Chapter Eleven - Nothing Heals Me Like You Do
A quick canoodle later whilst Maggie was in the shower, Carter went out and decided to bide his time and went to Gamma's. That always went down well with her, an unexpected visit was a sure hit with her, maybe a some more dinner. That's always good. Meanwhile, Abby prepared herself for a long talk with Maggie, her Mom.
"Mom do you want sugar?"
"Uh, yeah just two. Thanks!"
Abby brought to teas out and sat down on the couch next to Maggie. Maggie took the tea and took a small sip before placing it back on the table.
"Nothing like a nice cup of tea to get you going." Maggie stated as Abby smiled a little, taking another sip.
"So. What's goin' on Mom?"
"Nothing. Nothing's going on."
"Well there must be cos you don't just come and see me for no reason."
"God Abby I just wanted to come down and see my daughter WHAT is the problem?!"
"Are you taking your medication?"
"What kind of a question is that?"
"A good one. Are you?"
"As a matter of fact yes I am. Now can we talk about something else please?"
"Fine. So how's Eric?"
"He's great. He's been promoted."
"Really? Great. And how's your job?"
"I'm working at the doctor's surgery. I'm a receptionist. Part-time."
"I thought you had a job at the supermarket?"
"I did. But it's so boring Abby I needed a change. Plus I get a free consult whenever I want one!" She laughed while Abby remained unmoved by her little joke and took another sip of tea.
"Anything else you wanna tell me?"
"No! Abby what is this, it's like I'm being questioned by the damn cops!"
"What do you expect Mom?! I mean you come down here unexpected, invite yourself into my home, interrupt my life and you give me one bit of an explanation? This is not normal for you to come see me with no problem so excuse me if I'm being cautious."
She slumped back down in her seat and took another long sip of tea.
"Ow! Shit. This is hot."
"Here let me get you a drink."
Maggie got up and poured a glass of water for Abby.
"Here."
She passed the water to Abby who began gulping it down.
"Thanks." She mumbled.
"You're lucky I was here really."
"I'm glad you see it like that."
"Abby, talk to me. Please, what's wrong?"
"There's nothing wrong Mom apart from the fact that my mouth is burning."
"Fine. Don't talk to me."
Silence feel upon them as Maggie sat sipping her tea angrily and Abby sulked.
"You always do this Abby. So stubborn."
"How am I being stubborn?!"
"You're angry I've come to see you so you're lashing out as if I've done something wrong!"
"Well have you?"
"No! For God's sakes Abby. Is it really that hard to believe I just wanted to see you?"
"I guess it must be."
"Fine. You know what fine! If you're gonna sit here and act like a child then I'm leaving."
She got up and grabbed her coat as she headed for the door.
"Mom wait. You can stay."
"No I'm obviously not welcome with you and your new life."
"Mom please! Just stay."
Maggie stopped in her tracks as Abby went over to the door to stop her leaving.
"Really?"
"Sure."
They sat back down and the talking began again. After half an hour, they wondered where Carter had got to.
"He was only supposed to be getting a movie."
"You like him?" Asked Maggie, genuinely interested.
"Who?" As if she didn't know already. "Yeah."
"You love him?"
"Yeah."
"Just don't make the same mistakes I did Abby."
"I won't."
"I can see he's serious about you, he cares about more than any of the other guys I've seen you with have."
"How do you know?"
"I may be a nightmare Abby, but I know love when I see it. He loves you. Without a doubt. I always thought you were together before, when you were with that Euro doctor. He would stare at you all the time, more than the Euro doctor but it wasn't my place to say."
"He did did he?!"
"Oh yeah. You've got him Abby, forever."
"Well he can't get away now even if he wanted to."
"Why not?"
"I'm pregnant."
Maggie's face lit up. She jumped up and hugged Abby so tightly she thought the air was going to be all squeezed out.
"And you didn't tell me! Ahhh Abby this is so exciting!"
"You think?"
"Abby do you want the baby?"
"Yeah. But no."
"What's the problem?"
"There isn't one."
"I know my daughter, what is it?"
Abby sighed. How did she know there was something wrong? There was. She wanted the baby, but something was always troubling her.
"Abby tell me. I'm your Mother!"
"Okay okay. But don't get angry at me."
"I promise."
"It's not like last time, with Richard. Back then, I was a different person, and I didn't want to have a baby with him, it wouldn't be fair. But I also didn't want it..because I was afraid it would turn out like you."
"I see. Abby, the chances of that happening are next to nothing, and you can't just not have a child because you're afraid of what 'could' be!"
"I'm too scared to take the chance."
"Abby it's okay to be scared. I was scared."
"You were?"
"Of course. It's no walk in the park Abby. Bringing up a child is hard work, especially when they are baby's."
"I didn't expect them to be."
"I know I know I'm just saying. Look Abby, I may not always be right, or know what to do, or even be here for you when you need me cos I'm busy doing something I shouldn't be, but I promise, if you ever need me, you only have to ask."
"Thanks Mom. I will."
"Okay. You better!"
Maggie hugged Abby, and Abby finally relaxed and let go of all the anger she had towards her Mother. She was finally letting go. Maybe this time she had stayed off the Prozac and carried on takings her meds. Either way, Abby liked her Mom like this. No manic episodes and depressions, it was great. She guessed things hadn't crashed and burned after all.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
"You have to tell John how you feel. He deserves to know."
"I know that. But he won't listen he'll just get mad and say I'm being selfish."
"You won't know unless you try Abby."
"I guess."
"You never know, he may surprise you."
'Doubtful' thought Abby as she sat back and took another sip of tea.
12.30am - Abby's apartment
"God John why were you so long?!" Shouted Abby as Carter walked in the door.
"Sorry I had a few things to do!"
"Like what?"
"Never mind. Where's Maggie?"
"She's asleep in the spare room."
"Did everything go..okay?"
"Actually yeah it did."
"Great. So you still in the celebrating mood?!"
"I might be!" She said seductively as he walked over to her standing behind the counter.
"I got you something." Said Carter as he brought a bunch of dead flowers from behind his back.
"John you didn't have to!"
"Yeah but I wanted to."
"Thank you." She stared into his eyes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Let me just put these in a vase." She murmured as his kissing became more fervent.
"Oh can't it wait?!" He whined.
"No! Besides I thought you were gonna get a video?"
"Yeah but I went to Gamma's."
"She's more important than a night in front of the TV is she?!"
"Generally no, but I made an exception. I figured you would want more time with your Mom."
"Yeah. It helped. I told her, about the baby."
"You did?! I thought you didn't want anybody to know?"
"Yeah but I decided she had a right to know. She was really pleased."
"As pleased as I am?!"
"I don't think anybody could top that." She said as they kissed again.
"So you ready for bed?"
"Yeah let me just turn off all the lights."
"Okay don't be long!" He said as he walked away to the bedroom.
Abby smiled to herself and went about the apartment switching off all the lights and made her way to the answer machine to switch it on. The phone rang.
"Hello? Eric. Yeah sorry I was just about to ring you. She's here. No, actually everything's fine. Yeah, sure. I will, you too. Bye."
The phone clicked as she put the receiver down and switched on the machine. She walked slowly to the bedroom to find Carter taking off his shirt. The shirt was up round his head as he pulled it off.
"Well, I see somebody's been working out!"
"I had too! I couldn't take your jokes anymore!"
"Really?!" She laughed. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Come here." He motioned for her to come over to him and she did so.
As she reached him he put his arms around her waist and pulled her to him closer. He planted a soft kiss on her lips and she responded eagerly.
"I love you Abby."
"I love you too John."
He smiled and kissed her again as he lifted her up and placed her gently on the bed as their night of passion began, quietly.
A quick canoodle later whilst Maggie was in the shower, Carter went out and decided to bide his time and went to Gamma's. That always went down well with her, an unexpected visit was a sure hit with her, maybe a some more dinner. That's always good. Meanwhile, Abby prepared herself for a long talk with Maggie, her Mom.
"Mom do you want sugar?"
"Uh, yeah just two. Thanks!"
Abby brought to teas out and sat down on the couch next to Maggie. Maggie took the tea and took a small sip before placing it back on the table.
"Nothing like a nice cup of tea to get you going." Maggie stated as Abby smiled a little, taking another sip.
"So. What's goin' on Mom?"
"Nothing. Nothing's going on."
"Well there must be cos you don't just come and see me for no reason."
"God Abby I just wanted to come down and see my daughter WHAT is the problem?!"
"Are you taking your medication?"
"What kind of a question is that?"
"A good one. Are you?"
"As a matter of fact yes I am. Now can we talk about something else please?"
"Fine. So how's Eric?"
"He's great. He's been promoted."
"Really? Great. And how's your job?"
"I'm working at the doctor's surgery. I'm a receptionist. Part-time."
"I thought you had a job at the supermarket?"
"I did. But it's so boring Abby I needed a change. Plus I get a free consult whenever I want one!" She laughed while Abby remained unmoved by her little joke and took another sip of tea.
"Anything else you wanna tell me?"
"No! Abby what is this, it's like I'm being questioned by the damn cops!"
"What do you expect Mom?! I mean you come down here unexpected, invite yourself into my home, interrupt my life and you give me one bit of an explanation? This is not normal for you to come see me with no problem so excuse me if I'm being cautious."
She slumped back down in her seat and took another long sip of tea.
"Ow! Shit. This is hot."
"Here let me get you a drink."
Maggie got up and poured a glass of water for Abby.
"Here."
She passed the water to Abby who began gulping it down.
"Thanks." She mumbled.
"You're lucky I was here really."
"I'm glad you see it like that."
"Abby, talk to me. Please, what's wrong?"
"There's nothing wrong Mom apart from the fact that my mouth is burning."
"Fine. Don't talk to me."
Silence feel upon them as Maggie sat sipping her tea angrily and Abby sulked.
"You always do this Abby. So stubborn."
"How am I being stubborn?!"
"You're angry I've come to see you so you're lashing out as if I've done something wrong!"
"Well have you?"
"No! For God's sakes Abby. Is it really that hard to believe I just wanted to see you?"
"I guess it must be."
"Fine. You know what fine! If you're gonna sit here and act like a child then I'm leaving."
She got up and grabbed her coat as she headed for the door.
"Mom wait. You can stay."
"No I'm obviously not welcome with you and your new life."
"Mom please! Just stay."
Maggie stopped in her tracks as Abby went over to the door to stop her leaving.
"Really?"
"Sure."
They sat back down and the talking began again. After half an hour, they wondered where Carter had got to.
"He was only supposed to be getting a movie."
"You like him?" Asked Maggie, genuinely interested.
"Who?" As if she didn't know already. "Yeah."
"You love him?"
"Yeah."
"Just don't make the same mistakes I did Abby."
"I won't."
"I can see he's serious about you, he cares about more than any of the other guys I've seen you with have."
"How do you know?"
"I may be a nightmare Abby, but I know love when I see it. He loves you. Without a doubt. I always thought you were together before, when you were with that Euro doctor. He would stare at you all the time, more than the Euro doctor but it wasn't my place to say."
"He did did he?!"
"Oh yeah. You've got him Abby, forever."
"Well he can't get away now even if he wanted to."
"Why not?"
"I'm pregnant."
Maggie's face lit up. She jumped up and hugged Abby so tightly she thought the air was going to be all squeezed out.
"And you didn't tell me! Ahhh Abby this is so exciting!"
"You think?"
"Abby do you want the baby?"
"Yeah. But no."
"What's the problem?"
"There isn't one."
"I know my daughter, what is it?"
Abby sighed. How did she know there was something wrong? There was. She wanted the baby, but something was always troubling her.
"Abby tell me. I'm your Mother!"
"Okay okay. But don't get angry at me."
"I promise."
"It's not like last time, with Richard. Back then, I was a different person, and I didn't want to have a baby with him, it wouldn't be fair. But I also didn't want it..because I was afraid it would turn out like you."
"I see. Abby, the chances of that happening are next to nothing, and you can't just not have a child because you're afraid of what 'could' be!"
"I'm too scared to take the chance."
"Abby it's okay to be scared. I was scared."
"You were?"
"Of course. It's no walk in the park Abby. Bringing up a child is hard work, especially when they are baby's."
"I didn't expect them to be."
"I know I know I'm just saying. Look Abby, I may not always be right, or know what to do, or even be here for you when you need me cos I'm busy doing something I shouldn't be, but I promise, if you ever need me, you only have to ask."
"Thanks Mom. I will."
"Okay. You better!"
Maggie hugged Abby, and Abby finally relaxed and let go of all the anger she had towards her Mother. She was finally letting go. Maybe this time she had stayed off the Prozac and carried on takings her meds. Either way, Abby liked her Mom like this. No manic episodes and depressions, it was great. She guessed things hadn't crashed and burned after all.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
"You have to tell John how you feel. He deserves to know."
"I know that. But he won't listen he'll just get mad and say I'm being selfish."
"You won't know unless you try Abby."
"I guess."
"You never know, he may surprise you."
'Doubtful' thought Abby as she sat back and took another sip of tea.
12.30am - Abby's apartment
"God John why were you so long?!" Shouted Abby as Carter walked in the door.
"Sorry I had a few things to do!"
"Like what?"
"Never mind. Where's Maggie?"
"She's asleep in the spare room."
"Did everything go..okay?"
"Actually yeah it did."
"Great. So you still in the celebrating mood?!"
"I might be!" She said seductively as he walked over to her standing behind the counter.
"I got you something." Said Carter as he brought a bunch of dead flowers from behind his back.
"John you didn't have to!"
"Yeah but I wanted to."
"Thank you." She stared into his eyes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Let me just put these in a vase." She murmured as his kissing became more fervent.
"Oh can't it wait?!" He whined.
"No! Besides I thought you were gonna get a video?"
"Yeah but I went to Gamma's."
"She's more important than a night in front of the TV is she?!"
"Generally no, but I made an exception. I figured you would want more time with your Mom."
"Yeah. It helped. I told her, about the baby."
"You did?! I thought you didn't want anybody to know?"
"Yeah but I decided she had a right to know. She was really pleased."
"As pleased as I am?!"
"I don't think anybody could top that." She said as they kissed again.
"So you ready for bed?"
"Yeah let me just turn off all the lights."
"Okay don't be long!" He said as he walked away to the bedroom.
Abby smiled to herself and went about the apartment switching off all the lights and made her way to the answer machine to switch it on. The phone rang.
"Hello? Eric. Yeah sorry I was just about to ring you. She's here. No, actually everything's fine. Yeah, sure. I will, you too. Bye."
The phone clicked as she put the receiver down and switched on the machine. She walked slowly to the bedroom to find Carter taking off his shirt. The shirt was up round his head as he pulled it off.
"Well, I see somebody's been working out!"
"I had too! I couldn't take your jokes anymore!"
"Really?!" She laughed. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Come here." He motioned for her to come over to him and she did so.
As she reached him he put his arms around her waist and pulled her to him closer. He planted a soft kiss on her lips and she responded eagerly.
"I love you Abby."
"I love you too John."
He smiled and kissed her again as he lifted her up and placed her gently on the bed as their night of passion began, quietly.
