Girl Talk

Abby and Libby

Abby hung up her cell phone and made her way up to Libby's new flat. She'd gone for a walk that morning, needing some time to think about things... found herself outside Libby's place and decided to call her up and see if she had time for a bit of "girl talk". Luckily, Libby was up for it, so she hurried on up and knocked on her door.

"Morning, you!" Abby told her, trying to sound a bit more cheery than she actually was. "Mind if I come in?"

Libby practically squealed when she saw Abby. "No! Come in! Hope you brought a shovel!" She was surrounded by boxes, lamps, and other odds and ends.

"All my stuff from Sydney arrived yesterday afternoon, but after that long evening at work last night, I didn't feel like doing anything with it. So, this is pretty much where the men who delivered it left it."

On her way to the refrigerator, she told Abby over her shoulder, "I don't have a coffee pot yet, but I've got coke, diet coke, and water in the fridge."

"Nothing stronger? Like bourbon?" Abby teased. When Libby raised an eyebrow at her, she giggled and said, "It's been that kind of a week, girlfriend." Plopping down on a chair, she added, "Water will be fine, thanks."

"Tell me about it!" Libby groaned. "If I had bourbon, I'd have already opened it." Then, she remembered all the champagne at the reception and how she'd felt afterward. "Or maybe not."

Getting Abby some water and herself a coke, Libby plopped down on the chair next to Abby's. "So, tell me what all's going on."

"Think I might have really messed things up with Colin," Abby sighed. She unscrewed the top off her water bottle and took a drink.

"There seems to be a lot of that going around in this place," Libby sympathized. Abby looked so down. "But you two have been looking so happy together. What happened?"

Abby let out a sigh, shook her head. "Well, things were going fine... sorta... despite the fact that I accused him of still being hung-up on his ex, Kate." She paused a minute, took another sip of water, then went on. "The night of that stupid birthday party that Kate threw for Sid... Colin promised to take me out, have our own little party, so to speak. Well, I got all dressed up in this fancy dress... and low and behold if he doesn't show up in jeans! Then, instead of taking me out, he takes me back to his place... even got Andy to cook for us and dragged poor Arthur out to deliver it to us, then practically threw the guy out of the house! Then, I don't know if it was the wine... scratch that, it was the wine..." she giggled, then continued, "before I realized what was happening, he was carrying me upstairs to his bed... and I... um... sorta let it slip... that I'm... well... " Abby bit her lip, looked sheepishly up at Libby.

"You're- What?" Libby was hanging on the edge of her patience at the guilty look on Abby's face. "You're what? You're wanted by the FBI?! You're really a guy in drag?! What? Don't leave me in suspense here, Abby!"

"I'm...sorta... technically... still married. There. It's out. Phew!" Abby blurted out, finally, then flopped over dramatically back in the chair.

"Still married?" Libby was puzzled. "What do you mean, STILL married? You've never said anything about ever being married!"

She was practically jumping up and down. "Okay, spill it! Now! I wanna hear everything! Then, we'll get back to Colin!"

"Oh, you don't really wanna hear about my boring life, do you? What's new with you and Dan? And what about that cute Italian guy I saw you with the other day? What's his name?" Abby asked, enjoying the torture she was obviously putting Libby through. When Libby cast her a look and tossed a pillow at her, she giggled and said, "Well, okay... I guess if you have nothing better to do, I'll tell ya. His name is Dwayne, I met him while I was on Spring Break back in college, and we were sorta drinking - as one does while on Spring Break, and the next thing I know I wake up in bed with him and I'm married. We tried to make it work, but we were just so young and different... had different lives, ya know? So, I packed up my bags, left Dallas, and came here. I've been trying to get him to sign the divorce papers, but he won't do it... which is, in a nutshell... why I am still married."

"And here, I thought I was the ditzy one!" Libby exclaimed. "Guess you had a great 'How I Spent My Spring Break Esaay' that semester, didn't you?" She looked at Abby sympathetically. Hope this doesn't ruin everything between you and Colin."

"As for Dan- Who's Dan?" Libby tried to shrug the name off, as though she were completely over that. "That cute Italian guy's name is March, and he's the new chef at the bed and breakfast, and he's invited me to have dinner with him!" As often happened with Libby, everything came out in a rush and left her breathless.

"I mean- Seriously- How could I think about anybody else when someone that good-looking with a killer accent on top of it shows some interest in me?" Libby hoped she was covering up the fact that she still couldn't get Dan Evans off her mind.

"Dan who, huh?" Abby chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her. "Well, I guess since this March guy asked you out, and Dan has no claims on ya, and he DID cancel on your date that time, so heck yeah! Go for it! Have some fun while ya can, girlfriend. Just be careful you don't blow it with both guys. As for Colin, well, yeah, I hope I haven't blown it there. He was pretty shocked, to say the least, when I blurted out about being married. Never saw a man get redressed so fast... then drove me back to the boarding house without saying another word."

"Well, gee- Abby, I hate to sound like I'm taking someone else's side but- If the guy you were out with happened to mention that he was still married- What would you do?"

Abby sighed. "Yeah, I know... but... he wouldn't even let me explain. I can't say I blame him." Abby slumped her shoulders, tears filling her eyes. "Oh Libby, what am I going to do? I really, really like Colin a lot."

"I hate to admit it, but you're coming to the wrong person for advice." Libby gave her a friend a hug, and then propped her chin onto her elbows with a sigh.

"I haven't told you this yet, but I really made a fool of myself the night of the Wades' wedding. I was upset about Dan and- Well, I got drunk on champagne, and he drove me home and I- " Libby was blushing. "I totally threw myself at him. I kissed him and I begged him to spend the night with me!"

"You didn't?!" Abby exclaimed, shocked by what Libby had just said. "Oh wow! Well, look at it this way, it could have been worse... you could have woken up married to a stranger like I did!" she chuckled, trying to cheer them both up. "Well, if the man didn't take you up on the offer, there's one of several explanations for it.. he's not into women, he's married, or he's a decent guy." Abby lifted her water bottle in the air and added, "here's to hoping it's the last one," she said, then took a big gulp of water.

"What I can't understand, Abby, is what made me act that way?" Libby had been trying to figure this out on her own and couldn't, and it was driving her crazy. "I mean, Dan's so- so- serious all the time. So solemn. He acts like he's carrying the weight of the world around on his shoulders. Just about the opposite of me! And it's not like we've been out or anything. I mean, we shared a table at breakfast one morning, and we've spoken to each other a couple of times around town, but that's it! Why am I so darned attracted to the man?" After that, she ran out of breath again.

"Chalk it up to hormones, Libby... we're full of 'em and they often make us do the dumbest things... especially when there's a man involved. As far as why you are attracted to someone so opposite from you, well... it's like my mama always said - opposites attract. Which is why I ended up married to a numbskull like Dwayne, I guess," she chuckled.

That brought Libby back to Abby's problem. "So, what are you gonna do?" she asked. About your marriage, I mean. There's gotta be something you can do. I mean, don't they have to declare you divorced after a certain amount of time anyway? Even if he doesn't sign the papers?

"Ugh! Hasn't been that long that I left him, though, and besides, this is Texas we're talkin' about... same laws don't always apply there. Not sure what I'm gonna do," Abby sighed. "I mean, things were so much simpler when boys had cooties!" she chortled. "Tell ya what, girlfriend, maybe you could have a talk with Colin for me and I'll have a chat with Dan... feel them out on what they're thinkin', ya know?"

"Well-" Libby was thinking furiously. "I don't mind talking with Colin. But Dan- I don't think that's such a good idea. Dan's such a private person. It might really embarrass him."

"Besides," she sighed. "I've agreed to go out with March. I guess I just have to give up on Dan. Try and get on with life."

"Suit yourself, but if I happen to run into him... maybe I'll still kinda work it into conversation like. You know, tell him I saw you two talking at the wedding... ask him if he's seen you lately... say what a cute couple I think you two make... " Abby told her, then added, "As for Colin... if you just happen to be walking by his shop, or see him out at the tavern or something... put in a good word for me. He won't even return my calls now."

"Oh, I can definitely do that." Libby sighed again. "The Glen was supposed to be something so great. A new start. It has been great as far as work, but men- Is anyplace great as far as they're concerned?"

"Not as far as I can tell," Abby sighed. She stared into space for a moment, deep in thought, then said, "Guess I better find myself a good divorce lawyer here. Don't happen to know any, do you?"

"Well, I never had any divorces myself." Libby grinned at her. "But, dont't forget, my landlord's a lawyer! Don't know if he handles divorce cases, but it couldn't hurt to ask. If he doesn't, maybe he knows someone."

She brightened up a little and said, "Well, now that we've got all the bad stuff out of the way- Wonder what I should do to get ready for this date with March? What are Italian guys like, anyway?"

"Oh, that's right! Hmm....maybe I'll stop in and make an appointment to see Mr. Roberts on my way out," Abby commented. "As for your date, umm...," she giggled, then said, "Well, I don't know about this March fellow, but the one I dated was quite the smooth operator, so to speak. All romantic-like and sweet-talkin', and then when he got me in a room alone, he suddenly sprouted eight hands."

"Well," Libby said slowly. " I didn't really talk to him that long. But the accent sounded really smooth. The eight hands don't sound that great, though."

Suddenly remembering, she laughed. "He did scold me for eating doughtnuts, though!"

Abby giggled. "Maybe we should sick him on Cal!"

Libby laughed too. "As long as Cal doesn't find out we're the one who sent him! I can't afford to lose my job right now!"

Thoughtfully, she mused, "It might be nice to go out with a chef, though. Lord knows, I'm a terrible cook! I can boil water on a good day!"

"Oh, same here... I'm the only person I know that can burn water!" Abby giggled. "Well, you have fun with your Italian chef, then. If nothing else, you'll get a good meal, that's for sure." She stood up, looked around for a place to throw her water bottle away, then opted to toss it into a large cardboard box that was apparently doubling as a trashbin. "Guess I better get going... I'm supposed to help Cal out today with getting the Times out. Let me know how your date goes."

"Will do." Libby hugged Abby goodbye. "And you keep me up to date with your divorce and your, uh- your Colin."

Abby chuckled. "Yeah... fingers crossed both work out... and soon! Thanks for listening, by the way. See ya at work!" She headed out of the door and down the stairs, making a mental note to drop in and make an appointment to talk to Mr. Roberts first chance she got.