by Iris Abbott
Mason just continued to look at her, but refused to lose his calm. “It’s done, Abigail. Drive the car I bought you and resign yourself to the fact that that heap of junk you call a car is gone.”
Abigail started to say something else, but Mason cut her off. “We are not arguing over this. It’s not worth it, but you need to realize that today you put both yourself and the children in danger. What if Roger had been the one to come along that deserted highway? What if word gets back to him that the children were left stranded at their schools? You don’t think he won’t try to use that against you during the custody battle?”
Abigail knew he was right. She’d had the same thoughts herself. There was nothing more to say. It was early, but it had been a heck of a day. She was both mentally and physically drained. She went into the bathroom and took a quick shower to wash of the dust and grime from her walk and brush her teeth. She half-expected Mason to join her in the shower, but he didn’t show. When she went to the bedroom it was empty. She decided he must have gone to his office to finish the work that had been interrupted that afternoon. Abigail wrapped herself in the soft cotton sheets and was asleep almost before her eyes closed.
******
Mason scrubbed his hands down his face to wipe away the sweat. To bad he couldn’t wipe away the frustration boiling through his body. Relations had been distinctly frosty with Abigail since the SUV incident. They were both stubborn and neither wanted to budge an inch. At least his relationship with his stepchildren was still progressing nicely. They seemed oblivious to the undercurrents between the two adults in the house.
A week had passed since they brought home Buttercup and Storm. He’d been working with Emily and Jay every evening after work and school. They had been begging him to let them ride the horses outside of the fenced area he’d been using for their training.
He finally promised them a family trail ride around the outskirts of the property. Emily and Jay had been full of excitement and talked about nothing else the last couple of days. Abigail on the other hand was less than thrilled. She’d tried to talk her way out of it, but he wouldn’t let her.
She had flat out refused to ride by herself. So instead of riding Dolly she was seated in front of him on Midnight. He should have been making sure Emily and Jay where handling their first trial ride, but all he could concentrate on was the feel of her soft body leaning into his and the hint of apples that tingled his nose when he rested his chin on top of her head. He laughed at that thought.
“Want to share the joke,” Abigail asked a hint of annoyance in her voice. She was no longer afraid of horses like she had been, but it still wasn’t her favorite pastime. Of course she would endure it to spend time with her children. It was worth it to see the smiles on their faces. She wasn’t going to be Mason’s entertainment however. Things had been strained between them since the incident with her old SUV.
“I was just enjoying your shampoo. It’s distinctively apple. I never made the connection before, but now I know why Dolly is always nuzzling your hair. She probably thinks you have apple slices every time you come to visit.”
“Actually I do. I’m convinced that’s the only reason that horse gives me the time of day.”
Mason snorted. “You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit Abigail. You are definitely loveable. Emily and Jay love you and….”
Abigail interrupted before he could finish. “Well Roger didn’t think I was all that loveable.”
The rest of what Mason had been about to say was lost after that comment. Instead he said, “yeah well he doesn’t seem that attached to Jay and Emily either and who wouldn’t love those two. I don’t think your ex-husband is all that smart.”
“Why, because he married me,” Abigail shot back. Apparently she wasn’t done feeling sorry for herself.
“No,” he said in exasperation, “because he was too stupid to keep you. You had better believe that’s a mistake I won’t be making! I’ve been called a lot of things, but never stupid.”
Abigail wanted to believe him, but she’d believed in Roger once too. She was drawn out of her glum thoughts when she heard Emily’s laughter.
“Mom, this is soooo much fun,” her daughter excitedly chattered as she stopped to let Midnight catch up to Buttercup. “Maybe next time you can ride Dolly. She’s probably lonely back at the barn all by herself.” Emily trotted off to catch up with Jay and Storm leaving her mom and Mason behind.
Mason chuckled in Abigail’s ear. “I don’t know. I don’t feel too sorry for Dolly. I think I’d much rather have you in my arms.”
Abigail’s response became stuck in her throat as they rode out of the wooded area the trail ran through and into the clearing. She and Mason hadn’t gotten as far as the back of his property. It backed up to the lake. The lake itself was gorgeous. It was still early morning and mist was rising from the water. The shore of the lake was surrounded by live oaks thick with Spanish moss. A couple of deer were drinking water from the lake, but they ran off into a thick grove of oaks when they saw the horses and people sharing their space.
“This is so beautiful. It reminds me of why I love northern Florida so much. It’s breathtaking.”
“Yes it is,” Mason answered, but he was looking at Abigail and not the scenery when he made the statement. He glanced over at Emily and Jay. “Make sure you guys stay near us. There are a couple of alligators that hang around the lake.”
“Alligators! That’s so cool,” Jay proclaimed. “And look there’s a row boat. When do we get to take it out fishing?”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “Alligators and fishing are so not my things.”
“Like mother like daughter, I say. Emily and I will just stay home that day,” Abigail decided.
“Or we could go horseback riding on a different trail,” Emily was quick to point out. She didn’t want to go fishing or face down an angry alligator, but she wasn’t going to sit at home and let Jay have all the fun either.
“Girls,” Jay exclaimed in disgust. “Mom, I think I expected more from you, but that’s okay. Thank goodness I’ve got Mason to do guy things with me now.”
Abigail waited for the guilt and fear to creep in at that statement, but it didn’t happen. Mason had been nothing short of spectacular with both her and the children. He was kind and patient with all three of them. Now that she’d had time to think about things, she couldn’t blame Mason for being upset with her. She should have accepted his gift of the new SUV without being so stubborn. Things could have turned out a lot worse then they did when she’d been stranded.
He also actually seemed to enjoy doing things with Emily and Jay, even when she wasn’t around. Jay still talked about the football game Mason had taken him to and they were going to another game the following Friday. For the first time since she had agreed to this marriage of convenience, Abigail actually began to believe that it might work and she’d done the right thing.
Twelve
Autumn was finally taking hold and the heat of northern Florida was lowering to a tolerable level. Abigail looked around her in awe. She was starting to realize just exactly what it was Annabel and Aubrey saw in nature. Of course she’d been to the botanical gardens when she was younger, but it had been a long time since she’d had the time to just slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy the beauty of the world around her. She had Mason to thank for that as well. He seemed to be responsible for all the positive changes taking place in her life at the moment. Not that she was ready to admit that to him, however!
This was the first school fieldtrip she’d been able to attend and she was soaking it up. She was in charge of Emily and four other little girls. They rounded the corner and Abigail stopped dead in her tracks. She felt five little pairs of eyes on her as she gasped in sheer delight. She was looking at the most beautiful water garden she’d ever seen.
The kidney shaped pond was outlined by slate fieldstones and was the focal point of the garden nestled amongst trees, shrubs, and flowers. The ends of the g
arden were anchored by a bright red Japanese maple and saucer magnolia. Gorgeous blue, purple, and bright red flowers were in bloom throughout the garden area. She walked closer to take a look at the flower tags, butterfly blue pincushion flower, homestead purple verbena, and autumn sage. She made a mental note of all three. She’d love to plant an area similar to this in Mason’s backyard.
She felt Emily tug impatiently at her hand. “Look mommy. There are goldfish in the pond. They look like little jewels shinning in the water.”
Abigail took her eyes away from the colorful flowers and looked into the pond. There were indeed several small bright orange fish darting amongst the dwarf water lilies. “How pretty,” she motioned for the other little girls to gather around and look at the fish as well. “What do you think girls? They have the prettiest home in the neighborhood, huh?” The girls giggled, but were quick to agree with their friend’s mother.
And for about the hundredth time that day Abigail was thankful for being able to attend the fieldtrip with Emily. Time with both of her children was even more precious now with the horrible custody battle and the actual court date threatening in the not too distant future. She pushed that ugly thought as far from her mind as she could. It might haunt her late at night when Mason was asleep, or during the day when she was home alone, but not here in this magical place with her daughter.
Abigail looked around and noticed that the rest of the class had cycled through and her group was the only one left by the pond. She glanced at her watch. It was lunchtime. Everyone else must be heading toward the English gardens for the class picnic. Abigail gathered her charges and started walking that way. “All right, who’s ready for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?”
A chorus of excited squeals met her question. A couple of the girls ran ahead and Abigail called them back warning them not to get out of site. They passed under the wrought iron gate and the plaque inviting visitors to enter the English gardens. Abigail anxiously glanced around the milling throng of people. Mason with his six-two height and dark good looks would stand out. She didn’t see him anywhere.
She bit the corner of her lip. Emily had been looking forward to this outing for a couple of weeks now. This was the first opportunity her daughter had been given to bond with Mason without Jay being present. If Mason had forgotten or worse was too busy to eat lunch with them the little girl would be upset. So would she, obviously on Emily’s behalf, not because she herself was missing Mason.
Abigail spread the thin blanket she’d stuffed into her oversized tote bag that morning. The girls were free to join any group for lunch. Emily and her best friend were the only two that stayed with Abigail. She sent the girls after a couple of the bagged lunches so she could check her cell phone. No messages, if Mason wasn’t going to make it, he hadn’t bothered to call.
She stuffed her phone back into the tote. Mason was nothing like Roger, she reminded herself. He’d be there. Maybe late, but he’d be there. She fished the apple she’d brought for her own lunch and bit into it.
“Look mom,” an excited Emily sang out as she skipped back to the blanket. I found Mason and he has something for you.”
Abigail looked up from her apple into the sexy gray eyes of her husband. “Sorry I’m late and that you had to start lunch without me, but I wanted to get these for my best girls.”
Abigail glanced to his hands and saw that he was carrying two small bouquets of colorful wildflowers. “Thank you, Mason. They are beautiful.” Her throat almost closed before she could get out the last word. She realized she was about to cry. Roger had never done anything so spontaneous or romantic for her, not before they were married and most definitely not while they’d been married.
Mason knew Abigail well enough to know her emotions were in overdrive. “Beautiful flowers for a stunning woman and of course the best daughter in the entire world.” He held the second bunch of flowers out to Emily.
Emily took the flowers and she and her friend sat on the blanket giggling while they ate their sandwiches.
“Now,” he said as he fit his tall frame on the blanket next to Abigail, “what’s got you so emotional at the sight of a bunch of flowers. Upsetting you was the farthest thing from my mind when I stopped by the gift shop to pick them up.”
“I guess I’m just not used to romantic gestures and it caught me off guard. The flowers were a lovely thought Mason. Emily and I both love them, thank you.”
Mason raised his eyebrow. “Well if you really want to thank me I have several ideas for tonight. Once the children are safely tucked away upstairs I’ll whisk you away to our bed and you can thank me properly then.”
She lightly tapped him on the shoulder with her fist. “Mason Blake, there are children here.”
“So there are! And they’d probably have no idea what I’m talking about even if they could hear me.”
“You’re insatiable! You know that right?”
“Only for you sweetheart, only for you, and that is a promise!”
Abigail blushed to the roots of her honey blond hair. She only got redder when she turned to see Emily’s teacher watching them.
Mason saw her blush deepen and followed her stare. “Uh oh, I think our effectiveness as chaperones is being called into question. I guess I better save the flirting for tonight.” Then he swooped down and brushed his lips across Abigail’s in a kiss as light and swift as a hummingbird before turning his attention to Emily and her friend.
Abigail observed him interact with Emily and her friends. Most of the little girls remembered him from when he had been principal at the elementary school. Several came over to say hello. Abigail was amazed that he took the time to share a greeting with each and every child. At the same time he never let her or Emily feel ignored. He drew them both into the conversation at several different points.
“Mason you have to come see the goldfish. They are really colorful and both mom and I love the pond they live in!” Emily grabbed her stepfather’s hand and tugged him back toward the pond.
Mason allowed himself to be pulled away from the group and toward the pond in question. He looked back at Abigail, “you coming?”
“I’ll be right there,” Abigail promised. She found Emily’s teacher. “Emily really wants to show Mason the water garden. We’ll be back in about five minutes,” she promised the classroom teacher.
Abigail half-walked half ran to catch up to her daughter and husband. She heard them before they saw her.
“You’re mom really liked this area huh?”
“Yep,” Emily enthusiastically agreed. “Mom stopped dead in her tracks and made a funny noise when she saw it. I like the goldfish myself.”
Mason was thoughtful for a minute while Emily continued to chatter about the fish. “Maybe we’ll build a place like this in the backyard for your mom. Do you think she’d like that?”
Abigail forgot that she’d been eavesdropping, “I would love it!” She told both pairs of listening ears. “I was thinking the same thing myself. We have the lake, but we can’t see it from the house. A water garden with beautiful flowers for me and goldfish for the children would be fantastic. Do you think we could really build something like this ourselves?”
“Sure we can,” Mason encouraged her interest in their home. “We’ll make it a family project. The four of us will work on it together during the weekends. It’ll probably take awhile, but it would be a great family project. Something for the four of us to do together other than horseback riding, especially since you and Emily don’t like to fish,” he couldn’t help but tease.
Abigail gave Mason a genuine smile. “Thank you, Mason.” Then she bit her lip and drifted into silence. It was beginning to feel like she was always thanking Mason. So far though he was outshining any expectation she’d had concerning their marriage of convenience. She’d have to make sure she told him that when she had the chance. The overwhelming feelings of gratitude she was experiencing right then was making her uncomfortable. “We need to rejoin the others. I can�
��t ignore the other girls in my charge for much longer. I want to make sure I’m invited to chaperone anymore fieldtrips they might have.”
Emily situated herself between the two adults and put each of her hands in one of theirs. Then she happily skipped her way back to her classmates. She hugged both her mom and Mason before rushing off to join a group of her friends.
The allotted forty-five minutes for lunch was over. “Well,” Mason said after he glanced at his wristwatch. “I have a meeting with several middle school principals in an hour. I need to make sure I have plenty of time to make it back to the office and look over my notes.”
Abigail hid her disappointment. She’d known that he could only get away for lunch, but that didn’t stop her from wishing he could spend the rest of the afternoon with her and Emily. “Dinner at six?” she asked.
“Works for me,” he verified. “I’ll be home around my usual time. Until then here’s something for you to remember me by,” he leaned over and claimed her lips with his.
The sound of giggling girls drew Abigail back to reality. She pulled away from Mason. “I guess that will have to last you until tonight,” she winked at him and rushed toward the group of giggling little girls before Mason could retaliate. She caught the wait till later look he sent her over his shoulder. She watched him wave goodbye to Emily and the rest of the children and then walk to the parking lot.
She felt herself relax when he turned the corner. He was such a distraction. Maybe it was a good thing he’d only joined them for lunch. There was no way she could take her chaperoning responsibilities seriously with Mason present. Come to think of it, she decided distraction was an understatement. When he was near, her world narrowed until there was just him and his mesmerizing gray eyes.
Abigail felt a tug on her hand. “Come on mom, it’s time to see the rest of the gardens.”