Stripped(71)
“You need help, but whether you get it or not, I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“What if I’m sick?” Kathy asked, looking a little scared. “There won’t be anyone to help me.”
“I can’t do it anymore, Mom,” Abby said, her voice choked with emotion. “You can’t treat someone the way you’ve treated me and expect them to be there for you.”
“You took Audrey and Sara’s father away from them, and now you’re taking their mother away, too.”
“You did this,” Abby said, walking away.
She closed her bedroom door and pressed her back to it, finally letting the tears flow. It had been terrifying and exhilarating to finally stand up to her mother. She glanced at her phone, smiling when she saw that Chris had written her back.
Miss you, too. Wish you were at home in bed waiting for me. xo
Abby was exhausted as she climbed into her own bed. She exhaled deeply, heartened at the idea of a life without her mother in it. And for the first time, she didn’t feel guilty about it.
As soon as Abby walked in the front door to Chris’ apartment, he swept her into an embrace, kissing her deeply.
“You look good,” he said.
“So do you. It’s been so hard to get time alone together. How long has it been?”
“Eight days. Let’s go make up for lost time and eat later.”
“Can we take Molly for a walk first?” she asked, pulling away suddenly. He gave her a puzzled look.
“Now?” he asked.
“Yes, if it’s okay. I do want to make up for lost time – later.”
“Okay.” His disappointment was evident as he found Molly’s leash and put it on her.
Abby reached for Chris’ hand as they made their way down the sidewalk in front of his apartment. It was a typical winter day in Chicago, and she wrapped her scarf around her neck to block out the chill as they walked.
Molly tired quickly, her tongue drooping as she slowed.
“We’d better turn around,” Chris said.
“Just a little further.”
“What’s with your enthusiasm for walking?”
She grinned at him as they continued.
“I have a surprise for you,” she said, stopping in front of a row of brick townhouses.
“What?”
“I’m moving into this building with Audrey and Sara.”
“Abby! Really?”
“Yes. We’ll be neighbors, sort of. We can have dinners together before you have to go to work.”
“That’s great … wait, did you say you and Audrey and Sara?” He looked at her hopefully.
“Yes. Justin’s getting an apartment near his school and my Mom moved into her own apartment yesterday.”
Chris looked at her with amazement.
“Just like that?”
“No. I forced the issue.”
“Oh, Abby. I hope I didn’t make you do something you didn’t want to do.”
“I did it for me, and for Audrey and Sara. You helped me see what I needed to see. And this … it’s a fresh start. The girls will be at a really good school, and it’ll be nice to be closer to you.”
“Do you want to talk about it? How did your Mom take it?”
“She was mad, but she went anyway,” Abby shrugged.
“And she just gave you the girls?”
“I offered her money.”
Chris nodded knowingly.
“How much did it cost you?” he asked.
“Nothing. When the time came, she refused the money. She…cried, actually, and thanked me for taking them. Said she knows she’s a bad influence.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
“I am. It was time. I’ll never stop hoping she’ll get it together. But this is what’s best for me and Audrey and Sara. And Justin, too. He needs to break away from us and be a normal 20-year-old.”
Chris smiled as he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“Have you made a deal on one of these yet?” he asked.
“No, but I hope to tomorrow.”
“Before you do, there’s another place I think you might like. Will you look at it?”
“Sure. Is it closer to your apartment?”
“No, it’s a little further out, actually, but I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m freezing, let’s get back inside. Justin’s got the girls all afternoon. What are we going to do?”
“I’ve got a few ideas,” he said, grinning. “I’ll warm you up in a hurry.”
Reed was animated and happy as he related an anecdote about his shift the night before, and Chris smiled, though he wasn’t really listening.
Charlotte, who was grating fresh parmesan cheese onto the Caesar salad she had made, was also smiling at Reed but watching Chris from the corner of her eye.