T/W:

***

Abigail.

***

I'm amazed by Tallie's earlier understanding and kindness towards someone she barely knew. In the few hours that we've known each other, she's shown more empathy than Evelyn ever did in the five years we were together.

When I return to my apartment, I hop in the shower, my mind visualizing all kinds of inappropriate scenarios between Tallie and myself. Groaning, I lightly smack my head against the shower wall, disgusted by my own thoughts.

As I step out of the shower, I grab my towel, wrapping it around my body, leaning against the bathroom vanity, swiping the stream from the mirror and gazing at my reflection. My eyes are still somewhat puffy from my earlier breakdown and I cringe, recalling how easily I still give in to the tears, even though Evelyn and I have been separated for nearly two months.

Sighing, I leave the bathroom, padding into my bedroom and slowly get dressed before cuddling up in my bed. Automatically, I reach out for that absent person, my fingers curling around the empty space. The loneliness threatens to crush me and I almost head back to Tallie's.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I conjure up Tallie's beautiful face in my mind. A faint smile tugs at my lips and as I slowly doze off, it hits me: this is the first time in nearly two months that I haven't felt completely hopeless.

****

I dream of Tallie. When I awaken, I can't recall every detail, but I recall enough that it sends my mind spinning and heart pounding with desire and want. I roll over, this overwhelming urge to rush over and see if she's left for work yet.

Quickly, pulling myself from the tangled blankets, I slip on my shoes, hurriedly running a brush through my hair and am out the door in ten seconds, flat. I knock earnestly on her door and...wait.

Several seconds tick by, my body trembling with the need to see her face, see that beautiful smile, knowing that it will make my day better. But...nothing. I sigh, stepping away, figuring that she's already gone for the day. Defeated, I turn, shuffling off to my apartment. Just as I reach my threshold, the door to Tallie's apartment, opens.

I whip around, her blonde hair like a cloud around her face, her shirt untucked, and the top of her black work pants, unbuttoned. Her face holds a hint of panic as she sees me.

"Are you all right?" My face grows hot, embarrassment creeping into my gut. I move closer to her, catching a whiff of her perfume and nearly swoon.

"I am. I didn't mean to startle you." The panic slips from Tallie's face and is immediately replaced with that make-me-weak-in-the-knees smile.

"Phew! You had me worried there for a minute." My earlier urge to see her, seems so...lame now, but I'm not going to admit that.

"I just thought I'd say hi before you headed out to work," I reply. Tallie nods, reaching out to grasp my hand, her smile softening.

"It'll make my day better," she announces. "Do you have time to join me for a quick cup of coffee?" I nod, my own smile appearing as Tallie leads me back to her apartment. We head to the kitchen. Tallie releases my hand, buttoning her pants and grabbing a coffee mug, pouring me some coffee.

"There's creamer and sugar." Tallie points them out, digging a spoon out of her drawer and placing it on the counter before disappearing into her bedroom, returning with a pair of shoes in one hand and a brush in the other.

"I really am sorry I scared you," I say, adding the sugar and creamer to my cup of coffee. Tallie just smiles, slipping her shoes on and starts on brushing out her hair.

"No worries. Besides, I'm not complaining about you stopping by." I smile, lifting the coffee mug and taking a sip of the hot, dark liquid.

"What time do you have to be at work?" I ask. Tallie looks at her watch.

"In fifteen minutes. So I better hustle." She sets her brush aside, grabbing her own cup of coffee and practically gulping it down. "Last time I was five minutes late, my boss threatened to cut my hours." Tallie rolls her eyes. "He thinks that supposed to be some kind of punishment."

I chuckle, quickly sipping my own coffee as Tallie finishes hers, setting the empty mug in the sink and retreating into the living room, shrugging on her jacket and grabbing her phone from the charger, slipping it into her purse.

I finish my coffee, setting my empty mug beside hers in the sink, heading for the door. We step out and Tallie locks the door.

"Thanks for stopping by," she says softly. "It really has improved my day." I smile.

"Of course. I'll see you later?" Tallie nods, heading down the hallway to the elevator, giving me a wave before she steps on, the doors sliding closed and she's gone.

****

While Tallie is busy slinging coffee at her job, I'm busily working on unpacking. Thankfully my job is pretty lenient and I can work on those reports later on, from home. As I pull open the last box, I lift the flaps and...find myself staring at the framed photo of Evelyn and I. I gently lift the picture, gazing at it, searching, trying to find anything that would pinpoint when exactly the love between us failed.

Within minutes, I'm once again, a blubbering mess, my fingers digging painfully into the silver frame, as droplets of my tears land on the glass, pooling into a corner of the picture. Rage and hurt shoots through me and I raise my hand, gripping the picture and...hurl it against the wall, the glass shattering, raining down around me, as I cover my face, my grief wiping out anything positive.

*****

A few hours later, after I'd composed myself and cleaned up the glass in my apartment, along with burning that photo I'd unearthed, in the kitchen sink, watching in satisfaction as the flames licked away at Evelyn's face, I decide to take a quick field trip to the coffee shop where Tallie works.

I remembered she'd said it was only a couple of blocks away and I had a vague idea where it was located, because I thought I'd remembered swinging through the drive through one afternoon when I was searching for a new apartment.

My instincts prove right, as I spot the coffee shop just ahead. As I approach it, I fidget with my hair, trying in vain to straighten it, seeing how the wind had picked up. I pause before the entrance, my heart already tap dancing in my chest as I grip the handle, pulling it open.

I'm greeted by the aroma of not only coffee, but some baked goods as well. I scan the front area, searching for Tallie, but don't see her. I frown, wondering if perhaps she's already off the clock and I somehow missed her walking home.

But then, I catch sight of someone turning around the corner from the back and...Tallie stops when she sees me. Instantly her whole face is lit up and this warm feeling creeps into my stomach. I smile, approaching the counter.

"Hey. Did you miss me?" Tallie's tone is teasing and I chuckle.

"A little." Tallie's facial features pull into a mock pout.

"Only a little? I'm wounded." I laugh out loud and Tallie is grinning, looking like she won a prize.

"All right. You caught me. I missed you more than a little," I confess. Tallie's grin grows.

"That's better. Can I get you anything?"

"Sure." Scans the menu, before turning my attention to the baked goods. I gape, recognizing one item in particular. Tallie's lemon cookies.

"You sell your cookies here?" I squeak. Tallie nods.

"I do. Want one?" I nod eagerly.

"And I'll take a mocha latte, too, please."

Tallie pulls a lemon cookie from the glass display, placing it on a napkin and then, gets started on making my latte. I dig my debit card out of my purse, ready to pay when she finishes. A few minutes later, I'm enjoying my latte and another one of those amazing lemon cookies.

"What time does your shift end?" I ask.

"Two more hours," Tallie replies with a sigh. I don't miss the resignation in her pretty, blue eyes.

"Tell you what," I say. "When you're finished, come to my place. Dinner's on me tonight, okay?"

Tallie's face lights up once again and I feel that strange satisfaction that I could make her smile for a change.

"That," Tallie says. "Is the best news I've heard all day."

***
After I leave the coffee shop, I swing by the grocery store, picking up a roasted chicken, two potatoes, some fresh flowers and a lemon meringue pie before heading home. Once there, I quickly set the table, digging out some candles and then finding a vase, setting the flower on the table as well.

Once that's done, I quickly change into a cream colored blouse, black slacks and add some dangly silver earrings and makeup. Then I start making sure everything else is prepared for when Tallie arrives.

***
A little over two hours later, I'm letting Tallie inside. Her eyes widen at the decorated table. She gapes at me, unable to speak for several seconds. At last, she finds her voice.

"All this, for me?" Her voice sounds strange, like she's struggling not to cry. I nod, almost holding my breath. Tallie comes closer, cupping my face in her hands, moisture in her eyes.

"You, Abigail are the sweetest person I've ever known." Then she gently presses her lips to mine and as my arms find themselves around Tallie, I realize losing Evelyn was the best thing to ever happen to me.