Timing

Mutual

Carol loved her too...

   Abi stood there, on that snowy street, long after Carol's silhouette disappeared into the night. She touched her lips, still warm from where Carol's had been touching hers. A smile creeped onto her mouth, and she bit her lip. Real life? How could it be? But it was...

   Abby didn't expect this... she wasn't sure Carol even expected this either but here they were. Two women in love... not really just out of the blue but... long overdue. It was finally happening, and with Carol. Life didn't feel real to her. Until it did.

The Christmas season picked up, just a few weeks later. Traffic in the furniture store was heavy. It was loud, phones ringing off the hook, the loud chatter from the customers and salespeople. It was full of life and endless chaos. Great for business. Bad for mental health.

Abby ran around the store aimlessly (seemingly). Every time she started a task, it seemed a new one beckoned for her attention, most of the time during a task. The desks were disheveled and the staging areas needing tidying. Abby was running around, trying to do it all.

She didn't even notice the woman standing before her. Abby continued tidying up the coffee table in the living room set on the floor. "How much for the Time magazine that's six years old?" The voice asked, teasing her. "It's only for staging purposes" Abby said quietly, not even looking up. The voice snickered.

Abby looked up at the woman. She had that familiar smile on her face. Amusement, a sense of superiority (in a good way), and sarcasm painting itself on her lips. "Carol!! You nitwit!" Abby smacked her arm with the magazine. Carol just threw her head back, laughing. "You are in the zone, Gerhard" Carol smirked.

"I am swamped is what I am" Abby sighed, a faint smile playing on the ends of her mouth. "It seems that you are" Carol said matter of fact. "I suppose that's why you haven't returned my calls" Carol teased, running her finger along the armoire drawers, keeping it casual of course. Even though they both knew it was anything but.

Abby was silent, she didn't know what to say. Carol just looked at her. "You know, you don't have to be a stranger. If this is... not what you wanted... something more...I understand" Carol said. "Just... return my calls... you know?" Carol said. Abby didn't know what to say. Of course she loved Carol, of course she wanted more.

   For years, all she had wanted was Carol... but she couldn't shake this feeling that Carol would regret being with her. She couldn't shake the idea of Carol losing Rindy because she loved a woman, because she loved Abby. She knew Harge would not hold back in the slightest. She knew Harge was very jealous of her and possessive over Carol. She knew he was selfish.

   She was afraid... for Carol. Carol was an adult woman, who could make her own choices, OF COURSE but she couldn't shake that thought. She didn't want to see Carol hurt or for her to make a decision she would regret for the rest of her and Rindy's life. She cared.

   "Carol, I'm sorry... I'm just... so busy" Abby gestured to the bustling, loud store, around them. "I see..." Carol said softly. "It appears you are" Carol smiled, weakly. Abby felt like her heart had been ripped out. She wanted so badly to take her into her arms and kiss her, to tell her "forget about it all. Run away with me" but she was afraid, scared that Carol would regret it for the rest of her life.

   Not that Carol would regret being with her... but she would regret giving up Rindy, her child. She would always regret that and mourn it even. Abby knew this. She knew how close they were. Whether Carol loved Abby or not... that had to come second.

   "Message received..." Carol said quietly. She began walking away, on the verge of tears. This killed Abby inside. It absolutely ripped her open. "Wait" Abby said, grabbing Carols elbow, stopping her. Carol slowly turned around and made eye contact with Abby. There it was. Like that snowy night, when they first kissed. The sparks, the forest fire, burning all in its path.