17. Abigale

God,I'm so uncomfortable, but I needed to talk about this to someone, and the only one I feel even remotely at ease with is my mom. So here we are, in my kitchen, drinking iced tea at the table. I've tried to explain in a very broad way what's going on, but she keeps digging in with her questions like she's some kind of a reporter looking for the story of the year. It's pissing me off.

"Mom, what's with the twenty questions? I just need some advice on if I'm reading the situation right. Don't you think I'm weirded out having this kind of talk with you? Shit, you're my mom, don't want to be sharing my sex stories with you. No, forget I said that."

"So, I was right, you and Grey are having sex together? Explains those shouts of his name in the middle of the night being screamed out loud. I told Jorgie you were probably calling out because you needed him to help you. Don't get embarrassed, she only heard you once because the windows were open. Hey, it's part of life, Daughter, and personally, I'm glad one of us is getting some."

That has me snorting out loud. Damn, that brought a vision I'll never be able to forget. Mom can be brutally honest and direct. Wish I had a bit more of that part of her in me. She must read my mind because she grins at me and it dawns on me how very lucky I am to have her here with me. For years, when she was married to the jerk, we barely saw each other because he made it a living hell to go back home and visit. Maybe for Nicholas's or Jorgie's birthdays or a holiday or two. Don't think I've ever told her how much her being here means, so I do just that.

"I might not be the most expressive person but, Mom, I'm beyond grateful to have you and the kids here with me. I finally feel like I have a family and that's because you took a chance coming out West. I don't take you for granted and never will. Love you."

She gets up and walks to me, pulling me out of the chair, hugging me tightly. I feel tears but hold them back. When she releases me, she wipes her own tears from her face then grins again.

"Well, Abigale, do exactly that with Grey and I doubt you'll have any problems. All you have to do is be totally honest. He's a good guy, honey, and anyone with eyes can see he's in deep with you. Take the chance, I know it will be worth it. Now. he's on his way back with Spirit from a supply pickup, right? Why don't you go put something pretty on and I'll start some dinner for the two of you. No, don't argue with your mother. Get. One of us is going to have some romance in their lives if I can help it."

Then, after a quick kiss on the cheek, she pushes me out of the kitchen with me giggling. God, I've missed her so much. As I'm walking to my bedroom—no, guess to our room—I'm going through my closet to try and come up with something that will take Grey's breath away. Then I remember a couple of little black dresses I had in college for different functions. I'm sure one of those will work, then a thought drops in my head and I know I've found the perfect thing. I get in my room and decide to take a quick shower, which turns into a longer one by the time I shave and wash and condition my hair. I'm not a makeup kind of girl, but I put on some eyeliner and mascara with a little blush and some balm on my lips. Not too bad. Next, I go to my closet, push my way to the back, and pull out my choice. It's a maxi dress in soft, deep, warm colors. Gathered in the waist and with a slit up the side. Pockets on either side complete it. I've never felt so comfortable before in a dress. I reach down and grab the simple sandals I wear with the dress and place both on my bed. First, I lotion up then look for some kind of pretty undies, which is useless I'm too basic. So I grab a pair of ladies' boy briefs that are a deep navy color and match a blue that's in the dress and pull them up. Moving stuff around in my dresser drawer, I pull out the one lacy bra I have. It's multicolored and I guess pretty, so that's the winner. Together they do look nice and much better than the sports bra and plain undies I usually wear. I partially dry my hair than pull it back into a loose braid. I pull a couple of strands to surround my face to soften the hardness of the braid.

Looking in the mirror, I'm surprised at how put together I look. Not bad for a woman who deals with wild animals most days. Heading down lil' Fern looks up from her bed by the fireplace. When she's satisfied it's just me, she drops her head back down and falls back into her afternoon nap. Mom turns when I walk into the kitchen and whistles loudly. I see the crockpot out and on high. She just put the lid on, so I walk toward her to see what she decided to make.

"Something easy and good, Abigale. Roast chicken, potatoes, and carrots. Will be ready in just a couple hours and will keep 'til you are ready to eat. I put a Moscato in the refrigerator with a couple of those beers Grey likes. My job here is done. When the kids get home, I'll take care of the feedings tonight. No, don't argue. Take the afternoon to relax and wait for your man. We'll see you both in the morning, or maybe afternoon, if you're lucky."

Feeling my face getting red and watching her laugh as she sees it, I laugh right alongside of her. Life works in funny ways. Not too long ago I was beyond lonely, even though Mom was here, we were just existing. Now we truly have a relationship based on love and trust. What happened at the school parking lot that day showed both of us that life is precious. We're not letting any more time pass us by without being totally invested in each other's lives. Now I have to apply that thought to Grey. I hope I didn't wait too long though, since he told me his feelings and I just fell asleep. Then the next day I couldn't find the right time to tell him, and each day it got harder and harder to bring the subject up because I knew I'd hurt his feelings and now we are here. That night he told me his feelings I was spent from the day and the multiple orgasms Grey gave me. That isn't an excuse, it's a fact. Fault lies on me that the next day I didn't take the time to let him know how special he is and how much his words meant to me.

Wandering through my house, I wonder what the future holds for Grey and me. Not even sure he likes my little ranch, farm, or whatever you want to call it. Currently we have lil' Fern, who now stays with us in the house. In the pole barn I have two lone male wolves, a female who lost her hind leg in a trap, so she's recuperating slowly due to her age. A bunch of baby goats that were found on the road and one sow and her two piglets. I don't turn any animals away, even when wolves are here. It gives me the opportunity to show people that if the wolf is fed it won't attack a farm animal and so far, fingers crossed, I can say that's totally true. The two males are trying to get the attention of the lone female. She's not interested as she's trying to get used to being a tripod.

Hearing a door slam, that's my warning Grey is home. I hope his trip with Spirit was a good one. I know most women would be jealous of the budding relationship between the two, but I trust not only Grey but Spirit too. And I know Grey has trouble connecting, so if he's able to do that with a woman instead of a man I'm not threatened until they give me something to worry about. When the door opens and Grey calls out, I finish setting the dining room table and make my way to the front hallway as he is trying to remove his boots. His bag is already on the floor so when I get to the entrance I wait impatiently. If I'm going to do this, want to get it over with because I'm a bundle of nerves. When Grey lifts his head and sees me, he totally freezes as his eyes take me in from the top of my head to the tips of my sandals and then back up. I see the appreciation in his look. It's now or never, so I take a deep breath and let it all out.

"Grey, I've got something I need to tell you. First, I'm so very sorry it's taken me this long. I have issues, if you haven't realized already. Mom told me to, as she put it, ‘shit or get off the pot' so here I am taking her advice. Oh, she put dinner together for us so I could get myself together, again her words not mine. Damn, I'm blabbering. The other night after, well you know, we had sex, I was half asleep but I heard what you said to me. I should have forced myself to wake up, but I didn't. And the next morning you were acting like nothing major happened, so I was confused. Then when you looked at me, I knew I'd hurt your feelings. That was never my intention. I was trying to find the right time and words but there never is the perfect time or the exact words, so just going to say it. Grey, you make me feel better than I've ever felt. You always have my back and my mom's and my siblings' too. Besides your work at the Blue Sky Sanctuary, you bust your ass here with me. You never belittle me or make me feel less. What I'm trying to say and messing it up is I love you. Not sure where we are going with this, but you need to know how wonderful you are and how much I appreciate you. There, I said it, you want to eat now?"

He tilts his head for a second then stalks toward me, a look in his eyes I've never seen before.

"Can the food wait? Do you need to turn it off or take it out of the oven?"

"Um, no, it's in a crockpot. You okay?"

When he reaches me, he bends and puts his shoulder into my belly, lifting me like a fireman would. I screech right before he cracks my ass then leaves his hand there to rub the burn away. My God, the tingles in my girly parts has me flush. Guess I used the right words as he rushes us to the bedroom and literally tosses me on the bed, before he grabs my ankles and pulls me to the edge, then he drops to his knees. His hands find my panties and they are off in two point five seconds. When he blows on that small bundle of nerves hidden in the middle of me, my body arches and I just know I'm going to be seeing stars shortly. And Grey doesn't disappoint me, though not only did stars appear, he also rocked my entire world.