Joe’s Pub
Abbey hands Bobby some baby wipes to wash off his face, as they travel down the highway after 130 miles. Bobby motions to pull over and asks, “Where are we going? I thought it was just up the road”?
Abbey replies “No, we’re going to Joe’s Pub, its right out side the city. We still have about 75 more miles. I don’t know any where to go in the New York Village, it’s not my turf”. She takes out a wipe and cleans her helmet, puts them back into her saddle bag.
Bobby states, “Then I’m going to go and get the helmet out of my car”. Abbey smiles and nods her head. She stands up and stretches.
Bobby comes back and get on the bike, put on his helmet, starts it back up. Abbey does the same. They ride until they reach Joe’s Pub.
Abbey tells Donnie and Bobby, “I got to go to the bathroom and get something to drink, and can you wait a little bit for that ride? She asked Donnie.
Donnie replies, “Sure I gotta pee too!”
Abbey opens the door walks in, old Joe is behind the bar. He is a black man with white hair.
Joe who is happy to see her say’s “Miss Abigail! It’s great to see you again! How you been child”? He asks as he comes around the bar to hug her.
Abbey tells him, “I’ve been fine, this is Bobby and Donny we’ve come here to celebrate a good day in court for this young lad” as she rubs Donnie’s hair. “Joe here has the best BQ Ribs in the state of New York, hell, anywhere for that matter”!
Joe offers his hand and say’s “Nice to meet ya boys, any friend of Miss Abigail’s is a friend of mine”!
Josh, comes up behind her and puts his arms around her waist and say’s, “Abbey I saved us a seat over here, where’s your handsome brother”.
Abbey replies, “This is my brother’s better half, Josh, this is Bobby and Donnie. Toby is about 30 minutes behind us. She taps his hands and states “Guy’s I really got to pee. Joe, will you give me my usual”? And walks in a hurriedly matter to the bathroom.
Cherry Limeade coming up, what do you boys want to drink? Joe asks. Bobby tells him, “Coke’s will be fine. We got to use the restrooms too, will you excuse us? Josh nods his head yes. They head to the restrooms and looks at the sign on the door, one say’s Sitters and the other say’s Pointers. Donnie say’s “I guess this one is ours”, opening the pointers door, and then replies, “What if we didn’t have to pee but needed to read the news paper, would we go in the other door?” Bobby replies, “That’s a good question!”
Bobby and Donnie come over to the table where Abbey and Josh are sitting. Abbey has taken off her boots and socks and has her feet on the seat across, Bobby notices a she is wearing a toe ring. She moves her feet down, so they can sit.
Abbey is finishing sucking her down her what is left of her cherry limeade; Joe brings her another along with their Cokes. Bobby say’s, “Boy, my arms are sore, but it felt great riding again”!
Abbey replies, “Mine are a little sore too, those Indian bikes have a wide spread in the handlebars, I drove it Truby and now back, it’s been a while since I rode that far on my bike. Your back will be hurt’ in for certain come tomorrow. When was the last time you drove a bike? Because you looked like you have been riding your whole life.
Bobby replies, “Last time was in my 20’s. I forgot how free it makes you feel”.
Abbey responses, “It does, doesn’t it! You don’t feel confined, like you do in a vehicle. You can feel the sun hit your back, wind on your face, nothing better on a nice day! All except for the bugs of course! Bobby just smiles.
Donnie say’s, “Yea, well, I like to feel the sun on my back, what about that ride?”
Abbey assures him, “A promise is a promise; do you want me or your Uncle to take you?”
Donnie animatedly states, “You of course, I don’t want to ride with some guy! And he looks at Josh, and tries to redeem himself by saying, “Not because I have anything against gay people, I don’t, I just be seen with a chick, that’s all”!
Abbey begins to put back on her socks and shoes and say’s “Well, ok then if you don’t mind being seen with this old chick, let’s go. I’ll have him back in 15 minutes, 30 tops!”
Bobby asks Josh as they wave goodbye to Abbey and Donnie, “So Josh, how long have you been with Toby?”
Josh tells him, “Five years now. We live together, all of us do”.
Bobby interrupts, “All of us?”
Josh clarifies his statement, “Toby, Abbey and I. Toby told me the first night we got together, that Abbey was part of the package. They adore each other. She has her own part of the house. We have ours. So it all works out.
Bobby trying to find out some information about Abbey asks, “It must be uncomfortable for her dates in the mornings, if she has someone spending the night.”
Josh responses, “In the five years that I’ve lived with them, I’ve never seen her have a date, let alone someone who spends the night. Toby say’s she just hasn’t found the right guy, I tell him, and it would help if she would look for one. She says she doesn’t have time for a relationship. I told her that Gordon really likes her, but she says she doesn’t date clients or co-workers because it just doesn’t work out.
Bobby still inquiring, “It sounds like you want her to move out.”
Josh tells him, “No, it’s nothing like that. Abbey is the sweetest person I’ve ever known but I have to admit I’m a little jealous of their relationship, I feel a left out sometimes.
Bobby asks, “Left out?”
Josh answers, “They play music together, he always goes to her for advice on something and she does him too. He goes to every court case she ever done, meets her on the air strip when she goes to Washington. When she was in the peace core in her 20’s he bought a plane, so he could visit her on the weekends in Africa. He also combs out her hair every night; he has since they were children. They are extremely close”.
Bobby mentions something he saw in her office, “I noticed in her office there was a picture of Isabelle Gallagher, is she their mother?”
“Yes, she was, she died 6 years ago. She was a scientist. They come from a family of scientist. Their dad was an anthropologists, he specialty was linguistics. They both speak over 13 languages. He died 10 years ago. Their uncles are also scientist.” He tells him.
Bobby states, “I know who she is, she was Erickson assistant for many years, the whole nature over nurture controversy, and she came up with play therapy didn’t she or was the kinetics’ therapy? You know, using your five senses: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and feeling. That would explain why Abbey can play music so well. Toby plays too?”
Josh explains, “Not as good as Abbey, but yes he can play. He is a record producer, He produced Abbey’s first album, when she was 8 years old. He was only 13 years old; he’s a very smart man. But Abbey’s the family’s star. I don’t know what kind of scientist their mother was; you’d have to ask them. I’m just a stock annalist, but I think it was the last thing you said, because they are always touching each other. Watch when Toby comes in, he always cups Abbey’s cheek, that whole family does that to her. The two of them even made up their own secret alphabet when they were little, that just they know. Toby bought her a toe ring with it on it”.
“That’s fascinating do you know what does it say?” He asks.
“Toby told me once, little feet, and little white feet, something like that.” Josh says.
“I saw the rings that they both wear, but that’s the Celtic alphabet. Hers say’s Graceful One and his say’s Little Prince”. Josh smashes his eyebrows together. “Sorry, I’m a cop, occupational hazard, I notice things like that.”
Josh nods his head like now he understands why he asks so many questions, “Their father had them made for them. He loved languages. I guess that’s where Abbey, gets her love for writing laws. Both of them loved their parents very much. But from what I’ve gotten out of Toby, Abbey was the one they doted on, but then so does Toby.”
Bobby asks, “So that didn’t cause any sibling rivalry between them?”
Josh responds, “Oh, God, no! Like I said Toby dotes on her just like parents did. She does him too. Every morning she makes his breakfast, I swear they could be twins, because, they know what the other is thinking, but Toby is 5 years older than her. He loves her more than he will ever love me. That’s probably one of the reasons Abbey doesn’t date, she could never find a man that loves her more than Toby does.”
Bobby inquires, “And their family, where are they, you say they come from a family of scientist?”
Josh tells him, “The uncles live in Ireland, which is where they grew up, all except one; he’s an arch bishop in Rome. They have 5 on their father’s side and 3 on their mother’s side. Only six are still alive. Patrick is archeologist, he studies earthquakes, Xavier is a famous forensic anthropologist, he has helped Scotland Yard with criminal cases, Joseph is a sociology professor who teaches at Trinity University in Dublin, he has published several articles on different cultures, and Peter who is a sheep farmer and of course there the Padre. Both the Padre and Uncle Pete are the matriarchs of the family. And Nana, I can’t forget about her. Nana was their nanny.
Bobby makes the comment, “A sheep farmer in a family of scholar’s, bet cha feels like the black sheep of the family, no pun intended.”
Josh laughs and says, “No he owns over 450 acres of farm land, he probably has more money than anyone in the family. But none of them are poor, except for Padre, who chooses to be.”
Bobby also inquires by asking, “So they are Catholic, how do they feel about you and Toby?”
Josh feeling a little uncomfortable says, “I’d hate to be the bad guy across from you in an integration room, you are quick and too the point, you remind me Abbey, when she wants to know something, she does that too. To answer your questions, they pretend that they accept it.”
Bobby trying to make a mends says to Josh, “Man I’m sorry, I just don’t know that much about them, and she is trying to get me my job back, they are a very interesting family. I…
Donnie pushes open the door to the pub and says:
“Man that was great, born to be wild… She popped a wheelie; I got to get me one of those! Abbey smiles, shakes her head and goes to the bar.
Bobby tells him, “Those cost about $37, 000.00 dollars, and besides that, they don’t make them anymore.” Donnie rebuts, “I don’t mean one of them, but you know, a motor cycle, a Harley would be fine!”
Abbey comes over and tells Josh, “Toby just called, said he’s 15 minutes away, said he was starving, is ribs ok with you guys?” All of them said yes, and she tells Joe “Make it 5 slabs Joe!” She grabs her purse, and heads for the piano and say’s, “I got to go see a man about a piano.”
Abbey runs her fingers across the keys, until she hears what sounds like a baby crying. Stops and thumps that key again.
Abbey whispers to the keys, “There you are, don’t worry darling I will have you fixed up in a minute.” She lifts up the ledge over the keys and looks as she thumps the keys. She yells, “Hey, I could use some help over here”. She gets back into purse and pulls out needle nose pliers, pin flashlight and a wire cutter Bobby and Donnie come over, Bobby asks, “What do you need?”
Abbey replies, “I need Donnie to hold this pin light and I need you to thump this key hard. She stands on the bench, opens up the top gesturing Donnie to follow her lead.
Like this? Bobby asks as he thumps key really fast and hard.
Abbey tells him “Yes, but slow down and listen for the tone to end before thumping it again. Bobby does it again, She assures him, “Yea, like that.” Abbey leans down into the piano and tells Donnie to shine the light on the moving wire she starts tighten it by turning the wire with her needle nose pliers. She whispers to the piano again, “There you go love, we almost have you fixed. Can you go a little faster now and tell me if the key moves in even a little?”
Ok, Like this? Bobby speeds up.
Abbey says, “Yes, just like that, you must have done this before, do you play? You certainly have the hands for it?”
Bobby admits shyly, “A little, not like you though, my mother played.”
Abbey tells him, “As did mine, she taught me how to play. Can you run your fingers down the all keys really slow?
Bobby does as she asks and say’s, “Do you always carry piano wire and needle nosed pliers in your purse?”
Abbey replies, “Never leave home without them! There that should do it. She clips the excess wire and a climb back down and sits on the bench, and begins to play and tells Donnie and him, “I have this annoying little attribute of not being able to stand a piano that’s out of tune, it’s like hearing a baby cry or nails on a chalk board. I don’t care where I’m at, I have to fix it. It’s kind of embarrassing at times. What songs did you learn to play as a child?”
Bobby confesses, “Only one, Heart and Soul, never could get the notes down, don’t you need a tuning fork to know if it’s in tune?”
Abbey explains, “God put the tuning fork in my ears; I just know when it’s right, because the babies don’t cry anymore. I never could get the notes right either, Heart and Soul, every child knows that song, play it with me you too Donnie!
Bobby protests by saying, “No, I’m really bad at it, you can’t read notes?” Donnie tells her “I’ve never touched a piano before.”
Abbey smiles a devilish grin, and stands up and sits in between them, “Nothing I like better than breaking in virgin fingers”, as she puts her fingers together and cracks them.
Donnie and Bobby, look at each other with huge eyes and grins on their faces. She sees them and say’s, “Get your mind out of the gutter boys, I’m talking about fingers that have never touched a piano!” And she pushes on both of their heads, “Come on now, and let’s play!”
Bobby says with a little laugh, “Ok, but I warn you I’m really bad”. Donnie asks, “Where do you want my virgin fingers to go?” And they both start laughing. Abbey starts to laugh too, and then she yells, “Just forget it!” and she begins playing furiously, Bobby bends over and whispers in her ear, “You have to admit, that was funny!”
Abbey turns and looks him straight in the eye and says, “Hilarious, I didn’t mean it like that.” And she continues to play with a fury. Bobby could tell she had embarrassed at herself, he also noticed that she never missed a note and she wasn’t even looking at the keys. He asks her again, ‘You really can’t read music, can you?”
Abbey confesses “I can’t read a note to save my soul, everything I play, I’ve heard, I told you about the tuning fork right?”
Bobby say’s in amazement, “I’ve heard you play, you play Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Chopin, and you play them flawlessly.” Abbey says, “Thank you”, and begins to play, Great Balls of Fire.
Toby comes in yelling, “I should have known my baby sister would be playing the pearls!” He starts to sing, cups his hand against her cheek, and kisses her forehead and asks her “How are you tonight, love? I brought Gordon with me. I’m starving, where’s ribs Joe?”
Abbey tells him, “Other than putting my foot in my mouth, I’m doing fine” She gets up and walks to the table.
After Donnie left the piano bench laughing, he went and looked at the pictures on the wall, Bobby comes over to him and asks him not to bring up the virgin fingers thing, Donnie still looking at the pictures say’s, “ I’m so going to get my picture taken! Joe, bring on those slabs!”
Bobby asks him, “What are you talking about?” Donnie points to the pictures he was looking at, Bobby looks and sees Abbey with BQ sauce all over her face; all the pictures have people with sauce all over their face.
Gordon says to Donnie as everyone sits down, “You’re going for the hall of fame huh, how about you Abigail?”
Abbey sits next to Toby, tells him, “I’ve been on it too many times! Not tonight. That sauce gets up your nose it hard to get it out! Besides I gotta be in Washington in the morning. I don’t want to smell BQ Sauce all day. But hey, Donnie here needs someone to have his picture taken with, so more power to ya! Here we go now, best ribs you’ll ever eat!” Joe and four other boys bring the ribs over sits the slabs down table.
Joe comes over and rubs Abbey’s head and says, “Thank you Miss Abigail for fixing up Betsy”.
Abbey warns him, “It’s just a band aide fix, next time I come I’ll bring more wire, and she needs all new strings.” Joe replies, “I will most appreciate that.”
Toby asks, “So what do you think of my Abigail in court today? Told you she had your back.” Bobby inquires, “How did you get Tommy to sign a confession?”
Abbey replies, “Didn’t Gordon tell you, magic. Bobby asks again, “No really, how did you get him to do it? Abbey reluctantly acknowledges, “Let’s just say, we got them both on tape doing something illegal, and leave it at that.
Bobby asks accusingly, “So you blackmailed them? “Abbey: counter back with, “Persuaded them to do the right thing. Haven’t you ever persuaded someone to do the right thing?”
Bobby states as a matter of fact, “Yes, but I don’t threaten them.”
Abbey says with sarcasm “You’ve never threatened to expose them? Come on you’re a cop, I know you have! I just captured their behaviors on tape and showed them what they looked like to me and what it would look like to someone else, and that I could be persuaded not to go to the not to show anyone else, if they did the right thing by Donnie. That’s what a lawyer does; they negotiate and make deals and pleas. That’s why I don’t practice law any more, makes you feel dirty, but sometimes you got to do what you gotta do to convince people to do the right thing and besides the way I set the probation terms up, I know Tommy will break them, most likely before two weeks are up, and he’ll be jail, where he needs to be, pompous ass that he is. I tell myself its social justice. I don’t like too many rich people; they think they can buy their way out of everything.
Bobby backing down asks, “So you look at their human behaviors to know how to proceed with a case? Did your mother teach you that? I saw a picture of her in your office. Wasn’t she Erickson’s assistant?”
Toby responds, “Yes, she was. Our parents taught us everything we know. He cups Abbey’s cheek and pulls her head up against his heart.
Bobby reacts to his action by pointing at them and saying, “She was a kinetic therapist wasn’t she? That’s why you guys do that, right? And why Abbey plays so well and you Toby, you have a theater that was because of the play therapy.
Abbey rewards him by saying, “Congratulations detective, you cracked the case. That’s really good observation skills you have, most people just think we’re having an incestuous relationship, but were not, it how we were raised.
Bobby licks the BQ sauces off his fingers and say’s, to Toby, “It must have been fascinating to have grown up in a home like yours, with those entire scientist’s for relatives; I’ll bet you both had your 1st college degree before you were 15th birthday.
Toby answers, “Actually I was 12 years old. In Theater and I got my marketing degree when I was 19. I produced my first record when I was 13, of Abbey here; we made over $100, 000.00 worlds wide.
Abbey buts in, “Your wrong about me, I was home schooled, I have a GED, I got my bachelors in social work when I was what, 25, law degree when I was 32 and I’m still working on my PHD. Toby has the book smarts.”
Bobby looking puzzled asks, “Yea, but you got the talent of playing music; you were a child prodigy, weren’t you?”
Toby boost, “She played for the Pope when she was 10; he told her she had a gift from God.”
Abbey asks Donnie, “By the way who told you guys I was a nun?” Toby burst out laughing.
Donnie pointing to Bobby, says “He did”
Bobby tells them, “Mike told me that he thought you were.”
Toby tells them, “That’s because she wouldn’t date him, Abbey’s no nun, and in fact she got kicked out of Ireland most beloved St. Brigid convent, when she was 15.”Abbey pushes his head and say’s, “Come on Toby, don’t tell that story!”
Toby: Oh why not love, it funnier than hell! See mother, thought that Abigail had a calling to become a nun, her being touched by God and all, she sent her to St. Brigid Convent on a vocation, to see if she would like it or not. By the way that’s Abbey’s middle name, Brigid, which is even more ironic, seeing how they expelled her and all.
She was there a two weeks, very homesick little girl, she would get up in the middle of the night and play the organ, it woke all the nuns up, they come and get her and put her back in bed, but on that Sunday, the children from the local perish were getting their first communion, a big deal, cause the arch bishop from Rome was coming to give communion to them, the convent was packed, they asked our little Abbey here who played for the Pope, to perform “Just as I am”, for communion.
She’s all dressed up in her white choir robe, black nun socks, and white habit. She comes down from the choir and sits at the piano and starts to sing and play. I hear noise and I look up and there she is plain as day, sitting buck naked, except for her habit and black socks, signing her heart out. Padre motioned for Sister Angus to sit down; she was on her way, to cover her up; as soon as she was finished, she zips herself back up and goes back to the choir stand, like it wasn’t a big deal. Padre, tried to save the day, by saying, “God accepts everyone just as they are, Lets us pray that we can too” Now anytime she plays that song the family starts to panic.”
Bobby and Gordon just smiled but didn’t say a word; they both are imagining what she looked like naked at 15 with a habit on. Bobby looking at her face sees two little scars one on each of her temples; he wonders how she got them.
Abbey needing to explain say’s “I just wanted to go home, they wouldn’t even let me call home, I missed my brother, and they wouldn’t listen to me. But they sent me home after mass.” She said smiling, “To this day, every time I see Sister Angus, she makes the sign of the cross on my forehead and tells me she’s praying for me. I tell her thank you very much, I can use all the prayers I can get”! Looking over at Donnie, who has BQ sauce almost to his eye’s and says “Joe, we have a new hall of fame-r here, get your camera! Turning to scold Toby, she asks, “why do you gotta tell that story in front of young Donnie here?’
Joe walks over with his camera and snaps his picture.
Toby trying to redeem himself say’s, “What, the church made more money on that day than they ever have! Everybody got what they wanted, you got to come home and they made enough money to put in a new mother of pearl baptism basin, so it was done for a worthy cause!
Bobby asks flirtingly, “You really didn’t do that did you?”
Abbey shaking her head yes says, “We all do things when were young and dumb, I guess I still have a problem with wanting to be heard.”
Bobby asks her, “How did you do that”, and reaches over and touches her temples”.
Toby speaks up and say’s, “Childhood accident, she was thrown into a barbwire fence by her horse.”
Abbey changes the subject by asking Bobby, “So tell me about your work, I don’t know how you do what you do, you get into your killer’s head, but how do you get them out of your head, once they are in?
Bobby replies, “I don’t think you ever get them out of your head, I remember each one, and it helps with the next case I’m on.”
Abbey asks, “So, do you have an explanation as to why they do it? I mean, is it environmental or genetics.
Bobby thinks for a moment and say’s, “I think it’s both, most are born with the predisposition to become what they become, but you factor in their environment that is what usually pushes them to do what they do. I mean we are all products of our childhood and upbringing. But we all make a choice on how we react to our impulses, most of us repress our so called “bad” urges; serial killers don’t, they act on them without thinking about what will happened, they just need to satisfy that urge.
Abbey responds, “That is fascinating, you should write a book. I’m doing my thesis on childhood resiliency, are you familiar with any of Dr. Palmers work on the subject? (Bobby shakes his head no) His studies show that children in crisis homes turn out well; if they had one stable connection with someone, the ones that didn’t have anyone, don’t do so well. They turn to drugs or alcohol and gangs, most are incarnated before they reach the age of 22 years old. I think it’s something worth studying. If we can get our teachers, ministers, social workers, youth group leaders and law enforcement to reach out and become that one stable connection for these kids, especially young black men, maybe our prisons won’t be so over crowed and they can become great leaders for tomorrow. It’s just another one of my illusions!”
Joe walks up behind her and taps her shoulders and say’s, “It’s not an illusion Miss Abigail, look who came in to see you. This here is Penny girl, Tamara you remember her? She came down to visit me from Alabama.”
Abbey turns around as sees this beautiful black young women carrying a gorgeous little girl, she screams, “Oh my God, this can’t be Tam-Tam, look at you all grown up!” Abbey stands up and they hug each other, Abigail say’s with tears in her eyes, “Who’s this precious little thing? How’s your mom?
Tamara answers her, “This here is Penny Abigail Kira Kia. Momma got killed by a drive by about 5 years ago. She had just gotten off work from the bank she worked at and some kids drove by and killed her by accident, but momma never forgot about you, she always told me, that she had to be brave and suck it up cause that’s what Miss Abigail would do!”
Abbey tells her while touching little Penny’s face, “That’s an awful big name for such a little girl. She looks like your momma. Your momma was one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. I’m so sorry to hear of her passing.” They walk over to the bar away from everyone.
Gordon asks Toby, “What happened between them?”
Toby tells them, “I don’t know all of it, but when Abigail was a social worker 10 years ago, one of her first jobs was a rape counselor, Penny had been gang raped by a bunch of rich college boys and Tam-Tam was a result of that rape. The police didn’t care about the case; Abbey’s rallied all of NY rape victims together and protested outside their precinct, until they were pressured into investigating her case. That’s where Abbey earned the nick name “Give them hell, Abigail”. It started there. She spit in the police chief face, and was arrested, which only made the protesters even angrier. It was quite the ordeal. I told you before; you don’t want an Irish woman mad at you. And guess who the police chief was back then? The chief of detectives now, your bosses’ boss, Bobby, he is going to be real glad to see her I’m sure, he’s an Irishman too, and your day at review board will be most interesting. She and Gordon are having dinner with him Thursday night to talk about your case, in a civilized manner of course.”
Gordon is astonished, he says, “She never told me any of that! I mean I knew she had scheduled a dinner with him, but I didn’t know she had a history with him. (Laughing) Are you ok with that Bobby? She should have mentioned this to us!”
Bobby answers by saying, “Any one who is brave enough to spit in his face and still have dinner with him, I respect, she got Donnie out of trouble, and I guess I’ll have to trust her. He looks over at Abbey holding little Penny and smiles.
Abbey comes back with Tam-Tam and little Penny in her arms.
Abbey tells Toby, “Tam-Tam teaches GED classes in the Alabama State prison every weekend she is also a music teacher, she wants to play something with us. Sorry Tam, this is... And she introduces everyone to her
Toby tells Tam-Tam “Sure, what songs do want to do? Don’t pick anything too classical, ok!”
Tam-Tam requests, “ Momma always sang “Sally Gardens” to me at night as a lullaby she told me she has never heard anyone play it like you two, could you guys play it for me? Then I’ll play it with you. I just want to hear you two play it.”
Toby say, “That’s Abigail’s song, I used to sing it to her when she was little, that’s a great song! We’d be honored to play it for you.”
Abbey’s hands little Penny to Tam-Tam and goes out and gets their violins out of Gordon car. Abbey gets out her violin and tells Toby to sing; she hands Toby’s violin to Tam- Tam and tells her anytime she’s ready to join in. Tam-Tam hands little Penny to Joe
Toby mouths to everyone at the table, “Watch this”. Abbey closes her eyes and begins to play and pauses, “What do you hear love”?
Abbey replies “Choir of angels singing”, and begins to play again. Toby sings. Abbey pauses again, “And now”? Toby asks. “Penny whistle and a box lute”. Toby sings next verse, Abbey smiles contently with her eyes still shut. A tear falls from her face. Abbey plays the ending, finishing the song. “God I love that song!” and opens her eye’s, everyone is staring at her. “What?”
Toby says “Nothing love, they just saw your heart, that’s all”. He cups her cheek and pulls her to his heart, rubs her back, “were definitely putting this song in our show this year”!
Tam-Tam and Abbey play it again, Abbey was so happy, complete contentment filled her face. They ended with Amazing Grace; Tam-Tam hugs her and gives her a picture of her and her mom. Abbey say’s, “I can’t take this, it’s you and your momma, it’s too precious.”
Tam-Tam say’s, “you’re the reason there is a picture of me and my mom, please I want you to have it and I know momma would too. I have the picture of you, mom and me in hospital hanging up in my bedroom, momma had it in her room too before she died, she used to say, she wanted to see it first thing in the morning, cause it reminded her everyday how special I was, that I was one of God’s gifts ”
Abbey cups her check and says “And look at you, she wasn’t wrong, I wish Joe would have told me about her passing, I would have came to her funeral.”
Tam-Tam assures her, “I know you would have. But you know how Pop don’t like telling bad news to anyone.”
Abbey still touching her face says to her, “I’m so happy you stopped by! How long are you here for?”
Tam-Tam tells her, “My husband and I are staying for another week; I’d love for you to meet him.
Abbey having a plan says, “ I’m playing with the philharmonic next Saturday, if you guys can stay till then, you can be my guests, I’ll even send a car to pick you up, yelling at Joe and maybe Joe will come too, Joe shakes his head no, we can go somewhere nice afterwards, any where you want. You are a music teacher; you have to hear NY philharmonic orchestra while you are here.
Tam-Tam tells her, “I’d love that, we were supposed to leave Saturday, but maybe I can change my flight to Sunday”.
Abbey looks at Toby. Toby say’s, “If you can’t, don’t worry about it, I have a plane, I can get you home.”
Abbey hangs on his shoulders and puts her arms around her brother neck and say’s, “I have the best brother in the whole world, don’t I, thank you!” and kisses his neck Toby pats her cheek. Abbey says “You boys are welcome to join us, if you like that kinda of music, I would love to have you there. We can give Donny here is first taste of all the different kinds music there is in the world. You can even bring a date; I’ll count this as your first 3 hours of community service. I have to have fans out there because the maestro and I are having a dueling piano’s; I need people to clap for me! ”
Bobby says, “Sure we’d love to go.”
“I’ll have Sharon call everyone on Friday, just tell her how many of you are coming, let me walk you out Tam-Tam” says Abbey.
Abbey returns and sits at the table; Gordon reaches takes her hand and says, “Why didn’t you tell me about you and the Chief of Detectives?”
Abbey replies, “What about him?” Gordon say’s, “You spat in his face and he put you in jail, it would have been good to know about this before Thursday, were you planning on ever telling me?”
Abbey responded, “No, because it isn’t important, I spent less than an hour in jail, it’s not even on my record, you worry too much Gordon”. She reaches up and touches his cheek, and tells him, “I’ll tell you the most important thing I’ve learned since I’ve been in politics, and that’s how to humble a man who likes having a lot of power of others, you sit him in between two men who have more power than he does.”
She continues, “I have a 45 minute earlier appointment with the Attorney General of the United States and the Governor, we going to discuss national health care issues; we’ve been working on a national health care package for the last four months. It was the only time the Chief could squeeze me in. I told you God has a plan for us all, it couldn’t have worked out better if I planned it myself! It’s going to be fun I promise!”
Everyone at the table starts to laugh, Toby puts his arm around her head and rubs her hair and says, “That’s my spit fire little sister!”
Bobby looks at her with admiration, she wasn’t that beautiful, yet every time he looked at her she looked more beautiful, especially when she plays music. She is smart, and she had compassion for people, he’d have to watch out for this lady. He also noticed the look in Gordon eyes, he could tell he had deep feelings for her, but the only thing he saw in her eyes was the love she felt for her brother. He’d had to figure this girl out. There was something not making sense.
Abbey stands up and say’s, “listen guys I got to call it a night, I still have a ton of work to do and I got an earlier call in the morning, but you guys stay, Toby will entertain you, maybe I’ll see you guys at Mass on Sunday, if not Monday for sure”. Bobby and Gordon start rise, she tells them, “don’t get up, and call if you need anything”. She kisses Toby and she leaves after telling Joe goodbye and paying him for the dinner.
