Croissants & Second Chances
“Dang it!” Betty yelled, trying to laugh over the ridiculous stress building in her chest. It was a board game. A board game!
“Sorrrrrrry,” Peter laughed, dragging out the word as he nudged her yellow pawn off the square with his green pawn.
“Maybe you can share the square,” Leah offered timidly.
“No, Leah,” Peter said in his most assured seven-year-old voice. “That’s not how the game works. Miss Drake understands that.”
“I know.” Leah scowled at her twin brother before turning deep brown eyes up at Betty. “But I’d share with you, Miss Drake.”
“I appreciate it, Leah,” she chuckled, moving her pawn back to start, her chest screwing a half turn tighter. Why did she feel so anxious this evening?
On the radio, Walter Winchell had gone on about tensions building in Europe. But she had turned that off over an hour ago, eager to spend time with the twins again without being distracted. It had been too long since Abe had asked her to watch his kids.
Was it being here again? She’d crossed the hall to Abe’s apartment a hundred times, though this was only the second visit since they’d broken things off.
“How late is Dad working?” Leah asked as she drew a card, bringing Betty back to the living room rug.
“He didn’t know for sure, but said it could be after midnight.” Betty glanced at the clock. “Speaking of late, time to get ready for bed.”
The twins took up a chorus of protests, but Betty wouldn’t be swayed, sending them both sprinting down the hall for pajamas as she repacked the game in its box.
The doorknob clattered, Abe’s key’s rattling the dish, his thumps and bumps a familiar rhythm.
Right. Just act normal, Betty. Abe’s a friend.
She pushed up, snagging Leah’s plate and half-eaten croissant, heading into the kitchen.
“Our game ran long, so the twins are just- What did you do?”
Abe leaned into the cabinets, arm in the sink, water turning red as it rushed over three crescent gashes.
He tried to smile over his shoulder at her, face drained of color and speckled with sweat. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine!” She slapped a hand over her mouth.
“What’s fine? Is Dad home?” Peter yelled from the bathroom.
“I’m home,” Abe called back, a wobble in his voice. “Brush your teeth. And no rushing it!” He offered Betty a weak grin. “You wanna hand me that towel? I have two minutes.”
She jerked forward, yanking the towel from the oven handle and tossing the plate on the counter, pastry crumbs scattering. He hissed as she pressed the towel into his arm, their hands tangling as they both tried to apply pressure.
“Abe, what happened? Did you get mugged?” But she was already distracted, something strapped to his hip bopping against her leg. Her eyes nearly burst from her head.
“A sword!” she hissed. “Why are you wearing a sword? And glass vials? Abe-”
“Hey, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Thanks again for watching the kids.”
Betty’s jaw clenched. “Abe.”
He sighed, leaving his arm in Betty’s grasp and turning off the water. “Cuz the bleeding picked up and I didn’t take time to change.”
Betty jerked open the towel drawer, bunding two more on top of the first which was soggy with blood. “Since when do detectives for the city PD wear swords, Abe?”
Feet thundered down the hall.
He grabbed Betty by the waist, yanking her closer, sending her heart rocketing and her hands shaking.
“Hey!” he said cheerfully as the twins swung into the room.
Right. He had moved her in front of his arm. So the kids wouldn’t see. That’s all.
Leah glanced at the sword, then at Betty. “Dad?”
“It’s fine, Leah,” Abe said quickly.
Peter’s eyes widened. “Wait. Did you tell Betty about your job? Does that mean you two can get married, now that she knows?”
Betty froze, Abe’s face go from pale to paler in the corner of her vision.
No one in the room breathed for two heart beats.
Betty plastered on a glob of fake confidence. “Okay! Why don’t you two head to bed? I’ll come read you a book after…” After what? “In a few minutes. K?”
The twins mumbled agreement but didn’t move until Abe managed a smile and nod, sending them back down the hall.
Neither Abe, nor Betty, moved.
She stared at the empty doorway. Her neck flushed hot as she realized just how close she was to him. But her feet were unresponsive.
“Abe?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re not a detective. Are you?”
“Technically? No.”
“But you chose not to tell me what you really do.”
“I…” He took a deep breath. “What I do is… unusual. Most people who find out… don’t believe me.”
Betty nodded. Her toes tingled oddly. “But the kids know.”
“I mean… yes.”
Her head nodded on its own as her brain tried to connect all the dots. But only one thought kept coming to the surface.
“Did you… did you want to marry me?”
The pause that followed grew heavy. Then heavier. She cringed, her head screaming Take it back! Take it back, woman!
“Yes.” Abe’s fingers timidly stroked hers. “But, maybe we should sit down and talk through some things first.”
She snagged his fingers with hers. “After you stop bleeding.”
“Right. After I stop bleeding.”