Chapter 4
Abby clutched her grocery bag, now containing a melted container of vanilla ice cream and curdled milk as she entered her silent, dark apartment. She was released from the hospital on the condition that Chuny would drive her home. Gallant was hesitant to release her so soon, because the fear that she may pass out again. But Abby pointed out she didn't know she was eating for two and only had had a salad since lunch.
She clicked the flashing red button on the answering machine and listened while she walked into the kitchen. A deep familiar voice echoed throughout the apartment.
"Hey Abby, its Luka. I thought I'd ask if you wanted to take me up on the offer for coffee. Call me when you get the message." The machine clicked off.
Abby hesitated in the doorway staring at the now hushed machine. She felt her stomach flip flop at the idea of telling Luka she was pregnant. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for long, she was almost three months into the pregnancy. Luka would be so excited that she was pregnant, he loved kids. However, Abby realised she had to tell Carter about the baby before anyone else, she owed him that much.
She lay down on her couch and flipped the TV on low. For nearly a half an hour, Abby watched an infomercial on male pattern baldness but didn't absorb any information. Her mind was racing with the thought of telling everyone she was pregnant, especially Carter. She would tell him in the morning.
Abby's hand drifted down to her belly, stroking it softly. "It is just you and me kid, I promise, I'll do everything I can to give you the best life possible, even if my own is a little fucked up right now." Abby thought back to her first pregnancy. She was so terrified of telling Richard, especially since there was the very real possibility that the baby could be bipolar. She made the decision to abort the night Richard told her that her mother was the most annoying, co-dependent woman on the face of the earth. He said that he would never go with Abby to visit with her again and rather eat dirt than deal with another "psycho." Abby knew she made the right decision for Richard and her marriage to abort the child, but it wasn't the right decision for herself. She wanted that baby and she knew now that she would raise this child and love it to death no matter what mental capacity it had.
That night as Abby crawled into her bed, she made the promise to herself to never let men influence her own personal decisions again.
* * * * * * * *
Abby wiped the nervous sweat off her brow as she knocked on Carter's door the next morning. She was about to turn around and leave when the door opened and a woman dressed only in a hockey jersey stood there, obviously irritated at the intrusion.
"Yes?" she asked irritably, "how can I help you?"
Abby was floored to see this woman standing here at seven o'clock in the morning. "Uh, is John here?" Abby blinked back tears; she was devastated Carter couldn't at least spend some time alone after the break-up to let things settle down. She realised that her and Carter's relationship really didn't mean that much to him.
The woman sighed, as if Abby was asking a huge favour. "John, there is a short woman here to see you." She looked Abby up and down, sighed with obvious disgust and sauntered into his living room.
Abby looked past into the apartment and saw her ex-boyfriend walking down the hallway to the front door, a towel around his waist wearing a "I just got laid" grin. When he saw Abby, his expression changed instantly. The grin, which enlightened his face only seconds ago, turned to a scowl. "What can I do for you Abby? I'm kinda busy." He looked over to the woman and winked.
Abby thought she was going to faint at the scene unfolding around her. She stared Carter straight in the eye and said, "You don't have to do nothing but pay child support."
Carter's expression paled. "What? Are you saying."
Abby cut him off, "Yes you dick, I'm three months pregnant. I didn't think it was possible but you do have some good swimmers in there." With that, Abby turned on her heel and stalked off down the hallway to the elevator. She was so mad she was having trouble thinking straight.
When she got to the hospital for her 8 o'clock shift, she had calmed down considerably. She had a quick decaf coffee with Susan at Doc Magoo's before her shift, then went to help with the incoming trauma. The day passed quickly and before she knew it, it was four o'clock.
Abby said goodnight to Frank at the desk and headed out into the bustling Chicago streets, in search of a decent slice of pizza for supper. All day Abby had been feeling hungrier and hungrier, a sure sign that there was another little person growing inside her body.
As she walked to the pizza place of 106th street, Abby's thoughts drifted towards Luka. She still hadn't told him of the baby and for some reason she felt compelled to. Their relationship, while ending on a sour note, was still very caring. She knew he would be there for her if she needed him. Lately, she had wanted to see him more and more, wanting his caring disposition and his loyal devotion.
Minutes later, she found herself not in front of the pizza place, but standing before a building she had been to so many times. Using the spare key she still had, she let herself inside the quiet apartment complex and boarded the elevator to the second floor. She came to a stop before apartment number 42, her hands held in tight fists at her side. Summoning up all her nerve, she rapped on the big metal door twice. He opened the door, a big smile forming on his face when he saw her standing there. "Hi Abby, please come in." His familiar accent quickly soothed her trembling nerves and she smiled back, following him inside.
She looked around at the now familiar surroundings of Luka's apartment. The playstation hooked up to the new TV, the leather couch sitting invitingly in the middle of the room and the quiet hum of the fish tank. He took her coat and offered her a glass of lemonade.
She smiled appreciatively at him as he handed her the icy lemon beverage and sank down into the sofa. She remembered how comfortable she felt sleeping on this very couch after she was beat up by Brian; not so much because of the soft leather, but the idea of Luka sleeping in the very next room. It was silly she knew, but she felt so much safer with him there.
"So, what brings you by Abby?" Luka asked. He gazed at her for a few seconds before averting his eyes and taking a sip of his own lemonade.
"Uh, I have something that I wanted to tell you." Abby's hands began to sweat. She didn't want Luka to think she was pathetic, getting pregnant while her boyfriend was cheating on her. "I found out yesterday that I'm almost three months pregnant." She watched Luka carefully as the news sank in. He didn't seem to think she was an idiot, in fact, a smile flickered across his handsome features. He squeezed her hand gently, "Congratulations Abby. That is wonderful news." He studied her for a second, "Right?"
Abby thought for a second. "Yes, it really is. I'm excited." At that moment, Abby realised she was happy. She had always wanted a child but was too afraid it may turn out bipolar. She knew now that she would take that chance and love the child no matter what.
Catching Abby by surprise, Luka pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. Anything you need, please just ask me." Then he became serious, "Have you told Carter yet?"
Abby nodded. "Yes, I did, this morning. I went there and a woman answered the door. I told him then and there in front of his girlfriend. He was shocked. I left before he could say anything though."
Luka gripped her hand, "If he does anything, I mean anything, that upsets you, I'll personally kick his ass."
Abby smiled at Luka's good intentions. "Thank you Luka but I believe I'm perfectly capable of kicking his ass all by myself." She laughed, Luka joining in with her.
Abby clutched her grocery bag, now containing a melted container of vanilla ice cream and curdled milk as she entered her silent, dark apartment. She was released from the hospital on the condition that Chuny would drive her home. Gallant was hesitant to release her so soon, because the fear that she may pass out again. But Abby pointed out she didn't know she was eating for two and only had had a salad since lunch.
She clicked the flashing red button on the answering machine and listened while she walked into the kitchen. A deep familiar voice echoed throughout the apartment.
"Hey Abby, its Luka. I thought I'd ask if you wanted to take me up on the offer for coffee. Call me when you get the message." The machine clicked off.
Abby hesitated in the doorway staring at the now hushed machine. She felt her stomach flip flop at the idea of telling Luka she was pregnant. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for long, she was almost three months into the pregnancy. Luka would be so excited that she was pregnant, he loved kids. However, Abby realised she had to tell Carter about the baby before anyone else, she owed him that much.
She lay down on her couch and flipped the TV on low. For nearly a half an hour, Abby watched an infomercial on male pattern baldness but didn't absorb any information. Her mind was racing with the thought of telling everyone she was pregnant, especially Carter. She would tell him in the morning.
Abby's hand drifted down to her belly, stroking it softly. "It is just you and me kid, I promise, I'll do everything I can to give you the best life possible, even if my own is a little fucked up right now." Abby thought back to her first pregnancy. She was so terrified of telling Richard, especially since there was the very real possibility that the baby could be bipolar. She made the decision to abort the night Richard told her that her mother was the most annoying, co-dependent woman on the face of the earth. He said that he would never go with Abby to visit with her again and rather eat dirt than deal with another "psycho." Abby knew she made the right decision for Richard and her marriage to abort the child, but it wasn't the right decision for herself. She wanted that baby and she knew now that she would raise this child and love it to death no matter what mental capacity it had.
That night as Abby crawled into her bed, she made the promise to herself to never let men influence her own personal decisions again.
* * * * * * * *
Abby wiped the nervous sweat off her brow as she knocked on Carter's door the next morning. She was about to turn around and leave when the door opened and a woman dressed only in a hockey jersey stood there, obviously irritated at the intrusion.
"Yes?" she asked irritably, "how can I help you?"
Abby was floored to see this woman standing here at seven o'clock in the morning. "Uh, is John here?" Abby blinked back tears; she was devastated Carter couldn't at least spend some time alone after the break-up to let things settle down. She realised that her and Carter's relationship really didn't mean that much to him.
The woman sighed, as if Abby was asking a huge favour. "John, there is a short woman here to see you." She looked Abby up and down, sighed with obvious disgust and sauntered into his living room.
Abby looked past into the apartment and saw her ex-boyfriend walking down the hallway to the front door, a towel around his waist wearing a "I just got laid" grin. When he saw Abby, his expression changed instantly. The grin, which enlightened his face only seconds ago, turned to a scowl. "What can I do for you Abby? I'm kinda busy." He looked over to the woman and winked.
Abby thought she was going to faint at the scene unfolding around her. She stared Carter straight in the eye and said, "You don't have to do nothing but pay child support."
Carter's expression paled. "What? Are you saying."
Abby cut him off, "Yes you dick, I'm three months pregnant. I didn't think it was possible but you do have some good swimmers in there." With that, Abby turned on her heel and stalked off down the hallway to the elevator. She was so mad she was having trouble thinking straight.
When she got to the hospital for her 8 o'clock shift, she had calmed down considerably. She had a quick decaf coffee with Susan at Doc Magoo's before her shift, then went to help with the incoming trauma. The day passed quickly and before she knew it, it was four o'clock.
Abby said goodnight to Frank at the desk and headed out into the bustling Chicago streets, in search of a decent slice of pizza for supper. All day Abby had been feeling hungrier and hungrier, a sure sign that there was another little person growing inside her body.
As she walked to the pizza place of 106th street, Abby's thoughts drifted towards Luka. She still hadn't told him of the baby and for some reason she felt compelled to. Their relationship, while ending on a sour note, was still very caring. She knew he would be there for her if she needed him. Lately, she had wanted to see him more and more, wanting his caring disposition and his loyal devotion.
Minutes later, she found herself not in front of the pizza place, but standing before a building she had been to so many times. Using the spare key she still had, she let herself inside the quiet apartment complex and boarded the elevator to the second floor. She came to a stop before apartment number 42, her hands held in tight fists at her side. Summoning up all her nerve, she rapped on the big metal door twice. He opened the door, a big smile forming on his face when he saw her standing there. "Hi Abby, please come in." His familiar accent quickly soothed her trembling nerves and she smiled back, following him inside.
She looked around at the now familiar surroundings of Luka's apartment. The playstation hooked up to the new TV, the leather couch sitting invitingly in the middle of the room and the quiet hum of the fish tank. He took her coat and offered her a glass of lemonade.
She smiled appreciatively at him as he handed her the icy lemon beverage and sank down into the sofa. She remembered how comfortable she felt sleeping on this very couch after she was beat up by Brian; not so much because of the soft leather, but the idea of Luka sleeping in the very next room. It was silly she knew, but she felt so much safer with him there.
"So, what brings you by Abby?" Luka asked. He gazed at her for a few seconds before averting his eyes and taking a sip of his own lemonade.
"Uh, I have something that I wanted to tell you." Abby's hands began to sweat. She didn't want Luka to think she was pathetic, getting pregnant while her boyfriend was cheating on her. "I found out yesterday that I'm almost three months pregnant." She watched Luka carefully as the news sank in. He didn't seem to think she was an idiot, in fact, a smile flickered across his handsome features. He squeezed her hand gently, "Congratulations Abby. That is wonderful news." He studied her for a second, "Right?"
Abby thought for a second. "Yes, it really is. I'm excited." At that moment, Abby realised she was happy. She had always wanted a child but was too afraid it may turn out bipolar. She knew now that she would take that chance and love the child no matter what.
Catching Abby by surprise, Luka pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. Anything you need, please just ask me." Then he became serious, "Have you told Carter yet?"
Abby nodded. "Yes, I did, this morning. I went there and a woman answered the door. I told him then and there in front of his girlfriend. He was shocked. I left before he could say anything though."
Luka gripped her hand, "If he does anything, I mean anything, that upsets you, I'll personally kick his ass."
Abby smiled at Luka's good intentions. "Thank you Luka but I believe I'm perfectly capable of kicking his ass all by myself." She laughed, Luka joining in with her.
