16: May Dreams of September, by Cadlin

MURDER AND MAYHEM AT CHERRY CREEK

EPISODE

16

BY: CADLIN

 

 

May Dreams of September

 

 

    From the table inside the kitchen at Fat Sally's Diner, Ron Jackson watched the early morning light wash onto Cad & Scotty's Garage across the road. A faint scent of bleach lingered from when Abbey had splashed some into each sink just before she and Ron had gone upstairs the night before.

 

    More powerful and moving were the aromas of fresh biscuits and bacon and gravy Abbey had cooked for them this morning. He would have to leave soon, before the town started waking and moving about. He would use the back kitchen door. He didn't want the old town bitties whispering themselves happy with bad gossip over his Abbey.

 

    In the early morning the lines at the corners of Abbey's eyes and mouth showed clearly. Old woman lines she fussed. No, he rejoined, smile lines. Ron told her the only thing in the world more beautiful than she was her tender, warm soul.

 

    She had kept him late last night after he finished photographing the new freezer. This morning they laughed at how she had pretended interest in his new Argus Super 75 range-finder camera. Had insisted he show her how it worked while she held it to her eye so that he had to reach his arms around her from the rear. The warmth and movement of her ample body against his, and the sweet, delicious scent of her sweat had nearly undone him. He had to hold himself away so she wouldn't feel his excitement. That had almost sent him fleeing out the door.

 

    She had wanted him, wanted him in her bed, her life, her soul. Of course he had spent the night, but refused her body. She had tried to kiss him on his full lips, but he'd slipped his fingers between their mouths just in time. They shook hands and bussed one another's cheeks. He slept on the couch.

 

    This morning Abbey knew she had found her soul mate. So honorable and decent to refuse her bodily weakness. They would marry first, he told her. Small tears glistened her eyes. Age was the least important quantity in all the universe.

 

    Abbey thought of the men-boys she'd wasted her time and love on. She stared open eyed into the eyes of her true love. Yes, he was young, but with a soul more ancient and mature than all the men. She would be his forever, and eternity beyond.

 

    "SCOOTER! What the hell did you do?!" Eldridge Trotter's shouting voice rudely jerked Ron from his daydream fantasy of Miss Abbey.

 

    "Every damn picture is black!" Trotter shouted. "You damn fool, you left the lens cap on."

 

    "Ah, uh," Ron started as his fantasy about Abbey fled into the recesses of his brain. "Lens cap?"

 

    "Jesus H. Christ," Trotter groused as he fixed Ron with an evil eye. "Now I've got to redo the whole front page. I got a place for that picture laid out right above the fold."

 

    Ron started to mention that he had a big story typed-up on the recent multiple vehicle collision in the town square, but something about the foam in the corners of his boss's mouth made him keep quite.