"Foolish Hearts"
Chapter 9 (Heartaches By The Number)
Abbie was amazed at how little traffic there was going into the city that Friday. She actually breezed through the Thru-way. She hit a little snag on the Throg's Neck Bridge, but by the time she made it to the Belt Parkway, she knew she was home free. Abbie took her good fortune as a sign. Maybe this whole plan was meant to be, she thought. Abbie realized she should have left Jenny a message to let her know she was ok. She just really did not need to hear Jenny's take on what she was doing. She was quite sure she would hear an earful when she returned home.
When she arrived in Park Slope, she stopped at the local market on the corner to pick up some groceries. Although, she really didn't cook, the store had a variety of pre made gourmet foods she could easily heat and serve. She chose some of Noel's favorites, purchased a bottle of wine from the liquor store, some fresh flowers from the florist, and headed to Bev and Justin's place. The Monroes lived in a classic Brooklyn brownstone, with a sweet little garden in the back. It was exactly the kind of place she would have chosen, if she lived in the city.
She opened the door, put down her bags, and placed the groceries in the refrigerator. She called Noel to find out his coordinates. When she discovered he had run in to some traffic on the Thru-way, she decided to take a shower and change before he arrived. Abbie tried to steady her nerves and reassure herself of the validity of her plan. She just knew what she was doing was for the best.
"I can't go on like this.", she said while the water from the shower cascaded soothingly. "Noel loves me, and I think we can make it work."
When her shower was over, she quickly dressed and readied the house for Noel's arrival. Beverly had always been a 'clean freak,' so the place was already immaculate. Abbie just placed the fresh flowers she bought on the dining room table, and cued up a romantic song set on her iPad. Abbie loved listening to the dulcet tones of classic female singers of the past. The voices of Sarah Vaughn, and Maxine Sullivan filled the brownstone, and calmed her nerves. Noel called to say he was about 15 minutes away.
"Can't wait to see you Gracie" Noel said cheerfully. "The traffic was murder. But, I know seeing your beautiful face will make it all worth it."
Abbie surveyed the house after Noel ended the call. Flowers, music, food. Yes, everything was in place for a truly romantic rendezvous. Everything that is, except her heart. No, her heart was still in Sleepy Hollow, under the exclusive care of a man named Ichabod Crane.
"Come on, Ichy! Stop dragging your damned feet, she's doing me a favor you know." Jenny scolded as they made their way down Robin's Lane. The streets were too narrow to park in this older section of town, so they had to park several blocks away and hoof it.
"Miss Jenny, you have yet to inform me as to who it is exactly that we are heading to with such haste." Ichabod replied.
"I'll tell you when we get there. Listen, she's a busy lady. I'm just glad she agreed to take us on such short notice." Jenny said.
"Take us to do what exactly Miss Jenny? Why on earth are you being so cryptic?"
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it Crane." Jenny said quickly, as Crane grimaced. "Her name is Maggie and you'll love her."
They finally arrived at the 105 Robin's Lane. It was a cozy little store front with a very old, red awning. The sign on the glass door said "Dance Studio, Maggie Wells, Instructor. Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Ballroom, Boogie Woogie."
Ichabod pointed to the door and asked "And what pray tell exactly is "Boogie Woogie"?
"All questions will be answered, just be patient." Jenny responded, as she opened the door.
"Patient? You, Miss Jenny, were certainly not patient when you dragged me in here."
"You want some cheese with that whine, Crane. I'm doing this to help you impress Abbie. Trust me it will all be worth it in the end."
The pair were surrounded by the classic sounds of a busy dance studio. They could hear the sound of tap dancing coming from a room to the right of them. The voice of a stern woman was calling out ballet instructions from the room to their left.
The pair heard the muted music from the ballet room, become suddenly louder. They looked up to see an elderly woman with warm brown skin, lovely gray hair, and a beautiful smile greet them. She was extremely fit and wore a black leotard with a vintage ballet wrap skirt.
"Jenny Mills.", she said in a strong firm voice. "You look wonderful little girl." She hugged her tightly.
When she stepped away from Jenny. She carefully eyed Ichabod. She slowly walked around him, shaking her head.
"Oh my! Not a bad specimen of a man, not at all. So you're the tall drink of water Jenny here wants me to whip into shape, huh?"
Ichabod , gulped and said "It appears so."
Evangeline Devereux tapped her long fingernails on the top of a display case in Noel's shop. She was growing impatient, as she waited for her sister ,Antoinette to arrive.
Suddenly, the shop door opened. "Took you long enough Tone. it's about time you decided to show up." Evie admonished.
"I got here as soon as I could Evie. You've always been an impatient little witch.", Antoinette teased."So who is it? Who does Gracie's heart beat for?"
"Her partner, Ichabod Crane. I can certainly see the attraction, Tone. He's a beautiful man."
"They're the worst kind."
"No not this one. I mean I've never seen anything like it. His heart doesn't just beat for Gracie, it pounds for her. The rhythm of their hearts is so similar, it's like I was listening to one super organ." The Moyo Mlaji never forgot a specific heart rhythm, once they'd heard it.
"The love they feel for each other is amazingly potent. There's something else about those two. But, I can't quite put my finger on what it is yet. I need a little more time."
"If what you're saying is true Evie, perhaps we should reconsider killing this Crane. Love ties of that magnitude, are not easily broken."
"Reconsider? Are you crazy sister? God, you were always the hopeless romantic! If you think for one precious second, I'm going to let my Noel lose the woman he loves to that, that pony tailed foreigner, you must be crazy! It's a damned shame the propagation of our kind rests with the male gender. I have waited too long for Noel to finally find an appropriate mate. Gracie will make the perfect wife to Noel and mother to the next, little Moyo Mlaji born into this world. No, Ichabod Crane's days are numbered He's definitely doing his last dance. We just have to plan carefully, we can't afford mistakes. We do have one thing in our favor, though." Evie smiled, wickedly.
"What's that Evie?"
"If we're lucky, Gracie and Noel are making love this very minute."
"Ah yes, if she consummates her relationship with Noel, it will weaken her bond with her partner."
"Yes, infidelity does have some merit, on occasion." Evie smiled wickedly.
Noel greeted Abbie with a long, deep kiss when he finally arrived at the brownstone.
"Hey!", Abbie laughed. "I'm glad to see you too."
"Gracie, you look wonderful.", he said. Abbie slowly pulled away from his embrace. She was wearing a simple, gray, fitted tank top and her favorite jeans. She took his hand and walked him into the kitchen.
"I'll tell you, I thought I'd never get here! Traffic was murder." Noel said
.
"Well the point is, you made it. And now we can spend the rest of the day together. I bought some things at the grocery store for lunch . Why don't you take a look in the fridge and decide what you want to eat."
Noel stood behind Abbie and embraced her tightly. "I can think of other things I'd rather be doing, instead of eating, Gracie.", he whispered, as he nibbled her right ear.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. We'll have plenty of time for 'other things' later."
"I can't argue with that", Noel said, as he kissed her again.
"So, you want to learn how to dance, Mr. Crane?" Maggie said.
"Yes, Miss Maggie. I most certainly do. I've been out of practice far too long."
"Oh, so you at least know the basics. How long has it been since you last stepped on to a dance floor?"
"I assure you Madame Maggie, it has been much longer than you could ever imagine."
"That's an understatement!" Jenny chimed in. Ichabod glared at her.
"Well then, we have our work cut out for us! But, I haven't had a partner as handsome as you to work with since 1982. So I'm game". She smiled mischievously. You know, Mr. Crane is too formal. Feel free to call me Maggie. What do your friends call you anyway? Ichy?"
Ichabod visible cringed, while Jenny tried to stifle a laugh.
"Miss Maggie, the only individual who insists on referring to me as Ichy, is Miss Jenny, who is currently trying in vain to contain her laughter. She knows the disdain I have for her little moniker."
"Oh lighten up Crane, it's just for fun, you know that." Jenny replied.
"OK, so I'll just call you Ichabod , if it's alright with you. But, you have to promise to call me, just plain old Maggie."
"Certainly, Mi- Maggie." Ichabod replied.
"Now that's more like it! So, this big dance you have to go to is this Friday?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah", Jenny confirmed. "Sorry for the late notice Maggie. That's why I brought him to the best dance instructor in Sleepy Hollow."
"Oh stop with the complimentary BS Jenny, I already agreed to do it, didn't I?" Maggie laughed.
Jenny walked closer to Maggie, and put her arm around her. "This woman, Crane is legendary. She danced at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem and was one of Katherine Dunham's dancers. She's one tough cookie. She's been teaching dance in Sleepy Hollow since 1958. She taught our Mother, and even tried to teach us."
"Your mother was one hell of a dancer, I really wish things had worked out differently for her.", Maggie said, sadly. "Now, you and Abbie would have been fine little dancers, with a bit more training."
"Your achievements sound extremely impressive Maggie". Ichabod replied.
"Thank you. All that was a long time ago. But, enough of this walking down memory lane. Here's the deal, Ichabod. You need to be here at 5:00 p. m. on the dot for the next week starting today. I can't say I can turn you into Fred Astaire, but I can make sure you can hold your own enough to impress Abbie Mills."
"For that, I will be most grateful, Maggie."
"Hey don't mention it. Abbie's a good kid. She deserves a nice, tall, handsome man taking her for a spin on the dance floor. "So deal?" Maggie offered her hand to Ichabod to shake.
"Yes, deal." Ichabod agreed smiling, as they shook hands to seal their agreement.
Abbie and Noel had talked and laughed through a satisfying meal. They now sat on the living room couch, listening to Peggy Lee and enjoying a glass of wine.
"So," Abbie asked, how bout dessert? I bought some apple pie and there's ice cream in the fridge."
Noel took Abbie's hand, his eyes darkened with desire . "Gracie", he said as he pulled her closer, the only dessert I want is you". He kissed her passionately. Abbie closed her eyes and tried to lose herself in Noel's feverish enthusiasm.
Noel began to tenderly unhook Abbie's bra, he placed his left hand between her legs, to feel the warmth there. His breath became more rapid, as he anticipated the ecstasy to come. Abbie's mind was racing. "Damn it Mills!", her brain screamed at her, "Don't screw this up. Noel loves you, he's waited long enough. Ichabod Crane s your best friend! Once you become more than that, you'll lose everything. Noel is here now! Let him love you!"
Her heart, however, was waging its own battle against rational thought. For, as Abbie Mills tried her best to succumb to Noel's amorous prodding, all she could really do was think about that man in Sleepy Hollow who was the sole owner of her heart. She saw his face as she kissed Noel Devereux, she imagined his hands caressing her body. Her logical mind commanded "You can do this Abbie, just let go.."
Her romantic heart, went into over drive and soundly defeated logic. She could not allow Noel to proceed any further. She suddenly opened her eyes , just as Noel was trying to unzip her jeans.
"Noel.", she sighed, as she removed his hand from her zipper, "I' m sorry, so sorry. I'm not ready for this yet."
To say Noel Devereux was a disappointed man would be an understatement. To his credit, however he was a perfect gentleman. He comforted Abbie with gentle reassurances. "Don't worry about it Gracie. I understand. I want you ready when we make love. At least we had an amazing day together." Abbie listened, while he held her face in his hands. She began to believe his reassurances were much more for his benefit, than for hers; that only made her feel ten times worse.
She would have hated herself, if she had slept with Noel. She hated herself currently, for not sleeping with him. God, her life was a mess! Noel stayed for another hour, still obviously trying to hide the hurt she knew she'd caused. But when the sepia hue of twilight filled the sky, he prepared to leave
"Drive home safely now Gracie. Call me when you get in. I'm looking forward to the dance on Friday.", he kissed her forehead tenderly, and departed.
Abbie closed the door and sighed with sadness, and though she was ashamed to admit it, relief.
Abbie stayed to tidy the place. She left a lovely note, thanking Beverly and Justin, gathered her belongings and left.
Abbie's drive back to Sleepy Hollow was filled with thoughts of the two men in her life. She knew, if it wasn't for Ichabod, she could love Noel unconditionally. But, she couldn't imagine her life without her fellow Witness. She loved him more than she ever thought possible.
It was 10:30 p. m. when she arrived at her apartment door, she fully expected to be met with the raised eyebrow and folded arms of her younger sister. She was ready for her admonishment, she'd been through the scenario so many times before. She ran through the list of snappy comebacks she would wield on her meddling sister. Yes, she was prepared for Jenny Mills!
Abbie hurriedly opened the door and sure enough was greeted with a raised eyebrow , but the eye underneath that brow was brilliantly blue. "Good evening, Lieutenant, glad to see you have arrived home safely. Did you enjoy your rest?"
Now this ...she (most definitely), was not prepared for.
To be continued
Notes: Well, looks like Abbie has some explaining to do!
Thank you so very much for reading and for all your wonderful comments! You know I love hearing what you think.
