The story continues...
Abby leaned her head back against the leather. She was exhausted and she felt the migraine headache creep up above her eyes to the top of her head. She often got them after plane trips and the stress of the past few days probably spurred it on too. Abby decided to check out the mini bar and was relieved when it contained a can of coca-cola. She popped the can open and dug into her purse to find her migraine medication.
“You okay?” Ed asked.
“Headache,” Abby said softly, “I get migraines.”
The road began to wind and Abby found herself getting dizzy and her stomach turn nauseous.
“I feel sick,” was all she could get out. Abby undid the seat belt and laid her head on his lap; she tried to only borrow one of Ed’s leg for her head. She should have been excited about being so close to him, but she was overcome with dizziness and nausea.
“Dizzy,” she mumbled, focusing all her energy on not throwing up in the limo.
“Should we stop?” Ed asked.
“No,” Abby said, clutching onto Ed’s jeans clad leg.
“Hang in there, Abby. We should be there soon,” he said.
About five minutes later Abby could not fight it anymore.
“Stop the car!” she cried, “Stop the car!”
Thankfully, Ed directed the driver to stop on the shoulder of the road. Abby opened the door and threw up repeatedly onto the muddy shoulder. The cool moist autumn wind hit her face but it was somewhat a relief. Ed helped pull Abby back into the limo from her hunched position teetering over the mud. Abby laid her head on his lap again and moaned.
“Should we go to the ER?” Ed asked, stroking her hair.
“No, it’s okay. I get them this bad sometimes,” Abby said in a hoarse voice.
Abby closed her eyes and the limo began pulling away. She heard the driver arguing with Ed. Something about how he would have to clean up and was not happy about it.
“She didn’t throw up in the limo. Not a speck,” Ed said, raising her voice.
Abby fell asleep for a few minutes. Ed shook my shoulder gently, “We’re here, honey.”
Abby was still so dizzy I didn’t even remember what the house looked like. Ed put one arm around her to help her up the carpeted marble stairs to the assigned bedroom. Abby recognized that she must have looked really pale because Ed watched her with a very concerned look.
“I should have taken you to the ER,” he said.
“No. I’ll be okay. Just need to sleep. I’ll be fine tomorrow,”
Ed pulled back the gold and yellow satin comforter. Abby struggled to untie her shoes and Ed swept her legs up onto the bed and undid her shoes. She wasn’t going to try to get her clothes off and she didn’t care. “Thank you,” she whispered.
April 29, 2010
April 28, 2010
11. Amazing Ipod playlist and the stretch limo
The story continues...
The next two days flew by as Abby tried to get ahead of her workload. She was exhausted by the time they were at the airport, awaiting their flight to Savannah. Abby opened a romance novel she had brought with her and propped her feet up on the top of her carry on bag. Ed studied her for a few minutes. He was in a sort of denial; he had convinced himself he wasn’t really going home. It had helped steady his nerves. Out of curiosity, he craned his neck and tried to read the title of Abby’s book. He wasn’t sure, but it sounded like a romance title. This sort of intrigued him. “Do you have any other books?” he asked Abby, peering over to try to read some of the passage that she had been focused.
Abby turned and Ed was so close to her, she jumped a bit in her seat and responded, “No, just the one. You still have time to grab a magazine,”
“Nah. I wished I had remembered my Ipod,” Ed said, leaning back in his seat.
Abby bit her tongue before she made a comment about how men always need help packing so they don’t forget things, at least the men in her family did.
“You could borrow mine,” Abby offered, reaching into her bag to locate it.
“Thanks, Abby,” he said, scrolling through her playlists as soon as she handed it to him. He put in the earpieces and began listening.
“I love this song,” he gasped, tapping his foot.
Abby looked up from her book and giggled at him. Ed looked blissful, his blue eyes shining. She hoped it lasted since she knew how worried he was about the trip. She was a bit worried, too.
They boarded the plane and settled into seats that were as always, too narrow. Ed listened to Abby’s Ipod for hours. Abby’s Ipod was an up close and personal look into the woman sitting next to him. It wasn’t what he had expected, a mix of raw, loud, angry music, dance music, and beautiful poignant songs intermixed. It was amazing. Just like Abby was amazing. Ed had liked her since the day at the furniture store; there was a reason she was the first person he reached out to during his bout of depression. She was more like him than he realized; she knew pain too.
Abby was engrossed in her book. Ed leaned his head on her shoulder and waited to see if she’d push it off, but she didn’t. Within minutes, he was fast asleep; comforted by being close to her.
Abby was so glad to stretch her legs and get off the plane. The line in the ladies room took forever since apparently all the women on the plane were there. Abby expected to see Ed upset as so many men would be, but he was sitting in a chair, listening to her Ipod again, his eyes closed. Abby tapped his shoulder and he jumped up with a smile.
“Sorry for…”Abby began.
“No worries. You okay?” Ed asked, brushing hair out of Abby’s left eye. His fingers trailed over her cheek which made Abby’s body hum with tingles.
“I’m fine,” she fibbed.
“Should we head to baggage?” Ed asked, studying Abby’s face which seemed flushed.
“Sure,”
As Abby was bending forward trying to organize her bags, she realized that Ed was staring at her. He was staring at her cleavage. Surprised, Abby glanced down at her v-neck t-shirt and put a hand over her chest. When Ed caught her gaze, he gave her a big smile. Abby broke Ed’s gaze feeling her heart pound in her chest. A few minutes later, Abby nearly tripped over her bag but Ed caught her arm and steadied her.
“Careful,” he said.
Abby then noticed a thin man holding the sign which read Edmund Spenser. He looked bored with faded acne scars on his skinny cheeks. He was dressed in a suit with shiny black shoes. Ed steered Abby and their luggage towards the man with sign and said something quietly to the man out of Abby’s earshot. The chauffeur rushed forward to grab Abby’s bags from her. Ed waved her on, noticing the startled look on my face upon seeing the black stretch limo. Abby climbed into the back of the limo in awe. She had never been in a real limousine before. The inside was beige leather, soft to the touch. The windows were tinted and Abby could barely see out of them. Ed scooted across the bench seat beside Abby.
“Never been in a stretch limo,” Abby whispered.
“Bethany said a car. She’s showing off,” Ed said, frowning, his forehead creased.
“How far do we go?” Abby asked.
“About an hour,” he said.
The next two days flew by as Abby tried to get ahead of her workload. She was exhausted by the time they were at the airport, awaiting their flight to Savannah. Abby opened a romance novel she had brought with her and propped her feet up on the top of her carry on bag. Ed studied her for a few minutes. He was in a sort of denial; he had convinced himself he wasn’t really going home. It had helped steady his nerves. Out of curiosity, he craned his neck and tried to read the title of Abby’s book. He wasn’t sure, but it sounded like a romance title. This sort of intrigued him. “Do you have any other books?” he asked Abby, peering over to try to read some of the passage that she had been focused.
Abby turned and Ed was so close to her, she jumped a bit in her seat and responded, “No, just the one. You still have time to grab a magazine,”
“Nah. I wished I had remembered my Ipod,” Ed said, leaning back in his seat.
Abby bit her tongue before she made a comment about how men always need help packing so they don’t forget things, at least the men in her family did.
“You could borrow mine,” Abby offered, reaching into her bag to locate it.
“Thanks, Abby,” he said, scrolling through her playlists as soon as she handed it to him. He put in the earpieces and began listening.
“I love this song,” he gasped, tapping his foot.
Abby looked up from her book and giggled at him. Ed looked blissful, his blue eyes shining. She hoped it lasted since she knew how worried he was about the trip. She was a bit worried, too.
They boarded the plane and settled into seats that were as always, too narrow. Ed listened to Abby’s Ipod for hours. Abby’s Ipod was an up close and personal look into the woman sitting next to him. It wasn’t what he had expected, a mix of raw, loud, angry music, dance music, and beautiful poignant songs intermixed. It was amazing. Just like Abby was amazing. Ed had liked her since the day at the furniture store; there was a reason she was the first person he reached out to during his bout of depression. She was more like him than he realized; she knew pain too.
Abby was engrossed in her book. Ed leaned his head on her shoulder and waited to see if she’d push it off, but she didn’t. Within minutes, he was fast asleep; comforted by being close to her.
Abby was so glad to stretch her legs and get off the plane. The line in the ladies room took forever since apparently all the women on the plane were there. Abby expected to see Ed upset as so many men would be, but he was sitting in a chair, listening to her Ipod again, his eyes closed. Abby tapped his shoulder and he jumped up with a smile.
“Sorry for…”Abby began.
“No worries. You okay?” Ed asked, brushing hair out of Abby’s left eye. His fingers trailed over her cheek which made Abby’s body hum with tingles.
“I’m fine,” she fibbed.
“Should we head to baggage?” Ed asked, studying Abby’s face which seemed flushed.
“Sure,”
As Abby was bending forward trying to organize her bags, she realized that Ed was staring at her. He was staring at her cleavage. Surprised, Abby glanced down at her v-neck t-shirt and put a hand over her chest. When Ed caught her gaze, he gave her a big smile. Abby broke Ed’s gaze feeling her heart pound in her chest. A few minutes later, Abby nearly tripped over her bag but Ed caught her arm and steadied her.
“Careful,” he said.
Abby then noticed a thin man holding the sign which read Edmund Spenser. He looked bored with faded acne scars on his skinny cheeks. He was dressed in a suit with shiny black shoes. Ed steered Abby and their luggage towards the man with sign and said something quietly to the man out of Abby’s earshot. The chauffeur rushed forward to grab Abby’s bags from her. Ed waved her on, noticing the startled look on my face upon seeing the black stretch limo. Abby climbed into the back of the limo in awe. She had never been in a real limousine before. The inside was beige leather, soft to the touch. The windows were tinted and Abby could barely see out of them. Ed scooted across the bench seat beside Abby.
“Never been in a stretch limo,” Abby whispered.
“Bethany said a car. She’s showing off,” Ed said, frowning, his forehead creased.
“How far do we go?” Abby asked.
“About an hour,” he said.
April 27, 2010
10. After meeting Doris
The story continues...
Ed’s receptionist, Doris waved goodbye and murmured nice to meet you sentiments and left the office very quickly. It seemed to Abby that Doris acted like she had expected Ed and Abby wanting to be alone. She suddenly felt a bit nervous in the pit of her stomach.
“She’s a character,” Abby said, trying to regain her composure.
“Yeah, she’s great. Puts up with me,” Ed began, “Like you I guess.”
“Really not much to put up dearest Ed,” Abby said without realizing the endearment she had added.
“Oh just wait for Savannah,” he said, his smile fading.
Abby stood up and walked towards him, “I like your office.” She saw the worry spread over his face and it pained her; she was going to try to distract him.
“It’s small,” he said.
“It’s the perfect size for your business, Ed. You have a lot to be proud of,” Abby told him.
Ed stayed silent looked deep in thought.
“Don’t worry,” Abby told him.
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry,” she repeated.
“Not sleeping well again,” he said.
Abby recalled the nightmare she had had with Ed some weeks past and almost asked him if he had had anything similar, but it was absurd and she decided not to mention it.
“Anything you want to talk about?” Abby offered.
“Not looking forward to my mother,” he said, his gaze on the floor. He did not want to talk to Abby about things.
“Hey, Monkey, it’s going to be okay. You’ll survive it,” Abby said.
“Who’s a monkey,” he chuckled.
“I’m the rabbit, you’re the monkey,” Abby told him, “But I won’t call you Monkey in front of your family.”
“You’re crazy,” he sighed.
“I know,” she said.
Ed smiled at her and asked, “So you are sure you can pick out candlesticks?”
“Of course, they teach that in medical school don’t you know,” she joked.
“Show off,” he joked in response.
Ed’s receptionist, Doris waved goodbye and murmured nice to meet you sentiments and left the office very quickly. It seemed to Abby that Doris acted like she had expected Ed and Abby wanting to be alone. She suddenly felt a bit nervous in the pit of her stomach.
“She’s a character,” Abby said, trying to regain her composure.
“Yeah, she’s great. Puts up with me,” Ed began, “Like you I guess.”
“Really not much to put up dearest Ed,” Abby said without realizing the endearment she had added.
“Oh just wait for Savannah,” he said, his smile fading.
Abby stood up and walked towards him, “I like your office.” She saw the worry spread over his face and it pained her; she was going to try to distract him.
“It’s small,” he said.
“It’s the perfect size for your business, Ed. You have a lot to be proud of,” Abby told him.
Ed stayed silent looked deep in thought.
“Don’t worry,” Abby told him.
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry,” she repeated.
“Not sleeping well again,” he said.
Abby recalled the nightmare she had had with Ed some weeks past and almost asked him if he had had anything similar, but it was absurd and she decided not to mention it.
“Anything you want to talk about?” Abby offered.
“Not looking forward to my mother,” he said, his gaze on the floor. He did not want to talk to Abby about things.
“Hey, Monkey, it’s going to be okay. You’ll survive it,” Abby said.
“Who’s a monkey,” he chuckled.
“I’m the rabbit, you’re the monkey,” Abby told him, “But I won’t call you Monkey in front of your family.”
“You’re crazy,” he sighed.
“I know,” she said.
Ed smiled at her and asked, “So you are sure you can pick out candlesticks?”
“Of course, they teach that in medical school don’t you know,” she joked.
“Show off,” he joked in response.
April 16, 2010
9. Preparing for the Wedding in Savannah
The story continues...
Two days before the flight to Savannah, Georgia for the wedding, Abby headed to Ed’s business office to meet him and run some last minute errands. She was getting a bit nervous about going to his family function with him. She hoped that she hadn’t sounded like too much of an idiot when she told Ed on the phone the evening prior that he had to be sure they had separate rooms. He had kind of chuckled at her. Abby sighed upon remembering the sound of Ed’s laugh. Her friend, Cheryl had convinced her to buy some sexy underwear for the wedding events. Abby hadn’t removed any of the price tags yet; although, she knew full well she couldn’t return those kind of things, anyway. That day at the shopping mall, Cheryl had forced the bag into her hands and announced to her, “Five years is a long time, Abby. Even though I am exhausted all the time with two kids and all, I couldn’t go five years without sex.” She shook her head in spite of herself as she pulled into the parking lot of the strip mall. Abby had made up her mind, though; she and Ed and were friends and that was it. At least for now, she thought, slamming the car door.
The entrance to Ed’s electronic business was non obtrusive; Abby had driven past it before but never been inside the office before. Ed was always telling her how he just needed storage for his tools and essentials and Doris to help make appointments and get the mail. He was proud of his business, even if it was small, Abby thought to herself fondly. Doris was his receptionist and Abby had spoken to her on the phone several times, but didn’t know what to expect in person. Abby pulled the door open and saw a petite woman with straight dishwater blond hair to her shoulders and a thin face with happy crinkles near her eyes.
“May I help?” Doris began.
Abby opened to mouth to introduce herself but didn’t have a chance to do so before Doris exclaimed, “It’s Abby, right.”
Abby nodded and the slender little woman crushed her with a warm hug.
Doris finally stepped back and said, “So nice to meet you finally. I’m Doris.”
“Hello, Doris,” Abby said, still a bit surprised by the hug from a stranger.
“Ed talks about you non-stop,” she said, smiling, her cheeks rosy, her laugh lines giving her face a look of warm wisdom.
“Oh,” was all Abby could get out. She tried to steady her nerves and she looked around the office, one central room, what looked like a storage closet and a little bathroom. The central room had been broken up with two desks and there was even a makeshift waiting area with three folding chairs. A heavy duty plastic shelving unit next to one of the desk was littered with wire, lighting fixtures and light switches. A Moab, Utah poster was above what Abby presumed was Ed’s desk and it made her smile. She too, loved the red rocks there.
“He should be back any minute,” Doris said, “Would you like a drink?”
“Only if its not trouble,” Abby said, sitting down at the desk chair facing the Moab poster.
Doris went and retrieved a coke from the mini refrigerator in the corner and handed it to her with another big smile.
Abby took a drink of the coke and read Ed’s post-it note messages. His printing was so perfectly straight, never cursive. Just then, Ed walked through the door. His grin turned into a big smile when you saw her sitting at his desk.
“Hope you didn’t wait long, Abby,” Ed said, setting his toolboxes onto the floor.
She shook her head.
“Ah, Doris. You found her weakness. Coca-Cola,” Ed said, chuckling.
“Her only one it would seem,” Doris said, smiling at Ed.
Abby squeezed her coke can tighter and thought about it. What did Doris mean? How much did Ed talk about her with Doris?
Abby had a puzzled look on her face so Ed gave Abby a lopsided grin and winked at her. He had been overwhelmed with stress that day and seeing Abby was like a breath of fresh air. More and more he had realized how much he looked forward to spending time with her.
Two days before the flight to Savannah, Georgia for the wedding, Abby headed to Ed’s business office to meet him and run some last minute errands. She was getting a bit nervous about going to his family function with him. She hoped that she hadn’t sounded like too much of an idiot when she told Ed on the phone the evening prior that he had to be sure they had separate rooms. He had kind of chuckled at her. Abby sighed upon remembering the sound of Ed’s laugh. Her friend, Cheryl had convinced her to buy some sexy underwear for the wedding events. Abby hadn’t removed any of the price tags yet; although, she knew full well she couldn’t return those kind of things, anyway. That day at the shopping mall, Cheryl had forced the bag into her hands and announced to her, “Five years is a long time, Abby. Even though I am exhausted all the time with two kids and all, I couldn’t go five years without sex.” She shook her head in spite of herself as she pulled into the parking lot of the strip mall. Abby had made up her mind, though; she and Ed and were friends and that was it. At least for now, she thought, slamming the car door.
The entrance to Ed’s electronic business was non obtrusive; Abby had driven past it before but never been inside the office before. Ed was always telling her how he just needed storage for his tools and essentials and Doris to help make appointments and get the mail. He was proud of his business, even if it was small, Abby thought to herself fondly. Doris was his receptionist and Abby had spoken to her on the phone several times, but didn’t know what to expect in person. Abby pulled the door open and saw a petite woman with straight dishwater blond hair to her shoulders and a thin face with happy crinkles near her eyes.
“May I help?” Doris began.
Abby opened to mouth to introduce herself but didn’t have a chance to do so before Doris exclaimed, “It’s Abby, right.”
Abby nodded and the slender little woman crushed her with a warm hug.
Doris finally stepped back and said, “So nice to meet you finally. I’m Doris.”
“Hello, Doris,” Abby said, still a bit surprised by the hug from a stranger.
“Ed talks about you non-stop,” she said, smiling, her cheeks rosy, her laugh lines giving her face a look of warm wisdom.
“Oh,” was all Abby could get out. She tried to steady her nerves and she looked around the office, one central room, what looked like a storage closet and a little bathroom. The central room had been broken up with two desks and there was even a makeshift waiting area with three folding chairs. A heavy duty plastic shelving unit next to one of the desk was littered with wire, lighting fixtures and light switches. A Moab, Utah poster was above what Abby presumed was Ed’s desk and it made her smile. She too, loved the red rocks there.
“He should be back any minute,” Doris said, “Would you like a drink?”
“Only if its not trouble,” Abby said, sitting down at the desk chair facing the Moab poster.
Doris went and retrieved a coke from the mini refrigerator in the corner and handed it to her with another big smile.
Abby took a drink of the coke and read Ed’s post-it note messages. His printing was so perfectly straight, never cursive. Just then, Ed walked through the door. His grin turned into a big smile when you saw her sitting at his desk.
“Hope you didn’t wait long, Abby,” Ed said, setting his toolboxes onto the floor.
She shook her head.
“Ah, Doris. You found her weakness. Coca-Cola,” Ed said, chuckling.
“Her only one it would seem,” Doris said, smiling at Ed.
Abby squeezed her coke can tighter and thought about it. What did Doris mean? How much did Ed talk about her with Doris?
Abby had a puzzled look on her face so Ed gave Abby a lopsided grin and winked at her. He had been overwhelmed with stress that day and seeing Abby was like a breath of fresh air. More and more he had realized how much he looked forward to spending time with her.
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