She had every chance to tell him that she was innocent, but she kept her silence.
Was he supposed to live with the woman who killed his mother, as if he had no conscience and felt no pressure doing so?
Inside the house, Abigail was standing by a window, quietly lifting the curtain to peek at the car outside.
Diarmuid never got out, and the car simply reversed and drove away.
Suddenly struck by a spell of dizziness, she collapsed.
Mrs. Watson quickly rushed to her side. “Mrs. Althoff!”
Abigail woke up to the faint scent of antiseptic.
It was such a familiar scent that she immediately knew that she was in the hospital.
As she slowly opened her eyes, the lights on the ceiling were so bright that they hurt her eyes.
She closed her eyes, rested for a while before opening them again.
Mrs. Watson had Tommy in her arms. Relieved to see Abigail open her eyes, she exclaimed happily, “You’re awake, ma’am!”
Abigail wanted to get up, but she suddenly found herself too weak and unable to muster any strength. “The doctor said that you’re very weak and shouldn’t move. You should rest,” Mrs. Watson told her.
Abigail glanced at Tommy just then and held out her hands. “Can you give Tommy to me?”
Mrs. Watson put Tommy on her bed, and Abigail said, “Let me have a moment.”
Knowing that she wanted to be alone, Mrs. Watson asked, “Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.”
Abigail had no appetite at all, and told Mrs. Watson as much.
Mrs. Watson sighed and tried to reason with Abigail. “You should at least eat something–the doctor is saying that you’re fatigued. Do it for Tommy if not for yourself… I mean, can you even carry Tommy now?”
“Okay,” Abigail said, giving in.
“Take your time to rest,” Mrs. Watsons said as she left the room, closing the door behind her.
“Mah–mah…” Tommy blabbed as he leaned in Abigail’s arms, his little hands flapping, grabbing her hair one. moment and her clothes the next.
It was now autumn, and Mrs. Watson had dressed Tommy in the overalls Abigail recently bought him–it looked adorable on him.
“Mah–mah… Mah–mah…” he repeated. His fluffy voice could melt any heart, though that was all he could manage for now.
Abigail lay on her side and put a hand around him, gently caressing his little cheek.
Tommy seemed to accept it without fussing, though he was not content with lying down, and started to roll around, his little feet kicking.
With Mrs. Watson gone for a while now, Abigail decided that she really was exhausted, and called Sheryl Harris, who asked instantly when she was told, “Are you sick?”
“No. I think I’m a little fatigued from work, so I can’t help Mrs. Watson take care of Tommy. She’d probably get overwhelmed.”
“Alright. Which hospital are you staying in? I’ll be right there,” Sheryl replied.
Abigail told her, “Melville.”
Once she hung up, Sheryl hurried to Abigail at top speed, and asked the instant she saw her daughter, “What did your doctor say?”
Abigail did not even know who her doctor was, but smiled to assure Sheryl. “I’m fine.”
“Not when you’re bedridden.” Sheryl was at once worried and annoyed that Abigail was not taking care of her own body.
Abigail smiled. “Take Tommy home with you. The hospital is no place for a baby to stay.”
“Alright, but what about you?” Sheryl asked.
“Mrs. Watson will return soon,” Abigail replied.
“Okay,” Sheryl nodded, and walked over to pick up Tommy.
The baby was asleep but holding on to Abigail’s hair, and Sheryl had to gently pry his little fingers off.
“Uh…”
Tommy was almost woken by the touch, and Abigail whispered, “I’ll do it.”
Sheryl sat beside her bed and watched her. “I could tell that you were tired days ago, and now you’re losing weight. Be honest–you had a fight with Diarmuid, didn’t you?”
Abigail kept her eyes on Tommy to avoid looking at Sheryl. “You’re really imaginative.”
“Am I? I just want the best for you, or do you not want me to?”
“Things are fine with Diarmuid. We’re not fighting,” Abigail told her.
“That would be for the best. Also, you’re a woman, so you shouldn’t be so eager to get ahead in life–try to pay Diarmuid more attention instead of your career. Family comes first, career second…”
“That’s what you did, and were you happy?”
Abigail snapped in her reluctance to listen to Sheryl drone on, but regretted that as soon as she said it. “I’m sorry…”
However, Sheryl did not blame Abigail–she did mess up her own marriage, though it still hurt that her own daughter hit her in her Achilles‘ heel.
Picking up Tommy, she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Tommy.”
“Mom…” Abigail murmured guiltily.
“That’s enough. I’m not upset, alright?” Sheryl said, cutting her short. “Now, rest.”
“Okay,” Abigail replied.
Soon after Sheryl left, the door opened again, and Abigail looked up.
It was Stephen Carr.
“Feeling better yet?” he asked.
Abigail sat up. “Much better, Dr. Carr. Though, why are you here?”
“I was present when they brought you in,” Stephen replied. “I did the initial checkup, followed by the Head of Gynecology…”
“Wait, do I have a gynecological disorder?”
No way… She knew her own body well enough.
“I was just losing sleep for a while, and a little tired from work. I’m not-”
“You might be pregnant,” Stephen said, cutting her short.
Abigail did a double take. “What?”
She had been taking contraceptive pills. How could she get pregnant?
“There must be a mistake *
“Not if it’s the Head of Gynecology,” Stephen countered.
Abigail was dumbstruck “No way.”
“You can check yourself if you don’t believe me,” Stephen said, holding her gaze. “It should work to your benefit too, since it can ease tensions between you and Diarmuid.
Abigail did not think so.
She and Diarmuid barely saw eye to eye with Tommy, and even after they finally started to develop a bond, Yvaine’s death drove them apart again.
Diarmuid needed time. If he had to return because of another newborn, it meant that he was not doing it for her, but rather, for the child.
Moreover, she did not want to push Diarmuid. She was willing to give him time instead of binding him with the prospect of another child.
She did not want their relationship to be like that.
“I understand. Could I ask you for a favor?” Abigail asked just then.
Stephen nodded. “Tell me.”
“Don’t let anyone know that I’m pregnant,” she said, holding his gaze.
“Of course,” Stephen replied. “My lips are sealed–I’ll speak with Gynecology as well. Now take a proper rest, and you don’t have to come in for work tomorrow if you don’t think you can.”
“I’m fine,” Abigail said, though she was spacing out a little already.
“Oh, right,” Stephen suddenly read. “Mick’s daughter took him back to Minerva.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply