Chapter 14 – Emeralds and Gold

"Hello Abigail," Cassie called from the kitchen as Abigail came in through the front door.

"Hello snitch," Abigail replied squinting at Cassie.

"I take it you've seen AJ today," Cassie smiled back as she continued preparing the vegetables for dinner.

"Well played; you launched a pre-emptive strike. You said something to AJ so Sarah wouldn't have the opportunity, ensuring that she didn't violate my warning and that I can't rat her out about the tie." Abigail squinted at Cassie again with her arms crossed over her chest for added emphasis this time. "Well played indeed, cousin."

"Things just came up in casual conversation." Cassie remarked, echoing the tone that Abigail had used what felt like so long ago after the conversation she'd had with Harm in the kitchen. Cassie could see a change in Abigail and knew that AJ's visit to the shop had gone well. She smiled broadly then looked at her with a softer expression. "Are you angry with me?'

"Of course not." Abigail smiled at her and knew it was true. "Besides, you know I can't stay mad at you."

"Merlettos is such a lovely place. You should try the salmon." Cassie recommended as she looked off into the distance for a moment. She'd set two fewer places this evening.

"What if we're caught up in the energy from you and Sam and Sarah and Harm?" Abigail asked quietly after a minute. "I don't want to hurt him." She was looking down at her hands as she spoke, fidgeting with her nails. Cassie knew her too well and could see both the uncertainty and the sincerity in her. She doubted herself and was genuinely afraid of hurting him.

"I don't think you're caught up in anyone's energy but your own." Cassie set aside what she was working on and crossed the kitchen to where Abigail was standing near the doorway. "I can feel the connection that you and he have already developed, even after such a short time. That's not something that can be mistaken or triggered by anyone else." She took Abigail's hands in her own. "You deserve to be happy."

"And yet, I typically manage to find some way or another to ruin it." Abigail scoffed.

"You've made some mistakes in the past, but you've learned from them. Our missteps teach us the right steps." Cassie paused and regarded Abigail for a moment; she could see how much AJ meant to her already. "I believe you and AJ have the start of something truly wonderful, but you have to believe that too in order for it to grow."

"I'm not so sure I can. I've never been the girl that gets the happily ever after," Abigail said softly.

"Maybe that's because you hadn't met the man you were meant to share that happily ever after with," Mac commented as she appeared beside Abigail. "I've known AJ a long time; please believe me when I tell you I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you." She gently touched Abigail's shoulder. "A very wise woman once gave me some really great advice right when I needed to hear it most; don't hide from your future in your past, Abigail."

Abigail took a deep breath and nodded. She looked at Mac , then Cassie. "Thank you, both of you." She hugged them both, pulling them into a tight group hug. "I guess I better go get ready for my date."

"Wear the green dress; it brings out the red highlights in your hair," Cassie suggested.

"And the gold necklace with the Celtic knot and matching earrings," Mac contributed.

Abigail simply smiled as she made her way to the stairs and headed up to her room.

"Have I mentioned how very happy I am that your car broke down that day, Mrs. Rabb?" Cassie asked with her arm still wrapped around Mac's back in a half hug. She smiled after her cousin, the energy coming off her was something she'd never experienced from her before and she felt more confident than ever that it wouldn't be a long courtship.

"That makes two of us, Mrs. Radford" Mac agreed. "I'm going to talk to Harm and Bud to let them know to keep it in check later when they see them leaving together."

"I'll speak to Sam and George," Cassie nodded.

"You look very dapper, AJ," Cassie commented as he came down the stairs. He wore a nicely tailored suit, black pants and jacket over a crisp, white shirt and a dark green tie.

"Thank you, Cassie. Hopefully, Abigail will agree," he nodded at Cassie as he reached the bottom of the stairs and crossed the foyer to stand near her. "Thank you, for this morning."

Cassie nodded then stepped a little closer to him and spoke just above a whisper, "Can I ask a favor of you?"

"Of course," he replied, instinctively dropping his voice to match hers.

"Be patient with Abigail. For all her bravado, she doubts herself and her worthiness more than most people realize. It takes a lot for her to allow herself to be vulnerable around someone." She took a breath and a sadness colored her voice when she continued. "She's been betrayed by those she trusted in the past; it's made her overly cautious when it comes to letting people get close to her." She looked at AJ now and he could see the concern on her face which he'd heard in her voice. "Please don't mistake hesitation for disinterest."

"I'm not going anywhere," he said simply. "As long as she needs, I'll wait."

"Thank you, AJ." Cassie tilted her head slightly. "I do believe your date will be down momentarily. Have a lovely evening." She nodded and walked into the parlor.

AJ looked up the stairs to see Abigail descending them and he couldn't keep himself from smiling. She wore a form fitting green velvet dress which clung to her body in the most tantalizing way, paired with black, knee high leather boots and just a hint of gold jewelry. She reached the bottom stair and looked at him curiously.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, feeling a tightness in her chest as she considered the possibility that he had reassessed the idea and realized it was a bad one.

"No, I was just thinking how lucky I am to be going to dinner with this vision in emerald and gold," he said smoothly. It sounded better than what he had been thinking about, which was taking her right back upstairs to his room and ripping the dress off her. "You're stunning." Abigail blushed and smiled shyly at him. "Shall we, my dear?" he offered her his elbow. She slipped her arm through his and they left.

"I knew I saw something there last night!" Harriet gushed from the parlor after the door clicked closed. She gently nudged Bud in the ribs. "See, I wasn't over-analyzing and reading too much into it."

"And another man succumbs to the Merriwick charms," Sam joked as he walked up behind Cassie and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Dinner should be just about ready. Why don't you all go have a seat. I'll help Harm bring everything in," Cassie said as she watched the taillights of AJ's truck pull away.

"I can help Harm," Sam offered.

"You have been on your feet at the hospital all day. Go, relax."

"I know better than to argue with you," Sam smiled and kissed her cheek again. "Ladies," he gestured for Harriet, Mattie, Sarah and Grace to lead the way to the table.

"So, what bothers you about AJ and Abigail being together?" Cassie asked quietly once she and Harm were alone in the kitchen. She didn't look at him as she spoke, but she knew he looked at her.

"Just don't want to see things go sideways," he answered quietly as he pulled a large pan out of the oven.

"You're concerned that the novelty of the relationship may wear off for Abigail," Cassie surmised.

"No, not at all," Harm said quickly as he tuned to her. "It's not her that I'm concerned about, it's the situation. AJ puts on a good show, but he's been burned in the past. When it comes to romantic partners, he doesn't trust easily, and he has a tendency to cut bait fast if he feels like things aren't quite right."

"He and Abigail have that in common," Cassie commented. "You're a good man to be so concerned for your friend."

"I'm concerned for both of them; I don't want to see what it would do to him if she gets spooked and bolts any more than I want to see what it would do to her if she's invested and he's keeping it casual," Harm countered. He took Cassie's hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Cassie, you know Mac and I both already consider you guys family. It's not a matter of whether or not I trust Abigail; I do trust her, completely. I trust AJ too. However, I've seen too many times when people jump into something too fast and it blows up in their face. I don't want to see that happen to either of them."

"I know it won't put your mind completely at ease, but I do believe they're both going into this being very honest and with eyes wide open." She smiled at him now. "Have a little faith Harm; good things happen in Middleton." She touched his arm gently. "And I hope you know that we all feel the same way about you and Sarah; you're family as far as we're concerned."

"Not completely at ease, but it does help. Thanks Cass," he smiled down at her and wrapped her in a quick hug. "Now let's get in there with the food before my wife starts eating the flower arrangements."