Free Love You Moore by Melissa Carter Page A

Well,” Jimmy started and cleared his
throat. “I want to begin by assuring you that I have only the
highest respect for your daughter. I would never do anything to
hurt her or her family. I do know there is a little over a five
year age difference and I know she is only seventeen. I would never
place her in a situation where she felt…..violated.” He stammered.
I do want to spend time with Abby and my only goal is to make her
happy. I would like your permission to officially date your
daughter Tom, Mr. Moore, Sir.” Jimmy petitioned.
    Tom leaned on the desk and folded his hands.
They both sat in silence for a few minutes while Tom pondered
Jimmy’s request.
    “ Jimmy,” he began, looking Jimmy square
in the eyes. “Abby is my only child, my baby girl. She is the
reason her mother and I live and breathe. She has never done
anything to bring us pain or make us concerned over her decision
making abilities. Over these last few weeks we have noticed a
change in her. She’s happy, she smiles more. I think I have heard
her laugh more in these last five weeks than I have in months and
to me, that is one of the best sounds in the world. If you are the
reason for her change in behavior, then of course you have my
permission to date her.” Tom stood up from behind the desk and
reached for Jimmy’s hand. Jimmy jumped up and shook his hand. “Now
go out there so Abby can start breathing again.” He said with a
smile
    “ Thank you Sir, I will not hurt her,
you have my word on that.” Jimmy left the office.
    Abby got up off the couch and gave him a
skeptical look.
    “ Everything ok?” she asked
nervously.
    “ Everything’s perfect.” He replied and
gave her a big hug.
    Tom followed shortly from the office just as
Laura was coming back in from the kitchen.
    “ Anyone care for some coffee? I have a
pot ready and I made some sandwiches for lunch.”
    Everyone followed her into the kitchen. As
they were sitting down ready to eat, Jimmy spoke up.
    “ Abby, with your parent’s permission of
course, I would like to bring you out to LA for a visit.” He
expressed.
    Abby got a burning sensation as her soda came
out her nose and she started choking. Her mother quickly handed her
a napkin and patted her on the back.
    “ What?” Abby cried. “You want to take
me to LA? When?”
    “ Well I was thinking you could come
back with me on Monday and I could have you back home before
Thanksgiving on Thursday.” He concluded.
    Abby shot a beseeching look at her
parents.
    “ Can I go? She begged. “I have all my
homework done. There isn’t much going on since it is a short week
for Thanksgiving break. I’d only really be missing two days and I
can make up any class work when I get back. Please?” she implored
her parents.
    “ Well, I don’t know, Tom what do you
think of Abby going alone to LA with Jimmy.” Laura asked in a
concerned inflection.
    Jimmy interjected, “I was also thinking that
maybe Holly could accompany Abby. So that way, you may feel more
comfortable if she had a chaperone.
    “ Well,” Tom started, turning to his
wife, “We could talk to Holly’s parents. Let them know we have met
Jimmy and have complete faith that he would ensure the safety of
our daughters.”
    “ If you think it’s ok, then I suppose
it would be ok for her to go.” Laura agreed but was still concerned
that her daughter was flying across the country for the first time
without them.
    They all looked in Abby’s direction after
they heard the crash of the chair toppling over backwards and
hitting the floor. Abby had flown out of her chair so fast it had
flipped it over.
    “ Thank you Mom, thank you Dad.” She
kissed them both on the cheeks. “I have to call Holly!” she
shrieked. She was half way out of the kitchen before she stopped
herself and ran back over to Jimmy. She bent down and kissed him
gently on the cheek, “Thank you.” She said and gave him a hug. From
the living room they could all hear her squeals as she