Chapter Ten
Abby had never seen two people so happy. She didn't think it was possible, but Alison looked even more gorgeous today. It's completely true what they say - pregnant women absolutely glow.
Watching the whole scene was hysterical - it was almost impossible - trying to get Rafe to let Alison leave the house. He practically asked for a map of each location where they expected to be and an itinerary for each minute of the day.
Alison gave him a warning as she kissed him goodbye. "Stop." She whispered as she pulled away.
Rafe kept a hold of her hand, not letting her go just yet. "Alison, I just -"
"You just better relax, because I am not staying home for the next 28 weeks - so forget it." She said laughing at him.
He decided to find himself an ally. "Abby, please. Just make sure she sits down once and a while - she needs to rest."
"Yes, sir." Abby said giggling.
Watching them both dissolve into laughter, Rafe started to get annoyed. "You know - you two, make fun of me all you want. Forgive me. I'm just a little concerned."
"Your concern is adorable." Alison smiled and leaned in to kiss him again. "So are you. Have a good day. I'll be careful, I promise."
As he watched them walk out the door, Rafe couldn't help but wonder if Alison might get cold later. She hadn't taken a sweater with her. If he ran after them now, they'd just keep laughing at him. He'd just try and catch up with them later in the afternoon.
Finally outside, Alison sighed with relief. Rafe would keep her locked up there indefinitely if he could. She thought again, it was going to be a long seven months. Still laughing and chatting the two made their way to Wyndham's to get some last minute things for the Grand Opening of the gym. Alison had convinced Abby she couldn't leave. She wanted her to work there, and rent the other apartment in the warehouse. Unable to say no, and not really wanting to - Abby called Gwen and asked her to pack up the few things she had back home and come out and see her for a visit. She'd be here in just a few days.
As they looked for just the right accessories to put on the finishing touches, Abby couldn't help but remark, "Alison, you look so happy."
"Well, that's because I am so happy. Abby, this is so unbelievable. I can't believe how lucky I am." Alison said, her eyes shining.
"If anyone deserves it - it's you two."
"I just hope it lasts." Alison said with a sigh.
"What?"
"I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. When Rafe's not watching me like a hawk, he's worried about something else. My guess, that something is Caleb."
"Why Caleb?" Abby asked, trying to hide the nervousness she suddenly felt.
As she began to answer, Alison couldn't help thinking nice it was, finally having a friend to talk to. She could tell Rafe anything, that was certainly true. Jack and Jamal were the best friends she could hope for, but talking to another woman near her age, and more importantly, her sister - was something she hadn't realized she'd been desperately missing.
"Because - he's looking for something. Some ring he lost, or so Rafe says. I can see Rafe's mind working on how to stop Caleb already. I keep hoping that maybe Caleb just will get it back and leave us alone. I know it's a lot to hope for, but that's truly what I'd like to see happen. This whole thing has gone on long enough. I don't want to have to fight anymore."
"What if Caleb never finds it?" Abby asked then.
"I don't think that's an option. He'll keep looking until it turns up. I know that he could do a lot of damage before it does and I don't want to have to see it happen. I just want to move on, to move forward. I want things to be like they were before."
They paid for their purchases and moved to sit down in a small café in the mall. Abby at least was keeping one promise, to get Alison to rest a bit. She wanted to know what Alison meant about things being back to the way they were. She was still nervous about the whole Caleb thing, but she was trying to push it from her mind. Though Abby had seen bits and pieces of Alison's life for years, she still wanted to hear it from Alison.
"What do you mean?"
"When I first met Rafe," Alison sighed at the memory "it was all so easy. Of course, I didn't think it was easy at the time - I was too busy trying to fix things with Jamal. But Rafe - he's always been the way he is now - sweet and loving but at the same time completely obsessive and overprotective."
"So what's so different now?" Abby asked confused.
"Back then, it was magic. We spent every single moment together. There was nothing keeping us apart. Well, nothing but the fact that he was an angel and on a short assignment from heaven. There was nothing evil here. We were only fighting against time." Alison shook her head as she spoke the words. "Now that I think about it - it's amazing that I even let myself fall in love with him in the first place."
"If you knew then what you know now - would you still do it?"
Alison looked straight at Abby and smiled as she answered. "Absolutely. And you know - I wouldn't have a choice. There'd be no way to stop it."
Alison stared down at her tea and stirred it absentmindedly before she spoke again. "Which is why it annoys me that he won't help me help you. He remembers more about how all that works than he likes to admit. He just won't tell me. He's trying to be normal because I asked him to."
"Alison, I don't mean to be rude, but Rafe is far from normal." Abby said with a grin.
"Tell me about it." Alison smiled back "I can't help it. I keep asking him because - let me tell you - it's so cute when he tries."
Alison grabbed her sister's hand and squeezed it gently as she continued. "Abby, I won't give up. There has to be a way. If Cameron's anything at all like Rafe we'll have to work fast - before he tries to do something crazy like sell his soul or something."
Just then, Abby saw someone moving towards the table and started laughing hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Alison asked.
"Oh nothing." Abby replied through tears of laughter "I just expected him sooner. It's been almost two hours."
"Who?" Alison said as she turned around to find the topic of their conversation standing there, guiltily holding her sweater.
"Rafe." She said softly, love filling her eyes.
"Hi. I was just- "
".in the neighborhood? Wandering in housewares?" Abby tried to guess, still choking on laughter.
He tried to ignore Abby's chuckling as he sat down in the empty chair next to her. "No." Rafe replied, now feeling a bit foolish. He turned to look at Alison. "I just thought you might be cold."
Alison wanted to laugh too, but how could she? "Rafe. That's so sweet, thank you." Alison said as she leaned in to kiss him. "I'm not at all cold, but actually, you're just in time. I'm getting a bit tired. Could you take me home?" she said as she rose.
Rafe knew she'd be tired. They'd laughed at him, but he was right. It was a good thing he came over here. "Sure." He said as he picked up the shopping bags in one hand and held Alison's with the other. "Are you coming, Abby?"
She got her laughter under control before she answered him, "No. That's OK. I've got a bit more shopping to do."
Alison gave Abby a wink as Rafe led her away. Abby knew just what Alison was up to. The poor guy had no idea what would hit him. Alison was giving in to Rafe on this now to make him help her with her project to get Cameron back. Abby couldn't help but smile. If the tables were turned, she'd have done the exact same thing, and Cameron would've fallen for it too.
Abby had never seen two people so happy. She didn't think it was possible, but Alison looked even more gorgeous today. It's completely true what they say - pregnant women absolutely glow.
Watching the whole scene was hysterical - it was almost impossible - trying to get Rafe to let Alison leave the house. He practically asked for a map of each location where they expected to be and an itinerary for each minute of the day.
Alison gave him a warning as she kissed him goodbye. "Stop." She whispered as she pulled away.
Rafe kept a hold of her hand, not letting her go just yet. "Alison, I just -"
"You just better relax, because I am not staying home for the next 28 weeks - so forget it." She said laughing at him.
He decided to find himself an ally. "Abby, please. Just make sure she sits down once and a while - she needs to rest."
"Yes, sir." Abby said giggling.
Watching them both dissolve into laughter, Rafe started to get annoyed. "You know - you two, make fun of me all you want. Forgive me. I'm just a little concerned."
"Your concern is adorable." Alison smiled and leaned in to kiss him again. "So are you. Have a good day. I'll be careful, I promise."
As he watched them walk out the door, Rafe couldn't help but wonder if Alison might get cold later. She hadn't taken a sweater with her. If he ran after them now, they'd just keep laughing at him. He'd just try and catch up with them later in the afternoon.
Finally outside, Alison sighed with relief. Rafe would keep her locked up there indefinitely if he could. She thought again, it was going to be a long seven months. Still laughing and chatting the two made their way to Wyndham's to get some last minute things for the Grand Opening of the gym. Alison had convinced Abby she couldn't leave. She wanted her to work there, and rent the other apartment in the warehouse. Unable to say no, and not really wanting to - Abby called Gwen and asked her to pack up the few things she had back home and come out and see her for a visit. She'd be here in just a few days.
As they looked for just the right accessories to put on the finishing touches, Abby couldn't help but remark, "Alison, you look so happy."
"Well, that's because I am so happy. Abby, this is so unbelievable. I can't believe how lucky I am." Alison said, her eyes shining.
"If anyone deserves it - it's you two."
"I just hope it lasts." Alison said with a sigh.
"What?"
"I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. When Rafe's not watching me like a hawk, he's worried about something else. My guess, that something is Caleb."
"Why Caleb?" Abby asked, trying to hide the nervousness she suddenly felt.
As she began to answer, Alison couldn't help thinking nice it was, finally having a friend to talk to. She could tell Rafe anything, that was certainly true. Jack and Jamal were the best friends she could hope for, but talking to another woman near her age, and more importantly, her sister - was something she hadn't realized she'd been desperately missing.
"Because - he's looking for something. Some ring he lost, or so Rafe says. I can see Rafe's mind working on how to stop Caleb already. I keep hoping that maybe Caleb just will get it back and leave us alone. I know it's a lot to hope for, but that's truly what I'd like to see happen. This whole thing has gone on long enough. I don't want to have to fight anymore."
"What if Caleb never finds it?" Abby asked then.
"I don't think that's an option. He'll keep looking until it turns up. I know that he could do a lot of damage before it does and I don't want to have to see it happen. I just want to move on, to move forward. I want things to be like they were before."
They paid for their purchases and moved to sit down in a small café in the mall. Abby at least was keeping one promise, to get Alison to rest a bit. She wanted to know what Alison meant about things being back to the way they were. She was still nervous about the whole Caleb thing, but she was trying to push it from her mind. Though Abby had seen bits and pieces of Alison's life for years, she still wanted to hear it from Alison.
"What do you mean?"
"When I first met Rafe," Alison sighed at the memory "it was all so easy. Of course, I didn't think it was easy at the time - I was too busy trying to fix things with Jamal. But Rafe - he's always been the way he is now - sweet and loving but at the same time completely obsessive and overprotective."
"So what's so different now?" Abby asked confused.
"Back then, it was magic. We spent every single moment together. There was nothing keeping us apart. Well, nothing but the fact that he was an angel and on a short assignment from heaven. There was nothing evil here. We were only fighting against time." Alison shook her head as she spoke the words. "Now that I think about it - it's amazing that I even let myself fall in love with him in the first place."
"If you knew then what you know now - would you still do it?"
Alison looked straight at Abby and smiled as she answered. "Absolutely. And you know - I wouldn't have a choice. There'd be no way to stop it."
Alison stared down at her tea and stirred it absentmindedly before she spoke again. "Which is why it annoys me that he won't help me help you. He remembers more about how all that works than he likes to admit. He just won't tell me. He's trying to be normal because I asked him to."
"Alison, I don't mean to be rude, but Rafe is far from normal." Abby said with a grin.
"Tell me about it." Alison smiled back "I can't help it. I keep asking him because - let me tell you - it's so cute when he tries."
Alison grabbed her sister's hand and squeezed it gently as she continued. "Abby, I won't give up. There has to be a way. If Cameron's anything at all like Rafe we'll have to work fast - before he tries to do something crazy like sell his soul or something."
Just then, Abby saw someone moving towards the table and started laughing hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Alison asked.
"Oh nothing." Abby replied through tears of laughter "I just expected him sooner. It's been almost two hours."
"Who?" Alison said as she turned around to find the topic of their conversation standing there, guiltily holding her sweater.
"Rafe." She said softly, love filling her eyes.
"Hi. I was just- "
".in the neighborhood? Wandering in housewares?" Abby tried to guess, still choking on laughter.
He tried to ignore Abby's chuckling as he sat down in the empty chair next to her. "No." Rafe replied, now feeling a bit foolish. He turned to look at Alison. "I just thought you might be cold."
Alison wanted to laugh too, but how could she? "Rafe. That's so sweet, thank you." Alison said as she leaned in to kiss him. "I'm not at all cold, but actually, you're just in time. I'm getting a bit tired. Could you take me home?" she said as she rose.
Rafe knew she'd be tired. They'd laughed at him, but he was right. It was a good thing he came over here. "Sure." He said as he picked up the shopping bags in one hand and held Alison's with the other. "Are you coming, Abby?"
She got her laughter under control before she answered him, "No. That's OK. I've got a bit more shopping to do."
Alison gave Abby a wink as Rafe led her away. Abby knew just what Alison was up to. The poor guy had no idea what would hit him. Alison was giving in to Rafe on this now to make him help her with her project to get Cameron back. Abby couldn't help but smile. If the tables were turned, she'd have done the exact same thing, and Cameron would've fallen for it too.