Chapter 31
ABIGAIL
I called Mr. Brickner back, and we scheduled his visit. The whole conversation was batshit crazy. All that money wasn”t real until it was in my name, so I stuffed down the anxiety and hysteria and went on with my life.
For the rest of the week, Elias and Reilly fixed the tractor and used the land survey I had to mark the perimeter of my property. They assured me they would report anything of importance since I was tied up with Seneca and the garden. Elias noted that an official survey would cost several thousand dollars, and it wasn”t important unless I was planning on flattening the whole thing, which I was not.
My garden was taking shape and I loved how organized Seneca was in her preparations. She staked out where she wanted things to go and kept a notebook full of ideas, lists of items to be priced, and equipment that would make her life ”so much easier.” Allan, the owner of the local hardware store, was kind enough to open an account for me, and Seneca was given strict instructions to keep to the budget. I may be a gazillionaire, but I didn’t have the money in my account, and therefore, it didn’t exist.
I hadn”t spent time alone with Reilly and we had a few things to get straight before I tied myself to Elias for the rest of our lives. I entered the barn where Elias was tinkering with the tractor, and Reilly was building a wall from the far side of the room to the halfway point. Watching these hot men work was a hobby I”d gladly take up. I was alone in my thoughts when Reilly caught me licking my lips.
”Feeling happy, Abigail?” Reilly grinned, displaying his perfectly white teeth.
I walked over, my hands in my back pockets, and felt coy. ”I am. And do you know why?” I intentionally tempted him. I wanted to know if my boyfriend”s best friend would go to places he shouldn”t with me.
”Because you like watching me work? I can take my shirt off if that would make you happier.” He broke into a solid laugh and looked at his friend.
Elias looked at him like he would take him out back and shoot him. ”Keep your fucking clothes on. She”s happy because she got laid this morning.” Hell, no, he didn”t just say that.
I turned all shades of red. These two were trouble, and my man was in line to feel my wrath. I walked right up behind him and clutched his balls, causing his wrench to fall.
I hissed into his ear, delivering a clear message. ”If you ever share our love life like that again, you won”t have one any longer. Understand?”
The mewl he emitted was good enough for me. I rubbed his nuts, restoring blood flow, and walked back to a timid Reilly.
”Come on, Reilly. Let”s go for a walk.”
Elias laughed.
I hadn”t made time to walk around my neighborhood but now seemed like a good time. There were six houses along my street and several more once you made the loop away from my house. Several were historic homes like mine, though none as big and stately. Gorgeous gardens started to bloom, and giant maple trees spread their branches like an umbrella over their lawns. One home had sculptured, twisted pine trees lining the walkway from the street to the front doors, while others used hedges to create a manicured look. It was fascinating and stuffy, all at the same time. Iron furniture seemed to be a staple on every porch or patio, as well as giant door knockers. It must have been all the rage back in olden times.
Reilly and I walked silently for a time before I began my inquisition.
”Elias tells me you”ve been friends since junior high. You must have some great stories you could share.” I started with a softball. I watched crime stories, and this was how to relax the perp before you drilled the incriminating evidence down their throat.
He looked around as if help was on the way. It wasn”t. ”Yeah, we got into some scrapes here and there, but Elias was always a straight arrow. A solid guy, salt of the earth.”
It was fun watching him squirm, but I had more important questions. ”Cut the crap, Reilly. Elias is not an angel. He told me about his youth, strict parents, and dog. More importantly, he told me about his ex-girlfriend and what a bitch she was. I know Elias. What I don”t know is why you”re giving my girlfriend a fucking hard time. Care to explain?”
You would have thought I gave him a choice to be flogged or bathe in a pool of piranha. Instead, he blurted, ”She”s a bitch. She can”t take a joke and is way too serious. I was flirting with her, and she took everything wrong.”
Hmm.”That”s not quite what she said,” I commented, allowing him to defend himself.
He shoved both hands through his silky hair. ”Then what exactly did she say?”
I stopped walking, and he turned in my direction. ”She said you made a lewd comment, insinuating she”d be up for choking down your dick.”
His face fell, and his eyes closed. ”I didn”t mean that.”
”Fuck off, Reilly. You met her, like, five minutes ago, and you”re throwing out suggestive comments. What”s wrong with you? Is this your game? Do girls drop to their knees for you when you say shit like that?”
I saw a mom with a buggy walking down the street and decided to keep moving before we made a scene. The vibe I got from him felt like remorse. I”m not excellent with body language, but his face looked upset. We walked another block before he took my wrist.
”Listen, Abigail. I didn”t come down here to be a pain in your ass. I didn”t even know Seneca would be here. I just came off of a bad break-up, and she riled me up with her sassy attitude and big boobs. I”ll keep my distance and keep myself in control until I leave if you”ll let me finish what I came here to do.”
I didn”t respond, and we kept walking. We returned to my driveway, and I stopped again. His sadness muddied his piercing blue eyes, and I didn”t want him to beat himself up. Unfortunately, Seneca was melodramatic at times, and although earned, she made Reilly her target.
”She accepted your apology, and so did I. You seem like a good guy, Reilly. We”re going to be friends for a very long time, Seneca included, and I want us to feel comfortable communicating with each other even when we”re pissed off. Yes?”
He wrapped his strong arms around me, and I smelled his woodsy skin. It was nothing like Elias”s, but, hugging him back, he felt good.
”We”re good.” His smile was full and genuine, with no trace of insincerity. This was the true Reilly, and I liked having him around.
Elias met Reilly on the drive, and they took off for a few hours. They talked about tractor parts and topsoil.
I was alone again in my house with my thoughts and Agatha”s journal. It had been a week since I last opened it, and I felt guilty not ordering those beautiful fabrics she meticulously chose to restore her—my—furniture. Projects like that were costly and would need to be done one by one, but, now that I”m a bazillionaire, I would do them all!
I made hot tea and curled up on the bay window seat to read more.
Ezekiel has the most unusual sixth sense about being in the right place at the right time. After a dinner meeting last night, he learned the government was handing out contracts for various goods and services. Wasting no time, he submitted several documents and was granted all of them. He would supply lumber for guns and forts and feed our soldiers during the war on Mexico. My husband was a patriot, and I am proud to be his wife.
There it was! These were the exact words described in that article about how Ezekiel became wealthy. I read on.
These years of toiling have finally paid off. We”re millionaires! Gracious, I don”t even know what that number is, except we”re one of them. Our lively discussion of using this vast sum of money was exciting yet a hardship. So many people didn”t fare well during these war years, and I felt our obligation was to help our community prosper and support those who remained. Ezekiel wanted a bank. I wanted an orphanage. It is times like these that feminine wiles work their very best, and, as such, we will purchase land tomorrow and build an orphanage come harvest season.
Holy shit!I set the journal in my lap and stared out the window. My family saved children, and it continues to this day. Agatha embraced her femininity to help her husband see the importance of saving lives before frivolous things like a bank. What a clever woman. I wanted to be like her and build a place that inspired and lifted my community, even if I didn”t know how to do it. And, like Agatha’s Ezekiel, I wanted a man like Elias to be by my side when I did them.
I heard a vehicle on the front drive, and the front door slammed shut.
”I”m back! Is anyone home?” Seneca belted to no one in particular.
”Over here,” I called.
”What are you doing there?” She dropped several bags on the ground and kicked off her shoes.
I held up the journal and took a sip of my tea.
”Ooh. Did you find anything juicy?” Seneca climbed over the sofa to join me.
”Nothing that we didn”t already know; however, I did get more insight into how Agatha thought. Take a look.”
I pointed out the passages and waited patiently.
”Atta girl, Agatha. I guess it is true that behind every good man is a great woman.”
We chuckled together. We heard the side door open and close, and another call rang out.
Both men were smiling, making us suspicious. ”What are you two up to?”
They looked at each other, confused. ”Nothing. We thought you might like to go out to eat tonight. Let”s have some fun. What do you say?”
You didn”t have to ask me twice, ”I”m in,” and Seneca clapped her hands. Reilly and Seneca better keep it together because I finally had an opportunity to wear my new white blouse and leather pants, and neither would ruin my night.
I overheard Elias reserving us a table at the new upscale Mexican restaurant we discussed on one of our rides to the village center. Seneca wore her new studded flair-bottomed jeans, stiletto heels, and a not-so-family-friendly halter top, topped with a matching blue denim jean jacket.
From my vantage point above, Reilly almost fainted watching Seneca strut down those stairs, and Elias worked not to stare at her voluptuous chest. The roles reversed when I came down next. Great-looking clothes allowed me to feel confident and sexy.
Elias looked at Reilly sharply, ”What have we gotten ourselves into?”
We drove together in my newly restored Buick, and thank goodness our friends didn”t poke at each other. The temperature heated up once the margaritas started flowing, and all bets were off.
I shared with Reilly Seneca”s visions of her garden plans, and Reilly slammed his drink on the table, perturbed.
”Did you account for drainage and rainfall in this area? How about pesticides and fertilizers?
Elias dropped his head, knowing Reilly stepped into a minefield.
A rush of red spread across Seneca”s neck and face as if he had smacked her. That man better run.
”Do you think I”m stupid? Just because I didn”t go to a fancy college doesn”t mean I don”t know how to do my research. I have three, count them three, highly specialized master gardeners advising me on my plans, so I don”t need your judgment.”
She flipped her long, wavy locks and looked out the window in disgust. I gave her credit for not bolting, though we did have her locked in with our seats.
Elias reached under the table and gripped my knee, letting me know he had this under control.
”Reilly, Seneca has been researching these projects nonstop. When she”s not weeding and cutting down plant matter, she”s on the phone or the internet with gardeners around the globe. Trust me when I say she”s got this under control.”
I rubbed Elias”s hand in thanks but cleared my throat when he moved it up to my thigh.
”I”d like to make an announcement. Given Seneca”s reconnection to gardening, I”d like to pay for some classes to validate her commitment to my home and future career. Thank you, my dear friend, for investing in me. You never let me down.”
We all raised a glass, averting tonight”s first crisis—though it didn”t take long for the second to emerge.
Dinner was over, and I bounced in my seat, waiting for Elias to tell me where we were going.
”I”m not telling you. It”s only eleven minutes away, so control yourself.” He gave me his stern Daddy look, and I immediately took control of myself. In hindsight, I could see my self-control improving, noting it was easier when Elias was nearby. I felt more confident about my ability to handle stress, like with the officer who came by yesterday. I was nervous and wary, but I didn”t run or shy away from his questions. It felt good and empowering.
We crossed the Mystic River and turned into the marina. Music blared from a second-floor restaurant, and I pointed excitedly.
”Is that it? Are we partying at the marina? So cool, Elias. Thank you!” I cried.
We all jumped out of the car, but Elias grabbed my wrist before I could leave. ”Have a good time tonight, little girl, but behave yourself.”
Whoa.My stomach flipped, and butterflies swam through my body. Daddy wanted to play here—and fuck if I wouldn”t stop him. This was going to be the best night ever!
Elias took my hand, and we caught up to the others, feeling excited until we heard, ”Why are you all up in my face? I told you I don”t need your help. I know how to walk.” Even in the glow of the parking lot lights, we could see Reilly roll his eyes.
”I know you know how to walk. Do you see the gravel under your feet? It”s got to be tricky in heels.”
I understood his desire to keep her safe, though he needed to work on his delivery. I found it ironic that he and Elias had trouble speaking to women. Wait a second. Elias was tongue-tied with me, not every woman. Did Reilly like Seneca? Shit! Why didn’t I pick that up earlier?
As if he conjured a face plant himself, Seneca began to fall.
”Aaahh,” she shrieked. Reilly caught her by the hips and pulled her hard into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her midriff and whispered in her ear.
Whatever he said, she softened, and he unwound his arms, brushing his hands down her backside. This did not go unnoticed by Elias or me.
Elias commented, ”So close. He almost got ahead.”
And I replied, ”Yeah, those two are going to kill each other.”
Reilly paid our cover charges, and the host led us to a secluded table far away from the dance floor. Sunday nights usually aren”t a big party night, but the host said there was a bridal party, and they didn”t care if others joined in, only that they paid for their own drinks. The DJ played all the best tunes from the seventies to current top-chart singles, and I had a groove I wanted to bust.
”Come on, Sen, let”s boogie!”
ELIAS
My girl looked like sex on a stick, and I couldn”t wait to grind up against her. Instead, I watched her bump asses with her buddy and slide all over the dance floor, interjecting herself into the bridal party.
I hoped she took notes from this party. Simple, sophisticated, electric, and fun. I hadn”t thought about my wedding day at all until I met Oria. The idea of tying the knot with one person seemed overwhelming, but Oria ticked so many of the boxes I thought I wanted in a woman until months later. She embarrassed me in front of her friends and then belittled me to her parents. That night, I revoked any thoughts of marrying her. The package on the outside didn”t match her inside, and I”d given up hope years later of ever finding the right woman—until fate stepped in.
Reilly walked to the bar and got himself a drink, and I forgot about him and Seneca as I spun Abigail into my arms.
She purred when I pulled her close, and my dick tented my pants. ”Hi, Daddy.” Fuck, yeah.
”Hi, baby girl. Do you want to dance with Daddy?” She was four inches taller in those stilted shoes, making it easier for me to grab her tight ass.
”Uh-huh,” she mewled. ”I was wondering when you were going to come out and play. It”s been almost a week, and I missed you.” Abigail pinched my nipples through my shirt, and I hissed.
”You are being a naughty girl tempting Daddy that way.” I danced her to the edge of the floor. ”I have a special surprise for you, but you have to be a good girl for me.”
Her eyes lit up, and her exquisite smile spread from ear to ear. ”I love surprises. What is it?” she squealed, tearing at my lapels.
I laughed at her exuberance, ”It”s not time yet.”
We danced several more songs together, me imprinting my dick on her belly each time we pressed together and her grazing the back of her hand on my crotch every chance she got. We line-danced with the wedding party until I stole her away to suck her tits in a dark hallway. I wanted to fuck her against that wall, but when they called for the bouquet toss, the bride specifically called her name when she didn”t see her on the dance floor.
”Oh, Daddy, please! Can I go and catch the bouquet?” She pulled on my shirt like a child, trying to get her Daddy’s attention.
”You”d rather catch some flowers than fool around with Daddy?” I put her in an impossible position and felt like an ass for doing it.
She pouted, torn between her choices. ”Go. Have fun.” She clapped her hands, then fixed her blouse and ran down the hall. Abigail knew Lady Luck personally and, of course, caught the damn thing. Her luck was my luck because she was mine.
”Oh my God!” Abigail cried. ”Throw them again; I can”t keep these; it”s for someone from your wedding party.”
My girl had both class and humility to know how to handle herself in this situation. It made me proud.
”No, no,” said the bride. You”re part of our wedding, too. Please keep them and remember what a great night this was.” She looked Abigail up and down, smiling. “Besides, who knows when it will be your turn to be a bride?” Abigail hugged her, and she walked over to show me her prize.
”Can you believe it? She was so nice.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I knew the time had come.
”Stay here, sweetheart. I want to thank them.” I approached the bride and groom and explained my situation. Moments later, I returned to my girl, grinning ear to ear.
The DJ ended the song and directed a spotlight to the edge of the dance floor where we stood.
I took my girl”s hands and absorbed the glow from her delicate face. She couldn”t know what was coming and looked around as the crowd drew their attention to us.
”Abigail Farnsworth-Burton, you are the prize in our story. You came into my life when I was emotionally lost and demanded I drive you to your future. What I didn”t realize at the time was that you were driving me to mine. We may not have known each other very long, but it feels like we”ve been connected since—forever. I like who I am when I”m with you. I”ve become a better man when you challenge me. I can”t imagine my life without you.”
I knelt on one knee and retrieved the velvet box from my suit coat pocket, displaying the contents before her. ”My darling, Abigail, will you marry me?”
I was told the room erupted when she said yes, but all I heard was her breathing as she kissed me. I placed the ring on her finger, and she swooned at the size of the stone. My brain went into hyperdrive, and I felt my body whoosh as if traveling through time, connections being fused together to complete a circuit. Electrons and neurons scrambled and rearranged themselves into a new and improved Elias, one that included Abigail, and I was dizzy from the effect. I was forever changed and cried tears of joy.
”Baby, Elias, don”t cry. I said ‘Yes,’” Abigail kissed me tenderly, assuming I hadn”t heard her.
”I know. I can”t believe my good fortune.” I picked her up and spun her around to another blast of cheers. The DJ kicked the music up a notch, and I finally put her down, filled with bliss.
She laughed. ”It looks like we both found our fortunes. Finding you was only a matter of time, and you were well worth the wait.”
I kissed her hard and promised her this night would last forever.
THE END