Vivienne's Guilt (18 page)

“Grace has Asperger’s. It’s a form of autism. I didn’t know about it until we’d been friends for a few years. She was just a normal girl with me, but with everyone else, she was so mousy. Grace was shy and tripped over her words. She had trouble making friends. She obsessed over the things that she cared about, and I was one of those things. I knew how much she cared for me, and I should’ve taken better care with her. She was my best friend, and I disrespected her. I, of all people, knew better.”

I can’t help but feel a little jealous at how much she meant to him.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Abbott. I don’t know her, but I’m sure she knows how much you regret what happened and how sorry you are. You made that very clear. You can’t blame yourself for her reaction. You tried, and that’s all you can do. It sucks that things ended the way they did...but she would be crazy to think anything but amazing things about you. You’re a great guy,” I say, sprinkling kisses over his face. “And you are really—” kiss “—really—” kiss “—sexy,” I say, running my hands up his smooth chest.

Abbott smirks. “Keep it coming. I’m great, and I’m sexy, and...”

“And, you have a really...big...ego!”

“So, is that what we’re calling him now? Ego?” he questions as he grinds his hardening cock into my leg.

Again?

“You better put your ego away before I can’t move, Casanova.”

“Married only a few hours and already it starts!”

Shaking my head, I answer, “I’ll take care of your ego later, don’t you worry. Just give Virginia time to recover.”

The bed shakes with the force of his laughter. “Virginia? That’s really unoriginal, babe. I’m disappointed by your lack of effort. Naming privates is a very big deal,” he says, looking down at his impressive ego. “Pun intended.”

I scoff, “Privates? What are we in, kindergarten?”

“Touché,” he says, flicking my nose. “Naming your pussy...” Abbott whispers, drawing out the word as he runs his finger along my slit, “is a big deal. It should be something sexy. Virginia...” he says, shaking his head, “is not sexy, baby.”

“My bad.” I arch my breasts into his chest as my heart beats rapidly at his touch and breathily respond, “My apologies, the fine china needs time to recuperate from the pounding your ego put her through over the past eight hours.”

He purses his lips, scrunching up his face. “Meh, that’s a little better. We’ll keep working on it.”

Banging on my bedroom door pulls me back to reality. I must have dozed off again after taking my medicine.

“Rise and shine, lover!”
Ugh, her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

“Go away!” I shout, pulling the covers back over my head.

She raps on the door once again. “Come on, Momma. They’re going to be here soon.”

I groan. “Cass...”

“Yeah, babe?”

“I can’t,” I cry. “I can’t do it.”

“I got it, babe. Just come when you’re ready.”

I shut my eyes and drift in and out of sleep.

“So,” Abbott says, massaging my scalp with his fingertips. “I was thinking...”

I widen my eye. “Uh-oh, that’s rarely a good thing.”

He gives my hair a gentle pull. “Shush. I really have an idea.”

“I’m sorry, baby. What’s up?”

“Well,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck, “I was thinking that when we get home from our honeymoon and start building the lake house...that we could add in plans for a summer camp for kids with Asperger’s? Kids like Gracie.”

The loss of his friendship with Grace obviously still bothers him a lot. Abbott is so hard on himself sometimes. Maybe this will finally give him some closure.

“I think that’s a great idea, Abbott,” I say with genuine excitement.

The look he gives me in return is one of sheer relief. “You do?”

“I do,” I agree, smiling at his cuteness.

“Good. I just got the feeling that you didn’t like her much when we were talking earlier.”

“I don’t like that she hurt you, and I don’t think you’re the only one to blame for the loss of your friendship, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t see how much she meant to you and how much you need some closure. I understand that she had issues, and you know how much I love children. Helping kids could never be a bad thing, and if it helps you in the process, then all the better.”

“You’re the best wife ever,” Abbott declares, pulling me in for a hug. He buries his scruffy face into the nape of my neck, eliciting a chill as his warm breath on my sensitive skin awakens a fervor in me.

I roll my head back, giving him better access as my heartbeat becomes erratic. “Abbott...”

“Yeah, babe?” he whispers into my ear.

“She’s ready,” I moan breathily.

“Who?” he teases.

“Ummm...” God, this feels so good. “Uh, ohhh...I can’t think right now, Abbott,” I whimper.

“Come on,” he urges, sucking on my earlobe, “give me something, Vivie.”

“Pink taco,” I blurt out. Pink taco?

He snorts...Snorts!

“Pink taco?” he questions, his voice filled with laughter.

“You’re killing my buzz,” I warn, glaring at him.

Abbott chuckles, raising his palms out in surrender. “Pink taco...okay...we can work with that. Sounds delicious. Mind if I have a taste?”

I don’t mind. I don’t mind one bit.

I jolt up in bed.
What the hell am I doing?
This camp was so important to Abbott. Now is not the time to wallow.

After the world’s fastest shower, I throw on a sundress and apply a little makeup to cover the dark circles that have become a permanent fixture on my face then head downstairs to greet this year’s campers.

“Good morning, Princess Mommy,” Tillie calls from the breakfast table.

I walk over and plant a kiss on her chubby little cheek. “Good morning, Princess Tillie. How are those eggs Auntie made for you?”

“Delicious,” she answers, spraying little fragments of scrambled eggs onto the table.

The screen door squeaks open, and Reid walks in dressed in a pair of khaki cargo shorts and his camp polo. “Reid Parker, reporting for duty!” he announces with a salute.
Someone’s in a good mood this morning.

“Good morning, Reid.” I smile. “Where’s Kylie?”

He scoffs, “Are you kidding? That princess won’t be out of bed for hours.” Reid rolls his eyes. “Beauty rest and all that...”

“Oh my God!” Tillie screams. “I knewed it! I knewed her was a real Princess!”

The room erupts with laughter.

“Oh, Dimples. She likes to think so, baby girl. She likes to think so,” he says, shaking his head with a huge grin plastered on his face.

“Don’t we all?” Cassie adds with a smile.

“All right, so...the vans will be here in about an hour, and the maid service should be just about finished with the pavilion and outdoor bathrooms. I think we’re all set once that’s done.” I’m giddy with excitement. Even when he can’t be here physically to keep me going, Abbott shows up in a memory and saves me.

The three of us are out on the front porch watching Tillie run around in the yard when the vans pull up. There’s a twelve passenger van with six boys and two male counselors and another with six girls and two female counselors.

The kids file out as we walk over to introduce ourselves.

The two male counselors are Jordan and Tyler, and the girls are Sarah and Lila. They all seem nice enough. Three of the campers were here last year, and I can’t believe how much they have grown in such a short time. Jace, Zavier, and Julie are fifteen and our repeat campers. Eric, Emma, Molly, and Charlotte are fourteen. The thirteen-year-olds are Michael, Cruz, Matthew, Rose, and Jessica.

“Where’s Mr. Abbott?” Zavier asks. The smile on my face disappears. I can’t say it. I can’t make the words leave my lips. I don’t know how to say that my husband is dead without completely losing it, and I
will not
break down in front of these children.

Reid overhears and like a white knight swoops in to save the day. “Viv, why don’t you go get the kids’ snacks together and Cassie and I can take them on a tour of the grounds?” he offers.

I nod and clear the lump from my throat. “Sounds good. I’ll see you all soon.” I can hear Reid speaking to the group as I walk away with Tillie’s tiny hand clasped in my own. I can’t make out what he’s saying, and I’m extremely glad for that. I should’ve been prepared for this...the question was inevitable.

“I want to go with Reid and Auntie, Mommy,” Tillie whines as I practically drag her back to the house.

“I know, sweet girl. Mommy needs your help, though, and they’ll be right back. You can go next time, okay?”

She pokes out her lip in a pout but finally starts following me on her own.