ABBY, page 12
“I believe you, but…”
I trail off and Abby saves the day. “I got an amazing job offer in Montreal and I have to answer them today on whether or not I can take it. In order for me to decide, I need proof.”
“So, if I don’t piss on a stick for you, then you’re leaving the country with the father of my child.”
“Well…yeah. If you won’t take the test, then Latch and I are going to take this opportunity.”
“Fuck you, Latch!” she snarls at me. “I can’t believe you’re just gonna let this bitch decide your future. If you don’t trust me, then go. You don’t deserve to be a part of this baby’s life. Quite frankly, I don’t need you.”
“You can stop with all the dramatics. Are you gonna take the test or not?”
Abby outstretches it to her and Jessy snatches it away. “I’m not fucking doing this for either of you! It’s for the baby!”
Then she storms off to the bathroom and Abby follows, stopping Jessy before she closes the door. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”
“What? If you have nothing to hide, who cares? I’ll even let Latch watch you piss, if it makes you feel better.” I stand down the hallway waiting for the wrath of what’s next. Then I hear her piss and Abby looks at me with a huge grin on her face, knowing that we’ve won. I just hope more than anything that the test is negative.
Jessy flushes and then Abby disappears into the bathroom. I assume to look at the results. I wait another second before going in, then all chaos breaks out. “You rigged it! You fucking jealous cunt! You fucking set me up!” Jessy screams and Abby passes me the test as I walk up to the doorway, and as clear as day on the digital screen it reads, “Not pregnant.”
“How did I rig it? You opened the fucking package, stupid.”
“Latch, she’s fucking crazy, don’t you see it?” Jessy is losing her grasp on me. It reminds me of how Darrell acted when he slowly lost his hold on Abby. Panicked and out of control.
“You need to leave,” I tell her.
“No! I’m not lying. You have to believe me. I am pregnant! With our baby!” she pleads. “I took a dozen tests at home.”
“Jessy, I bought this test at a store myself, so I know you’re lying. I want you out of my house, now!”
She blinks a few time dazed then squeezes past me, crying, and barges through the door, leaving it wide open on her way out. Looking at Abby, she throws the test away and then washes her hands. Grabbing her by the sides, I pull her to me. Lifting her chin so our eyes stay connected, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can breathe.
“So does this mean, after we get married you aren’t going to change your last name to mine?” Latch asks me.
I slap him upside the head, “Would you shut up? You haven’t even proposed.”
“What would you say if I did?”
I roll my eyes, knowing he’s just messing with me. Looking down at the paperwork in my hand, a huge weight is lifted off my shoulders now that my last name has been legally changed. I never liked McEllrath. It wasn’t mine – it was Darrell’s – and my maiden name always meant a lot to me. It gave me purpose, it was my parents’ and represented when I became a part of their family. “Abby Lehigh. I’m not sure I’m ever going to be able to get used to that. Now, Abby Teracino sounds so much better!”
“Oh my God, Latch, you haven’t proposed!”
“So you want me to?”
I roll my eyes again and spot Maris sitting outside the rustic café waiting for us. I wave and she stands with the biggest grin on her face.
“How did it go?” she asks, hugging us together.
“It went well.” I hand her the paperwork and she smiles reading it.
“She’s officially Abby Lehigh,” Latch says, kissing me on the cheek.
We all sit down and she says, “I’m so happy, and no word from that girl…I hope?”
I shake my head and Latch says, “Nope, minus a few angry text messages, it’s been quiet, thank God. Somehow I dodged a huge fuckin’ bullet with that one.”
He speaks a little loud and other people eating look in our direction. Latch doesn’t seem to notice – he never does. It’s either that, or he doesn’t care what others think of him.
“Well, just keep ignoring her, she’ll eventually stop. Did you guys have a chance to see that place I found in Manhattan?” she asks.
“We’re actually heading there after this,” Latch says.
“Oh, I hope you like it.”
Latch squeezes my knee, alerting me that we need to tell her what our overall plan is. “Yeah, us too,” he adds.
“But, if this place doesn’t pan out, I think we’re gonna look in Connecticut.”
“Really? Why there?” she asks thrown off, and I proceed. “Before the accident, when we stayed at Jeremy’s beach house, it was perfect. It was everything we’ve ever wanted. No paparazzi or stress, it was just tranquil, almost surreal.”
“Sometimes, I forget about what you go though on a daily basis, just leaving your house. Has it gotten any better?”
“Depends on the day, really,” Latch says.
“Well, as much as I’d miss you both, I’ll always support you…always.”
“That means a lot to us,” I tell Maris, and Latch reaches across the table, holding his grandma’s hand.
As we sit here together, I couldn’t be more grateful for this little family that I’ve been welcomed into. These two mean more to me than I think they’ll ever realize.
“Are you traveling anytime soon?” I ask Maris.
“Yes, I have a Caribbean cruise coming up soon and then that refugee camp trip to Honduras.”
I raise my eyebrows to Latch and he sets his fork down. “I thought you weren’t going to Honduras.”
“I wasn’t, but they really need my help and I can make a difference.”
“I don’t like it,” he barks.
“I’ll be fine, dear. Why don’t you stop worrying about me?”
He rolls his eyes, “Help me out here, Abby?”
“I can’t stop her, she’s a grown woman!” He’s always worried about her, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Finally, we order and before we know it, our food has arrived.
As we eat, I see Maris waving at someone walking by. I look behind me to see Dr. Rosland walking up the street. “Maris!” he exclaims entering the private patio. She stands and hugs him, and so do Latch and I. “Abby? Latch? How are you guys?”
“We’re okay,” Latch says, wrapping his arm behind my back.
“You feeling good?” Dr. Rosland asks me.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Hey, we’ve been meaning to call you to schedule an appointment,” Latch chimes in and I catch sight of Maris with a huge grin on her face. She’s an optimist. I wish I could be like her. But I’m not sure if I can be, knowing what I do, and seeing Dr. Rosland will force me to face the reality that we truly can’t have kids.
“Why don’t you come by my office tomorrow? I’ve got a light day and can squeeze you in.”
“Yeah?” Latch responds looking at me for approval.
“Okay,” I agree, not wanting to let him down. I know how much this means to him, but I also know what the doctors told Darrell and I when we saw specialist after specialist years ago.
“Great, I look forward to it. Maris, you look great, let’s have lunch soon, okay?”
She nods as he kisses her cheek, and then he’s gone. “That’ll be great for you guys to see him tomorrow,” Maris says.
“It will,” I lie, trying to convince them that I’m not nervous. As we eat, Maris and Latch are talking as if everything is perfect, and I try to keep in the conversation, but it’s hard. I can’t pinpoint why. Maybe it’s because I fear that as much as Latch and I love each other and as much as we try and fight for what we want, the reality of not being able to have kids could end us. When Darrell and I got the news, that’s when he changed and our relationship spiraled.
“You okay?” Latch asks me.
“I’m great.” I grab his hand and force myself into the conversation with him and Maris. Stressing isn’t going to help anything, it’s in God’s hands, the way my entire life has been.
“Hello?” I answer my phone as Abby and I drive to look at the house my grandma wants us to see.
“Oh, thank God you answered, Latch!” I pull my phone away from my ear to see if maybe I missed the name, but sure enough it’s an unknown phone number.
“For Christ’s sake, Jessy, what do you want?”
“I took another test and it’s positive. I think your girlfriend is trying to sabotage me.”
I laugh out loud at her ridiculous accusation. “I can assure you, she did no such thing. If anything…it’s you who sabotaged things.”
“I’m serious, Latch.”
“I’m sure in your mind you believe you are pregnant.”
“Seriously? I have the test to prove it!”
“How about this, Jessy – if you are pregnant, then have the baby and call me after it’s born so I can take a DNA test?”
“You know, Latch, I thought you were a nice guy.”
“Well…you thought wrong.” I hang up, hoping this is the last time that I ever hear from that woman.
“Talk about a stalker!” I try to lighten the mood but can tell Abby is frazzled. “You okay?” I ask her.
“What did she say?”
I fill her in on the call, wanting to just close this subject once and for all. “She’s just making a last ditch effort, baby.”
“Is she? I just thought the test would make all this stop and we’d never hear from her again…now this.”
“I could tell by her tone, she’s lying. I made my point, baby. She knows to leave us alone.”
Abby sits back in the car, her arms crossed over her chest, so closed off that I lean down, sucking on her neck so hard until she gives in to me. Pulling back, I see I left a mark and I like it.
“Are you sure it’s done?”
“I’m sure.”
She inhales, like she’s been holding her breath, and the driver stops in front of the lavish home in Manhattan.
“I love you, Latch.”
“I love you more, now let’s go and see if this is our dream home.” I kiss her cheek, and get out of the cab. She holds my hand as we both examine the exterior of the house before walking inside. It really is something else, a huge Victorian piece of art. The realtor waves, struggling with the door, and I catch Abby chuckling at him. “How are you guys?” he asks, finally getting the door open.
“Never been better, Neil. Thanks for showing this to us.”
“Of course, I owe Maris a favor or two. Now, this is a three-two with a split level plan, which you know in New York City is unheard of.” He flips on all of the lights and starts to show us around. The wood on the floors is dark and the walls are neutral in color. Everything is ready for us to move in, but as I look at Abby walking through, I can tell she’s not into it, and it has nothing to do with the phone call from Jessy.
The realtor keeps talking as we follow him and I can’t help but keep my attention on Abby. Finally, we make it upstairs and he asks us, “What do you guys think?”
“Could you give us a moment?” I ask him. His weathered eyes want this sale – I can see it. “Absolutely, I’ll be downstairs. Take all the time you need.”
Abby watches him walk away and once he is out of sight, I get in her face needing inside her beautiful head. “What’s going through your mind?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t! Don’t lie to me, Abby! This is a huge decision for us!”
“I’m not lying, I don’t know what’s going through my head right now.”
“What are you thinking then?”
“Stupid stuff.”
“Like what?”
“That I thought this place had a small back yard, which I don’t see. But…” she trails off, walking to one of the windows looking outside. “But it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Gently, I turn her towards me. “Why are you doing this to yourself? We talked about this.”
“I’m not doing anything on purpose.”
“But you are, you’re thinking you know what the future holds, when you damn well know better than anyone that you don’t. You might think you do, but no one does.” She blinks a few times, processing my words, and I flat out ask her, “Would you just tell me what you think of this house?”
“I don’t like it. It doesn’t feel like home and it doesn’t have a yard.”
“See, was that so hard?”
She shakes her pretty little head and I lean down, pressing my lips to hers.
“Let’s go.” I extend my hands towards her and she wraps her delicate fingers around mine following me downstairs. The realtor looks at me excited, like he has a shot at closing the deal. “I’m sorry, it’s just not for us,” I respond and we walk out the front door. He stands stunned and I catch sight of Abby with a smile on her face.
Seeing her happy is all I want in life. There really is nothing else that means more to me. Hopping in a cab, we head home. A tiny bit of satisfaction still shines through even though she has few words to say and that’s okay with me. With Abby by my side, whether our family grows or not, I couldn’t be happier.
As traffic is at a standstill and I see the lights of the Brooklyn Bridge up ahead, I ask the cab driver, “Would you drop us off up there?”
He pulls over and I pay him. “Why?” Abby asks me and I get out of the cab reaching for her hand. She looks across the seat at me, so hesitant. But she trusts me as I guide her out of the car without further explanation. Walking up the bridge, the cars roll on by and I look out at the East River, searching within myself for the strength and the words to give this amazing woman, who for some reason has chosen me in life, what she deserves.
My chest is heaving as I turn to her. “Abby…” I swallow and look out on the water again, steadying my feet so I can put every ounce of my soul into this. “Abby, we’ve been through so much together. Probably more than most couples can say they experience in an entire lifetime. And through it all, you’ve been my constant, my everything, my best friend, my lover. You’re my once in a lifetime and the mother of my son.” I lean forward with tears in my eyes and kiss her necklace. She places her hand over my necklace through my t-shirt and I continue. “We both know that nothing comes easy, and if this was it for us…right here and right now, I’d die a happy man. But I have a feeling that there’s more ahead for us. That we have a huge exciting future and…” I pull the elegant vintage silver ring from my pocket and Abby gasps as I get down on one knee. “This was my grandma and grandpa Latch’s, they were married for thirty-two years, and I was wondering if you’d do me the honor, no matter what we have to face, if we can or can’t have children, and become my wife.”
“Yes!” she yells and drops to her knees, kissing me hard. I kiss her back, holding her tighter than ever. “I love you, Latch,” she says against my mouth and I search for her hand, needing to put the ring on it. It fits like a glove. She looks down at it beaming as I tell her, “I love you too, Abby.”
“NO!” she shouts as I show her my hand of cards and she has to remove yet another piece of clothing.
I sit back, only missing my t-shirt, and shuffle the cards again. She refills our glasses of wine, her tits bouncing with every movement she makes. I had shit for cards this entire night, but somehow I keep winning on the river every time.
Looking at my hand, I have an ace, three. “Fuck,” I mumble and she says, “What?”
“Nothing.”
I raise the ante and she taps her fingers, looking at her cards again and again. “You know you have a terrible poker face.” She sticks her tongue out at me and calls my raise. Laying out the flop, it’s nine, ace, king. As I look into her eyes, she takes a drink and I can’t read her for shit. But what I do know is if I win this hand, she’s naked and loses. Then she’s all mine. My cock stiffens, thinking about my plan for her, and I go all in.
“I call.”
“Really, that easily?”
“Yup!” and she lays out her hand. She has king, nine. “Dammit!” I shout.
“You could just take your pants off,” she gives me a hard time.
“Fuck that!” I lay down the turn card and then the river and when I see a three and an ace come out, I know I’ve got her. “No way!” she slams her glass down. “You cheated.”
“Oh, please! Don’t be a sore loser!”
“I still have my underwear and my ring on, that’s two items.”
Stepping to her, I shroud my body around hers, as I hold her by the back of the neck. “That ring is never coming off your finger, you fucking understand me?”
She nods and I order her, “Tell me!”
“Yes, I understand!” Grabbing my t-shirt off the table I twist it up and then place it over her eyes. Her breathing picks up as I knot it behind her head. “Remember, you lost, so I can do whatever I want to you.”
She nods as I pick her up, cradling her against my chest. I walk us to our bedroom and gently lay her on the bed. She rests back, putting all of her trust in me. Skimming my fingers over her skin, goose bumps prick the surface, and I kneel on top of her legs. The pressure of my body confining her increases her breathing and I shred each side of her panties, then tear them off her as she lies completely still under my control.
Dragging the thin lace over her torso, she reaches for my cock, and I hold her hand away from me. She moans in protest and I let go of her panties, unbuttoning my jeans and releasing my dick.
All the blood rushes to the head of it and she wiggles her body. Standing, I remove my jeans all the way and begin to kiss her body, every single bit of her skin will be touched by my lips, and I start with her fingers. Kissing every delicate one that holds more power over me than she realizes. Moving up to her arms, a place I love to be held in between. Then…her neck, her blood rushes through it. Turning me on, so much, and I kiss hard over her vein, relishing in the sensation.
In this moment, everything feels so perfect and I’m happier than I’ve ever been, barreling my shaft deep inside of her. She gasps and I rip the t-shirt off her eyes. Needing to see her, to look into one another’s souls. Every pump of my shaft pushes her up the bed, and I wrap my hands around her head, digging my elbows into the mattress as I put full movements into each thrust.
