AN: this chapter is dedicated to Craig...I miss you!
"So where are you both living Abby?" Millicent's tone was slightly less simple, to a tone she would use when speaking to an eight year old as she knew this eight year old was different. Abby scrunched her nose and puffed her lips out indicating she was trying to think.
"Its uh- 23-23 Crescent Street…I think," Millicent raised her eyebrows and let a small smile spread across her face. Eric was in total awe of the luxurious limo and was on his knees looking out the window.
"Look Abby, they can't see me," he mischievously waved to a passing car and laughed when they didn't notice him. Abby glanced over and shuffled across in her seat, she pulled her brother down from his almost standing position making him sit properly.
"Were you born here in Chicago?" Millicent asked curiously. Her question was answered quickly with a short and blunt no from both children.
"We're from Minnesota; we've only been staying in Chicago for a few months," Abby tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gazed down at the limo floor. Millicent looked at her pained expression and noted that she hadn't seen this girl smile yet. It saddened her to think that as she was so used to smiling children, her grandson John always had a mischievous smile on his face.
"Do you like Chicago?" Millicent knew she was persisting but something about these children captured her interest. Perhaps Abby felt she was under interrogation and the question was answered with a simple shrug of the shoulders. The slow halt to a stop indicated that they had arrived at their destination. Abby slipped down from the seats and helped Eric down and onto the pavement. Millicent followed suit and took in their surroundings. A smallish house with a red door and the number 23 plastered across it lay in front of them. It looked dark and deserted something which also caught Abby's attention. She hesitated at the limo door and glanced up at Millicent.
"Thanks very much for the ride," Abby took hold of Eric's hand and approached the tattered gate which was falling off its hinges. She carefully looked over her shoulder and saw Millicent wasn't making a desperate attempt to leave. Sighing in deeply Abby crossed her fingers behind her back praying there were spare keys under the flowerpot as it looked like her mum wasn't in. She stood on her tiptoes and rummaged around. Nothing. Abby pondered on what to do, she had often been in this situation before…in Minnesota where they were friendly with the neighbours, but in this strange and new city she felt deflated. The word failure sprung to mind and Abby gazed down at her little brother who was waiting patiently.
"Is there nobody home?" Millicent pushed open the gate and winced slightly at the rusty high pitched noise it made when scraping along the ground.
"Maggie and Alan must be out, I think they'll be back soon," Abby wrapped her arm around Eric who had started to shiver uncontrollably. Millicent raised her eyebrows and asked who Alan was.
"It's my mum's boyfriend he's from Chicago," Abby quietly said trying to control her own desire to shiver. Millicent nodded her head slowly.
"Listen why don't you both come back to my house, you can call your mother as soon as we get there," Millicent paused and looked at Abby apprehensively. The small girl was avoiding her stare and looking in the other direction. She knew that her stubborn nature was willing her on to say no, but the ill patient resting on her arm was also needing warmth.
"I don't live too far away, and you can meet my grandson. He must be the about the same age as you". Abby shrugged and nodded slowly, for the first time Millicent swore she almost saw a smile spread across her face. She thanked her and pulled Eric back along towards the warmth beckoning them from the limo. A yawn emerged from his mouth and he didn't seem to be aware of the fact that they weren't going home. Once inside the limo, Eric's eyes began to close and he was fighting back the desire to fall sound asleep. He curled up and rested his head on Abby's lap. She sighed and whispered something into his ear, shaking him slightly to make him sit up. Millicent watched the scene from her seat just adjacent to where they were sitting.
"I can't carry him when he's sleeping, he's too heavy," Abby looked up and quietly explained her actions. Millicent smoothed her hair out and then rested her hand back on the seat. Abby pouted and gazed out the window watching as the sunlight was slowly disappearing and turning into night. It didn't take long and when they pulled up Abby crinkled her forehead in confusion. She shuffled down from her seat and gently prodded Eric on his ribs. He was however out to the world and refused to wake up.
"Eric come on, wake up," Abby bent down and whispered loudly in his ear.
"It's ok Abby, James will carry him inside," as soon as Millicent finished her sentence the chauffer opened the door and gently took the little boy into his arms. Abby watched on nervously and jumped down from the limo keeping her eyes firmly on the sleeping Eric. They all followed Millicent up the path and into the gigantic mansion which lay before their eyes. Abby tried not to gape as they entered the welcoming and lavish hall. James began climbing the huge staircase with a sleeping Eric still in his arms.
"Hey where are you going?" A bold question escaped from Abby's mouth. James turned around and stood up straight staring across at Millicent.
"Don't worry he's just taking your brother up to a spare bedroom," Millicent hobbled across and gently rested her arm around Abby's tiny shoulders. Abby puffed out her lips and edged out from under Millicent's arms; she was uncomfortable with someone being affectionate towards her. James bent his head forward at his boss and carried on upstairs. A few minutes passed and as Abby's stare lingered on the top of the stairs a small shadow appeared. Millicent also noticed this and a broad smile spread across her face.
"Ah that must be John, my grandson, John come down here," Millicent cupped her hand around her mouth allowing her voice to travel up the stairs. Abby watched as the shadow revealed a boy who looked around her age. He slowly and shyly made his way down the stairs. His large soft brown eyes wondered curiously over Abby and he pushed away some loose light brown hair away from his face. Abby shyly glanced down at her feet avoiding his stare. Millicent nodded her head prompting him to introduce himself to Abby.
"My name's John Trueman Carter," he said shyly. Abby stifled a laugh and looked up.
"I'm Abigail Marjorie Wyczenski," she said in a slight mockery tone. They shared a small smile and then looked back down at their feet.
AN: Please review kind readers!