite her lip to keep from yelling back a response. He probably had all kinds of underhanded stunts in store for her. There was no need to antagonize him even more. “Why me?” she whimpered. “What did I do to deserve this and why now?” She wondered out loud.
Jay spoke up for the first time since Abigail’s greeting. “Mom was that really dad? It’s been so long since we’ve seen him. I didn’t even recognize him, and what court case was he talking about?”
Abigail knew she had to be truthful with her children no matter what. She was just that kind of mother. “Yes that was your dad. We’ll talk about the rest later when Emily is with us, but there is absolutely nothing for either of you to worry about. I will handle your father later. Right now we need to worry about you. Can you walk?”
Jay tried putting weight on his foot and winced. “Ouch, that hurts.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got you,” Mason promised as he lifted Jay into his arms and carried him to Abigail’s car.
“Thanks, Mr. Blake,” Jay whispered. “I would never have survived the embarrassment if my mom had to carry me out of here. But all the kids think you’re cool, so at least I won’t look quite so wimpy.”
Mason laughed at the cool comment. “I bet you guys didn’t think I was so cool back in elementary school when I was your principal.” Mason stopped walking when he recognized Abigail’s older model SUV. Caroline and Emily were standing by the car waiting. As soon as Abigail unlocked the door he slid Jay into the front passenger seat. Then he looked back at Caroline. “Hello, I’m Mason Blake, the superintendent,” he introduced himself while shaking hands with the redhead. “I understand you’re the new science teacher here at the high school.”
“Yes Sir and it’s great to finally meet you, Mr. Blake. I’ve heard a lot about you especially from Abigail,” she informed him with a wink.
“Hey you two,” Abigail interrupted. “Do you think you could have this meet and greet for another time? I really want to get Jay to the emergency room.”
Mason looked from Abigail back to Caroline. “Did you ride to the game with them?” Caroline confirmed with a nod of her head. “All Right then, I’ll take you home. That way Abigail can take Jay straight to the emergency room.” He turned back to Jay. “Take care of that ankle buddy and I’ll see you later.” He looked in at Abigail who already had the car star
ted. “Drive carefully Abigail. There’s no need to speed to get to the hospital. He’s going to be just fine.”
“Thanks for your help Mason.” She rolled the window up and backed out of the parking space. She looked back in the rearview mirror in time to see Mason help Caroline into his car. She felt an unexpected burst of panic, but put it down to Jay’s injury. She drove out of the parking lot and onto the road that led to the hospital. There was no possible way her panic could have anything to do with seeing her pretty friend Caroline being escorted home by Mason Blake.
****
“I know mom,” Abigail agreed. “No, there’s no need for you to drag out this late at night. I have everything under control. We should be just about finished here. We’ll be home soon,” Abigail promised. She slid her phone shut breaking the connection with her mom. They had been in the emergency room waiting area for what seemed like ages. Finally Jay had been wheeled down the hall for x-rays. Hopefully she would be able to take her children home soon and tuck them into their warm comfortable beds.
The hospital doors swished open and Abigail along with everyone else glanced up at the newcomer. A few appreciative females continued to gaze at the prime male specimen that had just stepped into the waiting area. Everyone returned to what they had been doing before the interruption, everyone that is except for Abigail.
She was pleasantly surprised to see Mason walking toward her and Emily. That didn’t mean she had to let him know it though. “Hey, Mason. This is above and beyond the duty of school superintendent, you know. I really didn’t expect you to check on us.”
Mason blew out a pent up breath of frustration. Sometimes, he thought Abigail just went out of her way to rub him wrong. “Cut the crap, Abigail. We haven’t seen each other much since I was transferred to the county office, but I’d like to think we’re still friends. I was concerned for Jay and I wanted to make sure he was all right.”