Joanne turned to look at Abby. “So, what’s the problem?”
“I don’t want to be hurt again,” Abby admitted.
Joanne snorted. “Oh, sweetie! You’re going to be hurt again! That’s just life. Pain in life is inevitable.” She stirred in more cheese. “It’s how we live our lives during the fun times that counts. If we go through life trying to avoid pain, well, then we’ll miss out on a whole lot of wonderful, beautiful moments as well.” She looked at her daughter’s stunned expression. “You love him, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Abby admitted.
“But you’re afraid?”
Abby nodded. “I don’t want him to die, Mom.”
Joanne turned off the heat under the pot. “Abby,” she said, covering her daughter’s hands with her own, “he is going to die eventually. He might die next week or he might die when he’s eighty-five. He could die in a car accident or some bastard in a foreign country might shoot him. But yes, he’s going to die.” She squeezed Abby’s hands. “The question you need to ask yourself is what you might be missing out on before that happens.”
Joanne walked back to the stove and poured the pasta into the boiling water. She didn’t say anything else, just continued stirring and adding various ingredients into the cheese sauce while Abby contemplated her mother’s words.
She was right, Abby thought. She was so right! What in the world was she doing? Why was she here when Zeke was vital, wonderful, and still alive?! Why was she wasting time alone when she could be with Zeke?!
“I have to go, Mom!” Abby said, jumping off of the stool and rushing over to hug her mother one more time. “I’m sorry, but I need to fix something!”
She grabbed her purse and her keys, running out the door. Her tires squealed as she pulled out of her parking space and Abby forced herself to slow down. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if she got into an accident on the way to Zeke’s apartment.
Ten minutes later, she stared at the empty parking space where his truck was usually parked. He wasn’t here? Abby looked around, trying to figure out what to do. She needed to see him, but where was he?
She texted him, then waited a few minutes, willing him to respond. But there was just silence.
What to do, what to do?!
Then she thought of something. Could he have gone…?
Pulling out of the parking lot, she made her way out of town. Zeke’s truck was bigger and had better clearance, but her small sedan was determined and she drove it carefully down the dirt road and over the ruts and holes.
There! She saw the flash of blue! It was Zeke’s truck! It was by that spot near the creek!
She barely took the time to turn off her car before she threw open the door and looked around. “Zeke?” she called out.
A moment later, Zeke strode through the trees, his eyes alert. “Abby? What’s going on? What’s wrong?” he demanded, tugging her into his arms protectively as he scanned the area.
Abby laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I was wrong!” she whispered, holding him close. “I was so wrong!”
Zeke froze, barely registering what she said. Especially since her soft curves were pressed against his body and…damn it, she felt good!
“How were you wrong, love?” he asked, not really caring. She was in his arms and that was all that mattered.
“I was wrong to push you away. I love you!” she told him, pulling back so that she could look into his eyes. “I love you so much that it scares me. And that’s why I pushed you away.”
He understood what she’d been going through. “You’re afraid that I’ll die and you won’t know where or why. Like what happened to your father.”
“Yes. But it’s more than that, Zeke.” She moved closer, placing her hands on his chest. “You scare me because I love you so much. So if anything were to happen to you, I don’t know if I’d survive.”
He sighed and pulled her in close. “I’ll give it all up. I’ll resign from the Army.”
She laughed and hugged him tighter. “No, you won’t!” she countered. “My mom arrived and…” she stopped, looking up at him. “Wait a minute. She said that you called her?” She looked at him. “You called my mom?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “I saw you one day and you looked awful. I knew that you wouldn’t talk to me, so I looked up your mom and told her that you needed help. That you were upset.” He kissed her. “I sent her a plane ticket because I knew that you needed someone.”
“Zeke,” she sighed, her heart swelling with the love she felt for this man until she thought her ribs might actually crack. “I love you!” she whispered. “I love you so much and I promise I’ll never push you away. But you can’t resign.” She looked at him. “You love what you do. My mom reminded me of that about my dad earlier tonight. My dad loved what he did. He believed in his work and he was good at it.” She moved closer. “She also said that she’d never been happier than when she was with him. And no man had ever measured up to him. So she said that she was glad that she had all those years with my dad.” She lifted up onto her toes and kissed Zeke. “I want to be with you. I want those years, however many there are. I want to know everything there is to know about you, Zeke. And if something happens to you, I’ll know that we had those years.”
“Abby!” he groaned and lifted her into his arms, kissing her and running his hands over her body. “I love you so
