Chapter 585 - Personal time (2)

8 June, Paul's apartment and Bronwyn's on-base accommodation, City K

"She wants me to react," quietly responded Abigail.  "I wanted to kill her.  She ruined thousands of dollars' worth of clothes, and a special surprise that I had for her.  But…"

Abigail trailed of in her words, and Paul squeezed her hand to comfort her.  The simple comfort in Paul's actions allowed Abigail to bring herself from the brink of tears just thinking about her mother and everything she had just done, let alone the torture in the past she had put her through.

As she moved and settled into Paul's arms, Abigail said quietly "But I just do not know.  Am I giving her the attention she craves by talking to the police.  If she goes before the court it lets her go on about how evil of a daughter, I am to her.  She will try and make out that she is the victim, rather than…"

Abigail turned her head into Paul's shoulders and started crying.  Feeling helpless, the only thing that Paul could think to do was to rub Abigail's back gently while she continued to cry.  As soon as she started, crying, Paul knew what he would do when things settled down.  He knew in his mind what had to happen.  That witch of a mother-in-law had to be dealt with as fully as the law could. 

What that witch had done, if he was honest, likely had something to do with the number of times he had intercepted communications from her to his wife, and him bluntly telling her on the Monday just gone, when she confronted him outside the company that neither Abigail or him wanted anything to do with her unless she could admit her past wrongs and apologise to Abigail.

The witch made it clear that Abigail needed to come crawling to her, because she hat treated a loving and caring mother shabbily, and backed up a distant father to deny her money.  He just hoped that his words in telling her she had to be kidding about being a loving mother, and that Abigail knew deep down who loved her and who just wanted to use her did not trigger this confrontation.

As he continued to rub Abigail's back, the occasional sob and the shaking of Abigail made him certain that when she was alright he would call John and ask if he could come over with his fiancée.  Maybe friends could put into perspective what she should do.

Meanwhile, John having received Bronwyn's call had raced over to the military base and knocked on her door.  Bronwyn threw open the door, and threw herself into John's arms, giving him a kiss.

As she pulled backwards, Bronwyn grabbed John's hand and before he could say anything dragged him inside her apartment.  As soon as they entered, using her left foot she kicked the door closed, before throwing herself back into his arms, winding her arms around his neck, and kissing him.

After they ended their kiss, John pulled out of her arms, and headed into the lounge area before sitting on a chair.  Bronwyn followed him, and sat on the sofa closest to him before asking "What is wrong?"

"Why did you not tell me you had to go to the capital.  I could have come, and we could have spent the weekend trying to deal with your father."

Bronwyn, calmly having well-rehearsed the lie she had to tell with her father before leaving the capital.  "An urgent legal matter required that I had to quickly hurry to the capital, but as it was not dealt with before the last military or civilian flight last night, I opted to spend the night with my parents before catching the first available flight this morning."

"Still no explanation on why you did not tell me before you left."

"You forget I am a military officer, and I have to go at a moment notice.  I had about five minutes to grab of briefcase and change of uniform in my office before getting onto the military flight.  Then I went straight into the meeting as soon as I reached the capital.  You tell me, when I could have called you, Mr Police Officer."

"You had time to call your father before me.  I guess that tells me where I rank in your mind."

Bronwyn, swatted John's arm before saying "You are the most important person in my life, followed by my parents and soon-to-be sibling, then my extended family.  But my father knew I was on my way to the capital before we landed, and guess who was…"

Seeing Bronwyn pause and roll her eyes, John said, sarcastically "Daddy dearest?"

Laughing Bronwyn said "Absolutely.  He already knew about my meeting and was waiting when it ended.  A choice between home in my last childhood bedroom or cold impersonal visiting officer quarters at the base?  Only a fool would take the latter choice, particularly when I can have Legend or someone else assigned to Daddy dearest drive me back to the base for the flight."

Seeing the look on John's face as she finished Bronwyn burst out laughing, before adding "And before you ask, you know exactly what he was at me on.  But it was so funny watching mother.  She let him have a rant for a while during our diner.  Eventually she had enough and told him to stop stressing out his pregnant wife."

"He would not have taken that well."

"Correct.  He hung his head for a couple of minutes and went silent.  Then he made the fatal mistake of saying Yes Dear, but a police officer is not worthy of our princess.  That did not go down well, because that is the argument my grandfather and uncles apparently used to her when she married father."

John started speaking "What goes around comes…"

Before he could finish, they were interrupted by an incoming call on his mobile.

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