Chapter 39

When Rick woke up again, the room was drenched in golden light, which told him that the sun was setting. He also noticed that Abigail was no longer beside him.

He sat up in bed then looked around. That was when he noticed the veranda doors slightly open. He pulled on his shorts before going to investigate.

He pushed the door wider and stepped out into the veranda. There she was, leaning against the railing, her curls blowing in the salty sea breeze and dressed only in the t-shirt he had been wearing the night before and which reached just above her knees. The sun glowing orange behind her.

She turned to look at him and he saw something in her eyes. His breath stopped.

“Please tell me you don’t regret last night.” He pleaded, walking over to her until they were almost toe-to-toe.

She shook her head furiously.

“God no.” she said quickly and saw him breathe again. “Last night was.. it was..”

“Amazing?” he suggested, putting a hand on either side of her on the railing, caving her in.

She nodded.

He kissed her nose gently.

“I don’t think I could have forgiven myself if you’d regretted it.” He said, leaning his forehead against hers.

“Don’t worry about it.” She assured him. “I hope I didn’t wake you up.”

He ran his hands down her arms before linking his fingers with hers.

“You weren’t there, so I guess you did.” He said kissing the back of her hands.

“I’m sorry. I just needed.. to think.” She told him, pulling away and getting some distance between them.

Rick turned towards her.

“About what?”

“About us. About this.” She waved her hand in front of her.

“You know that it’s right. What else is there to think about?” he took a step towards her and she put up a hand to stop him.

“Rick, we’re just--- things are just moving so fast.”

“Abby, it’s been almost a month now that we’ve known each other. We both knew, at the very beginning, how things were going to turn out with us. So I’d say we’ve wasted a hell of a lot of time.” He explained.

Abigail sighed.

“Look Rick, we can have this time together, but when it’s over, we both go our separate ways. No looking back.”

Rick’s jaw dropped.

“Abby, you can’t mean that.”

She nodded.

“I do.”

“Why?”

“I’ve already told you.”

“Tell me again!”

“It won’t work!” she shouted at him.

He saw the tears in her eyes and knew she was scared.

“What are you so afraid of?” he asked softly, praying to God that it wasn’t him.

“I’m not afraid of anything!” she told him, but she was. God knew she was desperately afraid.

“Yes you are. I can see it in your eyes. Tell me what’s scaring you, baby.” He told her gently.

She shook her head and let the tears fall.

He couldn’t bear to see her cry and in two steps, he was holding her comfortably in his arms as she sobbed on his bare shoulder.

He let her cry for a while and when he was sure that she was done, released her and wiped her cheeks with his fingers.

“If you don’t want to tell me, then that’s fine.” He said, “But just don’t push me away.”

“I couldn’t.” she returned, “No matter how much I try, I can’t seem to do that.”

He smiled.

“Well, that’s good, at least.”

She laughed then and hugged him tighter.