Love You Moore (8 page)

“
I’ll tell you what,” he started, “Once
I get into town and meet your family, we’ll see how it goes. If it
makes more sense to stay with you at your home and your parents
have no objections I can cancel the hotel room, deal?”

This made her smile, “deal” she agreed.

They ended their call with a plan for her to
meet him at the airport and drive him to her house. He was going to
reserve a rental car as well so she didn’t feel the need to drive
him everywhere unnecessarily. Especially if things did not go well
with her parents, he would need transportation to the hotel.

Abby’s parents agreed with Jimmy‘s idea to
meet before committing on a place to stay. Abby had no doubt that
they all would get along. Holly had gone home to get herself
prepared for the week ahead and to ensure all her assignments were
completed. Once Abby had written and printed the final draft of her
report for U.S. History, she started fixing up the guest room. Her
father would say that in business you needed to “assume the sale,
act as though the deal is already done,” this is what she was doing
with Jimmy’s stay. She was assuming the sale.

“
Huh…Dad’s right” she said to out loud
to herself while putting new sheets on the full size bed in the
guest room, located across the hall from hers, “That philosophy can
work in everyday life.” She even spent some time cleaning and
organizing her room. Not that anyone would agree to have him stay
in there with her, but she wanted to fix it up anyways. It wasn’t
messy, she always took pride in keeping her room clean. The powder
blue carpet was vacuumed at least every other day. She dusted the
oak dresser, computer desk and end tables once a week. The queen
size white wrought iron headboard with green ivy and pink roses
that intertwined with each other, made from the same wrought iron,
was also dusted once a week. The comforter and matching sheets were
washed every Sunday. Abby loved climbing in to a newly made bed
with freshly washed sheets. She didn’t have a lot of things on her
walls. Abby adored her wallpaper. Little pink roses and hydrangeas,
matching the powder blue in her carpet, spread across her walls. It
made Abby feel like she was inside a flower garden. Even on her
worst day she always felt better when she was in her room. When she
was 11, her mother told her that she could upgrade her room from
the current motif of brown teddy bears and white bunnies. She let
Abby pick out what she wanted on her own, reminding her, that this
will be what she has to live with while she is growing up and she
may want to choose something that won’t go out of style. Abby and
Holly combed through wallpaper sample books for weeks. With Holly’s
assistance, she had chosen the powder blue carpet, deciding that it
gave them several color options when it came to the wallpaper and
bedding. Finally, after about a month of searching and having
several patterns to choose from, they both agreed on the pink roses
and blue hydrangeas. They found the bedding and curtains in the JC
Penney catalog. It had the same colored roses and a hint of the
blue all throughout. When they were finished, Abby’s room was her
own sanctuary. It wasn’t over powering. Bright and cheery, Abby
loved it as much now as she did then.

* * * * *

Chapter 7

The week dragged. Abby couldn’t remember ever
having such a long week. She could barely sleep that Friday night.
Even though they had spoken to each other every day and sent at
least 50 texts back and forth she still was anxious to see him
again. When she arrived at the tiny airport, Jimmy hadn’t landed
yet. She looked at her watch, 10:25, he said he should be landing
around 10:30. Abby stood in the small waiting area. Several planes
had taken off and landed but there were still no signs of Jimmy’s
plane. He had told her he was chartering a jet from Eugene Airport,
after their concert at Oregon University. More than one tragedy was
going through her mind when the clock stuck 11:15 and there were
still no sign of him. The woman working the small counter and
confirming the incoming and outgoing flights, assured her several
times that no reports have come in, regarding any flights that have
had any serious issues and it appears the flight is just running a
bit behind schedule. This did not make Abby feel any better. What
if for some reason no one knows the plane went down, maybe they got
caught in a storm and no one knows where they are. Maybe he changed
his mind, when he called her last night he seemed fine and excited
to come but once he got on his way, what if he decided it was just
too much too soon. Abby was about to start hyperventilating when
the woman behind the counter called to her.

“
Miss, excuse me Miss, I believe this
is the flight you have been waiting for.” and pointed out the
window.

Abby had been too busy working herself into a
panic to notice the jet landing and Jimmy stepping out. She wasn’t
sure it was protocol or not but she burst through the door that led
to the runway and ran towards Jimmy. Jimmy barely had time to put
down his bag when she flew into his arms. She hugged his so tightly
she thought her arms would break. Loosening her grip just enough to
have her face meet his she looked at him and he was smiling that
beautiful smile that video chat didn’t do justice. She brought her
hands from around his neck and cupped his face and she kissed him.
More aggressively than he had expected but certainly didn’t mind.
He kissed her back just as passionately. They both didn’t notice
that the temperature was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit, the heat
raging in their bodies made it feel like it was a warm summer’s
day.

“
See” he said to her, “I told you I
could stand the cold. Although I would withstand anything to get a
reception like this.” He teased her.

“
Where have you been? I was scared to
death, I had you crashing into a mountainside or something.” She
said to him sternly, immediately regretting her tone.

“
I’m sorry, we had this strong head
wind that was just a pain to fly through, there were some issues
with the instrument panel and we weren’t getting communication with
the tower until we were about to land, I’m so sorry I wasn’t able
to call and let you know what was going on.” He hugged her again.
“I missed you.” He said softly in her ear.

She didn’t want to let go, although the wind
was now making them both shiver she didn’t want to move from this
spot, not yet.

“
Abby?” he said, teeth chattering, “Can
we at least go inside, I concede, it’s really cold out here” she
wiped a tear away from her eye before he could see and they walked
inside.

After making the return flight arrangements
and picking up the keys for the rental car, they walked over to
Abby’s Jeep.

“
Do you want to ride with me and we can
come back and get your rental later or do you want to just follow
me to the house?” It had snowed a few inches the night before and
she wasn’t sure how he would do on snow covered roads. He hesitated
for a minute, wondering the same thing himself.

“
Get in the Jeep.” Abby told him
noticing his apprehension, laughing “Yeah you wouldn’t last five
minutes, I’d have to call a tow truck for sure. Thank goodness for
AAA.” She heckled him as they both got into the Jeep.

“
You’re a funny, funny girl Abby
Moore….a laugh a minute you are.” He jested. He reached out and
kissed the back of her gloved hand. “I really did miss you.” He
said again, this time no humor in the air.

“
I missed you too.” She leaned over to
kiss him again. This time it was gentle, not as forceful as out on
the runway.

“
I like this kind of reception too.” He
said coyly

Abby started the Jeep and they drove off to
meet her parents.

They took the scenic route back to
Thomaston from Owls Head, following Route 1 so Jimmy could see that
part of Rockland. They drove past the Dragon Cement Plant, past
Montpellier, the museum of General Henry Knox. Abby pointed out how
the library, a large white building, used to be the Grammar School.
The town had built a new Grammar School in 1982 and turned this one
into a library and it was also a branch of the University of Maine
at Augusta for awhile. They continued down Main Street until they
reached Abby’s house. Abby explained that the town prospered in the
early 1800s as a port and ship building center. Around 1840, two of
seven recorded millionaires in the United States were Thomaston sea
captains. She was guessing that’s why the homes in the area are so
big. “Keeping up with the Jones’” she stated. “Oh and we are also
famous for being a filming location for the 1996 movie,
Thinner.
” She added.

“
You are just a plethora of knowledge.”
He kidded her.

“
Nah” she said, “I just had to write a
report once on the History of Thomaston, those are the only points
I can remember.” She laughed again.

He had missed her laugh. And even if she
didn’t want to admit it, he knew she was smart. “Beauty and Brains”
he said to her, “How did I get so lucky?”

“
Let's see how this weekend goes then
you can tell me how lucky you feel.” She played.

They pulled into the driveway and got out of
the Jeep. They walked up the steps onto the wraparound porch and
opened the heavy front door.

“
We’re back.” Abby yelled and took in a
deep breath, grabbed Jimmy’s hand and waited for her parents to
come into the room.

Abby’s parent came down from upstairs into
the living room. Abby realized she was still holding her breath
when she went to introduce the three of them to each other. Abby
exhaled,

“
Mom, Dad, this is Jimmy.” Abby said
smiling but feeling anxious

Jimmy reached out his free hand to Abby’s
father.

“
Pleasure to meet you Mr. Moore.”
Giving her dad a firm handshake, “and you Mrs. Moore.” Shaking her
moms hand but not as firm at the one he gave Abby’s dad.

“
Please, call us Laura and Tom.” Abby’s
mom insisted. “It is our pleasure Jimmy, we have heard many nice
things about you, welcome to Maine.”

“
Thank you Ma’am.” Jimmy replied
utilizing the Southern Manners his Momma would be proud of. He
could see where Abby got her classic looks. Laura had the same
chestnut brown hair and eyes that Abby did. She was average height
and slender build. Tom stood about five inches taller than his wife
did. He had short, salt and pepper hair and athletic build. It was
clear that Tom participated in some sort of exercise
program.

“
How was your flight from Oregon?” Tom
inquired, “I imagine at little more comfortable in a private jet
than commercial airlines.” He quibbled

“
That it is Sir,” Jimmy answered. “The
food is much better.” Laughing, they all walked into the
den.

“
Oh this is starting well,” Abby
thought to herself, hoping that the good tidings lasted all
weekend.

The afternoon went well. Jimmy and Abby’s
parents continued becoming familiar with each other. Jimmy told
them about growing up in the South and his family values. Told them
about his rise to fame in LA and his current plans to sing the
songs he writes to whoever wants to hear them. Jimmy was invited to
stay with the Moore’s’ at their home.

“
There is no point in staying at a
hotel when you’ll be spending all your time here.” Tom had
offered.

Abby was elated.

“
We however, do have some house rules.”
Tom stipulated, “Jimmy if you will follow me to my office I would
like to go over them with you.”

“
Of course, ladies, if you’ll excuse
me?” Jimmy followed Tom into his office, Abby staring after them
speechless. Watching as her dad opened the office door, invited
Jimmy inside and closed it behind them.

Abby looked at her mother with panic
expression.

“
Relax Dear, it’s the same rules he
would set down for any boy wanting to spend the weekend with our
daughter in our home.” Her mother insisted.

“
I have never had a boy spend the
weekend before, what house rules do we have for this situation?”
Abby asked in wonder.

Abby’s mom patted her on the shoulder and
went in the kitchen to make some coffee. Abby sank down into the
couch and waited silently for the office door to reopen.

* * * * *

Chapter 8

Tom pointed to a leather chair that sat in
front of a large oak desk.

“
Have a seat Jimmy.” He
insisted.

“
If you don’t mind Sir, may I have a
few words before you begin?” Jimmy appealed and sat
down.

“
Absolutely” Tom obliged. He took his
seat behind the desk.

“
Well,” Jimmy started and cleared his
throat. “I want to begin by assuring you that I have only the
highest respect for your daughter. I would never do anything to
hurt her or her family. I do know there is a little over a five
year age difference and I know she is only seventeen. I would never
place her in a situation where she felt…..violated.” He stammered.
I do want to spend time with Abby and my only goal is to make her
happy. I would like your permission to officially date your
daughter Tom, Mr. Moore, Sir.” Jimmy petitioned.

Tom leaned on the desk and folded his hands.
They both sat in silence for a few minutes while Tom pondered
Jimmy’s request.

“
Jimmy,” he began, looking Jimmy square
in the eyes. “Abby is my only child, my baby girl. She is the
reason her mother and I live and breathe. She has never done
anything to bring us pain or make us concerned over her decision
making abilities. Over these last few weeks we have noticed a
change in her. She’s happy, she smiles more. I think I have heard
her laugh more in these last five weeks than I have in months and
to me, that is one of the best sounds in the world. If you are the
reason for her change in behavior, then of course you have my
permission to date her.” Tom stood up from behind the desk and
reached for Jimmy’s hand. Jimmy jumped up and shook his hand. “Now
go out there so Abby can start breathing again.” He said with a
smile