Free Wildflower by Prudence MacLeod Page A

would be honored,” he smiled warmly, lost
in those crystal blue eyes again.
    Suddenly Abby leaned forward and reached for
his hand. Gripping it tightly she gazed deeply into his eyes.
“Billy, I have just been through hell and am still trying to claw
my way back. I am in desperate need of allies and friends.”
    “I know, I know,” he sighed elaborately.
“I’ve heard it all before, ‘I’m sorry Billy, but I just want to be
friends.”
    “Lovers come and go Billy, but good friends
are forever.” Abby was squeezing his hand tightly now, imploring
him with those hypnotic eyes.
    “Relax my golden one,” he smiled easily, “I’m
only teasing. After what you have shared with us today I wouldn’t
dream of making a pass at you. I’ll give you one year, and if
you’re still single, all bets are off. Until then you’re completely
safe with me.”
    “Alright mister, I’ll let you off the hook
this time,” she grinned as she squeezed his hand again and released
it, “but if you ever tease me again while I’m weak I’ll tell your
grandmother and she’ll thrash you soundly.”
    “Best behavior, I swear it,” he pleaded,
holding his hands out protectively.
    “So are we on for Thursday?”
    “Since this is the only date I’ll ever get
with you, how could I refuse?” he asked with a saucy grin.
    “Thank you Billy,” smiled Abby warmly,
relaxing back in the chair, “now behave or I’ll tell your
grandmother.”
    “Oops, time for me to go back to work,” he
laughed as he rose and headed for the door. She smiled again as he
exited the house then she sank back into her chair and took another
sip of the delicious broth.
    “Billy’s a good boy Abby,” said Edna softly.
“He’ll behave himself.”
    “I know Edna. I made some mistakes with
Randy; actually I made assumptions that I had no right to make. I
didn’t read the signs as well as I should have and I paid the price
for it. I have sworn to be far more careful from now on, and I have
sworn that I will not allow anyone else to make assumptions about
me the way I did about him. I fully intend to be very open with
everyone from now on, no guessing games; that’s why I told Billy
what I did. I do like him and would enjoy his friendship, but it
will be a very long time indeed before I ever let another man get
close to me again and Billy needed to know that right up
front.”
    “He appreciates that Abby, and so do I. That
boy has a huge crush on you and it would be very easy for you to
take advantage of that. You have a lot of class my dear.”
    “Thank you Edna,” smiled Abby weakly. “I
think I’ll go up for that nap now.”
    “Proper thing, I’ll call you for supper.”
    Abigail MacKai slept through much of the next
two days, coming down only to eat and to book the two return
flights to Halifax. Thursday morning she was feeling much more
rested and ready to go when Billy picked her up and drove to the
airport. It was an uneventful flight down and they chatted easily
through the journey. Abby rented a minivan and they drove straight
to her mother’s house in Lower Sackville.
    “Ok, we’re in luck,” breathed Abby as she
searched under the huge flower pot for the spare key and found it.
“She’s not home to make a scene and I have the key. You wait here
while I bring the boxes to you Billy. They’re probably in the
garage.”
    “I should carry those for you Abby,” he said
as he started into the house.
    Abby put out her hand and stopped him. “No
Billy, if she raises a fuss and calls the police, we can honestly
say that you did not enter her house,” Abby stated firmly. She
disappeared into the house and a moment later the garage door swung
open. “As I suspected, right here in the garage.”
    Billy peeked into the garage as she passed
the first box to him. It was completely empty except for a stack of
boxes in the very middle. Abby was taking another box from the
stack. In very short order they had the boxes loaded in the van and
Abby