by Kimi Flores
“Well she has one for this event.” Caleb declared.
“I’ll let this one slide Abby, but you will be mine someday.” Manuel pointed at her and teased then went to the back of the van to grab an arrangement from his cousin before he walked into the church with her.
“Sorry.” Abby looked at Caleb’s face then down to her painted toenails.
“What are you sorry about?” Lifting her chin, he slowly ran the pad of his index finger around her delicate lips. Swiping along the top, brushing the sides, and then underneath, his focus never leaving her mouth. While his handsome face captivated her wide eyes, the pounding of her heart beat throughout her body. Almost as though it pained him to move his eyes off her mouth, Caleb shifted his gaze to meet hers. “You had lip gloss smeared all over. The daddy in me had to clean it up for you.”
Yes. She was a goner just as she’d suspected. This beautiful man made her feel things she had never thought were possible to feel. He had no idea, and she did not intend to tell him either.
Abby was reeling all week after the wedding. Although she and Caleb were not actually an item, she cherished the attention he’d paid her. He was such a gentleman, even when asked all those nosy questions by Leah’s mom, Maria and Maria’s boyfriend, Sal. Abby was an unofficial part of their family, and Caleb seemed to welcome the protective stance Maria and Sal took on her behalf. What they didn’t know was that Caleb was only there because Leah asked him to be. He hadn’t asked Abby to spend the day with him. The realization of that bummed her out but not enough to take away the memory of their slow dance. She could relive that memory the rest of her life and be a happy woman.
While seated next to her during the wedding reception, he’d whispered in a sensual tone beside her ear. “May I have this dance?” She’d been slightly swaying to her favorite Spanish ballad, ‘Besame Mucho’, that filled the large coral and teal decorated wedding hall.
“I’d love to.” That song was a favorite of Leah’s family’s and played at each wedding and quinceañera that Abby had attended. The only person that had ever danced with her to this melody was Manuel. Each and every time, he would attempt to kiss her afterward. Yuck.
They reached the dance floor, and she hadn’t known how close she was supposed to get to him until he pulled her flush against his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist. It felt so wonderful to be in his strong arms, and to place hers under his biceps, around his midsection and muscular back. She could’ve stayed there forever, never to leave his strong embrace. She’d closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, taking him in when he quietly sang the ballad directly above her ear. Lost in him, they’d slowly moved from side to side. He sang of kisses, feeling close and seeing a lover in his eyes. She’d almost melted into a huge pile of goo right on the dance floor. He later told her that he’d learned that song during his high school Spanish class and for some reason it had stuck with him.
“Earth to Abby. Are you ready to get your chowder on or not?” Taken out of her daydream, Abby looked over to her best friend in the passenger seat. Oh man, she was driving and fantasizing about Caleb. What was Leah talking about?
“Oh, yeah, I can’t wait for some corn chowder.” Coming back to reality, she tried to focus on their conversation. “I actually dreamt about it last night.” Yeah right. That was not what she dreamt about the night before, but she wasn’t about to share what her real nighttime visions were.
“You are hopeless my friend. I told you we need to make some during the year and not just eat it at the festival.” Abby was still trying to come back to the here and now.
“But then it won’t be unique. You know how much I look forward to this every year.” The Chowder Festival came into her sights, and she was able to shift the rest of the way out of her daydream and refocus as she pulled into a parking spot. Abby loved this festival more than any other. Feeling her excitement rise, she gave a little clap as they got out of the car.
Walking up to the vender booths right in front of the parking lot, Abby eyed a brown, green, and orange windowpane style ring right away. “Look at this.” She pointed it out to Leah. “It matches my outfit perfectly.”
“Yeah, because you need another ring.” Leah’s snide comment did not bother Abby.
“Hey, you love shoes and panties; I love jewelry and antiques. I want it, so I’m buying it.” She paid the merchant under the tent, put the ring on, and held it up to admire the beautiful stones. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“Yeah, okay, now let’s go this way. There was something I spotted over there.” Leah tried to redirect her in the opposite direction from where they were headed.
“I thought we were going this way.” Pointing forward, Abby realized that she was aiming her index finger directly at a smiling Caleb about twenty feet from her. She returned the smile until she saw the gorgeous dark haired beauty walking with one arm looped through Caleb’s and holding Madison’s hand with the other. Scanning the surrounding area, she plotted her escape. “You’re right; let’s go the other way.” Quickly, she turned, not caring if Leah followed. She zigzagged through the crowd until she felt someone touch her shoulder.
“Abby, didn’t you hear me calling you?” asked a deep voice she knew all too well.
Sagging her shoulders, she spun to face him. “Hey Caleb. No, I didn’t hear you.” She craned her neck past him, looking for her best friend and spotted Leah talking to the woman now holding Madison in her arms. Traitor.
“I didn’t know you were going to be here.” He drew her attention back to him.
“It’s a tradition. We go to a couple of different annual festivals.” Nervously, she stood with her arms covering her chest, legs slightly separated and rocking a bit, side to side. This was her anxious stance. She hoped Leah would see what was going on by her body language and come rescue her.
“Come here. I want to introduce you to one of my favorite people.” Her heart sank. Was he serious? They weren’t dating or anything but, she thought there might be something there. Obviously, she was the only one feeling it. Her lips quivered just a moment as she walked over to her ex-best friend and the stunning woman standing next to her. This woman must not have been told that it was going to be a sunny day because she was wearing dark colors from her purple blouse and black tight skinny jeans all the way down to her black platform heeled feet.
Leah smirked and looked down. Grr, how could she think this is amusing?
“Abby, this is my cousin Brianna. Bri, this is Abby.” He gave a knowing look at his cousin who put Madison down and reached a hand out for Abby. Yes, the award for the most shocked dim wit goes to Abby Sullivan. She felt like such an idiot for reacting the way she had. Great first impression Abby, she thought to herself.
“It’s nice to meet you Brianna.” Trying to recuperate, she extended her hand to one of the most beautiful women she’d ever laid her eyes on; it must be a family trait. Madison had ran up to her at the same time and hugged her legs.
“Just call me Bri. Between my cousin and this sweet thing,” she said squeezing Madison’s cheeks, “all I’ve heard about since I got here is Abby this, Miss Abby that.” She gave her cousin a teasing smile. “You’re right Caleb; she is gorgeous.” Was Caleb flushed this time?
Clearing his throat, like he seemed to do whenever he appeard to be nervous, Caleb said, “Bri is here visiting for a couple of days before leaving for New York, and then Europe. She travels a lot.”
“How fun. Do you travel for business?” Abby asked as Madison grabbed onto one of Abby’s hands.
“No. Pleasure.” She smirked peering down to Madison with a pleased look on her face.
Caleb was overjoyed with the fact that he ran into Abby and Leah. He had wanted Bri to meet them while she was in town, but he hadn’t figured out how to arrange it without it looking too suspicious. They’d just gotten their bowls of various chowders, and taken their seats when he noticed Abby start to fidget. She seemed extremely uneasy. Leaning into Leah, she whispered something. Leah�
�s head snapped to the side, and he heard her utter something in Spanish that sounded like it was probably an insult. Caleb’s eyes followed where Leah’s had just left. He took in the sight of a fairly tall blonde female walking alongside a sandy blond male, and another woman with dark brown hair similar to Bri’s. He knew this blonde woman. Her son was the boy who’d caused Madison so much pain the day of the fire drill. The first time he’d encountered her was at back-to-school night when she’d flirted shamelessly with him. He had to get downright rude for her to understand that he was not interested in what she was offering.
By the similar looks, the guy must have been the ex-boyfriend/uncle he’d heard was back in town. He made no assumptions of whom the other female was until he noticed that she and the guy were holding hands, and then he’d leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
Caleb had to help Abby snap out of this. “So Abby, what is your favorite chowder here?”
She was looking down defeated, and anger started to boil in his blood. This beautiful woman had nothing to feel bad about. He glanced at Leah who wore her own look of concern. “Abby, Caleb asked what your favorite chowder was.” Leah ran her fingers down Abby’s forearm causing goose bumps to appear.
Her eyes were filled with sadness when she answered, “I like the corn chowder.” She tried faking a smile that spoke volumes of pain. His heart broke for her. He wanted to throw his chair back, pull her toward him, and take away all the pain that overflowed from her.
He’d kept his eyes on her and didn’t notice when the group approached them.
“Hey Abs. How have you been?” A deep voice asked. Instinctively, Caleb scooted his seat closer to her and put his arm protectively around the back of her chair as she looked up toward the standing group.
“I’m fine.” She looked past him to his sister who had an overly fake smile plastered on her face. The evil woman’s eyes glinted as she turned to the female beside Peter and opened her mouth.
“Oh, you have to meet Peter’s fiancé, Janice. She’s the best sister-in-law a girl could ever ask for.” She pushed the other female toward Abby. Caleb was so close to her, he could feel her trembling as she stood and shook Janice’s hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Caleb was so proud of her. Although Abby was upset over this meeting, she dealt with it like a lady full of class. Abby went as far as to introduce their whole table. Caleb noted that Peter’s eyes never left Abby, and something in Caleb made him want to pull her down on his lap and claim her in front of this guy who’d hurt her so badly. It was an urge that he had to use all his strength to fight. She did not belong to him.
Abby went to sit down, and noticed that Caleb’s arm was across the top of her chair. She smiled at him before taking the seat.
“Abby I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Can we talk later?” Peter asked.
“No. I’m good. Congratulations though. I hope everything works out for you guys.”
“So when did this happen? Isn’t there a school policy against parents and teachers dating?” The blonde he now knew as Tiffany asked while wiggling her sharp, pointy finger back and forth between Caleb and Abby.
Leah started to open her mouth when Abby placed her delicate hand on her arm. “We aren’t dating. Our families are close and so are we.” She motioned to everyone at the table as though they were part of the same family. “To answer your question though, no, there isn’t a school policy prohibiting it.”
Interesting. Caleb thought to himself.
“I’m going to take Madison for ice cream.” Bri whispered into his ear before leaving the table with her.
“Well now it all makes sense. You do show her favoritism.” She pointed at Madison with a snarl on her face. “And apparently you show her daddy some too.” She gave a wicked grin.
That was it. Caleb had enough. He grabbed the arms of his chair and threw himself up just as Abby did the same. “Now wait a minute...” Caleb started to rumble.
“That’s enough Tiffany,” Peter said as he started to back away, forcing his group to do the same. “I’m sorry Abs.” He said with a sad smile before turning and guiding his group away from the table. Caleb wondered what that apology truly meant. There seemed to be much more behind it than what just happened.
Abby plopped herself back onto her seat. “I’m so sorry Caleb.” Her eyes started to gloss over. He sat back down and grabbed for her hand, slightly pulling her toward him.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. Do not ever apologize for that woman. Please. She has a wicked heart, and you do not have anything to do with that.”
“I just feel bad because she has reasons to hate me, and she shouldn’t have said anything like that in front of you.”
“You had better stop that Abby.” Leah chimed in causing Abby to pull away from Caleb in order to face her. “We have been over this a million times.” She touched the table with her pointer finger as she spoke. “You have nothing to feel guilty about and that puta has nothing to hate you for. She is the problem. Not you. Please Abby; don’t let her get to you.”
“It’s not just her. Peter keeps calling me, and I don’t want to talk to him.” Caleb sensed that he was missing a large piece of this puzzle, but he just sat back and listened.
“You have to at some point, or you are not going to get over this.” Leah pointed out.
“Not yet, okay?” Her full pouty lips came up to a half smile. “Another time. Let’s just enjoy the rest of this day, please.” She took her napkin and blotted under each eye before placing it onto her lap. “I’ve been looking forward to this chowder for a year.” She took a spoon full of the creamy goodness and brought it to her open mouth. Well, now he couldn’t stop staring at her mouth. He felt eyes on him then looked at Leah who was smiling like the cat that caught the canary. Well damn, he was just caught gazing at this beautiful woman by her best friend. He had to return the smile before shaking his head and grabbing a spoonful of his own chowder.
“I like her.” Bri said as they entered the house. She slipped her platform heels off and hooked them onto her index finger as Caleb walked past her, carrying a sleeping Madison over his shoulder.
“I had no doubt you would. Let me get Madison upstairs; I’ll be right back.”
Caleb climbed the stairs, entered his little girl’s bedroom, pulled the covers back, and laid her down. She pulled at her pillow then snuggled into it. He turned to her dresser when he noticed a picture she’d drawn and left on top. His eyes filled with tears, and his heart swelled as he picked it up and took a closer look. There was an angel with an arrow pointing to it that said ‘mommy’ floating toward the top and three figures standing on green grass: a man, a little girl and a woman. Above each of the figures’ heads was a name: Daddy, me, Miss Abby. Was he giving Madison hope for something he wasn’t even sure about yet?
He rubbed his hand over his face, swiping his tears away when he heard her ask, “Daddy, what do you think about Miss Abby being my new mommy?” Crap. His head snapped up to see her large innocent eyes watching him, hopeful, through her reflection in the mirror.
“Well Pumpkin, you have a mommy and Miss Abby is a friend.” He placed the picture back on top of her dresser then looked over his shoulder as he rummaged through her drawer.
“But Daddy, I really like her, and she’s pretty. Don’t you think she’s pretty?” The inquisitive look on her cherub face nearly broke his heart into pieces.
He grabbed her pajamas. “Well yeah I think she is pretty, but it’s more complicated than that Sweetie.”
“Why?” She started undressing as he approached.
“Honestly I don’t know why. It just is.”
“Hmm one of those growed up things that makes no senses?” She threw her balled up summer dress onto the floor.
He chuckled. “Yeah us growed ups don’t make a lot of senses sometimes huh?” She shook her head no as he slipped her nightgown over her head.
“Well, you get to sleep.” He rustled her hair back and forth then place
d a kiss on her forehead. “I love you munchkin.”
“I love you too daddy. Goodnight.”
Caleb turned off her lamp then closed the door as he walked out of her room. Rubbing his face with his hands again, he walked into his bedroom and tried to figure out what he was going to do. This was one of the many reasons he didn’t date. He had to consider his daughter’s feelings above all else. She was his responsibility, and he couldn’t screw this up. He sat on the edge of his bed, took his shoes off, and tossed them toward the closet. He decided to change into sweat pants and a clean t-shirt before heading downstairs.
Bri came out of the guest room wearing loose fitting pants, an enormous t-shirt, and fluffy socks just as he hit the bottom stair.
“Guess we had the same thing in mind.” He gestured between them and their now laid back attire.
“So cuzz, tell me more.” She pulled him toward the large leather couches, motioning for him to sit with her.
He pursed his lips then looked up. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute.” She swatted his shoulder. “Did you see her face when she thought I was someone else? Her poor eyes almost bugged out of her head, and then she took off running. And you couldn’t make your attraction to her more obvious if you tried.”
“I don’t know what to do here. She is so good with Madison. And beautiful. Oh god is she beautiful.” He put his head back on the sofa.
“Yes she is extraordinarily beautiful Caleb, but I know that you see more. I can read it on your face. You like her.” Caleb lifted his head and gave her a defeated look. “It’s okay. It’s time you find someone. Rene would want that. You know she would.” This was the third person to tell him the exact same thing.
