Family Secrets

Chapter Seven

Monday, a week before his very own murder, Michael was having the time of his life in New York City waiting for Sunday night when he would meet a woman he had been talking to for a month prior to that week. He had even gotten his own apartment there and was in the process of creating a website to sell his baked goods, he was taking his time on it, to make sure everything was perfect in case someone didn't like it. As he was working, his phone rang, he answered and a woman's voice came across the other side.

"Hello Michael, it's Mia from the site? I'm calling to tell you that my Friday night is now empty, so if you wanna meet Friday instead of Sunday that would work for me." Michael smiled slightly and spoke in a soft voice.

"Yes, that will do perfectly, we can meet at my mother's apartment around what do you say? About six o'clock?" Mia was very quiet at first but soon agreed to the plans. He thought that he had finally found someone who wasn't a complete psycho. Due to the fact of it being a bit late after that got talking he hung up the phone and hopped into bed, he laid his head down on the soft and warm pillow and Immediately fell asleep.

The next morning was an easy and early start to the day, once he got dressed he went downstairs putting a pot of coffee on and heating a few pieces of banana bread that he had made the day before. Michael finished his breakfast and went over to his computer he had to charge up at the couch, he opened it and started working. It wasn't till four o'clock when he had to stop his work and get ready for dinner with his mother, tomorrow he was going out to get a haircut, his hair may have grown out a lot since that day. Michael put on a formal blazer outfit that was a beautiful rose-red shirt with a jet black jacket with a pair of blue jeans and black dress shoes, right after he tied his shoes his phone rang when he answered a voice came across the phone.

"Hey, sweetie! We are meeting at Midnight Raven right?" His mother was at her own apartment working on her fifth novel while also trying to get ready. Michael smiled and agreed, his mother continued to talk, "Oh, by the way, I have to give you the key to my apartment for your date Sunday." He spoke over her soon after.

"No, it's been changed to Friday mom. I'm going to get my hair cut tomorrow and I'm wearing the outfit I'm going to wear that night for opinions." They both laughed and he hung up walking out the door and started driving to the restaurant they were meeting. Once Michael arrived he parked and walked in, and up to the front where a teenage girl stood.

"Ah hello? My name is Michael Snow and my mother has a reservation here?" The girl looked at the computer and started typing.

"Name please?" He coughed and she looked up gasping, "Oh! Is your Mother by any chance Jessica Anderson?? I'm a huge fan!! Ah! Your table is right over here, follow me." The young girl now had a smile on her face holding two menus, he sat down at the table as the girl handed him his mother's book and a pen.

"I know I'm working right now but, can you get Mrs. Anderson to sign this book, please? It would mean a lot." He smiled and took the pen and book, the girl said her name and went back to work. Three minutes had passed before Jessie came through the Midnight Raven doors, and she was immediately surrounded by the people in the restaurant wanting pictures with her. After all the pictures she walked over to her son hugging him.

"Hi Michie, I've been thinking and you should invite Maris to come to live here in New York. She's graduating tomorrow and I think she needs a new start, she could work for the NYPD." Jessie was looking at the menu as she spoke, Michael had been thinking about doing it but, he didn't know if he should.

"I don't know Mother, she seems so happy in Woodbridge, how do we know Maris is going even like it here?" They both ordered the steak and loaded baked potato, Jessie looked up taking a sip of the white wine she asked for.

"After everything that happened, after Abbi was-" She looked down and messed with her thumbs, "After everything, I think it would be very good for her if she lived here for a while. I mean she might be able to get help from NYPD in finding Abbigail." Michael smiled softly knowing that if he told her that she'd get on a one-way flight out here without any plans, which would be hectic, it made him let out a chuckle.

"You know Mother if I did that she'd come here with no plans whatsoever? It'd sure be fun to watch though. I'll think about it." They finished the dinner and both paid. Michael hugged his mother goodbye and went home, when he got home he took a shower and went off to bed. Thursday morning he got up early and went out for breakfast since he was already going out to get his hair cut and perhaps a new outfit for the night after. He arrived at Chloes Coffee Shop no later than nine am when he first came to the city he got a job at Chloe's and was very good friends with the owner Chloe.

"Hello, Michie!" His eyes widened as he laughed knowing that Chloe was spending a bit too much time with his mother.

"Michie?? Turning into my mother I see?" Chloe looked down at a coffee cup and laughed, she had beautiful short blonde hair, her eyes the color of the trees outside. Michael felt different with her like he could be himself.

"Soooo, you ready for your 'date' tomorrow? I would never trust online dating, but you do you boo-boo." She smiled and handed him a chocolate chip scone, however, she was crying silently inside for she had feelings as deep as the Pacific Ocean for the man that stood before her, and she knew that he wouldn't ever feel the same way and in some way, she was okay with that. She went back to work after talking with Michael, he pulled out his phone and started texting Mia as he ate and drank his coffee.

Michael: Hey Mia! Ready for Friday?? I have the key to my mother's apartment.

Mia: Totally I've never been more ready. So much nervousness though.

Michael: See you then Sweet thang.

"Hey Chloe, You busy tonight? Wanna hang out?" He packed up his stuff and walked to the door and looked at her.

"Meet you at your apartment at around five tonight? We'll have a movie night!" Chloe smiled and waved to him as he left. He made it to the salon about eleven o'clock, he sat in their chair when he heard a scream come from the front of the salon. There stood his youngest daughter with a young girl and boy beside her, the shock on both of their faces was seen easily. Michael had given up all hope of finding her, he really thought she was gone, with tears in his eyes he ran up to her wrapping her into a bear hug not letting go because he missed her.

"Is it really you? My little girl? Abbigail?" Abby had tears running down her cheeks as she hugged back tightly, they waited for this very moment to happen, and now that it has he doesn't want it to end.