Chapter Sixteen
Monday morning on the ranch, everyone was a little blurry eyed, but they all showed up for breakfast. Pulling out his chair, Carson sighed softly. Hell, he missed Abby already. It was going to be a long week.
“June, I really enjoyed your Seattle launch,” Ellie said.
“Thanks,” June said. “It was only afterward I heard that Abby was the reason everything went without a hitch. Apparently, when she phoned the event-planning company on Thursday, nothing had been finalized, but Abby had quickly made sure everything would go smoothly. I keep telling her she should start her own event-planning business. She’s so good at organizing. ”
“Speaking about Abby,” Willow teased. “Carson, you look very happy. Can we assume you and Abby are now together?”
Carson nodded. “We’re still not sure how it’ll work, but we’re going to give the long-distance thing a try.”
Hunter snorted. “Good luck. It’s not something I recommend. We tried. It sucked.”
“Dylan and I were also going to try that,” June grinned, “but I didn’t want to be without him for one day.”
“The challenge, Carson,” Laura said, “is to give Abby a reason to move to Marietta.”
Carson shook his head. “I told her how I feel about her, what more could I say or do?”
Ellie groaned. “Oh, you Westons are all alike. Have you even asked her?”
Carson was getting ticked off. “Asked her what?”
“To marry you, silly,” Rose cried out. “I mean, that is what you want to do, right?”
Frowning, Carson stared at Rose. “Of course it is, but her life is back in Seattle.”
“Is it, though?” June said. “Abby could work anywhere if she wanted to. It’s not easy for us orphans to relocate, but when there’s a good enough reason, we become quite bold.
Like I did when I drove all the way from Seattle to Dylan’s house, not even knowing how he felt about me, to tell him I was going to stay with him and well, here we are. ”
“I was so stunned.” Laughing, Dylan pulled his wife closer. “It took me a minute to understand what she was saying. Oh, and bro? There’s a jewelry shop in Bozeman with a lady who’ll give you the perfect ring if you describe Abby to her.”
“I agree. That lady knows her stuff,” Hunter said.
“She does indeed.” Willow leaned over to her husband for a kiss.
Looking at his family around the table, Carson shook his head. The irritation all the kissing and flirting around the table used to cause him was gone. Because now he understood when you loved someone you couldn’t help yourself—you wanted to touch and kiss them all the time.
“By the way,” Hayden said dryly. “The tractor needs a spare part if anyone is going to Bozeman.”
Carson got up and whistled. With a bark, George appeared in the doorway. “I’ll go, but only to get the spare part. I don’t think Abby is ready to talk about the other stuff.” With a wave, he left, George at his heels.
He’d nearly reached his truck when Cooper caught up with him.
“You’re still afraid.” Cooper crouched down to scratch George behind the ears.
“What are you talking about?” Carson didn’t even try to hide his irritation.
“You’re still afraid to open up,” Cooper said as he got up. “Afraid of getting hurt.”
Staring at his cousin, Carson’s first instinct was to deny what he was saying, but as the words hung in the air between them, Carson sighed. Cooper had called it. Yes, he was afraid of getting hurt.
Cooper nodded. Of course he’d know what Carson was thinking. “Love is all or nothing. But when you take the step, it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world.” With a light slap on his shoulder, Cooper left.
“Come on, George. Seems like we have shopping to do in Bozeman today.”
*
Except for the fact that Abby missed Carson, Monday started off well enough. Probably because she and Carson had both managed to sleep soundly Saturday night after June’s book launch.
Last night after Carson had left, she’d felt so miserable, she’d ordered something to eat and watched a soppy movie. Halfway through the movie, she’d fallen asleep though, but woke up feeling better than she had since she’d returned from the ranch.
Her morning appointment went without a glitch. By lunchtime she just was so tired, she did something she’d never done before and fell asleep on her bed after lunch. Since she’d woken up, the same nausea she’d experienced during the previous week was back.
There wasn’t time to dwell on it, though, she had a client to see. Fortunately, it was only a consultation and didn’t take that long. By the time she left her client, she was so tired again, she was ready to keel over.
Taking a deep breath, she swallowed. Something was wrong, she had to admit. Maybe she should see a doctor. Where did she find one, though? She’d never been ill before and had never needed one. Opening the window of her car, she took a few deep breaths. It seemed to help when she felt nauseous.
As she breathed in the fresh air, she remembered. One of her recent clients was a doctor. If she couldn’t see her, maybe she could recommend someone.
She quickly texted the client with a short description of what she’d experienced. And waited. Nothing. Frustrated she started her car and drove home.
The client replied only much later. Unfortunately, she was fully booked but would let Abby know when she had a cancellation. The doctor had also sent her the name of something she could get over the counter that should help with the nausea.
Abby ordered the medication online. Hopefully this would help.
*
Friday evening, Carson waited for Abby at the door of the art gallery in Spokane. He checked his watch for the umpteenth time. It was nearly seven o’clock and Abby wasn’t here yet. They’d spoken earlier when she’d just arrived at the airport in Seattle. She should’ve been here by now.
He was worried about her. When he’d left on the last plane Sunday evening, she had still been way too pale. June, although she was trying to hide it, was also concerned, he could tell.
Every time they’d talked during the week, he’d asked Abby how she was feeling and she’d assured him she was fine. She sounded okay, but he wanted to see her before he’d be able to relax.
Noah hurried closer. “Are you ready? We have to start. The others are all here and ready for the party to start.”
Dejectedly, Carson nodded, checking his phone once again. Why didn’t she text him if she wasn’t feeling well? Maybe the plane was late or she couldn’t get a taxi or something.
Just then a sound behind him had him turning around quickly. Abby had arrived. Hurrying closer, he scanned her face. She looked gorgeous, but damn it, she was still so pale.
“There you are,” he said as he reached her. “I was getting worried.”
“I’m fine.” For a moment she leaned into him, but then Noah called his name.
Taking Abby’s hand, he smiled. “Come on, let’s get this show going. I want to take you back to my hotel room.”
Blushing beautifully, she smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’ve left my bag in the foyer behind a counter.”
“We’ll get it before we leave for the hotel.
I probably have to smile and shake some hands for a while, but hopefully we won’t have to stay that long.
Have a look at all the photographs. I’m really lucky to share the space with so many talented photographers.
There is one in particular I want to show you. ” With a wink, he hurried away.
*
During the speeches, Abby turned to look at the photographs on display.
She was standing at the back, so it was easy to move quietly to the wall to look for Carson’s photographs.
At least the medication the doctor had given her for the nausea was helping a bit.
She was just still so tired, and by eight o’clock at night she battled to keep her eyes open.
Fortunately, she was feeling much better tonight. Maybe her exhaustion had to do with the fact she missed Carson so much. She was struggling to sleep without him next to her.
It wasn’t difficult to see which work was his.
He’d captured Montana’s vast and varying landscapes the way no one else could.
Slowly she moved down the hall as she looked at the photographs.
All the photographers had captured scenes from nature, but her eyes seemed to find the ones with Carson’s name first.
As she moved forward, the next group of photographs caught her eye and she hurried forward. It was George! Carson had captured the puppy sleeping, playing and … her feet slowed down.
If she wasn’t mistaken, the woman with George, sitting with her back to the camera was her. What Carson had caught in the frame of the photograph wasn’t the picture she had of herself, though.
Here she was someone completely different to the woman who usually stared back at her from the mirror. Her head was thrown back, her hair was messy, her whole body relaxed, she looked so unlike the way she normally looked and felt. The Abby in the picture was happy, as if nothing was bothering her.
Warm hands touched her shoulders. “The other photographs of you were too intimate, not something I wanted to share, but I had to use this one, even though I didn’t ask your permission.”
Leaning against him, she sighed. “I’m always so uptight, you’ve caught me in an unguarded moment.”
He was quiet for a moment. “That’s the way you were on the ranch. That’s the way I always think of you.”
“Here you are!” June called out as she rushed closer. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Enveloping Abby in a big hug, she smiled. “How are you feeling?”
Before Abby could answer, a tall man was approaching Carson. “Carson—come quickly. You’re not going to believe what’s happening.”
“Abby, this is Noah Felix, the owner of the gallery. Noah, this is my Abby.”
Smiling, the man quickly shook Abby’s hand. “You’re all he talks about. I’m sorry to steal Carson away but there is someone he needs to meet.”
“Of course, go.” Abby smiled when Carson looked at her. “I haven’t seen June in a week. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Okay, now you’re coming with me,” June said as she took Abby’s arm.
“You look beautiful, of course, but I’ve never seen you looking so pale and wan.
” Pulling her to the corner of the room, June faced her.
“What is going on? And don’t tell me nothing.
I know you, Abs. You’ve never been ill a day in your life.
Please tell me you’ve seen a doctor or someone? ”
“I’m waiting to hear about an appointment this week, but I don’t even think I’ll go. I feel so much better.”
June traced the telltale dark circles under Abby’s eyes. “You forget I know you. You’ve never had these. Just promise me you’ll make sure you get an appointment?”
Fortunately, at that moment the rest of the family joined them and she didn’t have to answer June. Of course, she’d go if she still didn’t feel well, but she really was feeling much better. Besides, tonight she was focusing on Carson.
Turning her head, she smiled. Carson was on his way back, and if the expression on his face was anything to go by, he was very happy.
“You have good news,” Willow stated the obvious as Carson arrived.
Pulling Abby close to him, Carson laughed. “I’m still stunned, but a huge corporation just commissioned wallpaper art of the photographs for all their offices.”
As everyone shouted their congratulations, Abby leaned against Carson. “I’m so happy for you.”
“We have so much to talk about,” he said. “But let me get the bubbly. We have to celebrate being together again.”