Page 15 of Abigail
“Fuck if I know,” Straw replies. “There’s something going on between the two of them; that’s obvious. I get the impression they think they’re hiding it, but you can’t hide what those two are feeling for each other. I just haven’t figured out if it’s love, hate, or both.” Tank chuckles and shakes his head.
“I would say it’s love, but they are fighting it tooth and nail,” Tank comments. “Well at least Lisa is fighting it. I have noticed for a while that any time she is around, Hack is all up in her business, and it seems to get her riled up. A woman only gets that riled when she’s annoyed that you’re making her feel what she doesn’t want to feel.” Straw nods in agreement. He thinks he should have a talk with Hack. Maybe once he gets things settled with Abigail he will reach out to his friend.
Hmmm. Things settled with Abigail.What will that look like?Straw wants it to be Abigail packing up and moving home to North Carolina with him. That’s insane they technically just met, but Straw feels as if he’s known her forever. His time here in California is limited, but he’s going to do his best to convince her to take a chance with him. He feels it deep in his soul that they were destined to find one another. Now if he can just get her to see it. His mind drifts to all things Abigail as the elevator descends. He’s brought out of his musings when the elevator dings announcing their arrival to their floor. He spares a glance over at the check-in counter where Abigail is waiting on a customer. Her smile is radiant even at this distance. He wants to forever see her happy and smiling. He is determined to make that happen. As if she can feel his gaze, she glances over at him. He’s pleased when her smile brightens at him. He gives her a smile and a chin lift in return. She turns back to her customer, and Straw follows Tank toward the pool.
When the men arrive at the pool area, the place is total chaos. Kids are running around willy-nilly, jumping into the pool. Straw is concerned with all the people around. Someone could snatch a child and be gone before anyone would know what’s happening. Straw scans all the people looking for Sara and Ellie. Finally he sees them on the other side of the pool. Hawk, Deadeye, and Ace are watching the children closely. He nudges Tank pointing in the direction of their friends. The men maneuver through the crowds of people until they reach them.
In a few minutes, Emma and Wallace enter the pool area with another young woman. Charlotte calls out to them and waves them over.
“Hey, everyone,” Emma greets them. “I’d like y’all to meet my cousin Allison.” Emma introduces them all to the newcomer.
“Hi,” Allison replies. “It’s nice to meet you all. I can’t stay long. I just wanted to pop in and see Emma a minute. We haven’t seen each other in months.”
“Oh shoot, Allison.” Emma frowns at her cousin. “I was hoping you could stay and visit a while. Maybe have dinner with us all later.”
“I’m sorry, Emma,” Allison returns. “I would love to stay longer, but I’m working a story. A young woman is missing. I have all my feelers out for information, but so far I’m coming up empty.” The young woman frowns. “It’s so frustrating. She’s just freaking disappeared. Even the cops are coming up empty.”
“That’s heartbreaking,” Charlotte joins the conversation. She glances over at Elise. Straw wonders if Elise is remembering when she was taken. Deadeye wraps his arm around her waist pulling her closer before placing a kiss on her forehead. She looks up at him and some of tension leaves her face. She manages to give him a soft smile. Elise has come a long way since her captivity. A squeal from the pool draws their attention.
Deadeye gets up and heads over to check on their kids. The couple adopted the siblings of a little girl who Elise met when she was in Afghanistan. The little girl had been used to control Elise’s behavior and unfortunately the little girl had been murdered. The couple was able to adopt her brother Emir, and her sister Derifa when they found out the children would be sent to an orphanage. The siblings are squabbling over a floaty. Deadeye kneels next to the children, speaking quietly to them. Straw is still amazed at Deadeye’s patience with the children. The man has always been so reserved. At least, he was until he met Elise. She’s been good for him and he for her.
Straw had thought that Hawk finding his happiness with Charlotte was a fluke, but then Deadeye found the same happiness with Elise. It had been then Straw began to think that true love is possible, but he never thought he’d have a chance at finding it for himself, not until Abigail. Now he wants it more than anything he’s ever wanted before. He’s drawn from his thoughts when Allison replies to Charlotte.
“Yes, it really is heartbreaking,” Allison answers. “The saddest part is she isn’t the first girl to go missing in recent months. I’ve been working this for a while. There has been a string of disappearances over the last few years. Most of the missing are women or girls who wouldn’t be missed all that much. Prostitutes, homeless, loners with no family or real friends. I know there’s a link between the cases, but I haven’t been able to connect the dots yet. I’m certain it’s the work of a sex trafficking ring. I have gotten close a couple of times to getting the goods on them, but then my contact will disappear. Literally drop of the face of the earth. It’s so damn frustrating.”
“Allison!” Emma exclaims. “That sounds dangerous. You need to let the police handle this. You’ll be the next one on the news, missing, and we won’t be able to find you.”
“Emma,” Allison answers sounding exasperated. “You’re worse than my parents. I know this is dangerous, but someone has to expose this shit. Women are being kidnapped and sold as sex slaves.” She suddenly stops talking and looks around as if she just remembered they’re in a public place. When she sees there are no children close by, she continues, “I’ve been researching this for a long time, Emma. I know how dangerous it is, but after what happened to you and reading the stories of those who have been fortunate enough to escape, I can’t let this go. These women and girls need someone to give a shit and keep looking until they are found, and their captors are brought to justice.”
Emma pales when Allison reminds them all of Emma’s past. It is something none of them really wants to remember, but it gives them personal insight into what those poor women are going through. Emma had been raped many years ago and her rapist was arrested and put in jail. However, just a few short months ago, the man and his sister had taken Emma while she was participating in a survival training course. Wallace and his team were able to find Emma and rescue her before she was assaulted again, but it had been a harrowing experience for them all. Emma is tough, though. Straw is sure she’s had some rough times since then, but she and Wallace seem very happy together. Every time Straw has asked Wallace how she’s doing, he’s reassured him that she’s doing great. No recent nightmares or flashbacks. It’s a testament to Emma’s strong will and personality.
Allison suddenly notices Emma’s pale complexion and pinched face. Her face screws up into remorse immediately. “Oh, Emma, I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I’m sorry I brought it up.” Allison reaches out to hug her cousin. Emma always so gracious to everyone, smiles at Allison.
“It’s okay, Allison,” Emma says. “I’m not upset with you. It’s just that it’s all still raw, you know.”
“I do,” Allison answers. “It was insensitive of me, and I’m truly sorry. How about we stop talking about my work and talk about this upcoming wedding?” Emma’s countenance brightens significantly at the mention of the wedding. Straw knows that will keep the women talking for hours.
“Oh, yes!” Charlotte and Elise exclaim at the same time. The group of women erupt into laughter and begin to chatter away.
“Have you set a date?” Allison asks. Emma shakes her head to the negative.
“No, not yet,” Emma replies. “Curtis and I are trying to decide where we want to have it. Both of our families are in east Tennessee so we are thinking somewhere in the mountains. That way it won’t be too far for everyone to get there, but I can’t decide on a location. We have been looking online, but we want to see the places in person before we commit to something. It’s just difficult with my schedule and his to get away long enough to check them out, but we’ve looked at a couple of places already, and we have more planned in the next few months.”
“That’s wonderful,” Allison says, sounding genuinely happy for the couple. “I can’t wait for the happy day, but I’m still mad at you for finding your prince charming before I did.” The two women laugh. “Now, I have no one to share the ridicule with.” Allison pouts.
“I know,” Emma replies softly. “I would say I’m sorry, and I am that you will have to bear that burden alone now, but I’m not at all sorry that I found Curtis. He’s made me happier than I ever could have imagined.” Her face softens as she looks over at him playing in the pool with the children. As if he can feel her eyes on him, he looks over at her smiling huge. He waves at her and then calls to Straw and the other guys sitting nearby.
“Come on guys,” Wallace calls. “These kids are about to get the better of us. Deadeye and I need reinforcements.” Straw and Tank along with Hawk and Virus jump up and head into the fray going on in the pool. Ace joins them carrying his and Daisy’s son, Maxton. A huge water fight has ensued between the children and the men. The men attempt to band together like they do in the field, but the kids have moves. They are smaller and pretty creative when it comes to sneak attacks. The men have a blast playing with the children while the women talk. Straw only wishes Abigail could have joined them. He believes she would have a blast, and that she needs a break such as this. He hopes that someday soon, she will be a permanent part of their group.
Straw has a great time at the pool, which is the last thing he expected when he headed down there. He spends a few hours getting to know Ellie and Sara while keeping an eye on them at the pool. Later that night, he has his first official date with Abigail, and it goes better than he could have imagined. She allows him to walk her to her car afterward, and once Ellie is settled in her car seat, they stand, talking for several minutes. He needs to let her get home, but he is enjoying himself too much.
“I should let you get Ellie home, sweetheart,” Straw says reluctantly. He glances into the backseat and notices the little girl is out cold. Abigail follows his gaze. She nods in agreement before turning back to him.
“Yes, it’s way past Ellie’s bedtime,” Abigail replies softly. “I had a really nice time. Thank you for inviting us. I know Ellie will be talking about today for weeks. She had such a good time with the other kids today at the pool and then dinner.”
Straw smiles down at her. He is feeling happy for the first time in many, many years. Seeing the smiles on Abigail’s and Ellie’s faces at dinner tonight gave him a higher purpose. He wants to see those happy faces for the rest of his life. He knows it’s entirely too soon to tell her that, but he’s determined he will make it happen, somehow. He leans in a little closer, feeling a pull to be near her. His right hand comes up to cup her face. She looks up at him expectantly and licks her lips as if anticipating a kiss. Straw wants to kiss her, desperately wants to kiss her long and deep, but he knows he needs to take things slower than that for her sake. He’s on a time crunch with him only being out here for a couple of weeks, but he doesn’t want to make her run for the hills either. He elects to place a soft kiss on her forehead, lingering a beat longer than necessary. He pulls back to see the surprise on her face.
“Good night, sweetheart,” Straw says his voice husky with desire. He clears his throat before continuing. “Drive safely.” She smiles up at him then and nods her agreement. He opens her door, and when she is seated with her seatbelt firmly buckled, he closes her door. He stands in the parking lot watching her drive way. Abigail looks back just before turning out onto the road and gives Straw a final smile and wave. He returns the gesture. As she drives away, a sense of peace comes over him like never before. He knows without doubt Abigail will be his soon. He can feel fate guiding him toward their future.
