Chapter 32 – Pick up and Drop off

Over one month later…

February 13th

Abby pulled up in front of Susan's house. She pushed her sunglasses up to rest it on top of her head and then blared the horn to let her know she's waiting. Abby purposely chose a black Cherokee Jeep the latest model to hire for the weekend, because she used to have one, an earlier model since then she has always been attached to them. Abby sold her Cherokee when she first arrived in Chicago, living in the city, it was pointless keeping if you are not going to use the vehicle especially that work is only a ride away on the EL. Abby sat with both arms stretched out to grip her hands on the steering wheel. She then fiddled with the adjuster near the side of her left leg. She levered it to position the seat correctly for comfort and a good view out of the front windscreen. Abby leaned over the passenger side to look out of the window and see her friend stood at the door with Cosmo under her arm, resting on her hip, waving and signalling 2 minutes with her fingers, the brunette nodded back.

Susan walked down the steps with her son in one hand and booster seat in the other hand. Abby notice 2 sets of baggage left on the doorstep.

"I'll get those for you while you strap Cosmo in" Abby assisting her friend, Susan puts her hand in her coat pocket to pull out a set of keys and gives them to her.

"Can you lock the door for me please?"

"Sure" Abby walked up the steps and picked up the luggage and walked down again. She opened the door to put them in the trunk. Susan finished strapping her son in and stepped in the passenger side. Abby got in, putting her seatbelt on and turned the ignition on to start the engine.

"Nice choice" Susan nodded commenting on the vehicle, she leaned over to poke and prod at the gadgets on the dashboard. A drinks holder popped out. "Are you sure you don't mind dropping Cosmo at Chuck's place?"

"Of course I don't mind" Abby replied, driving the car away.

"He is being awkward, I asked him if he'll pick him up but says the girlfriend using the car" Susan said pulling down the sun visor and looks at herself in the mirror, she puckered her lips. "Lately I've been doing the running round like dropping him off, he hasn't been around at my place since he collected his stuff, why won't he come round?"

"Oh yeah I've heard that one before, she may have control over him and won't unleash him"

"Really?" The blonde leaned her head forward looking at the brunette "I must be naïve then, telling me that Nicole might put her foot down"

"Nicole? That's her name?" Abby chuckled.

"What?" Susan shook her head wondering why Abby finds it so amusing "I found out her name last week"

"Oh just that when I was dating Luka, he has his eyes clapped on a Nicole and he finished up dating her after we broke up" Abby pursed her lip trying not to smile hoping that it's not the same Nicole, Chuck is dating.

"That was a year before I came back to Chicago, so I wouldn't know who she is"

"Which road does Chuck live at?"

"1345 Richmond Street West, that's his girlfriend place" Susan answered letting out a sigh.

"Have you met her?"

"No, I hope she is there so I can see what she looks like"

"Yeah well don't get your claws out, I am not in a position to restrain people!"

"Abby you are not much of a side kick!" Susan snorted at her friend.

Cosmo sitting in the back in his car seat with a juice beaker, he mimics his mother's and shouted, "Piggy snorts mommy snorts" and keeps repeating the words.

Abby bursts out with laughter and Susan's face turned pink with embarrassment.

"Aw Susie you're blushing!" Abby said giving her friend a gentle punch on her arm, teasing, "Cosmo is doing well with his words for a 2 year old"

"Yes he is" The blonde nodded clearing her throat and grinned looking over her shoulder to take a glimpse of her son "I want him to be intelligent like his mommy"

Abby saw the street sign 'Richmond Street West', she looked in the rear-view mirror and signalled to turn left. She drove the Jeep down the street, leaning forward looking at house numbers and Susan is doing the same, scanning the numbers.

"1345… There" Susan said, pointing her finger at the direction of the house. Abby pulled the Jeep up in front of the house and puts the handbrake on. Susan hopped out of the car and walked round and meets Abby getting out of her side.

"Do you need a hand?" She asked opening the back door for Susan.

"I think I'm ok, perhaps you can carry his bag, while I'll sort the car seat out" Susan answered leaning in the back, undoing the seat belt from the toddler booster seat

"Hi Abby" Chuck greeted the brunette, looking unshaven and tired out coming out of the house.

"Oh hi Chuck" She replied walking to the back vehicle, opening the door to lifts the bag up from the trunk and gave it to him. "Cosmo's staying over clothes"

"Thanks and congratulations!"

Abby paused for a second think what he is on about; she puts her hand on her tummy "Oh yes thank you"

A long blonde curly hair woman steps out of the house and slipped her hand into Chuck's hand and grasped tightly. Susan lifts Cosmo out of the car and paused to look at his girlfriend. Abby raised her brows in surprise how young she looked. Susan walked over to Chuck carrying Cosmo who is resting on her hips. She gave him the cold silent look. He reached his arms out to receive his son and Susan handed him over.

"How's my boy?" Chuck asked, giving him a hug.

"Hi I'm Nicole, you must be Susan" said the younger blonde stepping forward, putting her hand out to shake. The older blonde looked down at her hand and looked at her in the eye, being non-responsive. Susan looked at her estranged husband who is wearing a nervous smile.

"You take care of Cosmo" Susan asked politely, leaning over to kiss her son "I'll be back Sunday evening ok?"

Chuck nodded and he handed Cosmo over to Nicole and asked her "Can you give us a minute?"

Nicole narrowed her eyes at her lover and stormed off in to the house with the toddler. Abby and Susan both raised their brows and look at each other thinking about the maturity level of Chuck's lover.

"Do you have to be so rude?" Chuck snapped

"What? What the hell are you on about?" Susan pulls a puzzled face "I haven't said a word to her!"

"Exactly, you was being ignorant when she offered to shake hands"

"Oh sorry you want me to be best buddy with the kid" Susan said raising both hands up and pointed up her index fingers and bended them with sarcasm "who stole my husband? Go to hell Chuck!"

With her head facing the view of the road, Abby moved her eyes to the side to look at her friend, who is leaning her head against the door window with her arms folded looking bemused. Susan has been sat in that position for the past 15 minutes, since they left Cosmo with Chuck. Abby lifted her hand off the steering wheel and reached over to tap on Susan's lap, The blonde flinched, the tap had startled her waking her up from her angry thoughts about why her marriage has failed and where did it go wrong?

"I hope you are not going to have a miserable face for the entire journey?" Said the brunette pursing her lips watching the road.

"I'm sorry" Susan replied sitting up straight, tucking the strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I am not being fair on you"

Abby smiled reaching over to the dashboard to press the button to turn on the radio.

"What do you think of Nicole?" Susan asked

"I don't know her" Abby replied shrugging her shoulders.

"No what I mean is do you think she's attractive?"

"Yes I think she's pretty, she looks quite young"

Susan groaned sinking in to her seat "I thought the same, she pretty alright, she won the competition there, I'm the frumpy ugly one"

"Susan don't put yourself down like that"

"Well it's true, she's prettier than me and she probably got more energy then I have, I'm some thirty-something who is worn out physically and mentally"

"Susan you are a working mother" Abby said interrupting her friend "What does Nicole do?"

"She doesn't do anything and I heard that she's dropped out of college, to devote herself to him"

"You're kidding me," Abby shook her head in disbelief "I thought he would encourage her not to give up education?"

"Search me"

"You know what Chuck's problem is?" Abby said swinging her head to Susan "He cannot take the fact that you are a lot smarter than him and more successful"

Susan pulled her bottom lip out and nodded, agreeing with what Abby had said, she is right.

"And I don't want to hear you putting yourself down like that again? Just remember that you are a beautiful, caring human being, ok?" Abby scolded Susan with a little smile. "You are much better looking than Nicole ok?"

"Ok" Susan looked down feeling embarrassed the fact that she is like Abby, doesn't take compliments very well.

They are riding along the highway heading out to the open space and they see a big sign on the side of the road, it reads…

You are leaving Chicago, please come back soon!