Spotlight

32

After having supper with Abby's parents, helping to clean up the dishes and enduring a rather long conversation and a million questions about herself, family and her and Abby's relationship and future plans, Sarah is more than ready to call it a night. She says good night and makes her way to Abby's room where she sits down on the side of the bed and takes a minute to absorb, process and decompress.

Abby soon follows and takes the spot beside her on the bed along with her hand in her own.

"What's on your mind, Superstar?"

"I don't think that your Dad likes me, Abs."

"Is that why you've been so distant and distracted? You don't think my Dad likes you?"

Sarah nods, "Yeah."

Abby chuckles. "Babe, my Dad loves you! When you took Bobby out for a walk; my parents couldn't stop talking about you!"

"Yeah, but the whole spiel he gave me about us and our relationship and ..."

Abby squeezes her hand, "Was all for show. He wanted to make sure that you weren't going to run as the first sign of adversity."

"Our entire relationship thus far has been built around adversity."

Abby nods, "It has and it's been extremely difficult at times for me to separate Selena and Sarah, but, now that the details about the label and the members of the board are getting out, it's only a matter of time before we can turn the page and be ourselves in public."

"Umm, Abs; I've been thinking about that. I think that it is in everyone's best interests to keep the charade of Lauren and I being in a relationship for a bit longer. It's not because I don't want to be out in the open with you, because, damn, I can't wait to be able to walk down the street with you on my arm; it's about protecting you and possibly your career from what's about to hit the fan. I don't want us or our relationship to be compromised by factors outside of our control. I love you so much, Abs, you have no idea and I can't bare the thought of you being hurt by choices I made before I knew better. Also, Lauren and I both have albums and songs out that need promotion, and that can only be done together. A song like Fire and Ice is going to tank if the public finds out that it isn't really about the two of us, not to mention there is already so much bad publicity surrounding the label right now that we need to do our best to stay ahead of it. I hope you understand where I'm coming from."

Abby smiles. "I understand and I trust you and your judgement. I agree that it's a better play for you to continue the role until a time when things settle down and I'm fine with it. Honestly, I'm not quite ready to walk the rainbow in public yet and could use a bit of time to speak with and prepare my friends and family."

Sarah leans over and kisses her cheek. "You know what they say you'll find at the end of a rainbow, right?"

Abby chuckles. "A pot of gold."

"Or in this case; my beautiful golden girl. I love you, Baby."

Abby looks at her with a mischievous smile, "How much do you love me?"

Sarah laughs, "Enough to know that it's going to be a long enjoyable night."

Abby stands up and places a chair in front of her door, knowing that it won't stop anyone from entering the room, but it will cause a delay long enough so that the two of them can cover up.

Both stand up and help each other out of their clothes, slowly and gently between kisses, touches and hugs before laying down on the bed together and spending the next few hours appreciating each other and each other's body.

As Sarah lays in the dark listening and watching Abby's silhouette sleep, she can't help but think of her Grandmother's ring that's been safely tucked inside an inner pocket of her suitcase. More than ever, she knows that the woman laying beside her is the person she can see spending the rest of her life with. Now, it's a matter of planning the when and where to make it happen and there's still the matter of gaining permission from Abby's parents to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. Being wide awake and unable to fall back asleep, she pulls on some clothes and makes a stop in the bathroom to wash and clean up a bit before doing her best to stealthy move to the kitchen to make herself some tea.