Doe Hollow

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Abby hummed to herself as she swept her parents' front porch in the fresh Spring breeze, the skirt of her blue sundress swishing around her knees as she pushed the broom across the concrete. When she saw James pulling into the driveway, she waved, leaning the broom against one of the rocking chairs.

"I wasn't expecting you until later," she said as he stepped onto the porch and hugged her.

"I have something important to talk to you about," he explained. "Are your parents home?" Abby gave him a quizzical look.

"No, they're visiting Mammy," she replied.

"Good," James said vaguely, taking her hand and quickly pulling her into the house. Once inside, he all but dragged her into the living room, and ushered her to the couch.

"What's going on?" She asked. James sat next to her and took both of her hands in his own.

"Abby, the question of where we're going to live after the wedding has been the elephant in the room for months now," he started, staring into her eyes. "It's time we settled it." Abby shifted nervously in her seat.

"Okay," she said, clearing her throat. "I'm assuming you have an idea." James took a deep breath and squeezed Abby's hands.

"I know how important it is for you to be near your family," he said softly. "They're your support system and I don't think it would be right for me to take you away from Doe Hollow." Abby tensed.

"I've been offered a new job, and I'm going to take it," James continued. "It's an advancement for me career wise, and it will come with a pretty significant raise-" Abby cut him off.

"What?" She whispered, her eyes wide with fear. James kissed both her hands.

"It's a position as a featured columnist and blogger for a pretty big online news outlet," James went on. "I'll be working almost exclusively from home." Abby's mouth dropped open in confusion.

"What are you getting at?" She asked. James bit his lip and grinned.

"I'm buying a house in Doe Hollow," he replied. Abby suddenly gripped his hands so tightly her fingernails dug into his wrists.

"Are you serious?" She demanded, her eyebrows raised impossibly high.

"Yes," James laughed. "What can I say, The Holler has kind of grown on me." Abby threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you so much," she murmured excitedly into his ear. When James finally managed to pry her arms from around his neck, he held her at arms distance and looked into her eyes.

"Is that what will make you the happiest?" He asked seriously. Abby nodded, taking a deep breath.

"When are you going to start looking?" She asked, running her hands through her hair excitedly. James sighed.

"Well, that's the thing," he said, "I already did." Abby scoffed.

"How long have you been planning this?" She asked, incredulous.

"All along," James answered, winking. Abby slapped his shoulder playfully.

"You ass! And you let me worry about it all this time?" She laughed.

"I wanted it to be a surprise," James told her, taking her hands into his own again. Abby began to calm as James made slow circles on her palms with his thumbs.

"Abby, the reason I came to town so early is because I closed on the house today," he admitted. Abby gasped, speechless. "Do you want to go see your new home?'

"Oh my God, are you fucking with me right now?" Abby replied. James shook his head patiently.

"No, I'm serious," he promised. "Come on," he added, rising from the couch. He led a very dazed Abby to the front door, where she slipped on a pair of canvas shoes and followed him out to his car.