by Iris Abbott
Abigail instantly felt remorse. She shouldn’t be taking out her mixed up feelings and worries on Mason. “Sorry, Mason. It’s been a rough night. And it’s not over yet. I’m still waiting to talk to the doctor.”
Just then a nurse rounded the corner pushing Jay in a wheelchair. “Ms. Montgomery, the doctor’s finished wrapping your son’s ankle. The x-ray confirmed it’s just a sprain.” She looked down at Jay who was balancing a pair of crutches on his lap. “The doctor wants him to take it easy and use the crutches until the swelling goes down and the pain has gone away.”
Abigail took the list of instructions on how to care for a sprain and thanked the nurse for looking after Jay. Then she wheeled Jay out to the parking lot with Emily and Mason following close behind. Her stomach had done that quick flutter like butterflies flying around when she’d seen Mason walk into the waiting room. It irritated her that she lusted after Mason while her son was injured. All her focus should be on Jay and Emily. If she didn’t take care of them who would? Certainly not their dad, even if he did want custody. Speaking of their dad, hadn’t she learned her lesson? How many times did she need to get burned before she realized men no matter how great they seemed eventually showed their true colors?
Mason followed them out to the parking lot. Once again he was struck by her devotion to Emily and Jay. She was the perfect mom. No way would any judge rip those children from her. As a matter of fact Abigail would be the perfect mother for his own children, if he ever had any. Whoa, where had that thought come from? Mason almost stopped dead in his tracks. He had never thought about children of his own before. It’s true that he would eventually like to father at least one child and at thirty-eight he most certainly wasn’t getting any younger. His career was well established. Maybe he should seriously consider settling down and starting a family. It would get the wayward school board off his back that was for sure.
His gaze settled on Abigail once more. He couldn’t think of any other person he would rather share his life and future with. The more he thought about the idea the more he liked it. He would be an asset to Abigail during the custody battle as well. Now the only problem was getting her to see how much they had to offer each other.
Abigail settled the children into her SUV before turning to Mason. Sounds of Jay and Emily arguing over what CD they were going to listen to on the way home could be heard coming from the inside of Abigail’s car. After making sure they weren’t going to kill each other Abigail turned her attention back to Mason. “Thanks for all you did tonight, Mason. You didn’t have to come to the hospital, but I’m glad you did.” And she realized she meant it too. Sometimes she needed another adult to lean on for support even if it was just temporary. She was dragged from her thoughts when Mason took a step closer to her.
“If you really want to thank me, kiss me.” After years of living by the no dating co-workers rule, Mason knew he shouldn’t, but he just couldn’t resist. He felt Abigail’s hesitation, but he bent his head towards hers and kissed her anyway.
Abigail was trapped. His hard body pushed her into the side of the steel vehicle. There was nowhere else for her to go. She knew she should push him away, but her body was competing with her mind and her body won. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Driven by the answering softness of her body and her response, Mason deepened the kiss. This time he nipped her bottom lip causing her mouth to open wider. Then he delved in with his tongue and thrust in and out mimicking what he really wanted to do with her.
A shocked Abigail who had been returning his kiss couldn’t handle the increased intensity. This time her mind won out over her body and she lightly pushed Mason away. “Don’t. I can’t do this. My life is complicated enough,” she explained to a quivering Mason, who was trying to regain control of his senses.
Mason had always known they had chemistry, but that one kiss went far beyond anything he had ever experienced before. It was almost nuclear. “I know you have plenty of other things on your mind right now, Abigail. But trust me when I say, this is far from over.” With that final word, he turned on his heel and marched to his late model Mercedes convertible and took off.
On the ride home Emily who had fallen asleep in the hospital parking lot continued napping. Jay however was full of questions and comments. “I sure am glad Mr. Blake checked in on us at the hospital. That was awful nice of him, don’t you think mom?”
Abigail wasn’t feeling so charitable after that scorcher of a kiss. “Well, your injury did happen on school grounds, so I’m not surprised Mason, I mean Mr. Blake was concerned.”
“Umm mom, I couldn’t help but see you and Mr. Blake kissing. Are you two going to date each other now? Because if you are then I want you to know that as the man of the house, I approve. Mr. Blake is a good man. Grandma used to say that all the time when he was still at the elementary school. Besides all my friends would be green with envy if I started hanging out with him.”
Damn, Abigail thought to herself. This is trouble I definitely don’t need. “I hate to disappoint you Jay, but Mason, I mean Mr. Blake, and I are only coworkers and causal friends nothing more.”
Jay was silent the rest of the way home. Once Abigail had everyone including herself settled in bed she pondered the night’s events. If the children already liked and respected Mason then they would be devastated if he became more deeply involved in their lives for only a short period of time. When he left just like men always left, it would be just as hard on Emily and Jay as it would be on her. It was time to stop this now before any major damage could be done to her or the children. There would be no more morning coffees and definitely no more kisses! Abigail hated the thought of that because he was a great kisser. Her lips and the rest of her body were still tingling from the earlier encounter.
******
The next day while Abigail was fixing lunch for her and the kids, the phone rang. Her woman’s intuition told her it was Mason. She nervously wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello,” she spoke hesitantly into the receiver.
“Hello, Abigail,” a deep voice responded. “It’s Mason. “I just wanted to see how you were doing today and to ask about Jay of course.”
Abigail took a deep breath. God why did he have to make this so hard for her? Couldn’t he just leave her alone? She didn’t have room in her life right now for another complication no matter how sexy the complication. “We’re both fine. Thanks for your concern. I was just about to take Jay’s lunch up to him. I’ve got to go.” She was about to put the phone down when she heard Mason say her name.
“Abigail, wait. How about having dinner with me tonight? I know this is last minute, but I would really like to spend some time with you away from work.”
Abigail clenched the phone tighter. She wanted to give in, but she couldn’t. For her own peace of mind she couldn’t start something that didn’t have a future. It wasn’t fair to her or the children. “Listen Mason, it was kind of you to call and check on Jay’s injury. He’s fine, I’m fine, but I can’t go out with you. Not tonight, not ever. Please don’t call me anymore.” She hung up, waited a few seconds to make sure the connection had been severed then took the phone off the hook.
Mason heard the click that disconnected the call and slammed down his receiver with a curse. “Damn that woman. Why does she have to be so stubborn?” he questioned no one in particular. They were two consenting adults who were obviously attracted to each other. Why was she trying to fight it?
Mason needed physical activity to get his mind and body off of Abigail. Another woman was out of the question, because right now his body didn’t seem to want anyone but Abigail. That left riding. Midnight, his solid black stallion was due for a workout anyway. He’d take him for a run and then give him a good wash down. Then he would put his mind to work and figure out how to solve the problem of Abigail. He wanted her desperately and he knew she wanted him too. There had to be a way for the two of them to come together.
Four
Abigail nervously rubbed her sweating palms down the front of her skirt. It was only the third week of school and she was already being summoned to the principal’s office. It wasn’t evoking the same pleasant feelings as a trip to the office when Mason had been school principal. It was more like when she had still been in school herself and knew she was in trouble. What was up with that! She loved this job and not just because it kept her on the same schedule as Jay and Emily. She truly loved children and the job gave her the chance to work with them on a daily basis. Her job was even more important now with the custody threat looming over her head. The job proved she was a stable parent with a steady means to provide for her children.
Mr. Parsons, Mason’s replacement as principal noticed Abigail hovering in the doorway and motioned for her to come in and have a seat. He didn’t waste any time, but launched directly into his speech. “The teachers and I have been very pleased with your work Abigail. It’s obvious you enjoy working with the students, and they respond well to you.”
Abigail felt herself start to breathe normally. Maybe this wasn’t bad news after all. “Thank you, Mr. Parsons,” she smiled in response to his compliment. Her smile began to slip however when he didn’t return it. Her smile completely disappeared with his next words.
“That’s what makes this all that much harder. I’m sorry Abigail, but the economy is really horrible right now and the school board just doesn’t see any relief in sight. We’ve been instructed to make cutbacks.” He gave her a weak smile. “Unfortunately teacher’s aides are considered nonessential personnel. Even though you’ve been employed by the school for a few years, you were the last person hired to fill that position.”
Abigail bit her tongue to keep the tears from falling. She wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t! Worry weighed heavy on her mind however. Roger was going to have a field day with this latest development. Abigail didn’t want to beg, but there was more than a paycheck at stake here. “Mr. Parsons, I love my job. More importantly I need this job. Are you sure there isn’t any other way for the school to save money? I’ll gladly take a pay cut, but I have to have a job.”
He wanted to help Abigail. The Montgomery family was well known and liked in this town, but there was nothing he could do. “Unfortunately I’ve looked at this from every angle. As I said before you’re excellent at your job and everyone loves you. This is a great loss for the school and the county, but my hands are tied. As soon as the budget allows I will rehire you, I promise.”
Abigail was devastated, but she managed to leave the school and make it safely home. She walked into the empty house and for once could not find solace in the silence. Emily and Jay were still at school and her mom was at a Methodist Women’s group meeting. Abigail thought about throwing herself across her bed and having a good old-fashioned cry, but at the last minute her fighting spirit showed itself. She couldn’t afford to sit home feeling sorry for herself. She was going to fight for her children and that meant fighting for her job. She was going to have to confront Mason. Maybe he would be able to salvage her job. If anyone could, it would be him.
Without a single thought about their last awkward phone conversation, Abigail grabbed her keys and drove over to the county office. She slipped past the receptionist up front, who was busy fielding calls and made her way upstairs. She found her way to Mason’s office and marched up to his secretary and demanded to see him.
The secretary, who had a bit of a crush on Mason, took great pleasure in barring Abigail’s entry. “Do you have an appointment, Ms. Montgomery?”
Abigail didn’t have time to deal with such a small-minded twit, but right now she needed this woman’s cooperation. She still couldn’t resist the smart mouthed comment that slipped out before she could stop it. “Well as his secretary Linda, I’m sure you know I don’t.”
Linda, a former classmate of Abigail, gave her a smug look. “I’m sure you can appreciate how busy Mr. Blake is on a daily basis. Right now he’s on a conference call and is unavailable.”
Abigail winced at the smug look on the secretary’s face, but she didn’t have time to play around and she wasn’t about to give up. Her Montgomery green eyes glittered with intent. “We’ll just see about that, won’t we?” Abigail questioned as she stormed past the woman’s desk and into Mason’s office.
Mason looked up at the intrusion as the two women spilled into his office. Mason recognized Abigail at once. He wasn’t sure why she was in his office, but from the looks of things it couldn’t be good news. “Chuck, something urgent has come up. I need to take care of it now, rather than later. Let me get back to you and we’ll finish this discussion once the crisis in my office has been diverted.”
Linda shot Abigail a hateful glare. “I’m sorry Mason. I tried to stop her, but she just barged right past me with no respect at all for your busy schedule.”
“Don’t worry about it Linda,” Mason dismissed the secretary. “Abigail is welcome here anytime with or without an appointment. Next time just call my extension and let me know she’s here rather than forcing her to interrupt a call or meeting.” He turned back to Abigail. “Have a seat Ms. Montgomery and please enlighten me on the urgent matter that sent you running to my office.” And he knew it had to be urgent because Abigail had never bothered visiting him at the county office before.
Abigail had used up all her bravado to get herself past his interfering secretary and in the door. She broke down and started sobbing. “I can’t believe you Mason. You’re the superintendent! You have to know I just lost my job.”
Mason froze in his chair when what he really wanted to do was wipe the tears from Abigail’s face and hold her tight. “Actually, Abigail, I didn’t know,” Mason drawled. “I left it up to the individual schools to decide which positions to cut.”
Abigail felt relief at his words. Why she couldn’t be sure, because she was still out of a job. It just made her feel better knowing that Mason had nothing to do with her losing her job. “Mason you know I need that job. I could very well lose my children without it. You have to help me here. Please,” she literally begged. “Isn’t there something you can do to get my job back for me?” Abigail bit back another sob. “You have to know, Mason that I would do anything to keep full custody of my children.”
Mason could sense her desperation and almost felt guilty. He had been waiting for an opportunity to approach her with his latest idea on how they could help each other out of their current difficult situations. He hadn’t expected the opportunity to arise so quickly. “I tell you what, Abigail. I’ll think on it and see what I can come up with to help you. I think I already have the perfect plan, but I don’t want to discuss it in my office. Meet me tonight at my house for dinner and we will discuss it then.”
Hope started to build when he said he had the perfect plan, but it quickly took a nosedive when he invited her to his place for dinner. “That’s not funny Mason. I need help and I need a job. I don’t have time for you to be putting the moves on me right now. I already told you I don’t want to date you or anyone else for that matter. Accept my decision and move on. It’s for the best.”
Mason just ignored her and scribbled his address on a sheet of paper. “Meet me at my house at seven o’clock sharp. And Abigail if you’re not there I can’t help you with your job, your custody battle, or anything else.”
A furious Abigail snatched the paper out of his hand and left his office slamming the door behind her. She mumbled as she made her way down the hall.
His secretary smirked at her. “Now I guess that didn’t go so well huh? Maybe next time you’ll listen when I tell you he’s too busy to see you.”
Abigail glared at the woman, but kept walking. She had some major thinking to do. She needed to talk to her attorney. She would call him as soon as she got home. If she had any luck left at all her lawyer would be able to alleviate some of her fears about how the loss of her job would affect her ability to maintain custody of Jay and Emily.
; ****
Abigail’s fist tightened around the phone. Neil Wilson, the best lawyer in northern Florida had just confirmed her worst fears. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news Abigail. But that’s just how the law works. Even though you’ve been their primary care giver the past several years a judge might feel that Roger and his spouse can provide a more stable environment, especially if you’re unemployed.”
“Thanks Neil,” the sarcasm in her voice was evident. “Couldn’t you have given me a little hope?”
Abigail heard the breath Neil expelled down the phone line. “You pay me for the truth Abigail, no matter how ugly. I suggest you get another job, married, or both fast.”
“Great, not you too,” Abigail gritted out through clenched teeth. “Are you sure my mom or Aubrey didn’t pay you a bonus to say that?”
Neil chuckled despite the levity of the conversation. “I’m on your side Abigail, and I’m telling you what you need to expect with this latest development. It’s not good news for us, but there are circumstances that could negate it.”
“Namely a better job, marriage, or both, all right as usual your honesty is appreciated Neil. I’m working on the job problem, but don’t expect me to be walking down the aisle anytime soon no matter how much my mother or Aubrey might want it to happen.”
Five
At exactly seven o’clock on the dot Abigail rang the bell on Mason’s front door. She was too angry to appreciate the gorgeous sprawling cedar home with wraparound porch and inviting swing or the large two hundred acre wooded lot complete with large moss-filled oak trees and pond. She only spared an inquisitive glance at the neat and well-kept horse barn and fenced in pastureland behind the house. This was her children’s future at stake here and she didn’t have time to be playing around. Mason had better not be wasting her time. She was going to make him sorry if he was. She didn’t know how, but she would.
