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I danced around the cabin, looking at the mess I’d made, but also the two cushions I’d assembled. They were far—and I mean far—from perfect, but they were a good start. My corners weren’t as neat or tight as I’d like, but I’d get better. The foam I’d used from Hobby Lobby probably wasn’t going to hold up very long, and so I’d need to do some research on where to find better quality materials. Especially ones up to the standards of Abe’s craftmanship.
Overall, I was confident I could do it. The best part was how much fun I’d had doing it.
I’d never made anything like that before, and although challenging, it was exciting to see what I could do. I enjoyed watching them take shape. Maybe Ashley was right and when I got better Abe and I could work together.
I loved that idea.
Also, I loved ice-cold water.
After drinking more wine than I usually did the night before, I couldn’t get enough.
I lugged a club chair—or at least, a wider, deeper style chair Abe had made and set aside in the shop—up to the cabin so I could show him what I’d made for it. The cushions would work as a sample, but they weren’t as thick and fluffy as I’d prefer.
That led me to more research. I’d picked up a DYI upholstery book the last time I was at Hobby Lobby, so I read through it. Then I watched dozens videos, which again I found ten times more helpful, proving once more I was a visual learner. But both the book and the online clips showed tools I didn’t have.
One video even suggested a kit with dozens of tools I could buy online. The link took me to Amazon and there I found almost more than I could ever need. It was my first time online shopping. Ashely had told me once that it was fast, and maybe I was doing it wrong, but I spent most of the afternoon setting up my account and adding things to a bottomless shopping cart.
I weeded through many kits that had much of the same things and decided on two. A standard one and another that was specifically for leather. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of Abe’s designs with leather.
It was more masculine. More rugged. More Abe.
Since it would be wasteful to practice and learn on the real thing, I also ordered a roll of faux leather. I know Elizabeth said I could get bulk fabric from her, and if this all panned out I would, but before I knew it, I had a notification chiming in my email that my items would be shipping the very next day.
Sometimes technology blew my mind.
That night Abe didn’t FaceTime but sent me a text message instead. To be honest, I hadn’t realized it had gotten so late. I had been sucked down a tutorial rabbit hole.
ABE: Sorry, I’m just now touching base. It’s been a long day. I’ll be heading home tomorrow afternoon for a night. I can’t wait to see you. I love you. Goodnight.
Reading that he’d be home by that time the next night soothed the part of me that was disappointed I wouldn’t get to chat with him. Yet, I didn’t want him to feel bad for working so hard to get back to me as quickly as possible.
ME: That’s okay. I got busy too. I’m just glad you’re coming home. Be careful and drive safely. I love you. Goodnight.
That evening, I took a long combination soaker/bath-bath and daydreamed about our wedding. I wanted a white satin gown and one of those small hats that women wore to the side with a tiny veil in front. I didn’t have a love for heels the way Ashley did, so I’d stick to flats. Since Abe always liked my hair down, I’d wear it in waves for him.
Part of me still felt guilty for having dreams and wanting things like I’d seen on Pinterest, having been taught to think they were vain and materialistic. Maybe they were, but if that was what we wanted, then what did it hurt?
Hopefully, by the time we had a wedding, I’d have a job and be earning money. I’d work for what I wanted, just like Abe. Then no one could say a thing.
Not that anyone around us would. They loved us for who we were not for what we had or didn’t have.
I swished my arms through the warm, bubbly water and imagined what Abe would look like too.
Of course, he was attractive to me in everything. Literally everything. Jeans. Sweats. Suit pants. No pants. T-shirts. Button ups. Jackets. And shirtless.
He made everything he wore look like it was made for him. When he wore nothing at all, he looked made for me. Designed by a creator straight from the depths of my wildest fantasies.
And Abe was all mine.
The image of him in a suit, smiling at me down a center row, flanked with our small circle of friends warmed my insides. The color of his shining eyes were vivid golds and greens and grays. Like the sun shimmering on a rocky creek bed.
I got lost in the tub thinking of him until the water ran cool.
#
CASSIE CAME DOWN THE lane at a quarter to eight. She was early, but I’d been up since before four. I’d mopped and swept every cranny and corner. Made cinnamon rolls and braised a pot roast. Laundered the bed sheets and every scrap of material that needed it.
Abe was coming home today, even if it was just for a night.
I never thought the Festiva was fancy, but compared to the car Ms. Perry drove, it looked and sounded like a show car. She rumbled and coughed up the drive. Her vehicle made noise like a sick lawnmower. But she had a car, and it got her to where she needed to go.
At least for now. I doubted it would survive too much longer.
She cut the ignition, and I met her on the porch.
“Good morning,” I said.
“Hey,” she replied.
“Did you have trouble finding the place?”
“No, I think my dad bought a table from a guy back here a few years ago.”
I smiled knowing he probably had. “Abe makes furniture.”
“Yeah, shaggy guy. Kind of grizzled?”
I thought back to the first time I saw him. Hair wild. Beard even wilder. Wrinkled shirt. Dirty boots.
I laughed as she climbed the stairs with a backpack slung over her shoulder. “He’s my fiancé.”
It was the first time I’d said it like that, and it felt just right. Not like the other times when I’d called him my husband, although technically he was. Fiancé was exactly where we were—by choice—and it was perfect.
“Oh, okay. Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. He was alone a long time. I remember him looking that way too.” I gestured with my hands around my head that he’d had a lot going on with respects to his appearance.
She grinned. Casandra Perry had a smile. A pretty one.
“Come on in. You like cinnamon rolls? I just made some. And coffee too.”
“Hell yes. That sounds amazing.”
As she ate, I got my workbooks and study guides out.
Chewing, she scanned the cabin. “This place is nice. Don’t you have kids though?”
“No. We don’t have any children.”
Her brow pinched as she took a sip from her mug. “Oh, I just thought maybe you had to drop out of high school because you got pregnant. That’s pretty common.”
I sat across from her and watched her pull a second roll from the pan with her fork. “I only went to school through grade eight. Where I used to live, girls didn’t get much education. At fourteen or so, we stayed home and learned how to keep house and raise children. Women in my town didn’t go to college or have jobs very often.”
“That’s pretty fucked.” She shook her head. “Sounds like a goddamned cult.”
Swallowing a lump in my throat, I replied, “It was.”
I wasn’t ashamed of being from a cult because it wasn’t my fault, but it was awkward and a little embarrassing. Often, I wondered how I’d been so gullible and naïve. Why I hadn’t questioned more or stood up for myself. Then again, I had no idea that those were options until Abe. Lancaster was all I’d ever known.
Cassie’s brown eyes held mine and her mouth parted. After blinking at me a few dozen times, her shoulder slumped, and she fell back against the chair. “Are you serious? I’m such a dick to you. I had no idea.”
She spoke like Ashley, but I was used to it. Oddly, it kind of made me more comfortable.
“It’s okay. I didn’t like you either.”
One side of her mouth pulled down, and she shrugged.
I added, “Mostly because you were rude, but that’s in the past.”
“Yeah. I’m working on it.” Before she took another bite, she asked, “So how did you get out?”
Not that I didn’t want to tell her, it was just a long story, and I was ready to move forward. So I gave her the short version. “Abe was from Lancaster too. He came back and saved me.”
“Holy shit. My parents tried to get me to go to Lancaster. To the Academy. It was either there or get out. So I got out. I took one look at the brochure and said fuck that. Whoa.” Again, she was stunned. “My parents almost sent me to a freaking cult. The fuck is wrong with people?” She put her fork down and ran her fingers through her brown shoulder-length hair. “You know what?”
“What?”
She pointed at me. “Fuck everyone. We’re getting our GEDs and they can all kiss our asses.”
I liked her gusto. “Yeah.”
Cassie brought a lot of stuff with her. She had old homework, tests, quizzes, and notes from when she’d went to high school. And since hers already had the answers and work shown on them, she’d made me blank copies so I could practice on my own and then check my work and see where I had trouble. That alone was worth every cent for tutoring.
She stayed for a few hours and just in that short time, she’d explained some tricks she used to help her remember formulas and equations. The science stuff was mostly reading and then some math skills to find answers. She said as soon as the math part got easier, so would the rest.
I already felt more confident. For once, it didn’t seem impossible.
“Thank you,” I said as she packed up what she wasn’t leaving with me.
“No problem. You’re actually doing better than I thought.” She may have just been being extra nice to make up for before, but I’d take the compliment.
“Thanks. You’re a good teacher.”
That earned me another big Ms. Perry smile. “That’s good to hear. When I get through all this and finally take the test, I want to go to school and become one. Not a math teacher though. Art is my thing.”
I had an idea.
“I have your money for today right here.” I went to my wallet on the kitchen counter and pulled out forty dollars. It was going to cost me a pretty penny to pay her for all the help I expected I’d need, but it would be worth it. I handed the cash to her. “And when you think I’m ready to re-take the math and science, I’d like to pay for your test too.”
She froze as she slipped her arm through the strap of her bag. “You’re kidding.”
“No. You’re helping me when no one else can. I want to help you too.”
“Holy shit. I’m not sure what to say.”
“Say thank you and that you’ll see me tomorrow.”
The money I had and planned to use to help others, didn’t have to be exclusive to the people who lived in Lancaster. Cassie faced hurdles too. It wasn’t fair her family turned their backs on her or that she had to work so hard for so little. I couldn’t fix everything for everyone, but I could help with this.
She sucked in a deep breath and quietly said, “Thank you, Myra. I’ll see you tomorrow.”