Chapter 39 – Facing Up
Abby and Susan are back at the hotel, in the function room, where they joined the bride and groom along with all the invited for the reception.
"I can't bring myself to tell Maggie," Abby said worriedly, hesitating on telling her mother that she has a grandchild on the way.
"Maggie? Have you ever called her mom? You're like my sister, she always called mom, Cookie" Susan muttered, walking round with her, scanning for their names on the cards that are placed on the table. "Abby she will know sooner or later"
"Yes I might make things worst if I leave it longer" Abby said, she shuddered as she thought that she is hoping they are not going to be sitting near her mother or Eric.
"She might change for good realizing that she need to be responsible for her grandchild" Susan said, "My father changed when little Susie came along 10 years ago, he was the laziest person ever"
Abby raised her brows feeling optimistic about whether her mother would change her ways.
"Here" Susan pointed as she found their names.
Abby carried on scanning making sure that Maggie and Eric's name are nowhere near them otherwise she would plan on moving the cards elsewhere. She said, "Thank god were with the normal part of the family!"
"Well Abby haven't you got something to say to me?" Maggie asked, coming up from behind.
"What you mean?" Abby turned round and shook her head in confusion.
"I am not stupid sweetie" Maggie winked
"Well just babble out what you think?" Abby snapped.
"Come on sweetie" Maggie's hand moved towards Abby and placed it flat on her stomach. "Are you too frightened to tell me?"
Abby stepped back and her jaw dropped to the floor. She knows that her mum isn't stupid, even with her condition, she is highly intelligent woman and doesn't miss anything, and Abby is the stupid one to underestimate her mother again. She took a long hard swallow and nodded, biting her bottom lip.
"John's?" She asked dryly.
"Yes" Abby giving that quick answer to her mother, she doesn't want to complicate things having to explain that she is unsure whether he is 100 the father. She doesn't have the energy to go down that road.
"Oh I'm pleased" Maggie grinned, "Sweetie you have made me happiest woman in the world!"
"I thought I made you the happiest!" Bill said aggressively, interrupting their conversation.
"Bill go and sit down, I'm talking to my daughter".
Bill snapped, "No woman tells me what to do!" With anger he swung his arm and hit Maggie across the face with the back of his hand and knocked her to the floor. Abby gasped in shock watching on. He spat out loudly "Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch!"
"I think it's best that you leave" Abby asked darkly, squatted down beside her mother. She stared at him then squirmed when he raised his fist at her.
"Just go!" Susan shot up from her seat to protect her pregnant friend. "Don't even think about hitting her"
Two men appeared and restrained Bill. They wrestled and escorted him out of the room.
"Thanks, I didn't know you were that brave!" Abby said, watching her mother's lover disappear through the door.
"I'm not, but the last thing I want you spending the rest of this weekend in hospital."
Abby and Susan both help Maggie get up back on her feet.
"Are you ok Mrs Wyczenski?" Susan asked
From nowhere an almighty slap hit Susan across the face. From the blow, she fell back and hit her head against the floor. The angry strike was from Bill who they didn't see come rushing back in the function room.
"No woman tells me what to do!" He shouted. The hotel securities come rushing to take him away. They can still hear him shouting and cursing out in the hotel lobby.
"Susan?" Abby asked, worriedly rubbing her friends cheek who is rolling her eyes trying to bring herself round. She puts her finger on Susan's wrist to check her pulse. Everyone in the function gathered round them like an audience
"Is she ok?" Maggie asked.
"She's slightly concussed"
"Bill does this all the time sweetie"
"What?" Abby frowned in disbelief
"Yes sweetie, he hits me all the time"
"Do we need to call a paramedic?" The hotel manager interrupted, pushing his way through the crowd.
"No it's ok, she will come round in minute," She answered
"I think we should"
"No it's ok, I am a Doctor"
"Oh, ok, is there anything you need Doctor?"
"I could do with some ice please, wrapped in a cloth?" She asked and carried on the discussion with her mother "Bill hits you all time?"
"Yes dear" Maggie chirped.
"I don't believe this!" Abby scoffed. "I can't have my mother marring an abuser!"
"Oh" Susan groaned
"You ok?"
"Think so"
"How many fingers have got up?" Abby asked raising her hand up.
"Four fingers and one thumb" She winced.
"Good girl"
"Are you ok sweet Susie?" Maggie asked
"Yes thanks" She replied focusing back at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Just a bump, ok" Susan nodded. She rose herself up unsteadily trying to get back on her feet with the help from Abby. The manager comes back with the 'Ice pack'. Susan took it from him and placed it on her head.
"I'm going to find Eric"
"He'll find his way here"
"I need to get some air," Maggie said, walking away towards the door.
"We still need to talk"
"Later, I'll leave you girls to it"
"Girls? Huh" Susan grumbled
"Well she still sees me as her little girl" Abby shrugged "I'm sorry Susan that you got hurt"
"Not your fault, I've shouldn't have stepped in but I only wanted to protect you"
"Thank you" Abby said, softly
"I can't remember the last time when I had a good slap?" Susan said amusedly, rubbing her head and wiggled her jaw as she sat down in her seat "Probably about 10 years ago when a guy was coked out of his mind who ran the red light and killed a little girl and I had to tell his mother about him and she wouldn't believe that her son was drugged up or did drugs"
"I've had my fair share of slaps in a lifetime!" Abby laughed.
They spent the rest of the reception with Abby reuniting with her other family members and catching up with things and events since last Abby left St Paul's… In the evening they flirted with the men and danced the night away… Abby caught up with Howie and said their goodbyes. They never did see Eric again; they suspected that he might have gone back to his hotel and endure the whole weekend watching television. Maggie and Abby never had their talk in the end, she left early had she said she couldn't cope with the loud music and wanted make amendments with Bill. Abby disapproves her mother for doing this but then again she is stupid enough to do what she wants in life... They left Minneapolis early Sunday morning for their journey back home to Chicago…