Love You Moore (23 page)

“
A pleasure” Mr. Craney gently shook
Abby hand “Shall we go in?”

“
Mediterranean Perfection! The finest
custom estate in guard gated Mountain View Estates! Approximately
10,000 square feet. Ideal location at the very end of a quiet
cul-de-sac with unobstructed views!” Mr. Craney started. Abby just
looked around in amazement.

The door opened and they walked into a grand
foyer, cream colored marble. Two grand pillars stood on each side
of the room that led up to a wining stair case. The house had
professional theater, gym, steam room, poker room and separate
bonus room. They walked thru the Chefs kitchen. It had everything
imaginable a kitchen could have, Dishwasher, Freezer, Disposal,
Refrigerator, Trash Compactor, Central Vacuum, six Burner Cook top,
Gas Range/Cook top, Double Oven, Microwave Oven, Range Hood. The
back yard was breathtaking, amazing yard with infinity pool, spa
and guest house. Mr. Craney took them down into the finished
basement, although Abby wasn’t sure she could call it a basement it
was a whole other living area. As they walked down the stairs Abby
noticed a blue glow coming from the bottom of the stairs. There was
a glass wall that looked right into the pool in the backyard. A
sliding glass door opened up to a stone pathway that led back up to
the backyard. Abby had to catch her breath, never had she seen such
grandeur. The sub level, as Abby came to call it in her head, had a
game room, the theater was down here and it also had a recording
studio.

They went back upstairs to tour the second
floor. On the left side it was the oversized master retreat. There
were two walk in closets, a his and a hers. A dressing room,
humongous bathroom with Jacuzzi tub, steam shower and marble
everything. There was an attached office. A large balcony spanned
the whole side of the house that overlooked the backyard. Abby
could see for miles, mountains and the ocean. The views were
spectacular, Abby could only imagine what it looked like at night
with the lights of the city all around. They continued the tour,
the upstairs had three bedrooms not including the master suite.
Each bedroom had its own private bath. The house had a total of
seven bathrooms. There was also fourth and fifth bedroom
downstairs. Abby assumed for the home staff. Her head was spinning
form it all as they headed back outside to the stone tiled
driveway.

“
So what do you think?” Mr. Craney
direct at Abby.

“
I think your friend would be a fool
not to buy this place. It’s unbelievable.” Abby
stammered.

“
Abby,” Jimmy softly got Abby’s
attention. “I have something for you.’ He handed her a black velvet
box.

Abby looked at Jimmy and back at Mr. Craney,
Abby was surprised that he would give her a gift now. Abby opened
the box. It was a key, a house key. Abby looked at Jimmy confused
and then it hit her. This wasn’t a house for a friend it was for
her. Abby started to hyperventilate.

“
Abby, I heard you telling Holly you
were concerned about moving into my house. I want you to have only
good memories of our home together. We will make our own
here.”

Abby had tears streaming down her face.

“
You didn’t need to do this, it’s too
much, I don’t want you to feel like I wouldn’t have been happy in
your home with you, I would be happy in a cardboard box with
you.”

“
I didn’t want you to feel like you we
coming into my home versus our home. This is our home Abby, yours
and mine.”

Abby hugged Jimmy “I love you.” She whispered
and kissed him.

“
Oh my gosh, I have got to call Holly,
excuse me Mr. Craney, thank you very much.” Abby walked away to use
her phone. Jimmy and Mr. Craney shook hands, Mr. Craney got into
his car and drove away. Abby walked back to Jimmy with a sullen
look on her face.

“
No luck?” Jimmy asked.

“
No, I just don’t get it, why is she
not calling me back?”

“
Don’t worry,” Jimmy comforted her. “I
am sure everything is fine, like I said before she is probably busy
with classes, maybe she has met a boy.” He looked at her with a
persuasive expression.

“
Well that would be all the more reason
to call me to fill me in, this just isn’t like her.”

“
Come on, let’s go back into the house
and look around.” Jimmy took her hand and led her back to the
house. When they got to the door Jimmy picked up Abby to carry her
over the threshold.

“
What are you doing?” She
laughed.

“
This is a tradition and we are going
to start our new life off right.” He opened the door and set her
down onto the marble floor. “You know what else is tradition?” he
asked with a peculiar look on his face.”

“
What.” Abby was a bit afraid to
ask.

“
Well I hear it’s good luck to christen
every room of a new home.” He took her into his arms.

“
Oh really? I think I may have heard
something about that too.” Abby said playfully

Jimmy closed the door to their new home and
led Abby up the stairs.

The next few days were nothing but chaos.
Movers coming and going, deliverymen bringing packages sent from
the wedding registry. Jimmy had to get back into the studio, he had
spent most of the summer in Maine and needed to take care of things
he had put on hold. Abby did not deny him of this, he had done all
he could to make her happy and secure and there was no way she was
going to make him feel guilty about going back to work. However,
she was overwhelmed. Margret did all she could to help Abby move
things and settle in but Abby didn’t want to lie all of this on
Margaret’s shoulders either. Jimmy came home one night to find Abby
sitting in the back yard staring out over the horizon. She had been
crying.

“
Baby, is everything ok?” he asked with
concern in his voice.

“
No, no it’s not, I haven’t been able
to get in touch with Holly at all, I have called and called and she
isn’t calling me back, I called my parents her parents and they all
said she is fine just really busy, she was never too busy to call
me.” She cried.

“
Honey,” he said soothingly. “I am sure
she is fine, if it makes you feel better, I will have Steve get the
jet ready and you can fly home for a visit and see for yourself.
Would you like that?”

Abby nodded, it would be nice to get away
from this chaos and see her parents and Holly. Although she
couldn’t put out of her mind that something was wrong.

“
Done, we’ll arrange for tomorrow, Oh
there is something for you in the foyer, Margret wasn’t sure where
you wanted it.”

“
I guess just put it with all the other
boxes I haven’t opened yet.” Abby said as she walked though the
kitchen down the hall and out into the foyer.

“
I don’t think it goes there.” Jimmy
told her

“
Then where would it go?” Abby froze as
she turned the corner into the open entryway.

“
HOLLY” Abby screamed.

Both girls ran to each other and hugged. They
both were screaming and jumping up and down crying and laughing at
the same time.

“
What are you doing here, How did you
know where we were, How long can you stay, How come you haven’t
called me back, I have been worried sick.” Abby was
rambling.

Holly laughed. “Ok, I am here to help you
settle in. Jimmy arranged for me to come and bring me here, nice
place BTW. I can stay for as long as you need me and I didn’t call
you back because I have known for a few weeks I was coming and I
knew if I talked to you I couldn’t keep it as a secret so I avoided
your calls. It was awful I wanted to talk to you everyday but I
couldn’t.”

“
What about school?” Abby
asked

“
Ugh, it was a nightmare, I wasn’t
doing anything that I wanted to do and the best time I have ever
had was staying with you at the Samoset and assisting you with what
you needed. That’s what I want to do. Why be in school when I can
come out here and actually do what I want. So when Jimmy approached
me at the wedding and asked me how I was doing in school, I told
him. He offered me a job and said he would bring me out when you go
back from your honeymoon and swore me to secrecy.”

“
This is amazing, you are amazing.” She
directed to Jimmy. She hugged him. “Thank you.” She said softly in
his ear.

“
Well then, I am going to let the two
of you catch up and I will go see what Margret is cooking for
dinner.” Jimmy walked back to the kitchen

“
So tell me everything, how was the
honeymoon and what is up with this house, good Lord.”

“
I know, crazy huh?” Abby
replied

Abby filled her in on all the details of the
last few weeks. Abby asked Holly what was happening back home and
Holly turned somber.

“
What? What’s going on?” Abby
quizzed.

“
Mrs. Robinson, she isn’t letting it
go. Your dad told me what happened at the reception. I think it set
her off. She has been telling anyone willing to listen how you are
responsible for her son’s death. I think she even when to the
prison to visit your uncle. He knows you are now married and living
in LA and he knows who you are married too.”

Abby felt sick. Jimmy was aware of the
accident, he had seen Abby’s scar from where she had broken her leg
and they needed to operate to set the bone. It was faint but it was
there. Jimmy knew the altered version of the story. Not the truth.
The truth would bring her world crashing down around her.

“
Listen, let’s not worry about what
could happen. Your dad and my dad are all over the situation back
there. The poor woman lost her son and has never stopped grieving,
everyone around knows that.” Holly tried to reassure her. “Really,
it will be ok.” Holly took Abby’s hand in hers. “I
promise.”

Abby took a deep breath and let it out. “Ok
so where do you want to stay, you can have the guest house of you
want or you can have one of the bigger bedrooms upstairs. I prefer
you upstairs but if you want your own space I totally
understand”

“
Up stairs is fine for now, but maybe
after awhile I can move out there if needed.” Holly
decided.

Abby hugged her best friend again. “I am so
glad you are here Girly Girl.”

“
No place I’d rather be Chicky.” Abby
led Holly to the upstairs to pick out her room.

* * * * *

Chapter 20

Holly had chosen the bedroom farthest to the
right and to the back. It also had it own private balcony that
overlooked the backyard and the city. She has her own private
bathroom with tub and shower. It had a large walk-in closet that
Holly was excited to fill with new clothes. There was no furniture
yet but that was on their to-do list for the next day. Jimmy had
given them his black American Express credit card and told them to
buy whatever Holly needed. Jimmy had called the credit companies to
have Abby added on to all of his accounts. She wasn’t 100% thrilled
with that, but didn’t complain since he wasn’t going to be with
them when they went shopping and it was going to be easier to have
her on the accounts.

They spent the following morning at
Reed Furniture in Calabasas. They had purchased Holly a Queen Size
bed, two end tables, a long dresser with mirror and a tall dresser
to match. They then went to House Boutique to buy her bedding and
bath accessories. Arrangements had been made to have everything
delivered right to the house and set up. She had called Margret to
let her know there would be a large delivery and to direct them to
Holly’s bedroom. Abby had also bought a few smaller pieces for the
house, a painting and a vase. By noon time they were ready for some
lunch. They walked to Marmalade Café and sat outside. Abby had the
Three Cheese Ravioli and Holly had
Thai Chicken
Linguine. They were enjoying their lunch when a very distinguished
looking handsome man approached the table.

“
Hello, I am sorry to disturb you while
you are enjoying your lunch but I wanted to come over and say hello
Mrs. Riley.”

Abby was surprised he knew who she was. “I’m
sorry, have we met.” Abby asked

“
My apologies, I am a friend of Jimmy’s
and I was at your wedding in Maine and I must say you were a very
beautiful bride.”

“
Oh well thank you and thank you for
traveling all that way to come to the wedding. I know Jimmy really
appreciates all the support he gets from his friends”

“
It was my pleasure.” He was now
looking at Holly

Abby noticed the look and introduced
Holly.

“
You may also remember my friend Holly,
she was my Maid of Honor.”

“
Yes, I do remember your lovely
friend.” Holly offered her hand to shake but he bent down kissed
the back of it instead. “It is hard to forget such a beautiful
woman.”

He straightened up. “I don’t want to take up
any more of your time, I just wanted to come over and offer my
congratulations. Please enjoy the rest of your day.” He walked
away.

“
Who was that” Holly gushed.

“
I have no idea although, he does look
vaguely familiar but I don’t think I remember him from the wedding,
someplace else maybe.” Abby sat racking her brain trying to
remember where she had seen him before. “I don’t know, hopefully it
will come back to me.” Abby shrugged her shoulders.