Passion In James County XI
Abby
By D.C. Roi
Chapter eight
Albert Williams, a nurse who worked at University Hospital, stopped at a video rental store on his way home from work to pick up a couple of movies he could watch to make his evening home alone more bearable. When he walked into in the shop, he saw Abby Marklin, a nurse he'd worked with several years earlier, standing at the counter, her head down. Abby didn't look up when he came in.
Albert found two films that looked interesting and took them to the counter. He got there just as Abby turned to leave.
Abby saw Albert and smiled weakly. "Hi, Albert" she said. "I haven't seen you in a while, how are you?"
"Hi, Abby. I think I'm doing better than you are. You look like you lost your best friend," Albert said, "Are you all right?"
Abby's response to Albert's caring comment surprised him. He was startled to see tears welling up in her eyes. "It...it's been a pretty awful week, Albert," she said. Her shoulders began shaking as she started to sob quietly.
"Would you like someone to talk to?" Albert asked. "If you remember all those long nights we spent together in the CICU, you remember what a good listener I am."
Abby took a deep breath, then she smiled at Albert weakly. Lee wasn't home again, and Albert had been fun to work with back in the days when were working together. He had a silly streak and could almost always make her laugh, even on those nights when she was feeling down. Why not see if he could still cheer her up? "I guess I did tend to run my mouth a lot back in those days, didn't I?" she said softly.
"I didn't think so," Albert said, smiling back at her. "I used to like talking with you. Want to go get a cup of coffee?"
Abby shrugged. "OK, sure, why not?" she said.
Albert looked at Abby. If anything, she was even more attractive now than she'd been when they were working together, and he thought she was pretty nice-looking then. She was still slim, and her golden-blonde hair hung straight to just above her shoulders and framed her face, a face Albert found very interesting. She was wearing a loose dress which was tan with a gray pattern and had buttons all the way down the front.
Albert checked out his videos and they left the store and walked across the parking lot toward their cars.
"You want to take your car or are you willing to take a chance and ride with me?" Albert asked.
"I'll ride with you, I guess," Abby said. "Do you think it's OK to leave my car here?"
"I don't see why it wouldn't be," Albert said. "This parking lot is pretty well-lit, and I know the cops check it fairly regularly."
They walked to Albert's car and he held the door so Abby could get in. Then he went around and got behind the wheel, started the car, and drove off.
Albert was surprised to find his heart hammering. He couldn't understand why he didn't seem able to breathe properly. He never had these problems when he and Abby were working together at the hospital. "Do...do you have any particular preference where we go for coffee?" he asked.
Abby shook her head. "No," she replied.
"How about that little cafe down on Rosedale Avenue?" he suggested. "I understand they have all kinds of gourmet coffee."
Abby smiled at him, nodded, and said, "Sure, why not."
"So," Albert said as he drove down the street, "you want to tell me what it is that has you looking so sad?"
"I don't know...I guess I'm not sure I should really be bothering you with my troubles," Abby replied.
"I'm a good listener," Albert said, "and I thought we were friends. I mean, we did endure all those long, lonely night shifts in the CICU together, didn't we? And we survived, too."
"I guess we did survive them, didn't we?" Abby said, smiling faintly for the first time. "Well..." she said. She took a deep breath and began talking. Once she started telling Albert about the problems with her marriage, she couldn't stop. By the time she finished relating story, she was sobbing and tears were rolling down her cheeks.
Albert was surprised by how honest his former co-worker had been. And he was really surprised, and a little shocked, that she'd told him she'd slept with one of her friends. Just the same, he felt bad that she was upset and, as he watched Abby cry, he felt a powerful urge to hold her and make the bad feelings go away. He pulled to the side of the road, stopped the car, turned to her, and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, now, there partner," he said softly. "Come on. Things will be all right. They really will."
"Oh God!" Abby sobbed. "I feel so awful! My life is such a mess! I...I don't know what to do...I..."
Albert put his arm around her. Abby slid across the car seat, pressed against him, and buried her head against his chest. Her silky hair tickled Albert's face. He held her, rubbing her back and let her cry.
As he held his former colleague, Albert was acutely aware of things happening in him, things he knew he better control. "I'd really be some kind of shit if I let myself do what that other guy did to her," he thought, but the feelings of desire inside him kept getting stronger and stronger.
Finally, Abby's sobbing grew softer, and she quieted. She took a deep breath, leaned back, and looked at Albert.
"Oh, Abby," he said, gazing at her tenderly. "I wish I could do something to help you."
Abby was confused by the feelings that had begun sweeping through her when Albert put his arm around her. It felt good, very good! In his arms she felt safe and protected. She looked into his eyes and saw the caring in them. She was glad she'd bumped into him in the video store. She had no idea how much she needed someone she could really talk to.
"Thank you for being my friend, Albert," she said softly. Impulsively, she kissed her friend, intending it to be a "Thank you" kiss. She was stunned by what she felt when her lips pressed against Albert's. Kissing him felt really good! A lot better than it should have!
Albert, too, was surprised by the burst of sensations Abby's kiss elicited. He felt his arms tightening around her.
The kiss lasted a lot longer than it should have. When the kiss finally ended Abby leaned back and looked at Albert. Her emotions were in complete disarray. "What am I doing?" she thought. "God, isn't it bad enough that I did what I did with one friend. Am I so out of control I'm going to do it again?"
"Ah, I...I guess we...we better get that...ah...coffee now, huh?" Albert stammered, his in turmoil. He'd started this evening wanting to help Abby, but things were getting way out of hand! He was thinking about doing things he had no right to think about, much less do!
"I...I can't go anywhere looking like this," Abby said. "I'm sure I look a mess because I've been crying."
Albert looked at her. "I...I hope you don't take this the wrong way," he said, " but if you still want a cup of coffee, I think I know where we can go. And how you look won't matter."
"Where?" Abby asked.
Albert took a deep breath. "We, ah, we could go to my place." He had no idea where he found the courage to make such a bold suggestion. And, since his wife wasn't home, it was a risky suggestion as well, given the kiss they'd just shared.
"Won't Melinda mind if you drag me home unannounced?" Abby asked.
Albert shook his head. "She's away attending a management workshop," he explained. "That's why I was renting videos."
"Oh," Abby said. Warning bells rang in her head. Albert and his wife Melinda were both good friends and she was feeling vulnerable right now, just as vulnerable as he had been the day Bill Coughlin dropped by. After what happened with Bill a few days earlier, being alone with Albert in his home would not be a wise thing to do. But Abby ignored the alarms. She liked being with Albert, he listened to her and he always made her laugh. What harm could come from having a cup of coffee and talking?
"What do you think?" Albert asked. He half-expected Abby to tell him to take her back to her car.
"Ah, sure," Abby replied. "Why not?"
The trip to Albert's house didn't take long. He pulled into his driveway, shut the car off. Shaking with excitement, he got out, opened the door for Abby, and escorted her into his home.
Abby walked into the house and let Albert help her take her coat off.
"Have a seat," Albert said, gesturing toward the kitchen table. He realized his voice sounded a little funny. "I'll start the coffee."
Abby sat down at the kitchen table and watched as Albert started making the coffee. She wanted to help. "Where do you keep the cups?" she asked.
"They're in that cabinet over there by the sink," Albert told her.
Abby went to the cupboard Albert indicated, took out two mugs and carried them to where Albert at the counter next to the coffee maker.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked.
Abby nodded. "I am," she told him. It was true. Abby felt comfortable with Albert. Well, mostly comfortable. She felt a little on edge, too. After all, she was alone with him in his home and his wife wasn't there. Unaware of how her friend was feeling about her, she put her arms around him, then kissed him softly on the cheek.