Love You Moore (9 page)

“
Thank you Sir, I will not hurt her,
you have my word on that.” Jimmy left the office.

Abby got up off the couch and gave him a
skeptical look.

“
Everything ok?” she asked
nervously.

“
Everything’s perfect.” He replied and
gave her a big hug.

Tom followed shortly from the office just as
Laura was coming back in from the kitchen.

“
Anyone care for some coffee? I have a
pot ready and I made some sandwiches for lunch.”

Everyone followed her into the kitchen. As
they were sitting down ready to eat, Jimmy spoke up.

“
Abby, with your parent’s permission of
course, I would like to bring you out to LA for a visit.” He
expressed.

Abby got a burning sensation as her soda came
out her nose and she started choking. Her mother quickly handed her
a napkin and patted her on the back.

“
What?” Abby cried. “You want to take
me to LA? When?”

“
Well I was thinking you could come
back with me on Monday and I could have you back home before
Thanksgiving on Thursday.” He concluded.

Abby shot a beseeching look at her
parents.

“
Can I go? She begged. “I have all my
homework done. There isn’t much going on since it is a short week
for Thanksgiving break. I’d only really be missing two days and I
can make up any class work when I get back. Please?” she implored
her parents.

“
Well, I don’t know, Tom what do you
think of Abby going alone to LA with Jimmy.” Laura asked in a
concerned inflection.

Jimmy interjected, “I was also thinking that
maybe Holly could accompany Abby. So that way, you may feel more
comfortable if she had a chaperone.

“
Well,” Tom started, turning to his
wife, “We could talk to Holly’s parents. Let them know we have met
Jimmy and have complete faith that he would ensure the safety of
our daughters.”

“
If you think it’s ok, then I suppose
it would be ok for her to go.” Laura agreed but was still concerned
that her daughter was flying across the country for the first time
without them.

They all looked in Abby’s direction after
they heard the crash of the chair toppling over backwards and
hitting the floor. Abby had flown out of her chair so fast it had
flipped it over.

“
Thank you Mom, thank you Dad.” She
kissed them both on the cheeks. “I have to call Holly!” she
shrieked. She was half way out of the kitchen before she stopped
herself and ran back over to Jimmy. She bent down and kissed him
gently on the cheek, “Thank you.” She said and gave him a hug. From
the living room they could all hear her squeals as she was
reiterating what had just transpired. Tom took the phone from Abby
when she offered it so he could speak with Holly’s father. Abby’s
father had left the room to speak with Clifford privately. Most
likely assuring him he trusts Jimmy and recapping the conversation
he and Jimmy had had in his office.

“
Linda and Clifford are fine with Holly
going.” Tom declared and past the phone back to Abby.

They could all hear the loud squeals from
Holly through the phone receiver. Abby confirmed that Holly would
be over later to go over the details of the trip. Abby was laughing
as she told Jimmy and her parents that Holly was going to start
packing right now.

The rest of the weekend was a blur. Jimmy had
made sure Abby’s parents had all of his contact information,
physical address and his next of kin. She had taken Jimmy around
the area to show him some of the sights. He had called to cancel
his rental car on that Saturday. He and Abby had returned the key
when they were on their way to the Owls Head Lighthouse. She had
also taken him to the Samoset so he could cancel the room
reservation. While they were in that area they walked the
breakwater. They drove into Camden and fed the ducks after they had
gotten lunch at Cappy’s Chowder House. Jimmy was now a huge fan of
New England clam chowder. He had also picked himself up a Maine
sweatshirt at the Camden Embroidery Shop after he had realized a
windbreaker was just not going to cut it while they browsed in the
shops while walking Main Street. Abby teased that maybe they ought
to take a ride to Freeport’s LL Bean, so he could pick up some Bean
boots and thermal underwear. Once they had seen all Knox County had
to offer. They returned back to Abby’s house so she could pack for
their trip to LA.

“
You won’t be needing any thermal
underwear in LA I can assure you.” He proclaimed. “A rain coat
would be more like it, it is the rainy season. But” he continued
“bringing a bathing suit wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Abby had packed enough clothes to stay for an
entire week, not just two and a half days. She wasn’t sure all that
they would be doing so she wanted to be prepared for anything. In
her suitcase there was, two dresses, five pairs of shoes, three
pairs of jeans, six tops, a bathing suit and the proper amount of
socks and underwear. She was contemplating what to pack for
bedtime.

“
Should I just bring my cotton pajamas
or something a little more risqué?” she had asked Holly when they
were on the phone comparing outfits.

Jimmy was downstairs talking with Abby’s
parents. Holly’s folks had come over to meet Jimmy and get some
reassurances before the girls left. Abby excused herself to go
upstairs to start packing. Not missing the opportunity to hide
something, like a slinky nightie, in her suitcase while no one was
looking.

“
I don’t know, do you think you’ll
sleep together during this trip.” Holly quizzed. “Even though you
have only been physically together a total of about three days, you
have been seeing each other for over a month. How long had you been
dating Billy before you two slept together? It was just about a
month.” She reminded her.

“
Don’t remind me.” Abby told her. “Not
exactly a night of wine and roses. Ugh” she groaned as a shiver ran
up her spine trying to shake off the memory of that
night.

Abby had gone down to Billy's while his
parents went bowling. She and he babysat his younger sister and
studied for mid-terms. Billy had put Rebecca to bed and had
rejoined Abby on the couch in front of the TV. They had started
kissing as they usually did when no one was around. Billy kept
trying to unbutton Abby’s jeans and she kept denying him.

“
Look Babe,” he finally said in
frustration, “You have been teasing me now for weeks. Come on now,
give up the goods.”

“
Wow.” Proclaimed Abby, “That was so
romantic how can I refuse?” she stood up to adjust herself and
button her blouse that was now two just buttons away from being
off.

“
I’m sorry.” He said half apologizing,
half accusing. “But one minute you are all over me and the next you
slam on the brakes.”

He was getting annoyed now.

“
You know I love you and this will just
make me love you more. What do you say? I’ve got things “covered”
if you know what I mean. We’re totally safe.” He
persuaded.

This was the first time he used the “L” word.
He took her hesitation as consent and put two pillows on the floor
and laid down a blanket. He had helped her to lie down on the floor
and began kissing her again. He had said he loved her. She helped
him take her jeans off and before she knew it, she was no longer a
virgin. It was over so quickly. The only proof she had that it had
actually taken place, was the pain she felt when he entered her and
the small trace of blood on the blanket. When he was done he told
her to get up and get dressed before his parents got home. He put
his pants back on and threw the blanket down into the basement
where the washer and dryer were. He then sat back down on the couch
and began watching whatever game was on the TV. She walked into the
bathroom to clean up. She was still bleeding a bit but knew from
Health Class and the multiple conversations with her mother, that
it was totally natural. Once she had cleaned up as best she could,
she came out of the bathroom and Billy had said to her,

“
You may want to get going home, it’s
pretty late and I’m going to head to bed right after this game.
I’ll see you in school tomorrow.” He returned to watching the
TV.

Abby put on her coat and slowly walked out
the door. For what was supposed to be one of the most special
moments in her life, turned out to be a major disappointment. She
knew the first time she and Jimmy were to sleep together, it would
be a far different experience than that. She decided to pack both
her cotton pajamas and the baby doll teddy. She had bought the
nightie to surprise Billy on his birthday, but since he had broken
up with her before she had a chance to wear it she figured it was
his loss and Jimmy’s gain. Abby reminded Holly to be at her house
by 8:00am the next morning and hung up the phone. Abby threw a few
essentials into her carryon bag from her bathroom vanity table,
things she would need to use in the morning that she didn’t want to
pack away in her larger suitcase. Make-up, deodorant, hair spray
and her favorite perfume, Pleasures by Estee Lauder. Abby loved the
subtle fragrance that lasted all day. She also packed a bottle if
sunscreen left over from this past summer. It rained most of the
time which limited their time in the sun, leaving Abby with a
bottle of SPF 30 three quarters full. She set the bag on the
counter in the bathroom, took her traveling outfit out of the
closet and hung it on a hook on the back of the bathroom door,
walked over to her suitcase and closed it. Abby was ready for
LA.

* * * * *

Chapter 9

They landed at LAX at 3:30 Monday afternoon.
The weather was unusually warm for November. Abby and Holly were
still in awe after riding in the private jet. They had watched
enough reality shows on VH1, chronicling the lives of the rich and
privileged to get a feeling of what it was like, but to actually
experience it, was completely different. Jimmy had introduced the
girls to Steve the pilot. Steve had given them a tour and told them
it was a Falcon 2000. Large beige leather seats with room enough
for eight, with tables that folded out from the sides for eating or
working. A small kitchenette was located in the back, hidden behind
folding oak doors. A wine chiller and small fridge were wood
paneled to match the cupboards. The bathroom, larger than any Abby
had seen on a commercial airliner, was also located in the
back.

The flight had lasted about seven hours.
Holly had brought some of her school work that needed to be
completed before she returned to school. That was one stipulation
her parents had given her before agreeing to let her go.

“
If you are going to miss classes, you
had better keep up on your school work” her mother had
warned.

Holly wanted to get it over and done with so
she didn’t have to worry about over the next few days. She wanted
plenty of time to see the sights and soak up the sun without any
distractions. Abby and Jimmy mostly snuggled together in one of the
large leather seats. Taking time out only when Jimmy had to take a
call or confirm something through email his assistant, Karma, had
sent to him.

“
Karma has the limo waiting at the
hanger and has made dinner reservations at The London West
Hollywood.” Jimmy had told them as the plane was descending into
LA.

He remembered how Abby told him once she
loved watching the reality show, Hell’s Kitchen and though she
would enjoy eating at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant. Abby had almost
passed out when he told her.

“
No way!” she shouted when announced
their dinner plans.

“
This is amazing, thank you.” She
whispered to him after they had settled into the limo, which was
actually parked in the hanger waiting for them.

“
This is only the beginning.” He
promised and kissed the back of her hand. “We’ll stop at the house
first so you can freshen up before dinner and get settled into your
rooms.”

“
Rooms?” she thought silently to
herself. “Was he not going to ask me to sleep in his room?” she
wondered.

They pulled up to Jimmy’s home. It was
amazing. It was an updated classic 40’s style located in the
Hollywood Hills. They pulled into the circular driveway and parked
in front. Jimmy had gotten out first to assist Abby and Holly out
of the car. Jimmy didn’t wait for the driver to open the door for
him, he never did. He didn’t want to be the type of guy that
thought he was too good to open his own car door. Therefore, he
always let himself out of the car. He treated his staff as family
and they respected him. Charles, the Driver, assured Jimmy he would
have the car ready at six to take them to dinner. They walked up
the stone steps of the cream colored stucco home, to the front
door. It was painted red to match the shutters. The house had two
large bay windows located on each end of the house. Margret the
housekeeper met them in the large entryway.

“
Welcome home Mr. Riley.” She greeted
him. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “It so nice to have
you home” she continued.” I have prepared everything as you have
requested.

“
You’re the greatest Maggie, what would
I do without you?” he said and hugged her again.

Margret Palmaroy was about 55 years old and
very British. She had her gray hair pinned up tightly in a bun. She
wore a light gray cotton dress, a white apron and black chunky
shoes. Abby couldn’t believe how much she fit into the role of a
stereotypical housekeeper. Margret had no children of her own. She
had come from England two years ago, where she had worked as
housekeeper and Nanny for an upper-class family in London for over
20 years. Once the children were grown and out on their own, she
decided it was her time to travel to the U.S. and chose LA as her
destination. She placed her name with an employment agency that
specialized in hiring for the well-to-do. When Jimmy bought the
house two years ago after he had made a large sum of money for
scoring a Ron Howard film, he went to the employment agency. After
looking at her picture, seeing how much she resembled his own
mother and reading her resume, he asked the agency to send her to
the house. He hired her on the spot and she has been with him for
the last two years.