Abby

How am I going to survive two weeks with that woman? Abby thought to herself. Her plaid suitcase was open on her bed and she was throwing in balled-up T-shirts one by one. She knew Paul liked a neat suitcase.

Abby heard Paul open the front screen door so she decided she should pick up the pace. She began grabbing handfuls of T-shirts from the dishevelled pile of clothes on the floor. 

“Abs! Can you bring your suitcase to the porch? I don’t want to take my boots off!” Paul called from the front of the house. Of course, he doesn’t, Abby thought. He had purchased new hiking boots a week ago in preparation for the trip. He had barely taken them off since he bought them. Abby zipped her luggage closed and carried it to the porch where Paul was standing, shirtless. He looked great.

“Neatly-packed, I hope,” Paul nudged Abby with his elbow and flashed a grin.

“Yes, everything is very tidy,” Abby rolled her eyes. “Even the barf bags I packed for when your mother tries to poison me again.” Abby watched Paul’s expression change from jovial to hurt. She secretly wished she could take back what she had said. Nevertheless, she had too much pride to concede.

“Oh, Abs.” Paul sighed and carried Abby’s suitcase to the car.

The drive to King’s Point was about two-and-a-half hours. Abby sat in silence the entire trip while Paul devotedly sang along to the Van Morrison album he has had on repeat for years.

“Mom’s house is just at the end of this street,” Paul said eagerly.

“Yes, I remember,” Abby replied under her breath. I’ve been trying to forget, she thought.

As they pulled up to the house, Abby arched an eyebrow at Paul’s mother who was sitting on the doorstep in a checkered nightgown and fuzzy, periwinkle slippers.

“Finally!” Abby watched Paul’s mother hop off her step and scamper down the driveway with her arms outstretched. Abby got out of the car and leaned against it while Paul’s mother embraced her son.

“Abby, nice to see you,” Paul’s mother said. Abby noticed her tone had completely changed. Abby flashed her a smile and began walking up the drive to the house.

“I’ve got some chili on the stove,” Paul’s mother announced. “It should be ready in just a few minutes.”

How the hell am I going to get out of eating that? Abby wondered to herself. I’m not missing any countryside hikes. She took her shoes off in the porch and sat at the kitchen table. It was a dark mahogany table with the leaf taken out. It looked like it belonged in a dining room, not a dinky little kitchen like this one.

“Would you like a teaspoon or a soup spoon for your chili?” Paul’s mother turned around from the stove to face Abby.

“Actually, I’m not hungry,” Abby replied, trying to sound convincing.

“Nonsense!” Paul’s mother exclaimed. “You kids have been driving for almost three hours.” Abby could hear Paul walking up the front steps.

“Let’s worry about unpacking later, Abs,” Paul set two suitcases on the kitchen floor. “I’m anxious to get out for a hike before it gets dark.” Abby’s ears perked up.

“Great, well let’s go now then while it’s still warm.” Abby stood up from the kitchen table.

“I’m not letting you two hike on an empty stomach,” Paul’s mother called over her shoulder while she was stirring the chili.

“I’m really not that hungry.” Abby made a face at Paul expressing her annoyance.

“You know, mom, we were grazing on snacks for the entire drive.” Paul walked over to his mother standing at the stove and put his hand on her shoulder. She turned around with two full bowls of chili in her hands.

“Well, it’s taken up now. I can’t put it back in the pot,” Paul’s mother replied. She set the bowls of chili on the table, one in front of Abby and one at the spot directly across from her. Abby stared at the bowl of chili and felt a knot in her stomach. Paul’s mother went back to the stove and continued stirring her pot. There’s no way I’m eating this, Abby thought. Then she got an idea.

“Can you get me a spoon?” Abby asked Paul.

“You’ve got a spoon right next to your bowl,” Paul raised an eyebrow at Abby.

“Yes, but this is a soup spoon and I want a teaspoon.” Paul shrugged his shoulders and got up from the table. Abby switched the bowls of chili while both Paul and his mother’s backs were turned. Paul returned to the table and slid a spoon across the table to Abby.

Halfway through the meal, Paul got up from the table and darted for the bathroom. Abby walked to the bathroom and put her ear to the door. She heard Paul retching.

“I knew it!” Abby cried as she came back into the kitchen. “You crazy bitch, you’ve been making me sick on purpose!”

“Abby, listen,” Paul’s mother put her hands up in an act of surrender. “Paul’s ex-wife died from an accidental fall while she was hiking with Paul in King’s Point four years ago.”

“So?!” Abby was shouting. “That proves nothing, you psycho!”

“Wait.” Paul’s mother gestured for Abby to sit own. Abby obliged. “Paul had a childhood friend who went into the woods with him when they were kids and never came out.” Abby became confused. Paul’s mother continued. “Because he was a foster kid from an underprivileged family, the whole town concluded that the boy had just run away.”

Abby sat in silence, attempting to make sense of the information she just received. This bitch is nuts. She’s got to be lying, Abby convinced herself.

“I’ve been making you sick so you don’t end up alone in the woods with him.” Paul’s mother began to tremble.

“I’m not dealing with this,” Abby snapped. “You’re so full of shit.” She began walking away but Paul’s mother put her hands on Abby’s shoulders and halted her.

“Let me ask you one question,” Paul’s mother started. “Has he recently purchased new hiking boots?”

Abby heard the bathroom door open. Her heart pounded with each step Paul took toward the kitchen. His voice came from behind her.

“Hey sweetie,” Paul said. “You ready for that hike?”