A/N: Awians et al - you will see here that Alison will feel the same way as Abby - for a particular reason. The idea for this came from a lot of different things - Abby's "juice bar career" seemed a waste to me for one and now there's Melissa working at the gym. I figured - let her sell the juice - she's a nutritionist anyway. ;) Second - Ali needs to bake something besides low-fat blueberry and bran muffins - and Melody took dibs on the bakery. ;) Oh and Melody - ME TOO! I spend hours in bookstores. LOVE them.
As for the rest of the story - we'll see more of Livvie soon. Is she over her guilt or ready to move on?? And where the heck is Caleb??? Hmmm. You shall see soon enough. Until 35…xox-G
Chapter Thirty-four
Rafe had intended to spend the rest of the night making sure Alison knew she was the one and only one for him.
Unfortunately, another girl was occupying all of his attention.
"Katrina. Shh. Katie. C'mon. I'm begging you. I told your mom I could handle this. What are you trying to do to me huh?"
She looked up at him and continued to wail, her face bright pink. She was really annoyed with him.
He tried to put her tiny little arm into the tiny little sleeve. Why did she even have to change into something else to sleep anyway? The kid slept most of the day - and she did it while she wore those adorable outfits Alison fussed over. This one piece thing that Alison insisted Kate sleep in was a nightmare to get on her.
Rafe sighed as he gazed lovingly down at her. "Maybe I should ask myself what I'm trying to do to you." He looked at his daughter and laughed. "You don't want to wear this - do you Kate?"
As if agreeing, Katrina stopped crying and simply whimpered.
"OK. OK. Shh." He picked her up and searched frantically. He saw something that looked good enough. "I've got an idea."
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Rafe was so busy trying to calm Katie that he didn't hear the doorbell ring - or Abby come rushing in.
"Alison! Thank God you're home!" Abby cried. "If I had to wait to tell you I'd die."
"Well - sweetie - I'm here. Slow down. What's going on?"
"I'm buying a bookshop!" Abby couldn't help but blurt it out.
"OK. That's - well - I guess that's wonderful news. You certainly seem excited." Alison laughed.
Abby grabbed her hands. "I want you to be excited too - because…Alison. Will you run it with me?"
"A bookshop? Abby - Rafe and I…" Alison began.
"I know. You both have the gym - but it's really close by. And I'll buy it - it won't cost you a thing - but Alison really - you have to hear the story. The woman who I met there - she told me this great story - she used to run the shop with her sister."
The settled on the couch and Abby continued on, hoping she could make Alison see how perfect it all was. "Her name is Daisy. She and her sister lived apart for many years. Their parent's split up right after Daisy's younger sister was born. It was a such a scandal in those days - but anyways… much later - they found each other again. They both got married and settled down in PC. Daisy loved books and so they opened a little shop. Her sister loved to bake and made cookies for all the little kids that came by in the afternoons. They had story time for the kids after school. They worked side by side for 50 years.
Alison had never seen anyone so excited about anything. She knew Abby worked in a store with her friend Gwen back in Colorado and now Abby spoke so passionately about it all that Alison couldn't help but get wrapped up in it herself
Abby's eyes began to tear up. "Now - they both want to retire and spend time with their grandkids - but Daisy just can't leave the shop. Not until she knows it'll fall into the hands of someone who can love it like she did." .
"And she found you." Alison said with a grin.
"Or I found her. I'm not really sure but I know in my heart that it just feels right. You know? I really think it's our destiny." Abby replied.
She realized she was so caught up in it all she wasn't thinking about what anyone else thought. She was focused solely on making this dream come true.
She looked down at her lap. "Ali - I'm sorry. I got so caught up in it all I barely stopped to think. I'll understand if you don't want to. Maybe it's just my destiny. Not yours. I - "
Alison shook her head and held Abby's hand tighter. "No Abby, If you believe it - that's good enough for me. I think it's a great idea. I really do."
"It's just that Daisy and Rose - they reminded me so much of us - you know? And I just thought…."
"Wait a second. Daisy's sister's name is Rose?" Alison asked. It figures, she thought with a smile.
"Yes. Didn't I say that already?" Abby asked.
"No. No you didn't. And this bookshop - you said it's near the gym?" Alison started to laugh.
"Yeah." Abby replied, confused. "Really close - like down the block."
"Hold on." Alison grinned. "RAFE!" She yelled up to him.
He thought she found him out - and was wondering why it was taking him so long. "Yeah Angel? I'll be right down."
"Take your time. Just answer a question for me. What's your girlfriend's name?"
Abby looked at her like she was nuts. Her mind spun. What was she saying? Rafe has a girlfriend? "Alison?" She asked, the tone of her voice mirroring her thoughts.
"Shh. Just wait." she whispered back.
They could both hear Rafe sigh heavily. "God. I already told you - are you ever going to give it up?"
"Rafe." Alison rolled her eyes. "Of course not - you should know better. Now. Just answer the question. What's her name?"
"Rose." He said softly as he came down the stairs. "I've told you a million times. Her name is Rose and she's not my girlfriend. She's just a sweet old lady who works in the bookshop."
As he reached the bottom he grinned at them both surprised to see Alison wasn't alone. "Hey Abby." He said.
"Hey ." She replied as she burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Rafe asked - suddenly feeling very ill at ease.
"I love you." Alison said as she crossed to him and kissed him quickly. Then she turned to her sister. "It's destiny all right. There's your answer, Abby." She said with a laugh.
Abby was so happy she couldn't speak. She brought her hands to her lips and started to cry. Rafe was absolutely clueless. He had no idea what was going on here. It happened a lot when Abby and Alison where together. Where the hell was Cam when he needed him?
Seeing him so distressed, Alison kissed him again and laughed louder. She looked up at him and smiled. "The way I see it if I take over the "other woman's" job then I'll have nothing more to worry about."
