Chapter 4: My familyAbby was in front of the TV. It was the time of Jerry Springer’s show. She waited Gabrijela and Zoran’s come back. They were with Luka until the end of the week-end while Abby worked. She heard steps into the corridor. She turned off the TV and stood up to welcome them. Zoran entered first, jumping into Abby’s arms.
“Hello mommy!”
“Hello baby. How was your week-end?”
“Good. Daddy bought me a video game.”
Abby smiled and glanced at Luka who was coming in, with Gabrijela, sleeping in his arms.
“Good evening.”
“Good evening.”
He deposited Gabi on the couch and moved to Abby whispering.
“How are you?”
“Better… thanks.”
“Fine.” He paused. “You sleep well?.”
“Yeah…”
“Did you see the psy?”
“Yes, I took an appointment.”
“Great… if you need me about the kids.”
“No, no. I have already organized.”
“Good.” Abby guessed Luka’s thought. She couldn’t give him what he wanted… not now.
“I have to go, Kathryn waits for me…”
He went to the door, slowly. “Bye…” He whispered before went out.
“Bye… Luka…” Abby blew.
*One week later.*
Abby was playing with the cigarettes box when Susan arrived.
“You’re right.” She said. “It’s better than sleeping tablets.”
Abby sighed and threw the box in the garbage can.
“I’m feeling sick.”
“How sick?”
Abby glared at her.
“Explain your feeling.”
“Okay… When Luka deposited Gabi and Zo at your home the previous week… he came at home and we talked… In reality, we didn’t know to talk when we are together.”
“We talked or not?”
“We kissed each other.”
Susan opened big eyes.
“What? You slept together?”
Abby nodded. Suddenly, she thought they didn’t really think about what happened this night, but what happened before this night… Abby shook her head to chase her thoughts away.
“I decided to talk with a psy… I can’t forgive everything just because we slept together.”
“You’re right if he cheated you… really cheated you.”
“How are you saying?”
“He just kissed her.”
“And? We had have two children, we had having a baby and we would get married. You think he didn’t cheat me?”
Susan lowered the head.
“I think he had a mistake. You do mistakes, I did and I do mistakes. He’s human.”
“He loved me.”
“Why do you think it’s his fault? Maybe it’s her. She was a really bitch. You knew it, I would say it.”
“Luka isn’t innocent.”
Susan shook the head and stood up.
“Neither, he and you are innocent.”
She went away. Abby felt alone, really alone.
* * * *
Abby opened her eyes. She was in a bedroom at the hospital. She tried to put out why she was laying down here. Oh… god… Luka… the horn…she put her hand on her belly. She felt anything… anymore… A tear bore in her eye. Susan came in. She lowered the head, not daring to look at Abby.
“Susan…” Abby whispered.
Susan sat on the bed.
“I’m sorry, Abby…”
Abby felt her heart broke. Burning tears flowed on her cheeks. Susan took Abby in her arms. Abby put her head on Susan’s shoulder. She looked straight in front of her. She could see Luka, crying, his head lowered. * * * *
Abby knocked at Luka’s door. A couple of seconds later, Luka opened the door.
“Hi.”
“Hi, are they ready?”
“Yes, wanna come in?”
“Yeah.”
Abby entered in the place. Luka was doing dishes.
“Zoran asked me if he could stay, tonight… I said to him to ask it to you.”
“Oh it’s okay.”
“Good…”
“Gabi doesn’t want?”
“She’s… angry against me… I don’t know why… I tried to know but… she doesn’t want to talk to me.”
Abby sighed. Gabrijela arrived with her bag.
“Hello, mommy.”
“Hi, sweety. How are you?”
“Not fine… I want to go home.”
“Here we go.”
Luka moved to her, knelling. He tried to kiss her on the cheek but she turned her head away.
“Gabi…” He said.
She grabbed Abby’s hand and led her to the door. Abby didn’t know what happened but it was more and more serious. She said before to go out.
“I’ll call you.”
“Yeah…”
Abby was driving. She looked at Gabi in the rear-view mirror.
“Baby… why didn’t you talk to daddy?”
“Because.”
“Because what?”
“What does it mean when someone find a diamond ring in the nightstand of someone else?”
Abby grinned.
“What?”
“I found a ring in Daddy’s nightstand… it means daddy will ask to Kathryn to marry him… like in movies?”
Abby cleared her throat.
“Probably…”
“So, I don’t want to go at Daddy’s… anymore!”
Abby tried to concentrate on the road, but she couldn’t bear it… She knew Gabi suffered about their slip up but… now… if Luka would be married with this woman Gabi hates… She couldn’t keep silent.
Abby opened the door. Gabrijela and Zoran were exciting on account of the long day they had have in the fun fair. Gabi ran in the place to escape to Zoran.
“Zo! Stop it!” She cried. Abby smiled, looking at them.
“Babies, calm down. We’ll eat and after daddy will come to pick you up.”
Abby began to cook and put the plates on the table. Gabi continued to run.
“Gabi, come on.” Abby said.
“I’m not hungry.”
“I don’t care. Come on.”
Gabi shook the head, and smiled. Abby grinned.
“You don’t want to eat… So it’s me who will eat you!!”
Abby began to run to catch her. She grabbed her and threw her gently on the couch and began to tickle her.
“No! Mommy! Zoran! Zoran help me!!!”
Zoran arrived, running and began to tickle Abby. Abby stopped to play with Gabi and looked at Zoran.
“Hey! Little monster! Come here you too!” Abby grabbed him and led him against her. A couple of minutes later, Abby was laying down on the couch. Gabrijela was laying down along her side, her little arm around Abby’s belly. Zoran had his head put on Abby’s belly. They liked to be like this. Anybody could part them. Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. Abby recognize the way of knocking of Luka and she said.
“Come in!”
Luka opened the door.
“Hello!”
Abby raised the head without moving.
“Hi.” She looked at the kids and she whispered. “Come on, stood up, babies.”
Zoran stood up and jumped into Luka’s arms.
“Hello daddy.”
“Hey buddy. How was your week?”
“Great! This evening mommy drove us to the fun fair!”
“Really?”
“Yes! I won a furry lion.”
“Great! Show me it.”
“Yes.” He jumped on the floor and ran to his bedroom. Abby moved to Luka.
“They didn’t eat… we played…a little…”
“No problem. They’ll eat at home.”
“Okay…” She turned to Gabi. “Sweetie, go to take your things.”
“I don’t want to go there.” She said, turning her back to Abby and Luka. Abby threw a glance to Luka. She made a sign to him to follow her into the kitchen.
“What happen?” He asked.
“Say it to me…”
“I don’t know…”
“Sunday, when I picked Gabi up she said to me she found a ring… now she doesn’t want to go at your home… anymore. I want to understand why my daughter doesn’t want to be with her father…”
Luka lowered the head.
“What did she say about the ring…?”
“She thinks you’re asking to Kathryn to marry you…”
He nodded, laughing a little.
“She has a lot of imagination, for her age.”
“She’s intelligent, Luka… she has some reasons to think about this. You’re together… for a long time.”
“Yes, four months… you think it’s enough? Maybe I can.”
“You don’t want it…?”
“No. I don’t want. This ring… it was your ring.”
Abby’s heart bounced.
“What?”
He shook the head.
“Let it go. If she doesn’t want, it’s not a problem… it’s a period... a difficult period… she needs time, like you.” He went out of the kitchen, shouting.
“Zoran!
Idemo!” He walked towards Gabi who was still sitting on the couch. He knelt in front of her.
“I understand you don’t want to come at home… Mommy had said to me what you said to her… about the ring… It’s not for Kathryn. I don’t want you imagine some things which are wrong.
Volim te Gabrijela… I love when you’re with me… and if it’s necessary I’ll put a gap between Kathryn and me only for you. Just say it to me, baby.”
Abby bit her lip to not cry. He shook his head; put a kiss on Gabi’s forehead. All a sudden, Gabi grabbed him by the neck.
“
Volim te, tata…” He smiled. “Can I stay with mommy this week-end?”
“Of course, my angel.”
She smiled and put a kiss on his cheek. Zoran arrived next to them. Luka took him by the waist and led him against him.
“
Volim te takoðer, buddy.” Zoran put his head on Luka’s shoulder. Abby sighed. It was her family… even if Luka wasn’t here with her… but she felt something inside her, something towards him… no more anger… but something she had already felt towards him.