Chapter 5
As Jed hung up the phone, he saw Abbey still sitting on the bed, staring into space. He knew what was going through her mind.
He went over and sat down beside her. All he could do was to intertwine his fingers into hers. She had to come back from where she was.
"Abbey, honey." Jed was talking softly. "It's not you this time. Come back to me." Jed waited patiently for Abbey to come back.
She turned and looked at him, tears falling from her face. "How could that bastard do this to her? She was so innocent, so not ready for this. At least, we were married when it happened. At least I knew how gentle and loving sex could be before the violence. Why did he take this from her?"
Jed pulled Abbey closer and just hugged her. He knew there were no words that he could say right now to make her feel any better. After a few minutes, he felt her tense her shoulders. He knew she was in the fighting mode now. And this guy had better watch out. He also knew what was coming next.
"I'm going to Manchester today."
"Don't you think that Liz and Doug and Annie need a little time before you come storming in there?"
"I need to get to Annie before she needs me. I need to be there."
"But Abbey, none of the girls know what happened to you. They don't know about the rape. We decided that they would never need to know. Have you thought about the shock that Liz will feel when you go rushing up there and announce your past history to her? Have you thought about that?"
"But Jed, Annie needs her grandmother."
"Or is it that her grandmother needs Annie?" as he hugged her again.
Abbey smiled at Jed's remark. He knew her too well.
"Okay. I'll give them a day. But I'll leave tonight and stay at the farm. I have to be there."
"Okay." He gave her a gentle kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."