the reunion

[icu1978]

standing in front of the large picture window in her living room abby thomas watched the snow fall outside as she waited for the phone to ring. she had heard through old friends that sam jones was coming into town today. it hurt that he had not told her but then she could not blame him they had lost contact some years back after she had transfered schools.

turning she picked up her coffe cup and took a drink from the steaming cup and lit a ciggerett. taking a deep breath she sat down at the kitched table and thought back to all the good time she and sam had had over the years. she hoped that he would stop by or even call when he got into town. getting up she walked to the counter and poured another cup of coffe and turned the radio on. the everly borthers voices filled her kitchen as they sang you lost that lovin feeling.

with a sigh and a look heanen ward she sat back down at the table and drinking her coffee and smoking her ciggerett she fliped through a magazine infront of her. not really seeing what was on the pages she was passing by.

when the phone rang she sprang to her feet and grabed the reicever up. holding it her ear she spoke in her soft genteel voice. " hello?"

 

[schmoe_128]

"Abby, how ya doin' hun?" Sam asked her as he sat in the diner, sipping on a cup of coffee, smoking a cigarette, trying to sound like they'd just talked the other day. "I was hoping you'd be there. Hey, i'm intown for a while with the holidays and I was wondering if you wanted to get a drink or something."

Sam and Abby had been good friends all through high school, even starting out at the same college. Sam was a bit upset with her when she decided to transfer after only their freshman year. She hadn't given him a valid reason and so he started not returning all of her phone calls out of spite. The returns got to be less and less and eventually stopped completely.

When Sam graduated from college with a degree in chemical engineering, he hoped the first moving thing out of town and headed for Texas to work in the oil fields, and barely looked back. This was the first holiday season he'd been home since.

"It's been a while and I was hoping to catch up some, and maybe do a little explaining." he said, hoping she'd accept his invitation.

 

[icu1978]

abby took a breath and smiled to herself when she heard sam on the other end of the line.

" that sounds great sam. if you would like you could come on over to my place, when you get some free time."

she held her breath waiting for his answer. puting her cigerett out in the ash tray and taking a drink of her coffee. it had been so long and she had missed sam so much that it had taken her nearly a year to get over the loss of his friendship. she knew he had been angry with her when she left school without telling him the reason, but it was to fresh then and she could not bring herself to talk about it. she hoped that now she would have the chance to explain to him.

 

[schmoe_128]

"I'd love to come over. What ya doing right now? I caught an earlier flight and my parents wont be home for a couple of hours yet. I'm just hanging out at the coffee shop so I could come over." he said, maybe a bit to enthusiastically. He missed Abby and catching back up with her was part of the reason he decided to come home to his parents this year for Christmas.

"I'd really like to see you, it's been way to long." he said to her as he stubbed out his smoke. The way their freindship had stopped had always bothered him and he hoped they could rekindle it. He felt his pulse rate bump up a little as he waited for her to reply. He was only in town for a little over a week and figured it would take a good share of that for them to catch up, to get to where their friendship had been if that was possible.

 

[icu1978]

abby looked around her kitchen it was clean as it always was but she would have to do some fast work in the rest of the house..
" that's fine sam. i am free all day i live at 3232 west front street. it's not to hard to find. so i will see you in a few minutes then?" after it was agreed that he would be over shortly she hung up the reiciver and went to the living room and looking down at her 2 year old german sheperd laying on the floor infront of the fire place soaking up all the warmth he could. smiling she called to the dog " come you poey thing you.. time for to spend some time outside." with him following her to the back door she let him out into the fenced back yard.

going into the house she made a fresh pot of coffee and lit another cigerett.
she could not beleive that sam was going to be coming to her house. she did not know what she expected when she invited him over but she was happy with the answer she had gotten.

going through the house she lit a few candles. and soon she could smell the french vanilla faintly in each room. smiling she closed her eyes and took a drag of her ciggerett. walking into the living room she sat on the sofa to wait for sam.

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam wrote the address down on a napkin as he lit another cigarette. "I'll be there in a few darlin'." he said, his years in Texas popping to the surface. He smoked his cigarette as he finished his coffee, to give Abby a few extra minutes, and to give himself extra time to get his nerves in check.

He stubbed it out, grabbed his bag and headed out to get a cab. He gave the driver the address. His tomach started doing flip flops as they drove. He felt like a teenager going on his firt date. "Wait, pull over here." he said as he saw a flower shop. He knew he couldn't show up empty handed. "Wait for me." he said to the driver as he got out.

He bought a small boquet of flowers for Abby and got back into the cab. He looked at her house s the driver pulled up. Sam sat for a moment, staring out the window, building the nerve to get out. Finally he paid, grabbed his bag and started walking to the door.

 

[icu1978]

abby seen the cab pull up out front and jumped to her feet. she watched out the window until she seen sam walking up the drive. smiling she noticed that he had not changed much in that last couple of years. walking from teh living room she opened the door as sam was taking the last step onto the porch.

" hello there stranger." smiling she went to him on the porch and wraping her arms around him gave him a big hug. to her it seemed like it was only yesturday that she had seen him. she closed her eyes and inhaled noticing her still wore the same colgne as he did in school.

steping aside she let him into the house and took his coat. hanging it in the closet she turned smiling. " would you like some coffee?"

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam smiled when Abby opened the door. He made it to her in a couple of quick steps across the porch and let go of his bag as he wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. "Hello to you" he said smiling.

He took in a deep breath, realizing she still used the same perfume too. He was glad somethings didn't change, the smell bringing back so many memories.

He stepped through the door and handed her his coat, setting his bag by the door. "I'd love a cup" he said as he followed her further into the house.

 

[icu1978]

feeling like a giddy school girl she lead sam into the kitchen in the back of the house and poured them both a cup of coffee. smiling she sat it infront of him the cream and sugar already on the table. sitting in the chair across from him she took a sip of the hot brew. watching him over the rim of her cup. finally after an extended silence abby set her cup down and looked into his eyes.
" what happend sam.. you just stoped calling. i wrote and i called i even faxed you once. but nothing."

looking down at the table she picked up her cigeretts and poping one out of the pack she brought it to her lips and lit it. breathing in deeply as she took the first drag. she was upset and trying hard not to show it. getting up she grabed a plate of cinnoman rolls off the counter that she had made that morning and set it on the table offering them to sam before returning to her seat.

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam felt like a teenager at a girls house without her parents home, like he really shouldn't be there. Untl Abby sat down across from him and he looked at her realizing how much he missed her. She had been his best friend and suddenly she was gone from his life. Now she was here, with him.

" what happend sam.. you just stoped calling. i wrote and i called i even faxed you once. but nothing." she asked him shyly as she lit her cigarette. Sam did the same before he answered her. "Abby, I don't know if I can tell you how much I wish it hadn't happened, how much of an ass I was. But I was pissed when you transfered. Pissed that you didn't talk to me about it, that you didn't give me an explanation." he said taking a drag from his cigarette. "We were best friends, had been since we were kids and I felt betrayed for some reason." he felt a tear well in his eye as he remembered how it felt when he heard she left, without a word.

He sipped his strong black coffee as he looked at her, giving her a chance to reply.

 

[icu1978]

smiling she looked down into her cup wating as the cream she had put in swirled around.. she still felt bad about not telling sam about why she had to leave.. he deserved an explanatoin and it was long over due.
looking up she smiled crookedly at him and shruged her shoulders.
"sam you where my best friend and i loved you so much. i feel i owe you an explantion about why i did things the way i did back then. i didn't transfer schools sam.. i droped out and came home. you remember i was dating that jim shooler back then and you were with suzie.. well i had a falling out with jim after i told him i was pregnant.. (laughing) that has a way of making a guy run off if he isn't ready for it. anyways i came home and had the baby and this really nice family from new york came and addopted her. she is happy. i get pictures now and then with my christmas card.. i dont regret it but i wish i had told you about it before i left.. i hope you can forgive me"

taking a long drag off her ciggerett and blowing the smoke over her head she looked at him wondering what he was thinking. she had just layed alot of information on him and she had a feeling he would be upset that she didn't come to him then.

lifting her cup she took a drink and set it down watching him as he sat there looking thunder struck.

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam was in mid sip of his coffee when the word pregnant came from her mouth. He stopped with his cup at his lips and looked at her over the brim of the cup. His eyes big as could be. He set the cup down without taking his eyes from hers "Did you say pregnant? You were pregnant? Now I really feel like an ass. I abandoned you when you needed me the most. Why didn't you tell me Abby? I would have done anything for you. Hell, I would have married you if you had wanted me to. That's why I'm here Abby, for both of us to forgive eachother. Me for you not telling me what was going on, you for me not sticking by our friendship." he said.

"You probably don't know this, but shortly after you left college, Suzie left me too. She couldn't handle the person I became for a while. I was almost in a depressed state. She ended up with some football player. I haven't heard from her in years." he said sheepishly as he took another drag from his cigarette.

"You said you have pictures of her? Can I see them?" he asked wondering if she looked like her mother.

 

[icu1978]

laying her hand over his she smiled " i was. but it seems like such a long time ago now. getting up she went to the living room and taking a beutiful box off the shelf she returned to the kitchen. searching through the box she found the latest picture she had gotten from her duaghters paretns.

handing it to sam it showed a little girl with raven black hair falling in curls from piggy tails. with large hazel eyes and chubby cheeks.

" she's 3 now. i never told you sam becuase well it was my problem and i did not want to face that i had gotten pregnant by a man that would turn his back on me. i knew what you would say if i told you. i did not want to ruin your life.. you where going places and had a future ahead of you. i wouldn't have taken that from you for anything in the world you know that... and sam.........i do forgive you.. i did along time ago." getting up she refilled their cups with fresh coffe and sitting she lit another cigerett.

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam waited a second and lit another cigarette while she went to the living room and got a box. Bringing it back to the table, she showed him a picture "She's beautiful Abby. She looks just like you." he said with a smile.

"The thing is darlin', with friends your problem is my problem. I would have helped you any way I could have. Besides, my life just about got derailed with losing your friendship anyway. I miss having you in my life." he said to her with a smile. "And, I forgive you too. I have an idea, we've forgiven, now how about we forget and talk about what we;ve been up to since those dark days of our lives."

 

[icu1978]

laughing she stood and huged him. "come on we can talk some more in the living room." as they left the kitchen carrying their coffee and cigerettes. she could not help but think back to all the times in her life she would have given anything to be with him like she was today. giving a slight shake of her head she sat on the couch next to him pulling her feet up under her. she turned her body so she could look at him while they talked.

" well i got my teaching degree and i work at the elementry school up the road.. the one we went to.. i never married or dated much after i left school. mostly becuase i just didn't have the time. what about you?"

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam followed her into the living room and sat on the couch, turned slightly so he could look at her. "I graduated from college with a chemical engineering degree. I've been woorking in the oil fields in Texas doing field studies eveer since." he said with a smile.

As he looked at her, he realized just how much he had missed her. How much she had meant to him and how badly he had screwed up by not returning her calls and letters.

"You know, I just realized how much I missed our talks." he said as he reached for her hand.

 

[icu1978]

the sound of her laugher filled the small living room as she clasped hands with him. her fingers twining between his. " i know what you mean..it is really good to be able to sit and talk with you like this sam.."
releasing his hand she leaned forward and wraped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck. she could feel the tears in her eyes and did not want him to see them.

when they began to fall onto his shirt leaving tiny wet spots she laughed and held onto him all the tighter.her voice cloged with emotion she whispered against the pulse in his neck." i don't think i could ever tell you how much i have missed you."

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam closed his eyes softly as Abby wrapped her arms around his neck he felt the warmth of her skin nestle into the curve of his neck, drawing a slight smile to his lips. He could feel her tears as they dripped onto his shirt and could tell by her laugh and her voice that she was crying.

"I know sweetheart, I know." he whispered back to her as he moved his head enough to kiss her cheek. The touch of his lips on her skin sent electric waves through his body. He moved his hand up and down her back lightly, holding her close to him.

 

[icu1978]

taking a deep breath when she felt his lips on her cheek she turned her face a little and their lips met breifly. pulling away she laughed. " sorry i don;t know what i was thinking sam." wiping her eyes she sat back on the sofa and lit another cigerette.
looking at him with red rimed eyes she smiled and blew the smoke out of her lungs." did you ever mary sam? meet that one special woman that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?"

she knew she was opening a box she was not sure she wanted to see what was inside. but she needed to know. brushing her hair away from her face she thumped the ashes from her cigerett and looked to him.

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam gasped a little when their lips brushed. When she pulled away, he felt empty, he wanted to reach out and pull her to him and kiss her, only with meaning.

"No, I never did. I guess I never really looked for anyone. I dated a couple of girls in college after Suzie dumped me, but it never felt right. After, I dove into my work, and really hadn't come up for air until a couple of weeks ago, and only then realized how much of an ass I had been to you." he said as he lit another cigarette.

He turned and sat straight on the couch, putting his elbows on his knees, looking down at his feet. "Actually Abby, there is another reason I came to town. I need to tell you .... I love you." he said taking a big drag from his cigarette without looking at her.

 

[icu1978]

she felt as if her breath had been knocked out of her. she coud still hear him saying it again and again in her mind.. those three little words she had waited what seemed like a life time to hear. ( i love you) watching him looking at his shoes she took a deep breath.. " i think this calls for somthing a bit stronger than coffee. don't you?" standing she walked into the kitchen and opening the cabinet she pulled a bottle of scotch from the shelf. taking two tumblers with her she entered the living room and poured him a glass.

handing him his drink she sat down and drank hers. then turned to him.
" you couldn't have told me that a few years ago i suppose." laughing she leaned back her body slumped against the sofa." god sam what i wouldn't have done to hear you say thosse words to me all those years ago... but i will admit.. i love you too.. i always have. it's why i ran away from school and you when i found out i was pregant. i couldn't face you." setting her glass down and stubbing out her ciggerett she turned to him. scooting next to him so that their legs where pressed togethor from hip to knee. she placed her hand on his lower thigh and using her finger tips she turned his face to hers.

" i'm really gald you told me. but why?? why now sam after all that has happend and all the time that has passed."
she wanted no she needed to know why he was declairing this now. she was scared to feel happy about this. afraid she was about to loose him again. and she was not sure she could live through it a second time.

 

[schmoe_128]

"Well, a few years ago, I didn't realize I loved you like that until it was to late, until you were ogne. Besides, you were with Jim, and I was with Suzie. By the time I realized it, you had stopped calling and writing, and I was to bull headed to try to find you. My male ego told me you were the one that left, why should I make the effort." he said, finishing his cigarette.

"When I got to Texas, I got so involved in work, I didn't take the time to think about it. Then a couple of weeks ago, something made me step back and I realized I was missing something. You. My original intention was just to rekindle our friendship, but when I saw you open the door, I knew that wasn't possible. And, I don't want to lose you again." he said and downed the sot of scotch.

The contact of their bodies made if hard for him to concentrate on what he was thinking. When Abby put her hand on his leg and turned his face towrds hers, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and pulled her lips towards his "I don't ever want to lose you again." he whispered as their lips connected.

 

[icu1978]

sbby closed her eyes loving how he held her face while he kissed her.. feeling his tongue sliding across her lips she moaned softly and opend to him. the feel of his tongue against hers sent her spiraling. her body was quaking with the disire she felt building for him. lifting her hands she wraped her arms around his neck and leaned her body against him. every inch of her that was touching his body was sending elctric shocks through her. breaking the kiss she looked into his eyes. " i dont want to loose you either sam. i love you " lifting her lips to his she again felt the intence plesure of his mouth on hers. his hands tangling in her hair.

feeling out of breath she broke the kiss again. gently holding his hand she led him from the living room and up the stairs to her bedroom. opening the door she let him enter and then she closed it behind them. the room was large and well lit. the king size four poster bed dominated the room . turning she felt his arms going around her waist. her arms around his neck their body's where pressed tightly togethor as slowly they made their way to the bed.

 

[schmoe_128]

Sam hesitated for a moment as Abby stood and took his hands in hers. Hesitated just the split second it took for it to sink into his mind where she was inviting him. He stood and followed her up the stairs to her bedroom. He turned to her as she closed the door, taking her into his arms. He felt the curves of her body fit into his as her arms came around her neck, their kiss turning more and more passionate with each beat of their hearts.

As they made their way to the bed, Sam's hands found the bottom of Abby's shirt and pulled it over her head. He looked down at her half bare breasts and moaned softly as his hands found the clasp of her bra, deftly unhooking it, revealing her magnificent breasts to him and to the cool air of the bedroom.

 

[icu1978]

as her bra sliped off the cool air and the look in his eyes had her nipples puckering instantly. sliping her hands under his shirt she lifted it over his head and let it drop to the floor. running her hands over the contours of his chest and torso she looked into his eyes. she could hardly believe this was happening. she was about to make love to the only man she had loved since she was 17 years old. when he lowered his head she raised her face to him. their kiss was passoinet and stirred feelings in her she had never experianced before.

as he lowered her to the bed she scooched back. the cold fabric of the comfitor against her heated skin making her shiver. raising her arms she ran her fingers through his hair. praying this was not a dream she was going to wake up from.