"Goodnight, Abby." Mommy said, as she turned out the light.
"Goodnight, Mommy." Abby responded. She snuggled under the comforter, clutching Mr. Moo, her stuffed cow.
As she lay in the darkness, Abby thought about what Uncle Steve had told her;
Daddy would never hurt her. He was just angry and it happened a long time ago.
After a few minutes, Abby drifted off to sleep... and began to dream...
"Goodbye, Abigail. Goodbye."
"Daddy? Why are you leaving?"
"Because, Princess. I don't want to hurt you."
"But I love you, Daddy!"
"I love you, too Princess. That's why I have to go."
"Don't leave me, Daddy! Please don't go..."
And then he vanished.
Abby walk with a start, her heart beating so fast against, she felt like she'd run a hundred miles. She tried to go back to sleep, but now she was really scared. Maybe if she was really nice to him and told him she was sorry, he'd read her a story.
Quietly, she crept into Mommy and Daddy's room. Mommy was sound asleep. But where was Daddy?
Suddenly she was more scared than she'd ever been in her life; even more than when she went to Dr. Baker's office.
Curious, she walked down the hallway and crept down the stairs. When she was on the last step, she felt a huge sigh of relief.
There was Daddy, sitting on the couch, looking through some papers.
Quietly, she stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching him. She wanted so much to go to him, but she was still afraid.
Afraid of what, Abby? A little voice inside her asked. You heard what Uncle Steve said. Daddy would never hurt you. He loves you.
Go to him...
Suddenly, Daddy stood and turned around, noticing that Abby was watching him.
"Hey Princess! What are you doing up so late?"
Abby's heart melted when Daddy called her Princess, and without warning, all the feelings that Abby had been holding inside came rushing to the surface. She saw the loving smile on Daddy's face and knew that Dr. Baker, Mommy and Uncle Steve were right.
Daddy loved her.
Her lower lip began to tremble and tears rolled down her cheeks.
Daddy looked at her in surprise. "Abigail? What's wrong?"
"D-Daddy, I'm sorry I was afraid of you!"
Daddy held out his arms, and Abby rushed into them, sobbing.
He held her close, running his fingers through her wavy brown hair.
"Oh, my sweet Princess. I love you so much."
"I-I'm sorry, Daddy. I love you." Abby cried into his soft blue t-shirt.
"Sweetheart, you don't need to be sorry. It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong." He kissed her forehead and then brushed her tears away with his gentle hands.
Abby clung to him, afraid that if she let go, Daddy would vanish like he had in her dream.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." She cried again.
"Shhh..." he whispered.
"Everything will be all right. I promise. We'll get through this together...You, Daddy and Mommy. We're going to make sure that no one ever hurts you again."
At that moment, Abby loved her daddy more than ever before.
Jennifer's hand moved across the sheets. Something wasn't right. Slowly she opened her eyes.
"Jack?" She whispered. But he wasn't in bed beside her.
She put on her robe and went into the hallway, but there was no sign of him.
"Jack!" She called again.
Then she noticed the light was on in Abby's room.
That's strange. I know I turned it off.
When she walked into the room, panic set in when she realized that Abby was gone. The irrational fear of kidnapping came back to her.
Oh God, not this... not now...
"Abby!" She yelled.
Suddenly frantic, she ran down the stairs.
"Jack! Abby!"
The living room was dark, but a small noise (A sigh?) made her jump.
Ever so slowly, she entered the living room and stopped, smiling through tears at the sight before her.
Jack lay on the sofa, holding Abby in his arms, both of them sleeping peacefully. Overcome with joy and relief, Jennifer kissed her husband and daughter and then covered them lovingly with a blanket.
"I love you so much." She whispered.
They were a family again.