Wildflower (22 page)

“Abby...”

“None of that now Hazel, I know full well you
would do the same for me and more. Please Hazel, you have to let me
do this for you, besides, it will give me a chance to meet your
family and see the place where you grew up.”

“Abby, you have no idea what it will mean to
me to have you there,” sniffed Hazel.

“Honey, do you want me to come there
now?”

“Yes,” replied Hazel in a soft childlike
voice.

“I’ll just go pack my bags and get on the
road. I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

“Drive safely,” admonished Hazel gently.

“I will, I promise.”

“Say it like you mean it,” said Hazel, a
small hint of a smile in her voice.

“Cross my heart,” laughed Abby warmly. “You
go back and snuggle with Tommy and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She swiftly packed herself a travel bag with a black retro dress
and pill box hat to wear at the funeral as well as a few other
outfits. Back in her sweats, Abby also packed the outfit she’d
originally been wearing. Within another hour she had dropped Hubby
off with Edna and made her way to the apartment.

“Abby,” cried Hazel as she opened the door
and threw herself into Abby’s arms. Abby held her gently and kicked
the door shut behind herself. They were alone as Tommy had been
forced to go to work. He’d only agreed to go when he was sure Abby
was coming to be with Hazel.

“Gods I must look a fright,” sniffed Hazel as
she gently disentangled herself from Abby’s arms.

“Have you eaten anything today?”

“Not hungry.”

“Come on now sweet sister,” purred Abby as
she rubbed her hip against Hazel’s, “can’t I interest you in some
tea and toast?”

“Brat,” laughed Hazel, “no fair being the
sexy tease at a time like this. All right, since you put it that
way, tea and toast sounds delightful.”

“Coming right up,” smiled Abby as she took
Hazel’s hand and led her to the kitchen.

The food seemed to bring Hazel around and she
sighed deeply as she finished her tea and waited while Abby poured
her another. “Gods Abby, you’re a lifesaver. I just feel so lost
and helpless. It isn’t as though it wasn’t expected, it’s just that
I never got a chance to say goodbye I guess.” She burst into tears
again and Abby swept her into loving arms and held her gently. “I
just don’t know what do to now,” sniffed Hazel as her tears stopped
again.

“Come with me dear,” soothed Abby as she led
Hazel to the couch and sat her there comfortably. “I’ll just bring
your tea for you.” She swiftly returned, setting the mug on the end
table at Hazel’s elbow.

“So what am I supposed to do now Abby? I’m
completely lost here.”

“You were close to her at one time weren’t
you sweetie?”

“Yes, she seemed to be the only one who
really understood me.”

“So tell me about her,” smiled Abby warmly as
she settled onto the couch right next to Hazel.

Hazel began to speak of her grandmother,
telling stories, funny incidents, relating all the wonderful things
the old woman had tried to teach her. It was from snuggling into
her grandmother as a young girl that Hazel had gotten her fondness
for the retro styles that Abby always wore. She talked and talked,
and as she did so, the grief seemed to pass and she began to smile
again as she celebrated her grandmother’s life and shared that with
her new found love. It was quite late when Tommy phoned.

“Fillmore and Reid, Abigail MacKai
speaking.”

“Abby, thank god you’re still there.”

“We’re fine here Tommy. Are you still at
work?”

“Yes, and I will be all night,” he sighed.
“Someone didn’t show up and I can’t leave until they find a
replacement for him. Can you stay with Hazel?”

“Yes, will you be able to see us off at the
airport in the morning?”

“I’m sure going to try, but I can’t say for
certain. Abby, I can’t thank you enough for being there for
Hazel.”

“You are a special and loving friend Tommy
Reid; Hazel is lucky to have you. Be at peace now; I will care for
her.”

“Thank you Abby, and bless your tenacious
loving heart. Good night.”

“Good night Tommy. Stay alert.”

“Tommy has to work through the night,” said
Abby as she turned back to Hazel.

“Abby please don’t leave me tonight,”
implored Hazel, reaching out for Abby’s hand.

“I will not leave you, Hazel my love,” smiled
Abby reassuringly as she squeezed Hazel’s fingers, “I’ll just phone
Edna to inform her of the change in plans. You go get in your
jammies now; it’s getting late and we have to be on the go
early.”

“Yes ma’am,” smiled Hazel, the relief clear
in her voice.

Abby phoned Edna then opened her travel bag
and prepared for bed herself. “Now where shall I sleep?” she asked
as she came out of the bathroom.

“With me?” asked Hazel so softly Abby barely
heard her.

Hazel’s eyes were imploring and Abby could
not resist her. Slowly she reached out and lightly caressed Hazel’s
face with her finger tips. “As you wish my love,” she smiled
gently. “In you go now.”

They got into the bed and Hazel tentatively
snuggled over closer to Abby. “Abby.”

“Hush now Hazel,” whispered Abby as she
enfolded Hazel in loving arms, “you need to rest. I’ll hold you
while you sleep so you will be safe.”

“I love you Abby MacKai,” whispered Hazel
softly as she snuggled into Abby’s embrace.

Abby kissed the top of her head and held her
close. “I love you too sweetie,” she whispered softly.

“I really mean it,” whispered Hazel.

“I know you do honey, so do I. Hush now and
rest; we will have lots of time to speak of these things when we
return.”

“Do you really mean it Abby?”

“Yes I really mean it,” laughed Abby. “I love
you, now stop being a brat and go to sleep.”

“Ok,” replied Hazel as she snuggled down
again, “as long as you really mean it.”

“May the gods help me, Hazel,” Abby whispered
so softly Hazel could barely hear her, “I do really mean it.”

Meet the Family

The morning had been quite hectic until they
were actually on the plane. Tommy had managed to see them off and
they were already in the air before Hazel realized that she had not
called her parents to let them know she was coming after all. Abby
was reading some sort of business report so Hazel slipped off into
her own thoughts.

It had all been so magical. Hazel had
awakened in loving arms, a mass of golden hair spilling over her
breasts. Abby had sat up, tossed back her hair and smiled brightly
at Hazel. “Hi there,” she’d beamed, “did you sleep well?”

“Never better,” Hazel had replied with a warm
smile of her own. “Hungry?”

“Famished,” laughed Abby as she kissed
Hazel’s hair, then rose and padded off to the bathroom. “You’re
cooking.”

“Now there’s a hint if I’ve ever heard one,”
laughed Hazel as she too rose from the bed. They passed in the
hallway and Abby had smiled brightly at her again. “Dear lord
Abigail MacKai, you’re certainly a pleasure to wake up to,” Hazel
had sighed warmly, her bright smile lighting up Abby’s world. Hazel
held her eyes as she gazed lovingly at her.

“You’re so sweet,” smiled Abby in return.
She’d gazed into Hazel’s eyes for a moment longer before she
reached out to lightly touch Hazel’s face with her finger tips.
“Stop this now,” she admonished gently as she squeezed Hazel’s arm.
“We have a plane to catch, remember?” She beamed that thousand watt
smile at Hazel once again then hurried off to the bedroom to get
dressed.

Shaking her head in wonder, Hazel had
continued on to the bathroom and then out to the kitchen. “However
did I get so lucky?” she’d asked herself softly as she cooked a
huge breakfast. “They don’t feed you on the plane,” she’d smiled at
Abby’s enquiring glance about the size of the portions.

Suddenly Hazel’s reverie was broken as the
plane lurched and banked. Abby grabbed her arm tightly with a small
gasp. Hazel patted Abby’s hand reassuringly and smiled. “I’m Ok,”
replied Abby, “it just startled me a bit. I’d better put this
report away now; we’re coming in for a landing.”

“Abby, I forgot to call my parents to let
them know we’re coming,” said Hazel as they made their way toward
the baggage carousel. “I have to find a phone.”

“Here sweetie,” replied Abby as she fished
her cell phone out of her bag. “You go call your family while I get
the luggage. If I’m not here when you finish I’ll be over there
arranging for our rental car.”

“Thanks Abby,” smiled Hazel as she took the
phone and hurried out the main doors. She dialed her mother’s
numbers and waited.

“Hello?”

“Hi Dad, it’s Hazel,” she said cheerily.

“Hazel, the whole family is gathering and
everyone has been saying as how they wish you could be here too.
Would it help if I sent you some money?”

“Actually Dad, we’re in Moncton right now.
Abby is arranging for a rental car for us. We should be home in a
couple of hours or so.”

“Abby? Isn’t that the one you thought was
going to be your wildflower?” he asked softly. “The one who turned
out to be married?”

“Well, actually Dad, there was a big mix up
there, didn’t you get my last letter explaining all about
that?”

“The last letter I had told me about how you
found out she was married and how you were hiding out with a
friend,” he replied.

“Ok Dad, there’s another letter in the mail.
You may be the greatest tracker in the county, but Abigail MacKai
is the greatest urban tracker ever. It took her a while, but she
hunted me down and made me listen. Dad, her dog’s name is Hubby.
When she said she’d left Hubby alone too long already, she was
talking about the dog. The girl isn’t married and never has been.
Gods Dad, it frightens me when I think how close I came to blowing
the chance of a lifetime.”

“So all is well between you?”

“And then some. When she found out about
Gran, she insisted on paying for the whole trip. She was going to
send Tommy with me, but he had to work so she asked if I wanted her
to come. Dad, you’re going to just love this woman.”

“Alright Hazel,” he replied with a trace of a
smile in his voice, “I’ll tell your mother to make up your room for
you. She was going to put Avery in there.”

“If he’s slept in that bed, I’ll burn it and
sleep in the barn,” retorted Hazel.

“Relax girl, he hasn’t arrived as yet,”
chuckled Walton. “I’ll make sure your old room is sacred ground for
you.”

“Thanks Dad, tell Mom we’ll be home sometime
this afternoon.”

“I will, and I can’t wait to see you again
daughter.”

Hazel was just folding up the phone when Abby
appeared by her side with their suitcases on a cart. She swept up
her two and Hazel took the large one that was her own then followed
Abby along the line of rental cars. “Ah, here we are,” smiled Abby.
“Let’s put this in the trunk then go find someplace to eat. Oh by
the way, you’re driving.”

“I’m driving?” exclaimed Hazel. “Abby, I
haven’t driven more than a dozen times in the last four years. Is
this wise?”

“Of course it is; you need the practice.
Here’s your driver’s license; I had to give them the numbers when I
registered you as the driver.”

“How’d you get my license?”

“Never leave your purse with a stranger
dear,” grinned Abby. “I must say, that is some picture. The ring
through the nose is a nice touch.”

“Oh my god,” gasped Hazel as she looked at
the license, “since I don’t have a car I forgot to get this thing
changed. It’s still an Ontario license. Abby, this damn thing isn’t
legal anymore.”

“Then you’ll just have to be extra careful
won’t you?”

“Abby,”

“Relax sweetie, I registered both of us to
drive,” smiled Abby as she stopped teasing Hazel. “I just thought
it would be easier since you know where we’re going. As soon as we
get back to Newfoundland, I want you to renew this thing and take a
refresher course.”

“Why?” asked Hazel, a naughty grin playing at
the corners of her mouth.

“So you can drive me around like I’m a
pampered princess,” laughed Abby. “Now stop this silliness and get
in the car. I’m hungry as a bear and twice as mean.”

“Yes ma’am, I heard that.” She hopped into
the car, and, as soon as Abby pulled out of the parking spot, she
grabbed Abby’s purse. “I think it’s only fair that since you’ve
seen mine, I should see yours.”

“My license? Sure, help yourself. It’s in the
side pocket.”

Puzzled at Abby’s reaction, Hazel fished out
the license. The picture looked like a glamour queen. “How in god’s
name did you manage to get a driver’s license picture this good?
Abby, this is gorgeous.”

“Thank you, thank you,” laughed Abby.
“Actually, there’s a trick to it.”

“Care to share?”

“You keep your chin slightly down and a bit
to the side. Not a lot, but just a little. It will be enough to
keep the light from giving you the ex-con look.”

“Well I’ll be darned,” breathed Hazel softly.
“I’m going to try that as soon as we get home. Look Abby, that
looks like a good spot to eat.”

After a quick lunch they were on their way
again. As the hills rolled by, Hazel became lost in her own
thoughts again. The closer to home she got, the more her
grandmother was on her mind. Just as a tear formed at the corner of
her eye, Abby reached over and took her hand. Hazel squeezed Abby’s
fingers and clung to her hand the rest of the way. On and on they
drove, past the Nova Scotia border, through the town of Amherst and
down into Cumberland County. “Well here we are,” sighed Hazel, “the
thriving metropolis of Fox Point.”

“It is so green Hazel,” exclaimed Abby as she
slowed the car to get a good look all around.

“The seasons are a few weeks ahead here Abby.
See over there? That is Tommy Reid’s farm and they’re cutting the
first crop of hay already. It will be another three weeks before
they can do that in Newfoundland.”