Escape Room

"You have a very nice home," Neil told her, unaware of the 'drama' surrounding the use of that particular word as of late.

"Thank you. I do my best to keep up with it, but the outside needs a lot of work, and while my brother, Paul, does his best to help out, my husband's absence is even more noticeable every time I look out in the yard. And it's even worse during the summer."

"Honestly? The outside of your home was the last thing on my mind, but I do understand. Mine's kind of the reverse. Yours looks incredible inside while mine...needs some TLC."

"Well, one of these days maybe you'll meet someone new to give you a hand with that," Abby said with a smile as she looked away as soon as she said it.

Neil politely and quietly laughed then told her she might meet the handyman of her dreams, too.

Abby surprised herself again when she said, "The truth is I'd feel very fortunate just to meet someone who'd love me and my son the way Terry loved us. I know it could never be the same, but something close to that would be..."

Neil smiled and, also to her surprise, said, "Nice?"

Abby laughed then decided to fess up and share the inside joke from the other evening. Neil laughed genuinely this time, and when he did, Abby relaxed and forgot about the age difference. At least for the time being.

"We have a few minutes. Did you want to maybe sit and talk for a bit?"

"I would," Neil told her.

"Is it okay if I ask you what you do, Neil?"

"Sure. I'm an HVAC tech. I work on, maintain, and repair heating and air conditioning units."

Abby smiled then said, "Gee. What a coincidence! My furnace has been acting up lately."

"Let me take a look at it," Neil said immediately and started to get up.

"No. I was only kidding. Well, it has been acting up, but I'd never ask you to do that."

"But now I insist," Neil told her with a smile as he actually did stand up. "And while you show me where it is, you can tell me what you do."

Feeling both guilty and grateful, Abby thanked him, told him she didn't expect anything for free, then let him know she was a registered nurse. Neil asked her if she worked in a hospital, and Abby explained how she'd done that for many years before moving back to Omaha.

"Gosh, I'm sorry. Your husband and your father."

"Dad's passing was so unexpected," she told him once she turned on the basement light before following him downstairs.

Neil asked about her mom on the way down, and Abby told him about the farm and how tough and dedicated her mother was.

"She sounds like a very strong woman," he said as he approached the old unit.

"This thing has been in here forever," Abby commented when she saw him looking at it.

"That's the bad news. The good news is this model is fairly simple and usually easy to work on. Most of the time it's one of two things, and I should be able to tell which one here in just a minute or so."

There was a high-pitched sound that Neil heard before he got to the furnace, and that told him it was almost certainly a blower belt problem. Abby had a screwdriver handy and a few seconds later, Neil had the one plate he needed to remove set to the side.

"Yep. It's this belt. You're going to need a new one. It's a very easy fix, the belt is cheap, and I'll put it on for you, so it won't cost you anything for labor."

"Neil, you can't expect me not to pay you," Abby told him.

He turned toward her, smiled, then said, "And you can't possibly expect me to let you pay me."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Positive. It won't take me five minutes to stop the squeal and the problems you've been having will go away until we can get a new belt. But I'll check everything else when I come back just to be sure."

"Neil! That's too much," Abby protested.

He smiled at her again then said, "I'm kind of hoping to impress the owner, but please don't tell her that, okay?"

This time, Abby didn't get goosebumps. Her entire body tingled as she realized this handsome, younger man was flirting with her.

"I...I promise I won't say a word, but I can assure you she'll be very grateful."

"And I'll be very happy if helping her out just gets me one single smile."

"Oh. I...I'm sure she could arrange that."

Abby felt 16 again, but she also felt...happy. She was still very cautious and maybe even a little paranoid about getting involved with anyone, let alone a guy Neil's age, but just the way he looked at her made her weak in the knees.

He put the panel back on then told Abby they were out of time and needed to get going.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry for ruining our chance to get better acquainted."

Neil set the screwdriver back on the bench where Abby kept it, then said, "You've done no such thing. In fact, I think I learned more about you down here than I could have sitting upstairs and talking."

"I hope it wasn't anything bad," she told him, worried about him thinking she was a mooch.

"Nope. Just the opposite," he replied with a smile before motioning toward the stairs but not telling her she'd made an even more positive impression on him by virtue of her concern about not 'freeloading'.

He didn't ask for much in a relationship, but one thing that drove him crazy was a woman who seemed to expect everything without showing any appreciation. Misty had always been so grateful for everything, and no matter how small the gesture, she made sure to let her husband know she appreciated it, even if it was just a quick note on a yellow sticky telling her how much he loved her.

"I'll go get the boys," Abby told him once they were back upstairs. "Unless you'd like to come see Trevor's room."

"I'd love to!" Neil told her, mostly so he could stay close to her.

As she walked ahead of him, he couldn't help but notice how tight her waist was, and the way she filled out the pants she was wearing. He wasn't a 'butt guy', but he couldn't help but notice hers. He was, however, a boob guy, and he'd already notice what some called the 'sweater puppets' that moved as she walked. Between all that and her kind, caring ways, Neil was more than interested. He was definitely interested, but the better word for how he felt was 'intrigued'.

"Okay, boys! Time to go!" Abby said once they got to the back of the house.

"Come on, Tyler!" Trevor said, as neither boy even noticed the adults again.

They zipped right by them causing Neil to smile and Abby to laugh.

"I love seeing Trevor so happy. Tyler is a really good influence on him."

"Maybe they should spend a lot more time together," Neil said as he stood less than a foot away from the beautiful, older woman who looked down when their eyes met.

Abby felt her heart race and then, when Neil gently put his hand in the small of her back to let her go first, she felt that same delicious tingling. The touching only lasted a second or two, but it was the most amazing thing Abby'd felt in so long she couldn't remember.

They made small talk on the way to the museum as the boys yammered away without a break. Both parents smiled often due to the boys' interaction, and just as often to let the other know they were enjoying their company.

While the boys had a nice time looking around, it was for very different reasons than their parents who admired each room in detail while their kids found other things that caught their attention.

"Neil. Look!" Abby said in the very first room.

He stood next to her to look at what she was pointing out, and while he tried to look, the scent of her perfume was so distracting he found it impossible.

"Very nice," he replied as Abby walked the room's perimeter pointing out this or that.

At one point, after maybe a dozen or so rooms, Neil found something that caught his eye first. When he mentioned it, he moved his hand her way, and to his surprise, it brushed up against hers. Abby assumed he was trying to take it, and even though he wasn't, she offered it. Neil realized what was happening and took it as he asked her what she thought.

"It's very...nice," she replied, waiting for him to look at her.

He remembered and smiled at her. He not only smiled, he turned her way and when he did, she looked at him as if to say, "What's going on?"

"You are so beautiful," Neil quietly told her as he looked into her eyes.

This time Abby didn't look away. She looked back into his and did her best to 'peer inside them'. What she 'saw' told her he was being sincere, and she smiled at him and thanked him. Her heart began racing again as he started leaning in, but just like in the movies, the voices of two young boys stopped them.

"Mom! You gotta come look!" Trevor said, unaware that his mother was on the verge of kissing his friend's father.

"Oh, okay. Let's go see!" she said with an apologetic smile to Neil who winked understandingly and asked what was so exciting.

The boys had found the home movie theater that was as large as some small, private theaters.

"Wow! This is amazing!" Neil said as he walked in still holding Abby's hand.

"Very...nice!" she said with a laugh as she squeezed Neil's hand.

"Can we watch a movie?" Trevor asked, his eyes open wide in hopeful anticipation.

"I don't think they're showing any movies here tonight, honey," his mom told him.

His disappointment lasted less than a second as Tyler said, "Trevor! Come on!" and off they went.

Their parents laughed, but this time, when they stood face to face, Neil said, "We were interrupted a minute or so ago."

"Oh, yes. Yes, we were," Abby agreed as they continued looking at one another.

There was no one else in the room as Neil moved closer, smiled at her, then softly kissed her for the first time. The soft, slow kiss lasted two or three seconds, and when it ended, Abby couldn't help but tell Neil the kiss was very...nice.

He laughed, too, but agreed.

"Yes. Very nice."

Abby hooked her arm in his as they tried to catch up with the boys who somehow managed to remember not to run. But they were walking very fast, and they'd already seen the entire house by the time the adults got to the 15th room.

Neither boy noticed the budding romance until they got back to the entrance of the museum when Tyler saw his dad holding hands with Trevor's mom. His dad caught his eye and wondered what his son was thinking. The smile on his boy's face told him everything he needed to know. When he elbowed Trevor to tell him what was going on, Abby watched her son's reaction just as closely.

"Mom! Do you like Tyler's dad?" he asked with a sense of excitement.

Abby looked at Neil who smiled at her before she said, "I think maybe I do. Is that okay?"

Her son smiled even wider as he moved closer and hugged his mom.

"I believe that's a 'yes'," Abby said as she hugged him back and smiled at Neil.

Outside, the boys made their mom and dad laugh when Tyler said, "Hey, you and I could be brothers!"

"How?" Trevor asked.

"If my dad marries your mom, you'll be my brother."

Trevor's eyes got big just before he said, "Awesome!" as Neil opened the back door to let them climb inside.

As he opened Abby's door, she said, "They're very optimistic, aren't they?"

Neil smiled at her then said, "Maybe. But I like the way they think."

That tingle hit again as Abby laughed a genuine, happy laugh before getting in.

The grownups didn't say much at first, and that caused Neil to ask if everything was okay.

"Yes. I had a wonderful time," Abby assured him.

"You seem a little...distracted."

"Sorry. I'm just wondering how I'm going to explain all of this to Paul and Amanda."

"Explain?" Neil asked.

"Yes. They're both, well, very happy for me, and I know they're going to want...details."

"Oh. I see."

"And I'm...I'm not sure what to tell them."

"My parents will be wanting information, too."

"Oh, right. Do they know about me?" Abby asked.

"Oh, yes," a smiling Neil told her.

"Did you tell them I'm..."

Before she could say 'older', Neil pretended to be serious and said, "Nice?"

The unexpected humor made her laugh and released some of the growing tension she was feeling.

"Do they know?" she asked, needing to know herself.

"Yes and no. I mentioned you were older than me. I just didn't bother mentioning the exact age."

Neil glanced her way then said, "Which I still don't know. Exactly."

"I'm..."

Neil tried not to laugh when Abby looked toward the back seat then whispered her answer.

"I'm...43."

When Neil only nodded, Abby wasn't sure what to think or how she felt. Until he spoke.

"No. You're not 43. You're...beautiful. And amazing."

Now it was Neil who wasn't sure what was going on when Abby looked down.

"Did I say something wrong?" he quietly asked.

"No. It...it was perfect."

"Then what is it?"

Abby looked up at him then tried to explain.

"You've experienced the same loss as me. I don't want to sound melodramatic, but a part of me died when I lost my husband."

"You're worried you'll be hurt like that again."

"Can you understand that?" Abby asked, the sadness in her voice coming through.

"I can. And while no one knows how long they have on this life, I can promise you I'll never hurt you like that, Abby."

"We really just met and here I am talking like we're in a relationship or something," she said as she tried to smile.

"Would that be so terrible?" Neil asked as he reached for her hand.

Abby let him take it then, without thinking, said, "We have dinner with my brother and Amanda every Sunday. Would you possibly like to join us?"

"Very much," Neil told her. "But are you sure you want us there? As you said, we really did kind of just meet."

"Well, if we are going to be in a relationship, maybe we should try doing something couples do," Abby suggested as she glanced his way.

Neil smiled then said, "Tyler? You wanna have dinner with Trevor and his aunt and uncle tomorrow?"

"Really?" his son replied, saying his first word to anyone other than Trevor since they got in the car.

"Yes. Really."

"That would be so cool!" Trevor said as the boys went back to talking about boy stuff.

"I think that's a 'yes'," Neil told Abby.

"I'm glad," she quietly replied. "And I'm really glad we both just happened to be at the escape room at the same time."

"Me, too," Neil told her as he gently squeezed her hand causing one more wave of pleasure to wash over Abby's body.

Abby let Neil walk her to the door but didn't invite him back in. She wanted to, but felt like there would time for that later if anything ever came from this, whatever 'this' might be.

She got inside then grabbed her phone.

"Manda? Hi. Listen, would it be okay if I brought someone with me tomorrow?"

She heard her sister-in-law laugh then ask, "Isn't his name Neil?"

"I...I don't know why I didn't just say that," Abby admitted, feeling a little silly.

"And is it just one 'someone' or two?" Amanda asked.

"Definitely two. Trevor is so excited about having Tyler come with us. If it's okay."

"Okay? Are you kidding? Of course it's okay. Paul will be thrilled to have another guy to talk with, and since you said he's...hot...I don't think I'll mind, um, seeing him...either."

"You're shameless!" Abby teased, a big smile on her face as a wave or relief washed over her. She was sure it would be okay, but knowing it was made her feel even better. And she was now feeling very good.

"So did you guys have fun?" Amanda asked.

"We did. It was really..."

Abby heard Amanda laugh again then say, "Nice?"

Abby laughed, too, then told Amanda she'd shared the 'nice' thing with Neil.

"The 'nice' thing aside, I'm so happy you had fun, and I'm really looking forward to meeting both of your new guys."

Abby bit her lower lip then said, "Thank you for not saying...'boys'."

Amanda laughed even harder before almost saying 'goodnight'. She hesitated and Abby asked what was wrong.

"Is it okay if I ask one more question?"

"Of course."

"Did you guys...kiss?"

Amanda could 'hear' Abby smiling and knew the answer.

"You did, didn't you?"

"Maybe," a rather coy Abby replied.

"You...you cougar, you!" Amanda said as she laughed right after Abby did.

"Satisfied?" Abby asked as though she were offended.

"For now. But there will be more questions," Amanda warned.

"Bye, Manda."

"Bye, Abs. Love you!"

"Love you, back!"

Abby was so happy she felt like her entire body was tingling. She wanted to talk to Neil, but opted for a quick text instead.

"Hi, Neil. I just called my sister-in-law in she said she'd love to have you and Tyler come over. And I wanted to let you know I had a really wonderful time tonight, the first one in a very long time. No. That's not true. I recently had one with someone I met at an escape room, too!"

Neil saw it and smiled.

"He sounds like a really...nice...guy."

He added a smiley face then continued.

"I had a great time, too, Abby. And it's been much too long since that happened to me, either. Well, I have to admit that I also had a really good time on Wednesday when I met this incredible, beautiful woman. And what are the odds? I met her at an escape room, too!"

"She sounds like a very lucky girl."

"I don't know about that, but I feel like the luckiest guy on earth."

"You made me smile. Again."

"Same here. What time should I pick you guys up tomorrow?"

Abby let him know when and told him how much she was looking forward to it.

"Me, too. See you then!"

Both Trevor and Tyler drove their respective parent crazy again asking when they could see their friend, and after the third or fourth time of telling them when, they gave up and just said, "Soon."

Abby had never worn a dress to have dinner at Paul's house before, but she nearly did that before telling herself it was over the top. She also knew her brother would razz her for doing that and make a big deal about it in front of Neil. So as she looked through her things, she sighed loudly when her choices came down to a blouse, a sweatshirt, or another sweater.

In the end she choose a pink blouse with a black cardigan sweater and instead of black pants which Neil had already seen, she wore a pair of jeans. Jeans that fit quite nicely as she briefly admired her bum in the mirror as she turned sideways.

"All those months of feeling to sad to eat may finally be paying off," she said out loud, making herself laugh.

Her hair was still up in rollers, and she needed to do her makeup, but at least she knew what she was wearing.

Neil threw on another pair of jeans and dark-green button down shirt, pulled on a brown leather jacket, and was ready to go in five minutes after getting out the shower and just minutes before it was time to leave.

"Finally!" Tyler said when his dad told him to grab his coat and get in the car.

Neil tried paying attention as his son went on and on about Trevor and the fun they'd had since the escape room, but all he could manage in response was something like, 'huh' or 'oh, that's nice'. He loved his son more than anything, but Abby was the first and only woman he'd met since losing Misty that he couldn't get off his mind.

"We're not staying, so please don't go run off to Trevor's room, okay?" his dad warned Tyler as they walked up to Abby's front door.

Her hair and makeup were done, and when Neil saw her, he shook his head and said, "Wow."

She didn't think her outfit was anything close to 'wow', but hearing Neil say it made her feel wonderful even though it was more her pretty face and hair.

Trevor was right beside her, and Neil was sure his mom had told him to be ready, too, and a few seconds later they were in the car and on their way.

"So is there anything I should know before I meet your brother and sister-in-law?" Neil asked as soon as they were on the road.

"Paul's a big kidder, so don't take him too seriously. He has a huge heart, and he's been a lifesaver for us since..."