Here is the new update. I'll try to update later...
Abby went out of the hospital. Her excitement of this morning was left. Now she was angry, upset and she didn’t know at all what to do. Suddenly, she heard her name.
“Abby!” She turned, nodding. Luka was moving to her. “Where are you going?”
“I’m off.” She said, with an icy voice which made him frozen. Abby noticed it and continued.
“Sorry… I didn’t want to talk to you like that.”
“It doesn’t matter… Neela said to me Eric was here… Everything is okay?”
Abby shook her head.
“Not really…”
Luka put his hands on her shoulders and plunged his glance into hers.
“Abby… what’s wrong? You seem to be… upset… is it about the baby?”
“No, no. The baby is okay. It’s just…” Abby couldn’t pronounce it; she couldn’t pronounce any words about this. She lowered her head, staring at her feet. Luka put a kiss on her forehead.
“I can’t take a break now… but… if you want to talk about it… call me…”
He smiled. Abby nodded. He kissed her, pressing his lips again hers, and then he turned his heels. Abby stayed, without a move, looking at him. He wanted to help her, and she couldn’t tell him... why was it so difficult? Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Abby looked at the screen. Eric. She didn’t pick up, plunging her cell phone into the pocket of her lab coat.
Abby was sitting on the front steps in front of the house. She was 5 years old. She cuddled her doll against her chest. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes were red because of her tears. She was alone… the street was empty. Suddenly, she heard two persons yelling inside the house. She turned her head and looked at the window. She could see her father, red of anger. Their glance met. He lowered his head to not look at her daughter and then he disappeared little by little. Abby couldn’t move. Tears were born again in her eyes. She wanted to call him to hold him back, but she couldn’t pronounce the words. Now he was here anymore through the window… there was nobody… anymore. Luka's place:
Abby opened her eyes. She looked around her to see where she was. She was lying down on the couch. She sat up. She was alone. The place was empty, in the darkness. Abby shivered. She grabbed the phone and dialled Luka’s phone number.
But he didn’t pick up. Abby stood up. A wave of panic increased inside her. She was in the middle of the living-room. Alone. This word echoed in her head. Everything began to turn around her. She shook her head. Her eyes closed then she fell on the floor.
The key turned into the lock. Luka opened the door. Luka froze seeing Abby stretching out on the floor. He ran to her and raised her head.
“Abby! Abby! Open you eyes!” He slapped her on her cheeks. She was pale. “Abby!” His voice was cut by worry and fear.
“Abby! Please!” Abby’s eyes opened slowly. Abby’s sight was blurred. Luka led her against his chest.
“Oh… god… you afraid me…”
Abby couldn’t talk. Her throat was dry. She squeezed against Luka to feel his presence. Luka pushed her, a little, to look at her.
“What happened?”
“I… I…” Seeing she couldn’t. He kissed her on her forehead and said.
“Sshh… I’m here…”
Abby was sitting on the couch. Luka held out a cup of steaming tea to her. He sat next to her and caressed her belly, then he smiled, caressing Abby’s hair.
“Are you better?”
Abby shrugged.
“Abby… what happened?”
“I was sleeping… I did a nightmare again… and I woke up… you were not here… I panicked.”
“Abby… what happened with Eric?” Luka asked, slowly.
Abby looked up.
“He saw our father.”
Luka looked at her surprised.
“Your father?”
“Yeah… We don’t agree about him. Eric wants to know why he left and I don’t want to know. I want to wipe away of my life like I did before.”
Luka didn’t dare to say what he thought. He turned away his glance. Abby understood.
“You agree with Eric, isn’t it?”
“Yes… I’m.”
“Why? Don’t you think he made us suffer enough?!”
“Abby… you don’t want to know why?”
“I know why! He’s a coward.”
Abby stood up, angry.
Luka stayed sitting but he turned to look at her.
“Abby… maybe he had his… reasons.”
Abby glared at him. “Oh… if your wife would be bipolar, you would abandon your daughter and your son with her! Knowing it would be dangerous?! You would leave like that?”
Luka shook his head. He stood up. Abby knew she touched his weak point. But she regretted. She lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t want to…”
“I know.”
“But… if it would…”
“I would never abandon my children and my wife.” He paused. “But… I know something… if you don’t ask him… why he did this… later… you’ll regret.”
At Ike’s, Chicago:
Abby was sitting. She was waiting for Eric. After her discussion with Luka, she had called him to talk about their father. Abby hadn’t slept very well. She felt herself worry and lost. Suddenly Eric entered in the bar. Abby made him a sign. He went to sit in front of her sister. He seemed to be calm.
“Hi. How are you?” He asked, slowly.
“Fine.” She lied. She didn’t want to worry his brother there were enough troubles.
“Did you think?” He asked.
“I thought…”
“And? Do you agree?”
“No.” Abby’s voice was serious. Eric understood that he wouldn’t be able to convince her.
“Okay… so I’ll go there alone.”
“Eric…”
“Abby… please… I just want to know after I’ll see what will happen.”
Abby lowered her head.
“Did you think… what mom will say when she will know you go there?”
Eric frowned.
“I can imagine.”
“Do you want to take the risk?”
“I’m not a little boy anymore and she takes her meds.”
“And? She can stop.”
“Abby…” Eric sighed. “Make an effort!”
“I don’t want. I did the first step when I was 10. I searched for him and I went to see him, he didn’t want to come back. Why now?”
“Why not?”
Abby shook her head.
“Eric… let him come to you… If he wants really we forgive him… he’ll come to see us again. Let him come! It’s him who is left. It’s him who has to come.” Abby didn’t know what to say more. She shrugged. She stood up ready to leave.
“Do what you want, Eric.” She bent over him and kissed him on his head.
She went out. Eric sighed; he had to do a choice… between the truth or his sister. He didn’t want to hurt her… He sighed again and went out.
One month later:
Oak Park, Illinois:
Jim entered in his desk. He drew the curtains to plunge the room in the darkness. He let a ray of the sun went through the window. He sat and opened his drawer. He took the envelope and took the photo inside. He looked at it, sighing. He hadn’t had the courage to return to see Eric… or Abby… He had imagined they had been so upset and... probably angry... Suddenly, Dana entered.
“Daddy?”
“Oh… What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be with Eddy for the last prepa…” She cut him, going to sat on the armrest of Jim’s chair. She put her head on his head. Jim looked at the photo again. He sighed knowing Dana saw it.
“Who are they?” She asked.
“Dana…”
Dana continued.
“Dad… it’s you on the left, isn’t it?”
He stood up.
“Yes, it’s me.”
Dana frowned. She didn’t understand she took the photo. “
The little girl… she looks like me…”
“It’s… you… who looks like her.”
“Dad, I don’t understand. Explain me…”
Jim cleared his throat.
“It’s my daughter.”
Dana froze. “Your… what?” She managed to pronounce.
“My daughter. The others persons… are my first wife and my son.”
Dana was petrified. A tear flowed on his cheek. “I did something… bad… thirty years ago.” He paused. He moved to Dana and took her hands. “Please… I want to say to you the truth. Do you agree to listen to me…?”
Dana’s lips trembled, she was totally terrified. She nodded.