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Post by hinkydoodle on Jul 14, 2007 13:11:35 GMT 10
This just gets better and better
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Post by betinhaa on Jul 14, 2007 23:55:40 GMT 10
hey!! i love your fic...love susan and especially the kovac`s moments please up date soon
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Post by larue on Jul 21, 2007 1:31:46 GMT 10
“They’re here! They’re here!” Abby heard Susie’s cries and opened the front door to the porch. She grinned as a car pulled to a stop in the drive and the front door flew open. Susie pulled her cell phone from her ear and shoved it into the front pocket of her sweat shirt as she hurried down the steps and across the lawn. Heather had thrown open the car door and met her half way. The two best friends wrapped each other in a huge hug. Abby shut the door and leaned on the porch railing as Heather’s mother got out of the car and smiled at the girls.
“How was your drive?” Abby called.
“Easier than I thought it would be,” Beth laughed. “I don’t know who I thought would be on the road the day after Thanksgiving.” Susie hurried around the car and hugged Beth before opening the back door and dragging the overnight bag form the back seat. Heather hurried up the steps and hugged Abby. Susie followed and the two girls disappeared into Susan’s front door talking nonstop. Beth shook her head as she shouldered her own bag, crossed the lawn to the porch and hugged Abby.
“Susan is picking up Cosmo’s play date buddy,” Abby said.
“I know,” Beth chuckled. “The girls have been talking on their cell phones for the last half hour. Either that or texting each other since we left Iowa.” She looked around the porch and at the two front doors.
“This is wonderful!” she sighed. Abby shrugged and smiled. She held the door open to Susan’s house and followed Beth inside. They could hear the girls talking up stairs.
“How are they doing?” Beth asked as she took off her coat and looked around.
“Surprisingly well,” Abby said. “Susie and Cosmo have settled into school……the house is working out…..”
“And Susan?” Beth turned to look at her. Abby took a deep breath.
“She has her days…” she said. “Her dad is here. The kids help. I just wish she would find some place to be settled at work. I mean she likes the temporary placements but she doesn’t have any roots…you know? Hasn’t had a chance to build camaraderie anywhere. ” Beth nodded.
“No luck getting her to go back to your hospital?” Abby shook her head.
“Well, we miss them terribly,” Beth sighed. “Things are just not the same in the neighborhood without them.” They both looked up as the door opened and Cosmo burst inside. He threw himself at Beth and she laughed as she picked him up in a hug.
“You’ve gotten bigger!” Beth laughed.
“Where’s Heather?” he asked as he wiggled down.
“Upstairs,” Beth laughed. Cosmo grabbed the hand of a little boy that had followed him in and dragged him up the staircase.
“Cosmo!” Susan called after him. “Don’t break Cameron’s arm!” She laughed as she dropped a backpack near the door and turned to her friend.
“Beth,” she said as she hugged her. “How was the drive? Did you find the house okay?” Beth nodded.
“Thanks to our map quest and Susie’s cell phone,” she said.
“This is so great,” Susan sighed. “Susie has been looking forward to this for weeks.”
“Aw….geez...me too,” she said as tears stung her eyes and she hugged Beth again. Cosmo and Cameron jumped down the steps and were followed by Susie and Heather. Susan’s eyes widened when she saw Heather.
“Oh my gosh….” she exclaimed. “What has high school done to you?” Heather laughed and hugged her. Susan fluffed the girl’s shortened dark hair and turned her around looking her over.
“Got my braces off last week,” Heather said and smiled widely. Susan laughed and hugged her again.
“I think I’ll hand these two guys over to Luka so we can head out,” Abby said as she took the boys in each hand. “I have a shift this afternoon and I don’t want to miss out on all of the shopping.”
“Why do we have to stay at your house?” Cameron pouted as he grabbed his backpack. “All the good toys are here.”
“You’ll be back here after we leave,” Abby assured him as they crossed the porch to her front door. “Lauren is still eating breakfast.”
“I’m hungry,” Cosmo said. “Can we eat breakfast here too?”
“I ate at my house,” Cameron offered. “My daddy gave me his secret sugar cereal because my mom is at work today.” Abby laughed as she pushed open the heavy inner door. Cosmo bounced inside, threw his coat on the stairs and hurried toward the kitchen. Cameron dropped his coat and followed him. He stopped short when Luka’s big frame suddenly filled the kitchen door. The two of them studied one another disdainfully. Cameron had his hands on his hips and was glaring up at Luka with narrowed Asian eyes. Luka growled. Cameron’s frown deepened and he growled back.
“Bagels are on the table,” Luka said sternly. Cameron grinned and his eyes disappeared as he smiled.
“I like bagels,” he said. “Can I have two?” Luka growled again and Cameron chuckled as he hurried into the kitchen.
“Behave yourself,” Abby laughed as she hugged him. ‘He’s a nice little boy.” She reached into his back pocket and withdrew his wallet.
“I’m Christmas shopping,” she said as she withdrew a credit card and waved it at him.
“Yeah, well, I don’t need any clothes this year,” Luka said as he replaced his wallet. Abby laughed quietly.
“Oh…I know exactly what I am getting you,” she said. Luka grinned.
“You do, huh?” he asked as he followed her toward the door. “Are you putting it on my credit card?”
“Maybe,” she shrugged happily. He kissed her nose when they reached the door again.
“Call me when you can take a dinner break tonight,” he said. “We will bring something to you.”
“Really?” she said as she turned in his embrace and looked up at him. “That would be wonderful. I will miss you.”
“So stay….home….” he murmured as he kissed her. Her fingers slipped up to his cheeks and the to the soft tendrils at the back of his neck.
“Uncle Luka, Lauren has to go potty,” Cosmo said from the kitchen door. They turned their heads and saw all three children standing in the doorway watching them curiously. Lauren reached up and scratched her round cheek.
“I can help her though,” Cosmo offered. Luka sighed and tipped his forehead to Abby’s.
“No…I’ll take her,” he sighed. He turned away and swung his daughter up into his arms. He carried her to the door and tipped her so she could kiss her mother.
“You and Susan both owe me huge favors for today,” he said. “And Susie is going to pay me.” Abby laughed as she kissed his cheek and waved to the boys.
“I’ll call you,” she said as he headed toward the small bathroom behind the stairs with Lauren.
The sidewalks had been crowded with shoppers looking for seasonal shopping deals. It was fun, but after a quick lunch Abby was glad to head back to the hospital, slip into scrubs and set to work. Strangely the ER was relatively quiet. She caught up on some paperwork, read some journal articles and was asleep on the couch in the break room when Luka arrived with containers of soup and salad. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and her eyes opened.
“Hi…….” she said softly as her eyes met his. He grinned and set the bag on a nearby table. “Where’s Lauren?” she asked as she sat up.
“At Susan’s with all them,” he said. “I couldn’t tear her away from that outrageous spoiling.” Abby chuckled and braced her feet up against the coffee table. Luka handed her a bowl of soup and a spoon. He watched her take a bite.
“Ummm…this is good,” she sighed. He grinned and sat back on the couch next to her. He wrapped his arm behind her and she settled comfortably against him.
“How did the day go with Cosmo and Cameron?” she asked. Luka laughed and shook his head.
“I’m not so used to two little boys,” he said. “But they were fine. Lots of adventures today.” They were quiet as she ate and he just watched her.
“You know that makes me nuts,” she said.
“What?” he asked. She sighed disdainfully.
“Watching me….” She said. He smiled.
“You’re beautiful.”
“I’m getting fat...”
“You’re beautiful….” he said again. She rolled her eyes and blushed as she shook her head. They both looked up as the door opened.
“Abby,” Inez said. “MVA….multiple victims….5 minutes out.” Abby nodded an reached for the top of the soup container.
“Back to work,” she sighed. Luka slipped his hand behind her neck and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“Want me to stay?” he asked. She shook her head and stood up.
“Naw……we’re okay,” she said as she pulled him to his feet. “Jane is here and Morris. Go on home and keep our bed warm for me.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Well….…”she drawled playfully. “You said that I owed you a favor for today so I just figured that…….well...maybe...we could...uh... you know...um...”
“I’ll wait up for you,” he finished with rakish grin and nibbled at the nape of her neck. She giggled and pushed him away as she headed out of the break room into the brightly lit ER corridor.
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Post by brandykins on Jul 21, 2007 5:57:16 GMT 10
I love the way you incorporated Luka watching Abby because she's beautiful. Love the update.
Update soon!!
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Post by *Natalie* on Jul 21, 2007 21:47:26 GMT 10
Just caught up on everything Loving it all natalie x
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Post by lubyworld on Jul 23, 2007 4:00:49 GMT 10
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Post by larue on Jul 23, 2007 23:47:16 GMT 10
It was two in the morning when she finally pulled her car into their drive of the duplex. She glanced up at the house as she gathered her things and was mildly surprised to see the lights still on in Susan’s living room. As she climbed the front steps she could hear them laughing. She peeked in the window and saw the four of them – Susan, Beth, Susie and Heather – sprawled on the furniture, popcorn bowls and glasses all over. They were animated and happy and it was good to see. She unlocked he own front door and dropped her things on the chair by the door. She switched off the light he had left on for her and climbed up the darkened staircase. She switched on the hall light and peeked into the slightly open door on the right.
Lauren was sound asleep with one rosy cheek pressed against her favorite stuffed manatee. She had kicked off the coverlet off and one little foot was flexing inside the footed sleepers she wore. She was probably off riding a dream horse somewhere. Abby smiled and went in to draw the blankets back over her. She pressed a gentle kiss to the little girl’s forehead and gazed down at the thick dark lashes that lay on her cheeks. Her dark hair furled around her face and Abby shook her head. She was such a beautiful little girl. She looked so much like Luka. Her very own Snow White. Something caught in Abby’s throat – as it always did when she took the time to think about it. This child hadn’t been planned. She hadn’t even really been wanted in the beginning. She hadn’t been sure that they were ready for each other, let alone a baby. Tears stung her lashes as she contemplated what could have been… what she would have missed. Damn hormones. She brushed the tears away with the back of her hand. Abby carefully kissed her daughter again and left the door ajar when she left.
She went into the bathroom and flicked on the light. She took off her work clothes and shoved the slacks and blouse and underwear into the laundry hamper. She slipped into the robe that was hanging on the back of the door and looked at her self in the mirror for a moment. Definitely…puffy. She shook her head and sighed. She brushed her teeth and drew the hairbrush through her long hair. She took a moment to wash her face and studied her reflection again. She rolled her eyes and turned the light off as she made her way into the hall and opened their bedroom door. She slipped the robe off and slid under the sheets. She was snuggling up to him when Luka’s eyes opened. He smiled at her and drew her closer and kissed the top of her head.
“Hey….” he sighed sleepily. “How was the rest of your shift?”
“It’s over,” she said. “It was busy and I’m late. I wasn’t sure you would still be awake.” Luka snorted as his hand caressed her shoulder.
“I was just resting,” he said. “Waiting for you….”
“I’m glad…..” she drawled and lifted her face to his kiss. “I want sex, sleep and food.” Luka laughed quietly in the middle of their kiss.
“In that order?” he asked. Abby pulled away thoughtfully and then nodded, an impish grin crossing her face. He chuckled and drew the sheets over her shoulders and savored the feel of her hands as they roamed carefully over his chest and then back and then bare buttocks.
“Ah…you WERE waiting for me,” she laughed happily. He grinned and buried his face in the hair at the nape of her neck. She giggled as his lips caressed a shoulder and then made their way to her breasts and swollen nipples. Her back arched a bit as she eased herself under him and enjoyed the feel of his weight on her, his warm flesh, the flexing muscles and coarse hair. He raised his head and smiled down at her. Abby studied his dark eyes in the dim light from the hall, his lashes and dark slashes for brows, the way his hair fell across his forehead. She squirmed a bit as his hand slipped purposefully to her hip and then over. He was watching her.
“What are you doing?” she breathed as she closed her eyes, savoring the sensations that were rippling through her.
“Having some fun,” he chuckled.
“Well, don’t take too long…..” she moaned softly and opened her eyes again. "On second though....take as long...as... you....want." Luka whipped the sheets back and then raised himself a bit to study the length of her beneath him for a moment. Her skin was dotted with goose bumps from the sudden cold. She took a shuddering, heaving breath that sucked her stomach inward. There was no hiding it. He arched himself over her belly and bent to press a line of soft, gentle kisses around her navel and lower. She drew her fingers through his hair and held him there as he murmured something in Croatian against her skin. It suddenly surprised her that she knew what he was saying. Without even struggling to translate or think about it. She knew what he was saying and she loved him with all of her heart too.
Later, as they nestled together in the satiny sheets, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“I love this place we are in,” he sighed.
“Mmmmm…me too,” she sighed as she drew the sheets over them and pressed her back closer to him.
“No,” he chuckled softly as his arms wrapped around her. “I mean this place…..this house…..this time.” Her eyes opened thoughtfully.
“We have jobs that we love, a healthy little girl….”
“And now all we need is a little boy?” she chuckled. Luka’s hand slipped to her belly and he caressed it slowly.
“Naw,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind another little girl.”
“Really?” she said in surprise. She felt him nod.
“Little girls have a, ah, special way of working on their tata’s hearts,” he said. Abby chuckled.
“Like wrapping tatas around their little fingers to get anything their own little heart desires?” He laughed and held her close.
“I guess so,” he sighed happily. “Kind of like their mothers….” Abby grinned as she felt his breathing slow and they both drifted off to sleep together.
She awoke with a start as their bedroom door slammed open. Lauren stood in doorway dragging her manatee by her side.
“Up now,” she said happily. “You get up now.” Abby opened one eye and shook her head.
“It’s too early, sweetheart,” she groaned. Lauren shook her head and pranced to the table by their bed. She pointed to the alarm clock.
“Issa eight an a zero an a zero,” she announced. “Diego on telebision.” Abby squeezed her eyes shut. Damn Susie for teaching Lauren her numbers. At least some of them anyway. She sighed wearily.
“Oookay,” she said. “Go in and pick out some clothes to wear and Mom will be right in to help you.”
"I can do it myself!" Lauren turned on her heel and raced out of the room with the manatee bouncing along beside her. Abby crawled out of the sheets and slipped into the pajama pants and cami that she pulled from her drawer. She pulled the sheets up on the bed and then picked up her pillow. She hesitated and then whacked him over the head with it.
“I can tell when you are faking it,” she scolded. “Get up. I said sex, sleep and FOOD, remember?” Luka was grinning as he rolled over in the sheets and looked up at her. She suppressed a smile as she glared at him and crossed the hall to Lauren’s room. He stretched, took a deep breath and shook his head. Yep. This was a very good place to be.
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Post by betinhaa on Jul 24, 2007 1:42:38 GMT 10
love it please up date soon!!!
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Post by *Natalie* on Jul 24, 2007 4:36:24 GMT 10
Great update natalie x
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Post by crazylubyfan on Jul 27, 2007 8:57:42 GMT 10
Great update! I pretty much just caught up! I love your stories (I have also been rereading your other fics, for example The Things We Do!)
Can't wait for the next part!
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Post by larue on Jul 28, 2007 0:38:51 GMT 10
“We’re probably going to go somewhere to get something to eat after the movie,” Susie said as she slipped into her jacket. Susan nodded and handed Heather’s jacket to her.
“Do you have your cell phone so you can call and tell us where you are going to be?” Susie rolled her eyes.
“Yes, Aunt Susan,” she sighed wearily. Her face perked up as a car horn sounded.
“That’s them,” she said brightly as she grabbed Heather’s hand and opened the front door. Susan stepped out onto the porch and waved to the kids in the van as the back door opened for Susie and Heather.
“I’ll take good care of them, Dr. Lewis!” the big blonde football player in the front seat called as he waved from the open window.
“Thanks, Brett,” she called. “That’s what I am afraid of…….” Her voice trailed off as the van pulled out of the drive and into the street. Susan looked over as Abby moved to her side on the porch.
“Do you realize that Susie is the same age that we were when we uh…..” she said as she watched the van disappear. Susan’s eyes closed and she groaned.
“Oh, don’t remind me, Abby,” she sighed. ‘This parenting a teenager stuff is not fun. Your turn is coming.” Abby chuckled and followed her into the warm living room. Beth was setting up the Scrabble game on the table.
“Did they get off okay?” she asked. Susan nodded and sat at the table to help with the letter tiles.
“Heather was excited,” Beth laughed. “She hasn’t had too many opportunities to actually date yet.”
“Well, Susie has had too many opportunities for my comfort,” Susan sighed. Abby laughed.
‘Oh come on,” she said as she sat down and chose her own starting tiles. “Jake is a good kid. You can trust him.” Susan rolled her eyes.
“Oh yeah….” she laughed . “I was a good kid too. My parents trusted me.” Abby laughed and Beth looked up at them in confusion.
“Well, let’s just say that Cookie wasn’t exactly the Harriet Nelson type,” Susan explained. “I probably rode herd harder on Chloe than anyone did me.”
“Chloe needed it though,” Abby added.
“What about you, Abby?” Beth asked. “What kind of teenager were you?” Abby’s eyes met Susan’s as she stifled a laugh.
“I imagine I gave Maggie a bit of a problem here and there,” Abby said. “But more vice versa.” Beth shook her head and studied her letters.
“Do you realize that both of you used their actual names when you referred to your mothers?” she said absently. “You didn’t call them Mom?”
“Well, Cookie wasn’t actually happy about all that as we got older,” Susan said. “She preferred Cookie.” Beth shook her head and assembled a word on the board.
“What have you heard from Bruce and Shelley?” Beth asked.
“Nothing good,” Susan replied absently. “She’s moved out and he is looking for a cheaper place.” Abby’s interest piqued and she listened as she sorted through her tiles.
“You know, I should have known,” Susan sighed. “The guy is exactly like Doug Ross.” She looked up and frowned slightly.
“I forgot, Abby,” Susan said. “You didn’t know Doug….”
“I knew Carol,” she said as she raised her eyebrows. “I heard all the gossip.” Susan laughed and nodded.
“Yeah…well….” Susan shook her head and reached for the grapes that sat in a bowl nearby. She frowned.
“I need chocolate,” she sighed as she pushed her chair back and stood up. “I’ll be right back. I am going to check out Cosmo’s Halloween candy stash.”
“Keep away from my tiles!” she warned as she hurried toward the kitchen. Beth laughed and put her elbows on the table and studied the Scrabble board.
“Is Bruce a doctor at the hospital?” Abby asked. Beth looked up at her and nodded.
“One of the newer residents, I think,” she said. “He and his girl friend were renting Susan’s house to see if they could swing actually owning one. Nice couple. I am sorry they are splitting up.”
“So…..she didn’t actually…sell…the Iowa house?” Abby asked.
“No…..I guess not,” Beth sighed. “Real estate isn’t really moving fast. I think Heather is kind of hoping they move back.”
“Ah ha,” Susan said as she returned to the table. “Pay dirt!” She dropped a handful of Halloween candy onto the table. She looked at the board and groaned.
“Oh crap! Who put that word down? I needed that vowel,” she complained and readjusted the letter tiles in front of her. Abby studied Susan’s face for a moment and then smiled as Susan looked up and grinned. They both reached for a wrapped candy.
Abby stewed and struggled and thought about the news about the house all night long. By the next morning she was beginning to get a little angry. Why hadn’t Susan told her she still owned it? She busied herself with household tasks and laundry as she thought about it some more. She stopped short when she saw Susan in the basement as she carried a basket of clothes down to their common laundry room. Susan waved and then continued to study the ceiling of the basement.
“Beth and Heather get on their way?” Abby asked. Susan nodded.
“Yeah,” she said. “They left early this morning. Susie is in a funk. I think she really misses them more than I thought.” Abby turned on the washer and added laundry soap. She glanced over at Susan curiously and then dumped the clothes from her basket into the washer. She shut the lid and then leaned back against it as she folded her arms and looked at Susan.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Trying to figure out where my bathroom might be,” Susan said. “Remember those clothes chute things where you could drop something down from the bathroom and it would end up in a basket in the laundry room? I wonder how hard it would be to put one in?” Abby shrugged and just watched her. Susan glanced over and her eyes widened a bit.
“What?” she said. Abby shrugged and shook her head. Susan stopped searching the ceiling and turned to her.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you hadn’t sold your house in Iowa?”
“I thought it was sold,” Susan said with a slight frown of confusion. “Bruce was renting it with an option to buy.”
“So now that he is moving out you still own the house?” Susan nodded slowly.
“Looks that way….” She turned and gazed back up at the ceiling.
“Can you really afford two house payments then?” Abby asked. Susan stopped and gazed back at her.
“Well, the house in Iowa was paid off with Chuck’s insurance money,” she said. “I just figured that when the house was sold I would put the money into the kids’ college funds, which is where the insurance money was expected to go in the first place. Why are you asking me all this?”
“So moving back to Iowa isn’t a possibility?” Susan’s mouth dropped open and then she straightened as she studied her friend.
“I am not going to lie and say that I wasn’t glad that we had that option open to us,” she said finally. “I wasn’t sure if moving the kids was going to be a good thing but as it’s worked out….”
“So it was okay to go into this house with us and then maybe decide at some point to leave it?” Abby’s temper was beginning to flare. Susan frowned.
“Well, there was nothing to say that you guys would be living here forever either,” Susan retorted. “What if you decided that you couldn’t handle living with us? Would you stick me with this duplex and go somewhere else? What if something happens in Luka’s family and you need to go to Croatia? Where would that leave me?” Abby bent to fill the basket with clothes from the dryer and then lifted it in her arms.
“Look, Abby,” Susan said as she moved toward the staircase. “If you are looking for some assurance that life is going to be perfect now and will carry on like you want it to, you are looking at the wrong person. If that were the actual case, I wouldn’t even be here.” Susan straightened and turned around.
“I would still be in Iowa doing a job that I loved and coming home to a husband that I enjoyed being with every single second that we had together,” she said as her voice broke. Susan took a deep breath and paused to wipe away the tears that had begun to build in her eyes.
“I am glad to be back in Chicago,” she said. “I worry about Susie because she is missing out with school but it’s been okay. She is happy. Cosmo is happy. He’s making friends. I like being close to my dad now ….and I like being closer to you and Luka. But I also know that…..this…. might not last. It might not be there tomorrow.” Susan turned and headed back up her stairs to her home. Abby looked up at the ceiling and then dropped her chin to her chest. Oh crap. What had she done?
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Post by crazylubyfan on Jul 28, 2007 2:42:54 GMT 10
Awww...how sad...Great update though! I am kind of excited to know what is going to happen next...with Susan and Abby and all...they do always seem to get through everything right?...they will right?
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Post by *Natalie* on Jul 28, 2007 5:25:02 GMT 10
Great update Can't wait to find out what happens natalie x
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Post by brandykins on Jul 28, 2007 12:43:50 GMT 10
Great update Update soon!!
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Post by larue on Jul 30, 2007 8:55:33 GMT 10
Susan pulled the door to the little coffee shop open and stepped in out of the blustery December wind. She’d forgotten how very cold it could get in the city. She stamped her feet off and looked around. She saw him in a booth at the same time he saw her. David waved and Susan grinned. She unzipped her jacket and pulled the knit hat from her head as she moved toward him. The waitress approached with a plate of banana cream pie and set it in front of him as Susan slid into the booth seat across from him.
“Pie?” he asked with a grin meant to be enticing. “I can highly recommend the banana cream.” Susan looked down and the delightfully fattening confection and then slowly shook her head.
“I think I’ll just have some hot tea,” she said as she looked up at the waitress. The waitress nodded and started to turn away.
“You’re going to make me eat all alone?” David cajoled. “Come on…..what’s a few calories between friends.” The waitress glanced from one to the other and then Susan sighed.
“Okay…” she said. “I’ll have a slice of your Fruits of the Forest with a scoop of vanilla ice cream…..and can you warm that pie first?” David’s mouth dropped open as the waitress smiled and turned away writing the order on her pad.
“Fruits of the Forest?” David snorted. “Now there is a choice from a person that cannot make up her mind!”
“What do you mean by that?” Susan chuckled.
“Ah, my dear Dr. Lewis….” He said as he took a bite of his pie. “That particular pie has apples and cherries and blueberries and raspberries and god knows what else….something for the person who cannot settle on one particular pie filling.” Susan laughed. He held up a fork full of banana cream filling.
‘Now this….is a choice for someone who knows what he wants.” She laughed again and leaned back as the waitress set a plate with warm fruit pie and vanilla ice cream in front of her. He watched her warily as she picked up her fork and sectioned off a bite of pie. Their eyes met as she slipped it into her mouth. She closed her eyes to enjoy the sweet/sour taste and then sighed. She laughed when she opened her eyes and saw the look on his face. He grinned and the two of them ate in silence eyeing each other every now and then.
“So what’s up?” David asked after the waitress had taken their empty plates and filled their coffee cups again. Susan studied his face for a moment and then shrugged as she studied the cup in front of her.
‘When you said you wanted to talk to a friend for a while I figured something might be going on.” He dipped his head and tried to make eye contact with her.
“It’s stupid,” she said finally as she wrapped her hands around her cup and picked at a chip with her thumbnail.
“No, it’s not,” David said firmly. Susan looked at him and then sighed.
“Well, Abby found out that I haven’t sold our house in Iowa and so she thinks I wanted to move back there and my feelings were hurt and now we’re not talking,” she said hurriedly. “Kind of junior high, I know.” David shrugged.
“I don’t know too many junior high kids who own two houses.” Susan laughed.
“You know what I mean….” She scolded. David grinned. His eyes narrowed as he took a sip of coffee.
“So why didn’t you sell the house?” he asked. Susan’s eyes rolled.
“Oh, here we go,” she sighed. “You’re going to tell me there was some deep, psychological meaning to the fact that I couldn’t let go of the house Chuck and I bought together and that maybe I was hoping this whole duplex thing wouldn’t work out and we could move back to Iowa.” David was silent.
“Aren’t you?” she asked hopefully as her voice trailed off.
“It’s hard to let go,” he said thoughtfully. “I still drive a battered old car that we bought together. Can’t part with it in spite of the horrible gas mileage it gets.”
“Chuck and I weren’t all about the house……” she said. “There were more than a few times when we hated it.” She glanced back down at her cup and took a sip.
“Did you know that I was offered a full time position in Northwestern’s out patient clinic?” she said. David’s eyes widened.
“Wow,” he said. “That’s pretty good! Are you going to take it?” She hesitated and then shook her head.
“Too many hours away from the kids right now,” she said. “And besides, it means putting down roots somewhere and…” Her voice trailed off and she looked away. She glanced at him with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t want to work somewhere permanently until I can force myself back to County a few times.” They were silent for a long moment.
“This thing with Abby will work out,” he said finally. “People argue and make up all the time.” Susan shook her head.
“Not Abby and I,” she said. “The last time we fought was years ago and she stalked out of the ER and was kidnapped to treat some gang member that had been shot. We were lucky she made it back. It could have ended differently.” Susan sighed.
“I’m going to let her stew about this one a little and then make up,” she said thoughtfully. “Christmas is coming and…yeah….we’ll make up by Christmas time.” Her eyes widened a bit.
“Christmas……” she said softly. “Oh my god. Our first Christmas without Chuck.” David studied her stricken face for a long moment and reached across the table to take her shaking hands in his.
“How did you celebrate Christmas?” he asked. She shrugged.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said. “Something different every year as it worked out. We always thought we had a long time to establish all of those ‘traditions’, you know? Last year Susie and I flew to Croatia to be at Abby and Luka’s wedding. Two years before that it was Susie’s first Christmas with us and we came here. And the year before that it was our first Christmas in Iowa and my dad came to spend it with us….Chuck’s mom…..” Her voice trailed off and she swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I have no idea what we are going to do this year,” she said. She slipped her hands from his and busied herself gathering up her hat and gloves and purse. She opened her purse and pulled out a wallet.
“My treat,” David said as he waved his hand.
“But I called you,” she argued. “I should be paying.” He shook his head.
“I make more money than a Teacher’s salary?” she said. She laughed as David nodded and handed the bill to her. She pulled out some money and set it on the table with their bill. David followed her out to the sidewalk and walked her to her car.
‘I have a question to ask you,” she said as she unlocked and opened the door of her car. David leaned across the passenger side and looked at her.
“Were you stalking me on Thanksgiving? In the grocery store?” He rolled his eyes and grinned.
“Nice talking to you, Dr. Lewis!” he called as he turned away and headed down the sidewalk.
“Yeah…I thought so,” she grinned and waved. She took a deep breath and slipped into her car. She locked the doors and buckled her seatbelt. The grin faded and she leaned her head against the steering wheel.
Christmas.
What in the hell was she going to do about Christmas?
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