Abby lay back on her bed, the day’s events replaying in her head. She’d finally been able to get Colin to answer his phone, though he wouldn’t talk to her for long. She’d had her say, though, and that’s all she could ask for. He promised he’d call her in a day or so, after he had a while to think about things.

Would he call? Abby certainly hoped he would. Yes, she thought to herself. If nothing else, Colin was a man of his word. If he said he’d call, he’d call.

Abby stretched and let out a soft sigh, then closed her eyes. Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, there was a sudden knock on her door, startling her wide awake again.

Quickly jumping out of bed and pulling on her robe, she ran to the door, half expecting to see Colin standing there. "I thought you were going to..." she began to say, stopping mid-sentence when she realized the man standing in her doorway was the last person she expected to see.

"Miss me, darlin’?" Dwayne Campbell asked, a cocky boyish grin plastered across his handsome face.

"Oh...My....God!" Abby exclaimed. "Dwayne! How...? How did you... find me?" She stepped back into the room, her legs wobbly from the shock of seeing her estranged husband standing in front of her.

"Oh, you know me, darlin’... I got my ways." He looked her up and down, licked his lips, as he strolled into the room past her. "You look good.... real good. Seems Australia agrees with you, darlin’." He leaned in to kiss her and she took a step back away from him.

"Actually, being away from you is what agrees with me," she snapped, pulling her robe close to her body and sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"Ouch! Why Abby, that’s not a nice thing to say to your husband now, is it? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you aren’t happy to see me, darlin’," Dwayne smirked, then sat down on the edge of the bed next to her.

"Actually, Dwayne, come to think of it, I am... happy to see you, after all. Now that you’re here in person, maybe I can get you to sign those divorce papers for me that you seemed to have neglected to sign before I left."

"Now why would I want to do a silly thing like that, darlin’? You’re my wife and I love you and intend to keep you as such."

Abby laughed sarcastically. "Oh right... that’s a good one, Dwayne. You love me... since when?"

"Abby, I’m hurt. I’ve always loved you, darlin’. You just never gave me the chance to prove it, is all," Dwayne replied, hanging his head in a mock-pouting manner. Sliding his arm around her waist, he pulled her closer, attempting to nuzzle her neck.

Abby pushed his hand away and let out an exasperated sigh. "Come on, Dwayne... you and I both know that’s a load of crock. Now, tell me, why are you really here?"

"Told ya, darlin’, I love you and missed you and I intend to prove to you just how much," he told her, tilting his head and softly adding, "Guess I never knew just what I had ‘til I lost it."

"Yeah, well, you’re a bit too late. I’ve met someone else and we’re in love," Abby told him.

Dwayne let out a chuckle. "Oh, if you mean that mechanic you were seeing, I got it on good authority that he’s pretty much outta the picture. Give it up, darlin’... you know you and I are meant to be together. It’s fate."

"How do you know about him? How long have you been here, exactly, Dwayne?"

"Just got in today, actually. This was my first stop.... hadda see my beautiful wife right away." He looked around the room, nodded his head. "Nice place," he said, then pushed down on the mattress with one hand. "Comfy." He plopped back on the bed and reclined back on it, grinning. "Yep, think this place just might do for a bit... ‘til we can find our own little love nest, that is. Seen some pretty nice two-story farm houses on my way here... maybe we can get our hands on a spread like that... raise some cattle... have a couple kids... yep, a guy could get used to livin’ in a place like this."

"No... no. You are not staying here, Dwayne," Abby told him trying her best to pull him off her bed. "Now get out and let me get some sleep. I’ve got work in the morning and I don’t need you messin’ things up for me and my boss."

As she stood over him, pulling on his arms and trying to drag him out of the bed, he laughed, then grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him and kissed her... passionately on her lips.

TBC...