Here the update! Good reading!
Luka’s place, one week later:
Abby’s POV.
I turned the key in the lock and opened the door. Luka was behind me, Maddie in his arms. We were at home… at our home. We stayed a moment next to each other. Luka pulled me a little against him and put a kiss in my hair.
“Here we are.” He said.
“Yes…”
He went down the steps and turned to look at me. He smiled and went up the stairs to go in Maddie’s bedroom. I sighed, hanging my jacket on the coat peg.
I sat on the couch, waiting for Luka who was going down the stairs. He dropped into the couch. I lay down on him, my head on his chest.
“I’m so…”
“Tired…” He yawned.
I wanted to tell him what I felt, but the words didn’t want to be pronounced. I had had to resign myself to feed Maddie at the breast because she didn’t want and when she began to want she brought up. Then, when I took her in my arms to console her, it was worse than before. And obviously, when Luka took her she stopped crying. I didn’t understand at all why she rejected me like that. Luka caressed my hair.
“We should go to bed. I’m exhausted.” He said, stretching himself. “Plus, I’ll work tomorrow.” I sat up, glaring at him.
“You what?”
“I’m working… I have a shift.”
“It’s a joke?”
“No…” He frowned. I stood up, furious.
“Abby?” I went up the stairs making noises to show him I was really furious. I came into the bedroom. I felt him behind me.
“What’s wrong?”
I get dressed and put on my nightdress. ”Nothing.” I shook my head and sat on the bed.
He knelt in front of me.
“You don’t want I let you alone with Maddie… isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“Why?”
“I’m afraid of this… She doesn’t stop crying when she’s with me.” I said pouting.
Luka smiled. He grabbed me by the waist and kissed me.
“I’ll stay tomorrow.”
I pouted and nodded. He smiled again and disappeared in the bathroom.
Oak Park, Dana’s home:
The door bell rang. Dana went down the stairs and opened the door. Jim appeared.
“Dad?”
“Can I come in?”
Dana nodded and let him enter. They walked to the living-room.
“Did you see her?” Jim asked after a while.
“Yes, I saw, I talked to her.”
“Dana…” Jim seemed to be upset; he dropped into the armchair, his head buried in his hands.
“I don’t know what to do…” Dana knelt in front of him and cupped her dad’s head in her hands.
“Daddy… you have to understand they suffer too.”
“I know… I know it, of course. I would like to convince Abigail… to talk to me.”
Dana sighed. She could help him and it hurt her. Jim began to cry.
“I’m an asshole! I’m a monster! A jerk!”
Dana took him in arms. “No, you’re not all that, you’re a great father. You had just done a mistake.” She cuddled him. Then she had an idea. She looked at his father in eyes.
“Why… don’t you try to write her a letter? He seemed to be very kind and I think he’ll understand. Or to try to talk to your son again…”
“I’ll try…” He blew.
Luka’s place:
Luka had got up for one hour. He had prepared the breakfast for Abby on a tray and Maddie’s bottle. Luka took the tray and went up the stairs. He pushed slowly the bedroom’s door with his feet and moved softly to the bed. He sat on and put the tray on his place. Abby was lying down on her left side. She turned her back to him. Luka bent over her and blew on her skin along her neck. He felt her shivered.
“Luka…”
“Get up, Sleeping Beauty. It’s breakfast time.” Abby groaned.
“Luka… I wanna sleep.”
“I plan for a familial walk, along the bridge.”
“It’s hot and Maddie is too frail and too young.”
“C’mon Abby!” Abby turned to look at him. She smiled, ironically. Then, Luka took the rose on the tray and began to caress Abby with the petals. Abby smiled.
“Stop it.” She sat up and looked at the breakfast.
“Wow.” She said.
“A royal breakfast to a queen.”
Abby turned red. Luka bit his lip with a mischievous smile. He took the tray and put it on the floor then he moved to Abby again. He kissed her pressing his lips again hers then probing his tongue into her mouth. Then they heard Maddie’s cries. Abby nodded, parting.
Luka stood up and went out.
Abby put her doll in the little stroller. She began to walk, pushing it into the house. She crossed the living-room and arrived at the kitchen where her father was.
“Daddy!”
“Hey, sweetie. Where are you going like that?”
Abby shrugged. Jim caressed her long brown hair and knelt in front of her.
“Do you want to go out… for a walk?”
“Can I bring my doll with her stroller?”
“Yes, you can, princess.” Abby smiled.
“And you bring you brother too.”
“Great!” Abby ran to the living-room where Maggie was sitting.
“Mom, do you want to walk with us?”
Maggie turned her head to look at her.
“No, sweetheart. I’m tired.” Her mother’s answer made Abby a little bit disappointed. She threw a glance to her father who was glaring at Maggie. Jim smiled to Abby.
“Take your stroller, Abby.” Abby obeyed then she went into the corridor. Here, she heard his father said.
“You can try to make an effort, Maggie!”
“I don’t want to go out.”
“You didn’t take your meds again. If you won’t take it and I’ll be back. I’ll make you take it!” He paused. “And you should take care of your children, a little more.” Abby shivered. She could hear anger in her father’s voice. Abby walked next to Luka, hand in hand. Luka pushed the stroller. They were happy. Abby put her head against Luka who put a kiss on her head.
“Isn’t it nice?” He asked.
Abby sighed, peaceful. “It is…” Abby threw a glance to Maddie. She was sleeping. Abby smiled seeing her angelic face. Luka stopped, showed a bench to Abby. They sat on and looked straight in front of them. They stayed silent, savouring this moment, feeling the sun’s warmth on their skin. Luka took Abby’s hand and put it on his lap. He said still looking straight in front of him.
“Abby…”
“Yes?”
“Will you marry me?”
Abby looked at him, surprised.
“What?”
Luka smiled. “I said…”
Abby shook her head. “I heard what you said… but…” Abby couldn’t pronounce what she was thinking.
“I love you so much, we live together, we have a baby… together… and… I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, near you… I can’t imagine my life without you. When I think about the future, my future… I see … just you, you and our daughter.” He paused trying to read in Abby’s eyes. She was petrified thinking about another marriage. But… Luka wasn’t Richard. She knew Luka loved her. And she loved her in return…
“Would you really like to marry me?” She asked.
“Yes. Why not!”
“I don’t know… we’re happy like that… aren’t you afraid of… when we’ll marry… this happiness disappears…?”
“No, I’m not afraid of this.” Abby glared at him.
“It’s a real important decision… and…” Luka rolled his eyes, knowing she was telling a lot of arguments which didn’t change anything to his decision. He bent over her and to stop her talking he kissed her.
“I love you.”
Abby plunged her glance into his. I know you love me…
“I love you too…”
He smiled and stood up, knowing Abby would not answer yes and in all cases she wouldn’t answer now. He walked, pushing the stroller. Abby stayed sat, looking at him.
“Luka, wait for me.”
He smiled and held his hand to her. She plunged her hand in his and they continued to walk.
Luka's place, three days later:
Finally, Luka stayed at home three days more. But today, Kerry had called him, because of a meeting with financiers. So, Abby was alone. Abby finished cleaning the kitchen then she decided to rest for a while on the couch. She sat and closed her eyes. Abby couldn’t stop to think about Maggie. She didn’t call her to break her the news, but Abby guessed Eric had done it. The most surprising was Maggie didn’t come and didn’t call Abby… She shrugged and tried to not think about this. Suddenly, Abby opened her eyes, hearing Maddie’s cries. She took a deep breathe and went up. She opened Maddie’s door. She saw her fidgeting in the cradle. Abby took her in her arms and began to lull her.
“Sshh, sweetie… sshh…” But Maddie didn’t stop… even it was worse. Abby thought what she could do to calm her down. Luka used to sit on the rocking chair, lulling her at the same time. So, Abby sat down cuddling Maddie against her.
“Hey… Maddie… calm down, sweetie, please…” Few minutes later, she was still crying. Abby took a deep breathe and deposited Maddie in her crib again. Abby began to caress Maddie’s cheek. The baby cried more and more. Her skin was redder. Abby began to worry. She went down to prepare the feeding bottle at the same time, she grabbed the phone and dialled the phone number of ER.
“ER, I’m listen to.”
“Frank? It’s Abby. Is Luka around?”
“No, he’s in Administration floor with Kerry.”
“Can you page him for me? It’s urgent. Say to him, he call me as soon as possible, please.”
“Ok. I’ll do!”
Abby picked down. She grabbed the feeding bottle and ran to Maddie’s bedroom. Abby took Maddie in her arms and began to feed her. Abby sighed relieved when Maddie stopped crying, feeding. The silent settled. When Maddie finished, Abby smiled to her.
“Great, baby. You were hungry that’s all…” Maddie moved her little arms but she brought up and she began to cry again. Abby was on the verge to breaking down and to becoming crazy. She walked in the bedroom, lulling her. But nothing worked. She deposited her and went out.
Maggie slapped Eric’s bedroom door. Abby was in the corridor looking at her mother. Maggie was furious. Eric was crying more and more. Maggie walked up and down in the corridor, groaning something incomprehensible. Abby moved to her a little.
“Mom… the baby is crying.”
Maggie glared at her, but she carried on walking up and down without pay any attention to Abby. Abby looked at Maddie’s door. She was still crying for one hour now. Abby’s head hurt her. She had tried everything to calm Maddie. She could hear her heart beat in her head, like hammer’s knocks. She had trouble breathing. Her sight was blurred. Abby broke down. Tears flowed on her cheeks. Everything turned around her.
Maggie yelled.
“Eric! Stop crying!”
Abby jumped. Her mother was yelling against the door. She began to hit the door with her fists. Abby trembled.
“Mom! Stop it!” Abby cried. She held herself against the wall to not fall.
Maggie cried. She felt anger increased inside her. Abby ran to the door to stop her mother to hit.
“Mom! Stop!” Maggie pushed Abby then she fell on the floor, continuing to hit against the door. Maggie cried. A painful cries and also full of anger. Abby felt her heart bounced quickly. Her sight was more and more blurred.
“Please… stop… stop crying…” Abby collapsed.
The last scene was very difficult to write. I took my inspiration (about baby's..."behaviour" from my first little sister... Hope you'll like it!! XxX