Tempting Fate (25 page)

Tears came into her eyes as she read the note. She placed it back into the bag and wiped her eyes with a tissue. How could this be? The cab came to a stop just then in front of the hotel. She gave the driver a twenty, complimented his voice, and got out with her bags. It was getting late and she needed to get ready.

Abby sat down at the mahogany desk and pulled the little black bag out again when she got in her room. She opened it and set the note off to one side of the desk not needing to read it again. The words were already ingrained in her brain. Each line had its own meaning and she knew what they were. She took the first wrapped box out of the bag and pulled the paper off carefully. As she lifted the lid off and looked inside tears came into her eyes again. It was a small bottle of perfume. She pulled it out and carefully opened the cap. The smell hit her like a flood of memories; it was the scent she had worn the first night she had gone to Westly’s room for dinner, the one she had borrowed from Melanie.

The second box she opened faster and it revealed a small pin of two small purple roses. One bloom was open and the other was closed. Abby ran a finger across the intertwined stems of the roses and she had to wonder if there was something to the fact that one of the blossoms was closed. She set the small broach down on top of the note and walked to the bathroom wiping the tears from her eyes.

She was changed and ready by the time the clock read seven-fifteen. Abby walked back over to the desk and pinned the broach of purple roses onto the sweater. She placed the note carefully into a pocket on the inside of her purse. She opened the small bottle of perfume and placed a dab behind each ear and on each wrist. Abby started to close the lid but changed her mind and, feeling dangerous for a moment, placed one more dab between her breasts. In a split second she shook her head and grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand nearby and wiped at the spot. She took one more look at herself in the bathroom mirror before she put on her shoes and walked out the door.

Chapter 24

The clock in the hotel lobby said it was only seven twenty-five, but Abby walked out the front doors anyway. A limo was right outside the doors waiting for her with the driver from that afternoon standing by the door. It was bigger than the one she rode in earlier; it was almost too much altogether. She controlled the urge to look around and see if people were staring at her as she walked casually toward the limo smiling.

“Good evening Mrs. Dalton - I was told you tend to be on the early side.”

Abby could not help but laugh as she watched him open the door. By the look on her face she could see that he had no idea what was so funny about what he had said. Abby thanked him as she started to get in. It was dark inside and she hit the seat a lot faster than she expected. As she placed her right hand down to finish turning into the limo, she felt a knee under it. It only took a second for her to jolt upward and hit her head on the frame of the door as she got out.

“What the…? Ouch!”

“Oh, ouch Abs. Are you all right?”

She turned around at the sound of his voice. Her first thought was to yell at him, but the smile he was trying to hide made her start laughing.

Westly slowly moved over and she scooted into the limo beside him. He reached for her hand right away and Abby’s heart started to flutter at the feeling of his touch, while her stomach twisted with guilt. There was a silence between the two of them that did not break until the driver was pulling away. Abby started with the first thing she could think of. “So, how have you been?”

“Today, or for the past thirteen plus years?” The look on his face as he said it was one of curiosity. She could not help but laugh at him and at herself.

Abby knew just looking at it what was inside. It was a long flower box with a purple ribbon tied into a bow. She just looked at it for a moment before reaching for it. As she held the box in her hands, she touched the ribbon slowly and found a card tucked under it. The card said nothing more than, “If only for one more night,” and Abby knew that it was very true.

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 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.

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.