Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
“ A re you sure we can’t drive over to my parents’ house together and just come get your car after dinner?”
“No, that’s silly. You guys are both on the other side of town, so let’s just drive separately and then we won’t have to be running around close to Katy’s bedtime.”
“God, I fucking love how you’re always thinking of her.”
“I care about her, John. It doesn’t make sense for a four year old to have to wait up and get over tired or fall asleep in the car.”
“I know you’re right, but it’s going to kill me to not have you sitting where I can touch you.”
“I’ll make it up to you tonight,” she whispered in his ear as she grabbed her keys off the table. “I really loved this apartment.”
John’s arms wrapped around her waist and spun her around, the both of them falling into a fit of laughter.
“Good thing you love me more, right baby?”
“Right, baby.”
His chest rumbled against her back. “Love the sound of that.”
“What? That I love you?”
“That you called me ‘baby’.” He groaned as he pressed his forehead against hers. “Fuck. How much longer do we have until we need to be at my parents’? Because I’m feeling very possessive of you, baby. And I’d kind of like to possess you before we go.”
“John!” Abby tried to wiggle free from his grasp.
“We have time.” His teeth nibbled on the skin behind her ear and she squealed.
“No, we don’t. Now, I’m going to take these clothes down to my car. Will you grab that last box for your truck and lock up? Emma’s waiting in Sprinkles for the keys.”
“Sure thing. You know, almost everyone knows about you moving in, except two really important people in your life.”
“I know.”
“When do you want to tell them?”
She rolled her head, trying to relieve some of the tension in her neck. “Next week?”
“Baby.”
“I just, I need a little more time.”
“I know you’re really worried about telling Sam, but he loves you, and he’ll be happy for us.”
She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “I hope so. If not, Thanksgiving is going to be really awkward.”
John chuckled. “Pull your car out front when you’re ready and we’ll leave together.”
Abby nodded and grabbed the last of her clothes. Were they really going to tell her family that not only were they dating, but they were also moving in together? It was one thing to accept they were dating, but living together was so huge. Would they worry it was too soon? She was so lost in her nervousness that she didn’t notice anything wrong with her car at first. She just put her clothes in the back and climbed into the driver's seat, starting the ignition and turning down the air conditioning she’d had on full blast earlier that day. Her dash lit up with a warning as she pressed her foot on the brake.
Three of her tires were alarming with low pressure. That was weird. She got out of the car and gasped as the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
How the hell had she missed her tires being shredded? It wasn’t like she’d run over a nail, or some broken glass. No. It looked like someone had taken a knife and stabbed them over and over again. Why only three of the tires, though? Had the person who’d done it heard her coming and wanted to get away before they were caught? Were they nearby watching her?
As she rounded the back of her car, her heart caught in her throat. The back tire matched the other two on the drivers side, except that one still had the knife they’d used embedded in the rubber. A piece of paper was caught through the blade and Abby ripped the note free, her hands shaking as she unfolded it.
WHORE.
Her stomach dropped as her eyes darted around the area behind the bakery. John. She needed to get to John. He’d know what to do.
Walking back onto Main Street, Abby looked down the row of parking spaces towards John’s truck. He wasn’t there waiting for her, which meant he was still inside Sprinkles.
She opened the door to the bakery and went inside, wiping her hands down her jeans after tucking the note in her back pocket.
John saw her first, a smile and a slight worried crinkle around his eyes greeting her.
“Hey, baby. Emma wouldn’t let me leave before you came in to find me.”
“Yeah! Like I’m letting you leave without saying goodbye. Nice try.”
“I wasn’t trying to get away without saying goodbye,” Abby chuckled. “There is no goodbye to say. I’m still going to see you all the time.”
“But you won’t be right upstairs. It was nice knowing I’d get to see you every morning and check in.”
“It was nice. But like I said, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. But for now, we actually do need to go. John’s parents are waiting for us.”
“Yes, yes, family dinner.” Emma wrapped her arms around Abby. “I’m so happy for you, babe. You deserve this happiness with him.”
“Thanks, Emma.”
“You better be here first thing Monday morning for a blueberry muffin or I’m going to be pissed.”
“I’ll be here,” she laughed, slipping her hand into John’s as they turned to leave.
“Alright.” John’s footsteps froze outside the bakery. “Are you going to tell me why you looked so upset when you walked in there?”
“Do you think you can give me a ride out to your parents’ house after all?”
His eyebrows came together. “Of course I can. But why did you change your mind?”
She dropped her gaze to the sidewalk. “I seem to have three flat tires.”
“What?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on.” John pulled her behind him as they walked down the alley and back to Abby’s car. Yup, her torn up tires were still there, the hundreds of dollars she’d be spending in the next few days to have them replaced bubbling in the vat of anxiety that was churning in her stomach.
“What the fuck?” John’s grumble filled the air. “Someone did this to your car.”
“Yeah, I figured.” She reached into her pocket. “I think it was probably whoever left this note attached to the tire around the other side. I didn’t take the knife out of it.” Abby handed the paper to John.
“Jesus.” He pulled his phone from his pocket.
“Who are you calling?”
“My parents. We are going to be late to dinner and I don’t want them worrying. Then I’m calling Hank.”
“No, don’t bother him. If he’s even at the station still he should be heading home to Daisy and Sunny.”
“Baby, I love that you are thinking of our friends right now, but they would also want the chance to make sure everything is okay with you. So we are going to let them. Besides, this is weird and threatening and there’s no one I work with who I trust more than Hank.”
“Okay.”
“Hey!” Grace walked to the entryway and wrapped John and Abby in a hug. “I’m so glad you are okay, Abby! Tom told us about your car. That’s so scary!”
“Yeah, it was definitely a shock. Hank seems to think he’ll be able to review some of the neighborhood security footage and get a lead. There’s been some rowdy teens in Silver Springs causing some trouble with random cars and businesses, he thinks maybe they’ve ventured out this way.”
“Well, I hope that’s all it is. Just parking your car in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
John wanted to shift the narrative for the night. If Abby had to talk about her car, he knew she’d be nothing but a ball of anxiety by the time they left.
“So, what did we miss? Where is everybody?”
“Out back being crazy. Tom and Jackson started a campfire and Katy wanted to roast a few marshmallows. Nellie was no match for puppy dog eyes.”
“Before dinner?” John groaned. “I’m going to make Mom come home with us so she can try and get a sugared up four year old to sleep.”
Grace laughed. “You know if you mention that, she’s going to try to convince you to let Katy sleepover.”
John smiled. “Yeah. I’m going to go out and find the trouble maker.”
“We’ll be out in just a minute. I want Abby’s opinion on something.” Grace hooked her arm through Abby’s and pulled her into the kitchen.
He chuckled as their laughter followed him outside.
Jackson handed a beer to John as he settled into the chair at the fire pit.
“Katy,” Nellie scooped Jack up into her arms. “Can you come inside with Grammy? You can hold the beaters for the mashed potatoes.”
“I lick them?”
“Yes, I think you can do that, too. You might have to share one with Jack Jack though.”
“Otay.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Jackson kissed their mom on the cheek as she walked by.
Nellie waved her hand . “I know how important guy talk is. Besides, I’m about to make sure Abby knows not to take any shit from you, and to call me if you ever step out of line.”
“Jeepers. It’s almost like you’d rather have Abby in the family than me.”
Nellie laughed, slipping into the house without another word.
“So, she’s really moving in? You don’t feel like that’s too fast?” Jackson asked, stacking another log onto the fire.
“Fuck no. She’s incredible. The strongest fucking person I’ve ever met. She is so kind, and loves Katy like she’s her daughter. There’s this push and pull between us that I’ve never felt with anyone else. No matter what, when I’m with her, there’s just this calmness that surrounds me.”
“So, she’s the one?” His dad asked, poking the fire and sending sparks into the air around them.
“Yeah, dad. She’s the one.” He took a long pull on his beer. “I’ve been looking at rings.”
“Wow.” Jackson slapped his hand on John’s shoulder, smiling like he did the last time they placed a bet.
“Wow?”
“Yeah, wow. Dad owes me twenty bucks and a night of babysitting Jack.”
“Why?”
“I told him you were going to pop the question to Abby by Christmas. He didn’t think you’d be that quick about it.”
John spun towards his dad. “I love her. Why wouldn’t I want to make sure she knew how committed I was to her as soon as possible?”
Tom’s hands flew up by his face. “I’m not saying I didn’t think you guys wouldn’t work out. In fact, I really like Abby.”
“But?”
“But… I didn’t know if you’d ever want to take that step. You’ve been home for years now, John. You’ve never dated anyone. You’ve never even mentioned wanting to. And then Abby comes along, and things move really fast and I just didn’t know how you’d handle that.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
“Tom!” Nellie’s voice filled the air as she stepped out into the back yard.
“I’m just trying to tell our son I’m happy for him and Abby.”
“From the scowl on John’s face I can tell you haven’t done a very good job of that.”
“I’m heading in. Grace probably needs a hand with the kiddos.” His dad groaned as he got to his feet.
“Jack fell asleep, honey. Grace is in the kitchen with Abby and Katy. I think everything is okay.”
“Just let me go, Nel,” he grumbled.
“Fine.”
“Hey, wait, Dad. I want that twenty bucks!” Jackson laughed as he walked in after their dad.
The Boone clan was back outside, sitting around the campfire once again. Dinner had been calm, mostly because John was busy mulling over his anger at his dad’s apprehension.
“Katy, come over here.” He waved at his daughter who was busy rolling down the small hill in their backyard for the millionth time. “Oh, by the way, Mom, no more sugar for her this late at night. She’s going to be a nightmare to put to bed.”
“Sorry,” she laughed. “You know Grammy loves to spoil her. She could always spend the night here if you wanted.”
“Nel, they probably want to all spend Abby’s first official night there together.” Grace winked at John.
“Oh my goodness, of course! That will be so special. I think I forgot today was such a big day because you just fit in so perfectly, Abby.”
He watched Abby smile, the sweetest blush dusting her cheeks in the shadows of the fire. Katy finally made her way over to them and leaned her head against his leg.
“Daddy! Did you see the moon?”
“Yes. And look at all the stars. Abby wants to make a wish on one. Can you show her how to do it?”
“Otay!” Katy ran over to Abby, climbing onto her lap and curling into her arms. “Abby, you have to pick a star.”
“Okay, let’s see…” Abby looked up into the night sky and John smiled at how easily she played along with every whimsical thing his daughter did. “Oh, that one. The one right next to the moon.”
“That’s a pretty one.”
“I agree. Okay, so now that I’ve picked out my star what do I do?”
“You hasta close your eyes really tight, cover your mouth, and whisper the wish. Watch me.”
Katy closed her eyes and brought her hand up to her mouth. John was too far away to hear what she was saying, but from the look on Abby’s face and the way her eyes sparkled in the light of the fire, it had been something sweet.
“Now I’s all done. I squeeze the wish and frow it at my star!”
Katy hurled her wish into the night sky and nearly toppled out of Abby’s lap. Luckily, she wrapped her arms around Katy and they both stayed in the chair. “Now, you do it.”
“Okay, here I go.” Abby scrunched up her face and John laughed as Katy inspected to make sure her eyes were really closed. She must have whispered her wish because the next thing he knew, she was throwing her arm up towards the night sky. “Be free, wish. I hope you come true.”
“Alright, ladybug. Give everyone hugs and kisses. It’s time to go home.”