Wildflower (28 page)

“Abigail,” exclaimed Hazel as she sat up,
blushing to her roots, and went nose to nose with Abby who started
to giggle. “Oh you absolute brat,” she laughed. “You really got me
good that time. Just for that you’re cooking supper.”

“Yes my darling,” giggled Abby, “I shall go
forth to the kitchen and atone.”

“I’ll help,” smiled Hazel as she gracefully
rose to her feet and helped Abby to stand. “Come my treasure; let
us away to the kitchen.”

The kitchen was warm and friendly and Abby’s
habit of sneaking a light kiss or a hug as they worked soon had
Hazel feeling on top of the world. “Abby, this is all so wonderful
to me,” sighed Hazel as she stood stirring the huge vat of chili
they had made.

“Tell me,” said Abby warmly as she set the
table for them.

“Well, first to have found you at all,” Hazel
murmured in a dreamy voice, “then for you to actually love me back
is so amazing to me. Then there is this incredible house and the
place where it sits. Even though we got caught out in the rain, I
am still blown away by all the beauty here.” Abby beamed that
thousand watt smile at her and Hazel went on. “Sweetie, being here
with you is magic, but I have nothing to contribute here.”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, this is your house and all,” sighed
Hazel softly, “paid for in blood. I have only a few sticks of used
furniture and the clothes on my back. It isn’t much of a
dowry.”

“I didn’t ask for a dowry Hazel,” said Abby
softly as she stepped into Hazel’s arms. “I asked for my beautiful
photographer who can dance like an angel. I asked for her love and
companionship, and I will gladly share all that I have for the joy
of her company. All that I am and all that I have is yours. Hazel I
truly want you to feel like this is your home too. Now that I have
found you, it all would be meaningless to me without you.”

“Abby, I don’t know what to say to you. This
is all so overwhelming to me.”

“I know lover,” whispered Abby as she hugged
Hazel tightly. “Just say that you love me and that you will stay
with me forever. I ask nothing more.”

“I love you Abigail MacKai,” whispered Hazel.
“I will stay with you forever and love you more each day we are
together. You shall have this and more my darling wildflower, this
and as much more as I can give.” Abby raised her lips and gently
kissed Hazel.

Later that night as they lay in the bed,
Hazel gently stroked a sleeping Abby’s hair. “Yes my darling,” she
whispered as she kissed the top of Abby’s head causing her to purr
in her sleep, “life is truly good to me.”

At Home

Once again Hazel awakened to the sunshine
pouring through the window, but this time she was not alone. Masses
of golden hair spilled over her breasts and onto her abdomen while
soft sweet breath caressed her bare skin. With a deep sigh of
contentment Hazel ever so gently stroked Abby’s hair. With a soft
purring sound Abby snuggled deeper into Hazel’s embrace. They lay
like that for a few moments longer then Abby stretched and sat up
with a brilliant smile for Hazel. “Hi there,” she sang
cheerfully.

“Hello yourself,” replied Hazel with a bright
smile of her own. “Have I told you what a pleasure it is to wake up
to that bright smile of yours?”

“You have now sweet thing,” replied Abby as
she kissed Hazel lightly. “I’ll be right back, don’t go away.”

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“Oh darling, my Hubby needs me,” laughed
Abby. True enough, the dog had begun to do the pee-pee dance by the
bedroom door and was trying to encourage Abby to hurry. Abby could
hear Hazel’s rich laughter as she raced down the stairs and threw
open the door.

“He’s used to me getting up and on the go
much earlier,” said Abby somewhat apologetically as she returned to
the bedroom.

“Dear lord Abby, it’s barely eight a.m. This
is sleeping in?”

“Yes dear, it is for Hubby and me. We’re
usually on the go by six or seven at the latest, but it was so
deliciously warm and snugly in there with you that I didn’t want to
get up and I guess I drifted off again.”

“Well I’m glad you did,” sighed Hazel as she
finished a full stretch and relaxed again. “It was so nice to wake
up with you in my arms.”

“It was nice to wake up in your arms Hazel,”
laughed Abby as she pounced on Hazel and kissed her deeply.

“Oh yeah?” breathed Hazel as their lips
slowly parted, “how nice?”

“So nice I want a lifetime of it,” sighed
Abby as she melted into Hazel’s arms.

“And you shall have it my love,” whispered
Hazel as she hugged Abby tightly.

“Starting right now.”

“Excuse me?”

“I want you to quit your job and move out
here right now,” declared Abby as she gazed deeply into Hazel’s
eyes. “I still want the wedding and all, but I want you here with
me now.”

“Oh Abby,” sighed Hazel, a tear in her eye,
“nothing in this world could please me more, but I can’t. I need to
keep my job for a while longer. Please honey, just a little while
longer.”

“Hazel if it’s a matter of money,” said Abby
earnestly, “we have plenty and you shall have access to all of it.
If it is a matter of debts I can pay them off for you, if it is an
obligation to Tommy, we can keep up your share of....” She got no
further as Hazel laid her finger against Abby’s lips to stop
her.

“Your generosity is not in question here my
darling,” whispered Hazel softly. “I know you would gladly do these
things and more for me, but...”

“But what? I don’t understand. Is it a
morality issue? What?”

“Abby please, I just can’t right now. Please
believe that I love you more than life itself, but I need to keep
my job for a while yet. Please trust me on this.”

“Of course Hazel,” said Abby as she lowered
her eyes. The disappointment was clear in her voice as well as her
posture. “Just promise me I can keep you after the wedding.”

“Abby,” exclaimed Hazel.

“Oh god Hazel, I’m so sorry,” cried Abby as
she threw herself into Hazel’s arms. “Please don’t be angry with me
Hazel, I don’t mean to be such a spoiled pouty baby about
this.”

“I’m not angry Abby my treasure,” whispered
Hazel as she kissed Abby’s hair. “You know there is nothing in the
world I want more than to be here with you always, but I have
something in the works now and I will need every cent I can earn
between now and the wedding.”

“But...”

“Abigail Aislin MacKai, I will not allow you
to pay for your own wedding present,” admonished Hazel as she
hugged Abby fiercely. “Abby I can deny you nothing, if you need me
here now I will come and find another way.”

“This is important to you isn’t it
Hazel?”

“This is the most awesome idea I have ever
had,” replied Hazel, her voice full of excitement, “and I can’t
wait to see your face when it’s ready.”

“Hazel Fillmore, what are you up to?” asked
Abby, smiling brightly again as Hazel’s excitement lifted her
mood.

“Not telling,” grinned Hazel.

“Hazel, I’m so sorry for being such a baby
just then,” said Abby contritely. “It shall be as you wish, but I
get to keep you after the wedding.”

“Yes love,” smiled Hazel as she kissed Abby
gently. “Maybe sooner if all goes well. Now how about some
breakfast and a walk on the beach with the man?”

“Hazel…”

“Forgotten,” smiled Hazel as she kissed Abby
gently once again.

“Hazel,”

“Yes sweetheart?”

“Can we always end our misunderstandings like
this?”

“Works for me, shall we make that a house
rule?”

“Deal, now what would you like for
breakfast?”

They were well down the beach and sitting on
Abby’s favorite telephone rock while the automatic washer worked on
yesterday’s laundry once again. The waves were lapping gently on
the rocks and Hubby was playing a game of chase the gulls. Hazel
sighed with contentment as she gazed out over the water. “Penny,”
whispered Abby.

“I was just thinking what a fool I am to have
turned down your offer this morning,” sighed Hazel.

“I can’t imagine what you are up to Hazel,
but I get the impression it is quite important to you.”

“It is sweetheart. Once the wedding is over I
will never leave your side, ever for any reason. What I am
attempting to do here is my way of trying to demonstrate the depths
of my love and commitment. Abby, I really want to do this for you,
for you and for me as well.”

“Hazel, you’ve got me thoroughly intrigued
and you are starting to drive me nuts with curiosity,” laughed
Abby. “I will support you completely in this, but you have to stop
torturing me with it.”

“Ok, sorry,” laughed Hazel as she put her arm
loving around Abby’s waist.

Just then Abby’s cell phone rang. She held it
so Hazel could hear the full conversation. “MacKai International,
Abigail speaking.”

“Good morning Abby, did I catch you on the
beach again?”

“Yes Harry, I’m sitting right here on my
favourite rock,” laughed Abby. “What can I do for my favourite
fella this morning?”

“Abby, that last proposal was your best yet.
I really think you should increase your fee schedule.”

“Really? Harry, what are you up to?”

“I have several new customers all lined up
for you Abby,” he laughed. “I am just hoping you will save room on
your schedule for me.”

“More customers Harry?”

“Enough to keep your nose to the grindstone
until Christmas.”

“Sorry Harry, no can do. I can do maybe one
in the next two months and maybe another in early December, but
that’s all I can do.”

“Abigail MacKai, what is going on there?” he
asked sternly. “Why in god’s name would any sane person refuse
nearly a hundred thousand dollars worth of work?” Hazel gasped
softly at that.

“Because I don’t need it,” laughed Abby in
reply, “and I don’t have the time. Harry I’m getting married on
November eighteenth and I need time to prepare. After the wedding I
will need plenty of time to spend with my sweetie. I fully intend
to work, but my client list will be quite exclusive.”

“Married?” he exclaimed. “Well, this is the
first I have heard of this Abby and I must say I am both shocked
and disappointed.”

“Oh come on Harry,” laughed Abby, “you know
you’ll always be my sugar daddy, besides, I had to find someone;
you’re already married.” His laughter was full and rich, and it
brought a smile of delight to Hazel’s face. It was quite plain to
her that this man loved Abby like his own daughter.

“Alright Abby you’ve got me there. So who is
this young fellow anyway and when do I get to meet him?”

“It’s not a young fella Harry,” replied Abby
gently, “it’s a young lady. Remember that book I sent to you at
Christmas? Well I finally met the author and we have fallen madly
in love.” There was a moment of silence and Abby’s face began to
fall. “Harry?”

“Right here Abby,” he replied although he
sounded a bit distant.

“Harry are you going to be able to handle
this?”

“Huh? What? Oh for god’s sake Abigail, of
course I can. Dear lord girl, if you love this woman then so will
I. I was just searching through the book here looking for the
picture of her. She is quite a striking young woman; so when do I
get to meet her.”

“Harry, you’re the best and you’re all
class,” sighed Abby, the relief clear in her voice. “The next voice
you hear will be my darling Hazel.”

“Hello Mr. James, this is Hazel Fillmore,”
said Hazel in her richest voice. It was time for her to make an
impression on Abby’s family, or at least those she chose to call
family.

“That’s Harry to you Miss Fillmore. May I say
how impressed I am with your photography?”

“You may say all the complimentary things you
wish Harry,” laughed Hazel, “and please call me Hazel. After all, I
believe we are about to become family.”

“Quite so Hazel, quite so. Listen, is there
anything special you two would like for a wedding present?”

“We’d like for you to be here with us,”
replied Hazel, “nothing more do we require. Oh, wait, Abby has
something in mind.”

“Harry would you and Alice do me a huge
favor?”

“Name it Abby, and it’s yours.”

“Come up and give me away?”

“Abby, I’m honored,” he replied, obviously
surprised by her request, “but isn’t that a task for your
father?”

“Yes it is Harry,” she replied, “and you’re
the closest thing to a father I have known in far too many years.
Please say yes, it would truly make it all perfect for me.”

“I’d be honored,” the emotion was clear in
his voice, “and I know Alice will be thrilled as well. We’ll come
up a few days early so we will get a proper chance to meet Hazel.
Can you book us in somewhere?”

“I’ll call Edna this week and set you up
Harry. Harry, thanks a million, this means a lot to me.”

“It will truly be a pleasure Abby. So are you
going to bring Hazel to New York for a honeymoon?”

“Sorry dear friend,” Abby replied softly,
“but I am not welcome in your country, remember?”

“Shit, I’d almost forgotten about that Abby,”
he said apologetically. “Maybe I can ...”

“Just let it go Harry. It’s not worth the
trouble it will cause you. Those bastards have the US, but I’ve got
the rest of the world, so to hell with them. I will not let them
ruin my day ever again. Beep! Shoot, I’m losing power captain, love
you Harry...” Her phone had gone dead.

“Got your phone with you sweetie?”

“Sorry love,” smiled Hazel apologetically, “I
left it in the apartment.”

“Oh well, we’ll call him again as soon as I
have the rooms booked for him,” sighed Abby.

“He seems like a very nice man Abby. I can’t
wait to meet him.”

“You’re going to love Harry, and Alice as
well. She is the sweetest person I have ever known. Listen lover,
this conversation with Harry has brought up something that we need
to begin to address.”