Second chances Book 5/6

Chapter 9

Kate had accepted Abigail's invitation to spend the weekend at her place, just to take a break from her life. Kara and Bethany had insisted that she take their room to have a private bathroom, but Kate had insisted on keeping the room originally planned, insisting on sharing the girls' bathroom, giving her a sense of belonging to a family, to rub shoulders with the sisters she never had.

The room that was hers was even bigger than one of her guest rooms, the second being occupied by Kris when she stayed to sleep. It was spacious and bright, tastefully decorated in shades of gray and white, with a painting of a flying dove above the bed. A smell of lavender permeates the air, growing stronger in a closet, with Kara apologizing as she removes it from the closet, explaining that it's a tradition in her family, to ward off spiders.

Hearing a noise, as if someone was chopping wood, Kate approaches the bottom of the garden and, surprised, she watches Abigail knock against a wooden dummy, throwing her arms around and against stakes, banging her palms against the main structure, with the foot a kind of lower crutch. Always hitting faster. Abigail was totally focused, banging nonstop, until she took the headphones out of her ears.

"Let me guess," Kate said. "Is this one of my songs?

— Kate! I am happy to see you. Sorry, I'm sticky. I'll take a shower. Yes, it's you I listen to. Going faster! A beat of two minutes seventeen. I hit my dummy on this timer.

— Thank you.

— For what? wonders Abigail, intrigued, pausing before entering the bathroom.

"For inviting me, Abby."

Abigail doesn't answer, just smiles at her before closing the door behind her.

"Ah, Kate, you're there," exclaims Tilly, interrupting them. "I was going to change the sheets in Kara's room, but she says you don't want to change rooms?

— Sorry, Tilly. No, I want to stay where it was planned.

— But you will have more privacy on the other side, and a private bathroom.

— It's fine where I am, the room is perfect, except maybe the lavender in the closet.

— Yes, it's very French," confirms Tilly. "Well uh... I... because in terms of privacy, we sleep across from your room with Abby and uh...

— Tilly, above all, don't change anything. You are adorable, so pure. If you and Abby are doing... well don't bother about me. On the contrary. Enjoy Abby's love for you, it's beautiful. I'm happy to be here for a few days with you. Would you like to give me a hug? Hmmm you smell good.

— Ah, yes, I made bread earlier.

— So you smell doubly good," said Kate, making her blush.

"Hey," shouts Abigail, out of the shower and changed, coming to hug Kate. "I'm really glad to have you home.

"You have a hot body, Abby.

— Yeah, I forced myself a little today.

— How did you say the other day, wait... going beyond his level?

— That's right. The wooden dummy is used for training in Kung-Fu. I'm limited in Tai Chi, you see, and I've borrowed a bit left and right. And the wooden dummy helps me in my movements. I don't do Kung-Fu, or anything in fact, I create my own techniques starting from the base that Bethany taught me. I cook my own thing," she smiles, taking Tilly's hand.

Installed in the sofas, the girls talk, get to know Kate, and she gets to know them a little more, according to what they can and want to tell her, so she gropes with a few questions seeking where the limits are.