Finding Abigail (5 page)

She knew what she wanted. She just couldn’t get it. Not in Holiday.

God, Brayden looked so good with Lacy in his arms—like a loving father. He said something to the boys, and they laughed and shook their heads. Why couldn’t Brayden see he was perfect for this family? Why couldn’t Allison and Brayden just tell each other how they felt?

Oh, yeah, like she was one to talk.

She’d had the opportunity the day before, and she’d run from it. But, honestly, it wasn’t as if Tyler had been sincere. He probably just wanted a goodbye boink before she left town. Dear Lord, why did she keep calling it boinking? Talk about sounding innocent.

Why did everything have to be so hard? She wasn’t an idiot. She knew she wasn’t as beautiful as other women out there, but she wasn’t ugly by any means. She might be overweight by Hollywood’s standard, but she wasn’t fat—she
knew
that. Yet why hadn’t Tyler shown any interest before she’d told him she’d be unattainable?

Was that the why of it? Maybe he’d offered to take her out to dinner and touched her face in that loving gesture because he knew he couldn’t have her. God, what the hell was wrong with her? And what was with those arrows?

They looked like a prop for Cupid. She knew the kids weren’t holding a play this semester, even though she wasn’t teaching. She’d taken a leave of absence for the semester while she packed and tried to sell her house.

Why on earth would Tyler have arrows with little hearts on them? It wasn’t as if he were
the
Cupid…right?

“Everything okay, Abby?” Brayden asked, drawing her out of her thoughts about Tyler yet again.

It was silly, right? Tyler couldn’t be Cupid. Though Justin
was
Santa’s helper, and Rina
was
an elf, not to mention Jordan being a witch and Matt being a former ghost.

Maybe it wasn’t all that farfetched.

“Abby?”

She shook her head and smiled. “Sorry, I’m spacing.”

Brayden frowned. “Because of the move? You don’t have to go, Abby. We like you here.”

Just not enough
. No, that wasn’t fair. Her friends were amazing and loved her, but she needed more than that. She
deserved
more than that. 

“I need to move, Brayden,” she said, choosing to talk about the last part of what he’d said and ignoring the question of what she was thinking about. Brayden didn’t need to know her suspicions concerning Tyler, even though it made no sense at all why she’d even think that. It was probably just a prop for some sex game he’d play with his Valentine’s date.

Oh, great. That was something she really didn’t want to think about.

“Okay, now you look sick, Abby. What’s going on?” Brayden asked.

“Yeah, Abby, what’s wrong? Do you want some of my water?” Aiden asked as he leaned closer, concern on his face. 

She smiled and ran a hand through his too-long hair that seemed to be in fashion these days. God, she sounded older than twenty-two.

“I’m okay, really. I just have so many things going on in my mind right now, so it’s a bit crazy.”

“Then don’t go,” Cameron said as he leaned over Aiden to pat her hand. “Please? We don’t want you to leave. It’s bad enough you’re not at school anymore. Don’t leave us.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she brought both boys into a hug. “Oh, guys, you know how much I love you, but I need to go.”

“Why?” Lacy said as she leaned into Brayden’s hold, tears running down her cheeks.

“Because I need to grow up,” Abby said as she fought the battle with her own tears.

She looked up at Brayden, who shook his head. He didn’t seem as though he wanted to run away from two crying girls, so a point for him.

“You can grow up right here,” Aiden said. “I am.”

Abby sniffed and kissed the tops of both boys’ heads. “I’m moving, but I’m not leaving your lives forever. I’m still going to visit, and we can talk on the phone and Skype. I promise.”

“You promise?” Cameron asked as he fought off tears like a growing boy would. 

“I promise, honey.”

“It’s not the same,” Lacy said as she wiped the tears from her face.

“No, it’s not, but we’re going to make it the best we can.”

“How about we get something to eat?” Brayden asked, diffusing some of the tension around the table. He tilted his head toward the diner, and Abby’s eyes widened.

Everyone was staring at them, trying to listen to what they were saying. Great, gotta love a small town.

Abby put on her brave face and waved. “We’re okay,” she lied.

The others didn’t look as though they believed her, but most turned back to their meals.

Allison came over, tears in her eyes as well. “Okay, you guys. You’re making me weepy, and I need to work.” She smiled to take the bite off her words. “I ordered everyone the special—club sandwiches with fries. I hope that’s okay.”

“Sounds perfect,” Brayden said, his eyes on Allison. 

How on earth did Allison not know Brayden was in love with her and vice versa? It was so clear in their eyes that Abby was pretty sure even Aiden knew what was going on.

“Thanks, Mom,” Aiden said with an odd look on his face, his gaze going between Allison and Brayden.

Abby hugged Aiden harder, and he smiled up at her. Yeah, the kid knew, but he was doing what the rest of the town was doing and letting nature run its course.

Allison blinked at Brayden then smiled at the rest of the table and walked to the back. Abby shook her head. At least she wasn’t the only one going through random relationship crap. If she could even call what Tyler had said to her the day before relationship crap. 

Probably not since they had no real relationship.

Allison came back with their meals then went back to work. The rest of them ate, talked about Denver, and what Valentines the kids were going to buy to bring to school. Oh, those were the days. A shoebox full of Valentines filled with candy hearts. Why couldn’t it be as easy now as it had been back then?

“Abby?” Cameron asked. “Who’s your Valentine?”

Abby choked on her sandwich and forced it down with a drink of water. She looked into Brayden’s laughing eyes, and she wanted to throw something at that smug face. Not that he looked like a jerk. He just looked like a brother enjoying his sister’s discomfort. 

“I don’t have one, Cam, I’m not really looking,” she lied. 

Cameron bit on his lip and looked deep in thought. “Well, we’ll find you someone. We already picked out Brayden for Momma, so you can’t have him, sorry.”

This time it was Brayden who choked, and Abby raised a brow.
See? It’s not so much fun when it’s pointed at you, is it
?

Abby didn’t want Bray to feel as though he were drowning for too long, so she saved them both. “Why don’t you worry about your own Valentine, Cam, and leave the adults to find their own?”

“But, I don’t want one. Girls suck.”

“Watch your mouth, kiddo,” Brayden warned, and Cameron blushed.

“Sorry,” he whispered.

Abby just smiled, and the rest of lunch went peacefully, despite the tension radiating from Brayden.

When they were finished, Bray stood and picked Lacy up. “Okay,  I have you guys for the afternoon. Let’s go play some T-ball.”

Aiden and Cameron pumped their fists, and Lacy rolled her eyes. Brayden nuzzled her neck, and she giggled.

“Come on, squirt. I need to show you how it’s done so we can beat your brothers.”

She smiled and kissed Brayden’s cheek. “Okay,” she whispered.

Well, dear Lord, Abby was pretty sure one of her ovaries exploded with the cuteness surrounding her. A sexy, alpha man holding a little girl and being all fatherly? Why couldn’t she have that?

An image of Tyler flashed in her mind, and she blinked.

Damn, she had to stop thinking about that. He didn’t want her, not really. She’d just be a novelty to him. A notch on his bedpost that was sure to have more notches than sense. She’d be okay once she moved.

She would.

Sure, keep telling yourself that
.

Allison came up to say goodbye to her kids and nodded at Brayden. Abby couldn’t hear what they said, but Bray merely nodded then walked out the door with the kids, leaving a longing Allison behind.

Darn it. It was February, the month of love and relationships. Why was everything so hard? Oh, yeah, because it was only fun for whoever actually had someone, not for those waiting on the perimeter for something to happen.

And she was tired of waiting. It was time to be proactive and move on. 

“Want to come in back when I eat my lunch so you can tell me what’s going on with you?” Allison asked as she tucked a piece of auburn hair behind her ear. At thirty, Allie looked her age because of lack of sleep and stress, but she was still one of the most beautiful women Abby had ever known. 

If only Allie would do something about her loneliness and Brayden.

Yeah, like Abby had anything to say about that, considering she was running away.

No, not running away, just ready to find a new life.

“Sure, I can’t go into the kitchen, but I can hang out in the break room, right?” Abby asked as she picked up her coat and purse.

“Yep, I’ll be back in a minute. Sally’s going to take over, and then I have only a couple hours left in my shift, thank God.”

Abby went to the back, but she didn’t have to wait long because Allison was there shortly with a club sandwich and a soda. 

When she sat down, Allie let out a sigh that Abby was sure she felt in her bones. “Oh, thank God, I’m exhausted. These two-a-days are killing me.”

“Isn’t there somewhere else you can work?” Abby asked.

Allie gave her a long look, then snorted. “Yeah, in Holiday? For a woman with three kids and a high school education? Um, no, honey, but it’s okay. The kids are fed, clothed, and housed. We’re alive.”

“I just wish there was something I could do.”

“You’re leaving, Abby; we’ll be okay.”

“Well, just make me feel worse, why don’t you?”

Allie held Abby’s hand and squeezed. “I know why you’re leaving, and I don’t begrudge you for it. Holiday is just too small for people like us, people who don’t conform. I can’t leave because this is where my children are—this is their home. But, you can leave, Abby. Find your happiness.”

Tears filled her eyes, and Abby nodded. “Thanks for understanding.”

“That doesn’t mean I like it though.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t think you would. I’m not really happy that I’m leaving my friends, but I need to do this.”

“I know, hon. There’s nothing for you here, nothing to meet your needs.”

“Tyler asked me out,” Abby blurted out.

Allie froze then slowly lowered her soda. “Say again?”

“Tyler asked me out on a date or whatever. I went over there to say goodbye because I’m a freaking idiot, and he asked me out.” She left out the part about the arrows, not knowing what to say.

“Well then.”

“Pretty much.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing. He’s just asking me out because I’m leaving. I’m not in the mood to get my heart broken again, sorry.”

Allie nodded, understanding in her eyes. “I’m sorry, hon.”

“I’ll be okay. I have to be.”

Allie didn’t say anything else on the subject, and Abby left shortly after, knowing it was one of their last goodbyes. Was she doing the right thing? 

God, she hated doubting herself. Damn Tyler. No, she couldn’t blame him totally, not when she’d always had doubts. It was still nice to simply place all the issues on him anyway. 

The wind howled around her when Abby arrived home, and she cursed. Damn, it looked like another late-season snowstorm was on its way. Just what she needed. She closed the door behind her and turned on the heat, knowing it wouldn’t do much good anyway until it kicked on later. Maybe she’d drink some cocoa to warm up. Oh, and maybe eat a few candy hearts—her weakness.

When she got to her kitchen, the hinge on the back door caught her eye. What the heck? It looked as if someone had sawed off part of the hinge and had tried to get through the door. Why would anyone do that?

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and Abby reached for her heavy-duty rolling pin. Was there someone in the house?

She heard a creak on her floor behind her and turned. Everything went dark, and she hit the floor with a resounding thud.

Chapter 5

Tonight was the night. Tyler would ask out Abigail again, and she’d say yes. There had to be a way. He’d left her alone for the past day so she could get used to the fact that he had changed his tune. Plus, he’d been called into work on his vacation to deal with a last minute paperwork issue.

Damn Mrs. Ellis.

Now he could give Abigail his full attention.

It still hadn’t hit him completely yet that he wanted Abigail. He wasn’t some school-age boy who wanted something—or someone—only because he couldn’t have it anymore. No, that wasn’t the case.

It had all happened when he’d touched that arrow. It had felt as if a veil had been lifted…but how? All he knew was that he needed to see Abigail again. To get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness for his shortsightedness. He wasn’t the flower-and-chocolates type of guy; he’d do it if she wanted it. But, did she? 

Damn, how could he not know?

He’d known her most her life, yet he didn’t know if she liked flowers and chocolates or anything like that. He knew she liked candy and other things, but what about for a date? What the hell had happened that he didn’t know these things about her? Why was it that he suddenly could
see
her?

He’d spent twenty-four excruciating long hours of waiting for her, formulating his plan, and dealing with the new powers he’d been given. Because of the holiday—
his
holiday—approaching, the pull on his heart was running rampant, and he’d shot more people than he wanted to count in his county, not just in Holiday. 

This job was going to kill him. So much for a vacation from his sheriff’s position. 

He’d followed more couples than he wanted to contemplate, hitting them with arrows so they could see the connection they could share even though sometimes, no, most of the time, a cupid wasn’t all powerful, and the couple would resist the connection anyway. Romance and love was a complicated mess, and he was just a part of it.