She sighed. “Something else I don’t want to
talk about.”
“Sorry.”
“No, no. It’s not your fault. It was
stupid, is all. Or, I should say, a mistake.”
“You don’t have to talk about it, honey.”
Abbie looked at her with a smirk. “It was this
guy, okay? He’s been pestering me for a date for weeks. I
finally agreed to go out with him just so he’d quit hitting on
me.”
“I can see how that would backfire.”
Abbie laughed again. Her laugh was very musical, and
Lonna loved the sound of it. “I spent the night trying to make
him as miserable as possible. It took awhile, but I think I finally
pulled it off. I can be a real bitch when I put my mind to it.”
Lonna smiled, drinking her coffee.
“Anyway, I don’t think I want to go on any
more dates for awhile.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for
you.”
“I’m not. I didn’t want it to.”
“Well, then, congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Abbie looked at the clock on
the wall and cursed. “This sucks. I’m finally having a
nice time and now I have to run off to school. My whole birthday
will be wasted, and then I have to spend the night going to dinner
with my asshole father.”
“Maybe he won’t want to go after the little
fight you two had.”
Her eyes brightened. “Hey! You might be right!
That would be something. I could stay home tonight and set up my new
computer.”
“That’s something to look forward to.”
“It sure is. I still can’t believe you
actually bought me one.”
“Don’t get too excited. Next year it’ll
probably be obsolete.”
“Still. Like I said before, it’s not the
gift so much as the fact that you bought it for me. That was one
hell of a gesture, Lonna.”
“You’re one hell of a young lady.”
Abbie looked at the clock again. “Shit!”
She stood up and began gathering her breakfast dishes.
“Leave those. I’ll clean up. I don’t
have to be at work for another hour.”
“I don’t want to leave a big mess for you.”
She carried her things to the sink and began running the hot water.
“The whole sink is full.”
Lonna stepped over and tried to bump her out of the way
with her hip. “Scoot over, princess. The birthday girl isn’t
washing any dishes while I’m around.”
Abbie laughed and bumped her back. “Says who?”
“Your wicked stepmother.”
“I thought you were Lonna.”
“I am Lonna. And you’re late for school.”
Suddenly Abbie had her arms around Lonna again, hugging
her tight. “I don’t wanna go to school! I’m too
happy!”
Lonna almost laughed, but she was too overcome with
emotion at the unexpected embrace. She wrapped her own arms around
Abbie and held her, stroking her back with one hand. She kissed the
top of Abbie’s head. After a moment she thought they were
done, but Abbie made no move to let her go, and she didn’t want
to be the one to break the contact. She felt almost blissful
standing there holding the younger woman.
Finally Abbie released her and leaned back. Her eyes
were wet and glimmering under the harsh kitchen light.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She quickly wiped her eyes.
“Tell me.”
She shook her head. “Nothing, really. I
just...” She licked her lips. “I just don’t feel
like going to school. I wish it was Saturday.”
“That makes two of us.”
“It’s going to be such a long, shitty day.
I’ve got calculus with Mr. Zermont. Jesus, what a waste of
time.”
Lonna laughed softly. “At least it’s
Friday. Tomorrow we can just sit around at home and do whatever we
want.”
Abbie nodded. “Yeah. But my dad’ll be
here all day. I’ll end up staying in my room.”
“You don’t have to.”
Abbie looked at her. “Hey, you know something?”
“What?”
“I always thought I was avoiding you by staying
in my room, but now I wonder. I think I was kind of blaming you for
the way I felt about my father.”
“I sometimes got that impression.”
“Really?”
“Sometimes. Not
Dawne Prochilo, Dingbat Publishing, Kate Tate