Chapter 21: Beth, Abel and a bit of Tommy and Rebecca
Beth knocked lightly on the Tellers front door. Her stomach was in her throat and she had the urge to run away. When she heard the footsteps approach the door she took a deep breath. She had gone out on a couple of dates since she and Abel had broke up, but nothing had felt right and whenever she thought about the future she saw Abel.
"Hey" Abel said awkwardly after swinging the door open.
"Hi, can I come in?"
"Yeah, sorry." He stepped to the side and let her pass. "So, you, ah, you want a coffee or something?"
"I'll have a beer if there's one going"
"Sure, take a seat" Beth took a seat on the edge of the couch while Abel got two beers. "So how was New York?"
"Good. I finally met him" Although she'd never tell Rebecca she had been in constant contact with Abel or his phone anyway. It was more a game of tag between their voicemails.
"In jail?" he handed her the beer and settled into the seat opposite her.
"No, he got out a couple months ago"
"What did he say?"
"The usual you'd expect from a guy who beat his wife to death. I didn't mean it, I was drinking back then, I loved her, I've found god. He wants to stay in contact"
"And you?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I mean, my only memories of him are, well, his fist heading towards my face. And he killed my mum, well at least the woman who gave birth to me"
"But?"
"No buts that's all I got. And all this stuff about god"
"Bullshit?"
"Complete"
"What about you know, Jackie and Bruce?"
"I haven't told them yet. We've talked and that but..."
"Are the other family gunna press charges?"
"No I said I went into foster care and mum and dad adopted me. They seemed to buy it"
"It's good to have you back Beth"
"It's good to be back"
"You look great" He wanted to say beautiful.
"You don't. What's going on with you?" He looked like he had lost weight and looked tired. He had lost that carefree smile.
"Thanks"
"Is it me? Because if it's too hard being in contact and dealing with your family-"
"No, I think your rambling nonsensical messages are the only thing keeping me going"
"Yeah, I never know what to say to an answering machine" she laughed.
"Never would have guessed. That one about the largest ball of twine was fascinating" he smiled.
"Yeah I found a brochure about it when I was at the dentist. Seemed interesting at the time"
"It really wasn't" Abel laughed.
"I'm surprised you're not at the club tonight. Heard there was some big party"
"Didn't feel like it"
"Well looking at those bags underneath your eyes maybe it wasn't such a bad idea"
"I don't look that bad do I?"
"Ya kind of do" she said sympathetically.
"Thanks"
"Still not a bad looking fella though. Look, I should go, let you get some beauty sleep"
"Right, you're sticking around though?"
"Yeah, I'm sticking around" she smiled and slid off the couch.
"Oh god sorry" Beth looked away quickly as Rebecca shrugged her t-shirt back on.
"No worries, you've seen it all before anyway, not many haven't" she looked down at Janice who was doing up her shirt buttons "Babe, this is my best friend Beth, Beth this is my girlfriend" Beth smiled at the word girlfriend.
"Nice to meet you girlfriend" Beth stretched her hand out and Janice shock it, she forced a smile on her face. Beth could tell she was feeling uncomfortable.
"Nice to meet you best friend"
"Great now you've officially met. Come on lover let's take this into my room" Rebecca stage whispered.
"Night" Beth smiled. Janice gave a curt nod and Rebecca smiled as she took Janice's hand and lead her to her room. Beth threw her bag down and headed for the kettle.
"Oh shit, Abel" Beth turned around to see Rebecca's head peer around the bedroom door.
"Its fine, I'll fill you in tomorrow"
"Promise"
"Promise, there's not much to tell anyway. Go, have fun"
"Tomorrow, I'll meet you at the diner for lunch" with that her head disappeared back behind the door.
Beth felt a pair of arms rap around her from behind and squeeze.
"How's it going darling?" She recognised his voice straight away.
"Lot better if you weren't suffocating me Tig"
"Shit, sorry. You look like one of the sweet butts from behind" he said apologetically.
"It's fine. Is Tommy around?"
"Yeah I think he's in his room"
"Not that I'm opposed to hugging but you planning on letting me go anytime soon?"
"Right, sorry." He let her go as if it was an afterthought.
"It's fine." She laughed. "I'll see you round"
"Tell Tommy to get his lazy ass out of bed"
"Will do"
She knocked on Tommy's door. "Come in" She walked in to find Tommy shirtless, lying on the bed. He sat bolt upright when he saw her.
"Hey your back"
"Yep"
"Come in" He jumped up and cleared the chair that was in the corner of the room.
"Thanks"
"So... how are you?"
"Good. Real good. How about you? See your healing well" she pointed to bullet wound.
"Yeah, it's pretty much healed completely"
"That's good"
"This a social call?"
"Sort of. I'm trying to sort out my life"
"And you thought you'd start with me?" Tommy gave a smug smile.
"Abel actually." His face dropped.
"Don't"
"Don't what?"
"Look at me like I just shot Bambi"
"Sorry" he mumbled. He grabbed his shirt off the side and slid it on.
"We need to talk."
"You decided I'm the guy for you?" he joked half heartedly.
"It would be so much easier if you were" Tommy sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her. "You're great Tommy. Apart from the whole cheating thing, you were like the perfect boyfriend. You never forgot my birthday; you were the one who remembered when our anniversary was and I never felt taken for granted, again forgetting about the whole cheating thing"
"I'm sor-"
"Let me finish Tommy. You were great, but we were kids when we got together. And I don't mean 'oh I was so young and naive' we were actually children. You asked me out in the playground, underneath the jungle gym for god's sake. If I'm honest its kinda surprising you didn't cheat sooner, or that I stayed faithful. But we're grown ups now, well mostly. We aren't the kids that fell in love."
"But I love you"
"And I love you. I always will but I'm not in love with you" she shook her head "I swore I wouldn't say that, it's so cliché. But its true" she leant forward and took his hands. "I miss you Tommy. I miss your running commentary when we watch a movie and the way you hold the door open even if it means you're standing there for ten minutes. I don't want this to be weird and awkward anymore. You are without a doubt the person who knows me inside out and I don't want to be crossing the street to avoid you anymore. Tell me the truth, no bullshit. Have you, in this time I've been gone ever wanted one of the girls you've slept with to be me?" Tommy shook his head and mumbled.
"No"
"You don't love me Tommy. Not as a girlfriend anyway"
"So this is you finishing with me once and for all?"
"No this is me saying I'm a phone call away if you need a friend but not a booty call"
"I guess that ain't too bad" Tommy laughed.
"So we're good? No more professions of love?"
"No, just friends"
"Good, now come here" she stood up and opened her arms up. Tommy got up and hugged her. "Glad your not dead"
"Me too" he laughed.