Free Accidental Meeting by Susette Williams

future.”
    *                                                         
*                                                         
*
    Bruce
let Abbey’s words sink in. She was right. It wouldn’t be easy to recoup the
last eight years. He barely knew his nephews. But he could make the effort and
try.
    “Make
a left up ahead." Bruce pointed in that direction. "My sister lives
at the end of the road. You should see her white minivan in the driveway.”
    Abbey
nodded and followed his directions. Bruce felt nervous, why, he wasn’t sure.
After all, it was his family. It wasn’t like they were total strangers.
    When
they were parked next to his sister’s minivan, Bruce climbed out of Abbey’s
car, using his crutches to lift himself to a standing position. He was looking
forward to being able to discard the crutches. But when they went, so did
Abbey. His gut clenched. One way or another, he had to talk her into staying.
    Angel
greeted them at the door. “I wondered if you two were going to make it in time
for church. Michael went with Mom and Ted. It’s Michael’s week to teach Sunday
school.”
    Bruce
checked his watch. “It’s not that late.”
    Angel
laughed. “No, not really but when you’re the teacher you have to get to church
before the kids do.”
    “Uncle
Bruce!” the boys shouted, running to hug him.
    John
and Alex bustled to the door, trying to squeeze past their mother to see him.
Bruce barely recognized them; they had both grown so much since Christmas. He
knew John was the taller one because he was the oldest. Angel had been pregnant
with John when their father died. She said she wanted to name her son after him
as a way to remember and honor his memory. To Bruce it had been a painful
reminder of their loss.
     “Careful
boys,” Angel warned as they lunged to throw their arms around their uncle's
waist.
    His
heart melted. They loved him. How could he allow the past to keep him away? Abbey
was right. He needed to go on. For the last eight years, he had allowed one
tragic event to separate him from the people he loved and the people who loved
him.
    *                                                         
*                                                         
*
    The
smell of lighter fluid burning wafted through the back door of the kitchen,
signaling the grill had been started. Abbey's stomach grumbled. Hopefully they
would be eating soon.
    She
was glad she had thought to bring a change of clothes with her. The jeans and
light blue cardigan she had donned after church felt more comfortable and she
was thankful to trade her heels for tennis shoes.
    “Is
there anything I can do, Angel?” Abbey felt useless watching Angel put together
a salad and Bruce’s mother bustle around the kitchen.
    “Why
don’t you set the table, Abbey?” Bruce’s mother pointed to a drawer near the
dishwasher. “The silverware is in there.”
    Abbey
retrieved forks from the drawer and found napkins on the table. She began setting
the table when she noticed Bruce’s mother watching her and smiling. “It was
hard to have a chance to talk at church today. I was curious how you and my son
met.”
    Abbey
swallowed hard. “Well, Mrs ….”
    “Call
me Agnes,” Bruce’s mother cut in.
    Abbey
could feel her cheeks grow warm. She couldn’t keep avoiding answering his
family's probing before they began to think of her as Bruce’s girlfriend.
“Bruce… well, it’s my fault he has the broken leg. I hit him.”
    “You’re
kidding? How did that happen?” Angel paused, turning to look at her. Abbey
could tell that Angel couldn’t believe the irony of the situation by the way
her mouth hung open in disbelief.
    “So
Bruce broke his leg in the accident?” Agnes shook her head. “I tried to