"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's fine. I've moved on." She said before going back to her desk. Julianne grab and rummaged through her bag taking out a couple of bills.
"Here." she said handing it to Abby, "-buy yourself something to eat. You can go now and thanks for listening. I'll contact you again when I need your help."
Abby briefly nodded her head before making her way back to the elevator to leave.
***
"Here's your change. Sorry, it took me a while to find coins for the exact amount. " The student in front of the cashier grunted in response before lazily sliding his lunch bag on the counter.
"Abby! It's your turn to go on break." One of the cafeteria staff shouted from the kitchen.
She turned and began to remove her apron uniform. "Alright," she replied.
Inside the staff locker room, Abby brought out the lunch she bought using the food money Julienne Carter gave her. To be honest, she hesitated if she'll accept the money at first but after considering how heavy the things she had to bring from her car to her office, Abby dismissed the thought.
She brought out a small notebook from her bag after unwrapping her sandwich and then began to write out what she found so far.
1. Julianne Carter resembles Noah's mystery girl.
2. She once had a husband who is now dead and this dead husband might be Noah.
For now, the clues she's got don't prove anything yet but this gives about a fifty percent possibility that she might be the one Noah's looking for.
Now, if only she gets the chance to go to Julianne Carter's house…
***
After her shift at the school cafeteria ended, Abby got to get home early because her afternoon classes were canceled when her professor had to be brought to the emergency room after slipping on a water puddle at the campus parking lot.
The steps that lead to the front door creaked as she treads it. Abby unlocked the door and was greeted by darkness and silence. Normally, Noah would be waiting for her at the foyer while sitting at the bottom of the wooden stairs that lead to the second-floor rooms but now, he's not even giving the slightest hint that he's somewhere around the house. Come to think of it, she hasn't seen him for days. Makes her wonder where he's been hiding all this time.
Abby didn't want to admit it but she has gotten used to Noah lately that she's now feeling somewhat lonely that no one's chatting nonstop beside her like he usually did. Where is he anyway?
Walking in the sunroom first, she checked inside if Noah's by the piano. She remembered that he liked to hang around here when he's bored. Abby also liked this place, especially during the afternoon when you could see the sunset from the window.
"Do you think she hates me now?" Abby heard Noah's familiar voice on the back porch of the house as she enters the kitchen from the sunroom. She slowly made her way to the back door to listen, careful as so she's not heard.
"I didn't mean to enter her room while she's changing."
Abby can't help but remember that day. Her cheeks warmed as the memory flashed in her head.
"Meow." Is he talking to a cat? Abby chuckled silently from behind the door.
"I know. I mean, it's not like I saw everything." He sure did.
"Meow."
Noah gasped at the same time the sound of leaves rustled. "What are you saying, Beth? I did not do that." He said sounding in denial and offended at the same time. What did he do?
"Meow."
Noah groaned, "Fine. I saw a little, okay? But that's it." Oh my god. I knew it but hearing it coming from his mouth…
"Meow."
"What do you mean I did that on purpose? I'm not like you," he retorted, "-and don't even deny that. I saw you charming the neighbor's cat even when you already have Melody."
"Meoow."
"Sure. I'll keep my mouth shut if you keep mine a secret too. Deal?"
Abby decided to interrupt Noah and his friend, feeling guilty that she's been eavesdropping in on their conversation. "What secret?"
Noah turned in shock, "Abby! How long have you been there?" he asked trying not to sound nervous.
"Just now." She lied.
The relief on his face looked so evident that Abby can't help but smile. "So, would you mind sharing this secret with me too?"
Noah shook his head and floated next to her. "Nah. It's not mine to share. It's Beth's secret so you ask him."
Abby raised her brow at him before clearing her throat, "Who's Beth?" she asked pretending not to know.
Realization hit him and Noah quickly floated away to introduce his friend. "Abby, I want you to meet my friend, Beth." He proudly said while showing a fat cat with a tabby pattern lounging on the old rocking chair. It meowed as if acknowledging the introduction before it went back into licking one of its paws.
"But Noah isn't he a guy?"
Noah nods briefly, "He sure is."
"Then why is his name Beth? Did you name him?"
Noah chuckled and shook his head, "Oh I didn't tell you, did I? Beth is short for Beethoven. And yes, I named him myself." He bragged. "Isn't cool?"
Noah floated right back inside the house after briefly saying goodbye to Beth who decided to ignore him after he started to lick his belly.
"So where have you been?" Abby began as she follows behind Noah.
He settled on his favorite spot at the kitchen counter, lazily lying there sideways just like how Beth did with the rocking chair. "Just here and there." He said nonchalantly and Abby suddenly had the urge to tease him.
"Fine. Don't tell me." She began acting as though she's mad but his reaction made Abby surprise when his expression turned to panic. He floated up from his position and quickly went to Abby's side.
"I'm sorry. I was just here," he explained briefly.
She laughed shortly, "I know. You can't leave this house, remember?"
Noah groaned, "Abby…."
She huffed out a breath while her hand is on her hips. "So, why have you been avoiding me?"
He tried to avoid her gaze but ended up looking on the floor. Now he looked guilty for what he did. "I thought you were angry that I saw you changing clothes. I didn't see anything though."
"I'm not. You apologized already so all is forgiven."
Noah raised his head and a smile began to form on his mouth as his lips curve upward. "Really?"
"Yeah."
Noah went back to his favorite spot and happily smiled once again. "Phew." he wiped his forehead as if there's sweat on it. "-I really thought you were mad at me because I saw you with only your panties on."
The smile on Abby's face slowly turned into a frown, "I thought you didn't see anything?"
Noah froze on his spot realizing the slip of the tongue, "Right…" he uttered before Abby notices that he's slowly floating away from her.
"Noah…" she called his name in a warning tone.
And then he floated fast enough that Abby had to run to catch up to him. "Get back here, Noah!"
_to be continued_