by A N Busch
“Thank you.” That was all she needed to say.
“Well aren’t you going to look inside?”
“I know what is inside the box and I love them.”
Westly grabbed the box out of her hands and untied the ribbon and opened the box for her. He counted out the purple roses one by one as he handed them to her. There were thirteen of them, one for each year they had been apart.
The sweet smell of them filled the limo and Abby placed her nose closer to them breathing in their unique sent. She could not remember the last time she had gotten roses that smelled so sweet and wonderful.
“It seems we both had the same thought tonight.”
“And what thought was that?”
“You in pink, smelling the same, looking as beautiful as ever. Me with purple roses, and I cooked us dinner tonight. The same thing as the first time I cooked for you so long ago. I’m afraid I do have some disappointing news for you though.”
“What’s that? You still can’t cook.” Abby’s smile turned into laughter as she said it.
Westly raised one eyebrow and smiled at her. “Hey now.”
The two of them continued with small talk till the limo came to a stop. Westly did not wait for the driver to open the door. He got out, came around to her door, and held out a hand for her after he opened it. They were standing outside a townhouse but she had no clue where they were.
It was like he was reading her mind as he started to talk, “This is a small townhouse I bought in the city for nights when I work late. Sometimes it’s too far to drive to my house just out of town.”
“It’s very nice.” Abby nodded as she looked up at the beautiful townhouse. Small details that made it stand out from the others around it caught her architect’s eye.
“Well, shall we then?” He held a hand out to her and she took it sending sparks from her hand right into her heart.
He led her to the door and let go of her hand to get out a key and open the heavy wood door with a stained glass windowpane. She was second guessing what she was doing, but the small card now in her hand with the roses popped into her mind – “If only for one more night.” She would be returning back home soon and she knew she would never see him again. They both needed this night together for so many reasons. It was like the beginning but it was an end that was years over due. They were completing the circle they had started long ago in a perfect way.
There was a vase with water inside the door and Abby took the opportunity to place her beautiful roses inside it. She slipped the small card inside her purse and placed it beside the vase. Westly took her hand and she did not protest his gentle warm touch. He squeezed her hand and showed her around. She didn’t get a complete tour, just the lower living level of the townhouse.
She hesitantly followed him into the dining room and pulled out a chair for her. The table was set beautifully this time. China and silver lay out perfectly with a cloth napkin beside it and wine glass and a water glass placed beside that. There were more purple roses placed in a short square vase in the middle of two candles. Westly said nothing as he set the candles ablaze with a small lighter from his pocket and walked into the kitchen.
He came back into the room with a bottle of wine in each hand. “Red or white?”
“Red would go better with the spaghetti, but I am more of a fan of white. Is it Zinfandel?”
“Not this bottle but I believe I have some. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t worry if it’s too much trouble.”
He didn’t answer her but smiled as he walked back into the kitchen. When he came back in he uncorked the bottle and set it into an ice bucket next to the table after filling both wine glasses.
“I’ll be right back with our gourmet meal.” He winked at her and she could not help but laugh.
When he came back into the room he spooned some spaghetti onto her plate and then his own. “So, why don’t you tell me about your children.” Abby looked down at her full plate and as the smell hit her nose, her stomach growled; even if she didn’t remember that she had not eaten a thing that day, her stomach had. Everything about the evening was making her feel like she was that shy girl of nineteen in Westly’s doom room again.
Abby talked for quite some time before she changed the subject to him. By the time dinner was over, Abby was much more comfortable. He made it so easy for her to forget the awkwardness of things and just talk like it was a normal dinner with any friend.
“Oh, do you want to hear the crazy thing that happened to me this afternoon?”
“Let me guess, another love from your past?”
“No. I have to tell you that I was going to leave this afternoon and not see you.”
“Well I am glad that you didn’t Abs. I am very, very glad. How is that weird though?”
After Abby had told him about the little store she had found that afternoon, what the sales girl inside had said about the owner, and the little black bag that came with her purchase, she excused herself and got the note out of her purse. Westly had a strange look on his face as he placed his hand on hers and took the note from her.
“This was in the small black bag?” He asked as he unfolded the note and looked down at the delicate handwriting.
Abby said nothing and just shook her head before he began to read it out loud. Confusion covered his face as he reached the end – ‘“Your memories were never meant to be forgotten. Remember well my dear that though everything feels new and changed the Fates do not change their plans for any one person or for any reason. What is written in the stars for this life is what shall be.”’ He looked up from the note slowly to her and part of her wished she had never said anything. “I don’t understand. What does this mean?”
“Do you remember that morning, I had gone with Rachel to get a tarot card reading?”
“Yes. Of course I do,” Westly said reaching for her hand again as he listened to her speak.
“Well that day I was told you were my soul mate but that we could not be together in this life. I didn’t get a card reading but something that had to do with rocks or something; I can’t remember what they were called. Anyway, I think she said something about, ‘Strengthening the bond between us for the next life.’”
“So, what you are saying is that I have to wait to be with you until the next life?”
“You read the note I got today. It’s the only thing I can think that it means.” Westly sat in silence and then pushed the note back toward her. He leaned in and held both of her hands in his. “Westly, you know that we can’t stay together. I have a home and a husband and three wonderful children to go home to. I can’t leave them behind.”
“I know Abs, I know.” He glanced at the ring on her hand again and she could see that he was fighting back showing any pain, but it was clearly there in his eyes. “But for right now we are together and I want to have the best memories of it that I can.”
Abby squeezed his hands gently and spoke in a quiet voice, ‘“If only for one more night.’”
“Yes, one more night; a memory to last the rest of our life on.”
They sat silently for some time just looking at each other. Abby looking into his piercing blues eyes that had not changed, eyes that had nothing but true and pure love in them. He was the love of her life, maybe of all her lives. Westly looked as if he was memorizing every inch of her face, concreting it into his mind so that he would never forget the way she looked.
Westly let go of one hand to touch her cheek when he finally broke the silence, “You are even more beautiful than I remember; as well as more beautiful than I could have imagined you would be now.”
Abby blushed as he kissed her other hand and she said, “Thank you. You have not changed much yourself - still so very handsome with those blue eyes that I can get lost in. The dark hair is different though, I like it.”
Westly smiled a half smile and then she was lost in his eyes again. The power he had over her was like it was from another world.
�
�Where was the boutique that you found this afternoon? What was the name of it?”
“I’m not sure where it was. It was close to the hotel, one block south and maybe three blocks to the east I guess. There was no marking on the bag. It was called Destiny Boutique. Have you seen it before?”
“No, but I don’t really look at women’s stores either. Destiny Boutique, huh? Very strange in the grand scheme of things.”
The two of them laughed as Westly rose and got another bottle of wine from the kitchen. When he came back, he sat down in the chair beside her after pouring them each more and placing the open bottle in the ice bucket.
“This really has been a crazy day. Abs I want you to know that I am so glad you came tonight and didn’t go home. I would have understood though, in a way I would have seen some justice in it really.”
Abby leaned forward and took his hand in hers and squeezed it. Maybe it would have been justice if she had done it to him, maybe not. All she really cared about right now was that she was here with him and they were both smiling. She was glad that she hadn’t run away and stayed to have this time with him.
Westly asked if she wanted to go into the living room. Abby nodded and soon the two of them were on the couch together, he sat down first and she sat beside him. He had positioned himself so she could sit on the chair next to him if she wanted, but her skin was calling for his touch. He picked up a remote and a fire roared to life in the fireplace a few feet away.
They sat on the couch talking and laughing for some time. The two of them exchanged stories about their children and funny things that had happened over the years. She told him about Rachel and what she was up to these days and about talking to her on the phone earlier. “She said that you probably think she is the devil.”
Westly’s laughter filled the room. “No, I am so happy to see you again I couldn’t be mad about anything. As I said earlier today, I know why she said it. Do you still talk to Paul, Melanie or Jamal?”
Abby told him about seeing Paul from time to time over the years occasionally at family functions. And that he had started his own accounting firm in Tennessee a few years back.
“Mel and Jamal are married now. She is a lawyer in New Mexico and Jamal is a very highly paid personal trainer to some high profile athletes. I think some are Olympic runners or something like that.” Abby took a gulp of the wine left in her glass and did not protest as Westly poured more for her. “They are going to have their second child in just about five more months.”
“Melanie has not changed one bit it sounds like.”
“Oh, she has not changed one bit trust me. I’m just surprised that Jamal has been able to keep up with her for all these years.”
Westly placed a second arm around her and hugged her; she stayed in his arms feeling warm and safe. The two of them sat in pure silence for a long time watching the fire burn brightly. The second bottle of wine was empty before Abby said what was on her mind. “Westly how is it we are so perfect together, like two halves of a whole, but we can’t be together? I mean I know we can’t now, but why would the ‘Fates’ not let us be together in the first place?” She looked up and was confused by the look on his face.
He took his last sip of wine and kept his eyes on the glass as he spoke, “I don’t know; no one knows why things happen the way they happen. Maybe it is so in the next life we are stronger and better together. The only thing that matters to me right now, is that you are alive.” He placed their glasses on the table and looked at her again placing a hand on her cheek. “We are here together now ‘if only for one more night’ remember? The thought of you being away from me, alive and with another man is awful for me. On the other hand, if you could only know how I feel right now knowing that you are alive. Seeing you again and knowing that you are out there in the world makes me feel like I’m whole. I have lived like a shell of a person for so long. I know that even though we will not be together and I may never see you again, I am whole now.”
Westly’s soft touch on the side of her face made her heart skip a beat. She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into his arms, staying like that for a long time. The two of them talked here and there about the past but mostly just enjoyed the company of the other and the sounds of a crackling fire. Abby only left his wonderful arms when he got up and opened another bottle of wine. When he sat back down, she curled right back up to him. He kissed the top of her head and touched her hair and she held his other hand in hers, tracing the lines in his palm. Even quiet, it was perfection just to be there with him.
Chapter 25
When Abby opened her eyes, the sun was coming in the window and Westly was right beside her in the bed. She smiled at him and rolled into his willing arms. She snuggled her face into his chest as she said good morning to him.
He lifted her face and she watched as he slowly kissed her gently and sweetly on the lips. It was no more than a peck, but it set her lips on fire and got her heart racing. She waited with her eyes closed to see if he would kiss her again, but he never did. When she opened her eyes he was smiling at her.
“How did you sleep?”
“Good I guess, you tell me? I’m sure you were awake most of the night.”
“I was, how I used to dream of watching you sleep again. It was just like I remembered, some things don’t change - you still talk in your sleep I see.”
“Oh no, what did I say? Do I even want to know?”
“That will be for me to know and hold onto forever. Don’t worry about it love.”
Abby rolled away slowly grunting, pulling a pillow over her head to hide from him. It wasn’t there long before he was pulling it off her.
“Hey now, come back here.”
Abby laughed as he pulled her back into his arms.
“What time is it?”
“It is just after nine in the morning. I have canceled my whole day of work and have big plans for us.”
“Oh really what is that?”
“Well I thought you might like to see this big city with me today.”
“Well why would you think that? I do have things to do you know. I have to start making plans for this company’s owner. He just loved my design, but I’m sure I will need to get the ball rolling on a few things. He might be a tyrant; you know I heard that I was the fourth or fifth person to present to his company?”
Westly laughed heartily. “A tyrant huh? Well I have some pull with him, and trust me, business can wait till tomorrow. You have nothing to do today but be with me. I am keeping you to myself and not sharing, sorry.” He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “And just between you and me, you were the sixth person to do a presentation. Crazy ideas for new age or futuristic buildings were not what I was looking for.”
Abby sat up quickly thinking of her husband. The romantic fog of being with Westly again was lifted and she had the urge to go right then. As she stood up, Westly asked her what was wrong, and she looked at him like he was an idiot for even asking her that.
“‘What’s wrong?’ Really do you even need to ask me that? I am a married woman that just slept with another man. Well I mean I didn’t sleep with you, but I slept with you. This is nuts, and now you want to spend the day with me.”
“Abby stop! You did not sleep with me. I carried you upstairs, put you in this bed, covered you up, and spent the whole night in that chair. I did not want to go far incase you woke up and didn’t know where you were. I was only on the bed for five minutes before you woke up, and I was not even that close to you.”
Westly stood and grabbed her hands to stop her from pacing back and forth. “Listen to me. Everything is fine, you didn’t do anything wrong. I have been downstairs for the last hour and a half. I was canceling my day and making plans for us.” Abby’s mind centered on his lips, the wonderful way they wrapped around the words he was saying. How could something as simple as that melt her and fog her brain to the point she could not even think about the words being said?
He slowly moved the hair back fr
om her ear and leaned in to whisper. She could barely feel his warm breath across her ear and neck and her eyes closed. “Nothing happened, I promise. Please my Abs, spend the day with me, let me show you New York City in a way no one else would.” He put his arms around her waist slowly and her arms slid up and around his neck.
“Abby I want you for the rest of my life, but I can’t have you and I know it. You can spend the day with me. That isn’t too much to ask for is it?” He kissed below her ear and sent sparks to every inch of her body. “I just can’t give you up yet Abs. I know I have to let you go, but not yet.”
His warm breath ran from her ear down her neck again, speeding up her pulse and making her knees weak. His lips were so close to her ear. She felt him move a hand slowly up her back and into her hair. There was no way she could say no to him when he was holding her close like this. She had to get away before the romantic fog she had been stuck in settled back around her.
Abby gathered all her strength and tried to pull away from him, but his hold only tightened around her waist. The hand behind her head moved to her neck and his thumb caressed her skin softly. While his lips grazed over the surface of her neck over and over, with such a light touch it could have all been in her head and not real at all, Abby’s breath caught in her throat as she tried to speak. There was nothing she could do now, her skin was on fire and she was his.
“Please Abs, tell me you will spend the day with me. Tell me our time is not over yet, one more day for us.”
Abby could only move her head slowly in the motion of yes as she wrapped her arms tighter around him. Time stood still to her as he kissed her neck tenderly. When he pulled away, she was left wanting the moment never to end. Slowly the sound of a phone ringing came into her ears, and she opened her eyes. Her knees gave way as his arms let her go and she was thankful for the chair two feet behind her.
She hit it hard and leaned back into it as her head spun around in a way that was beyond anything he had ever made her felt before. The life of being, “Abigail - wife and mother of three” seemed a million miles away now and she was thinking of only being Abby and being in his arms again. He was across the room talking on the phone but she couldn’t make out what he was saying in his deep but soft whispered tone.
