CHAPTER 28

Gabby had called Casey three times, but he didn't pick up the calls even once. She has known he wasn't home, because he had a construction job today out of town. Then she decided to leave a message:

Hi, Matt..., sorry for what happened earlier... Can you call me when you get home? Anna and I will be at my apartment. I love you.

..

When the time has come Gabby picked up Anna at school. As soon as Anna saw her, she ran to hug Gabby, who held her in her arms for a couple of minutes... Gabby lifted her and put her on her hip. Anna kissed Gabby's face a few times, making Gabby smile.

"Oh... what's the reason you are so happy, baby girl?" Gabby asked.

"You picked me up at my school..." Anna responded nonchalantly. "Are you happy too?"

"Of course I am. You make me happy," Gabby kissed the side of her head.

While they were making their to the car, one of Anna's s classmate approached them.

"Hi, Anna..." the girl said.

"Hi, Kate...," Anna replied.

"Anna, this is your new mother?" Anna and Gabby exchanged a look, smiling at each other, Anna looked back at her friend.

"Yeah, she is my new mother, Gabby..." she said proudly.

"She's so pretty," she spoke.

"Thank you, sweet. You are pretty too."

"Kate..." someone called her from behind, she turned her head to check who was.

"It's my mother, I have to go. Bye," she said waving.

"So, how about we go to the park before going to my apartment?" Gabby suggested.

"Gabby..." someone called out. She looked around and saw Christie and Violet.

"Hey Christie, Violet... How are you?" Gabby gave a quick hug in each one with Anna still in her arms.

"We're fine, thank you. Can we talk?" Christie asked.

"Girls, why don't you go buy an ice cream?" Gabby said giving some money to both.

"Yeah" they shouted out excitedly. Gabby and Christie were alone.

"It's everything alright?" Gabby asked worriedly.

"Matt called me and asked me to take Anna to my house, I'm sorry... I know you usually take her when he is working... I'm sorry...".

Gabby couldn't hide her disappointment, but Anna was Matt's daughter, so she couldn't change that.

"I understand... can you just give me a minute to explain it to Anna? I had promised to take her to the park...".

"He didn't said me what happened, but I felt something bothered him, he seemed off...," Christie told Gabby.

"We-we had a little disagreement this morning, yet I wasn't ready for this kind of reaction from him. Anyway..., it's better to tell Anna sooner than later..."

"I know you two are meant to be, believe me, you both are gonna work out whatever it is" Christie uttered honestly.

"You know what... I'm gonna take Anna with me, you trust me right?"

Christie nodded at her.

"Don't worry, I'll send Matt a message another message, let's pray he will listen to this one..."

"He loves you... you two will be alright...," Christie smiled at her.

"Thank you, Christie...," they hugged each other.

...

A few hours later...

It's 10 p.m., no sign from Casey, Gabby was worried sick about him...

After school, Anna and Gabby headed to the park where they spent a nice hour... Then before going to her apartment, Gabby took a few items in Casey's house. Gabby prepared dinner with Anna's help. Later they watched a movie... At bedtime, Gabby read two short stories to Anna...

Gabby decided to wait for Matt, she didn't mind staying awake, they need to talk... She was in the living room when heard a single knock on the front door. Gabby opened the door swiftly...

"Christie told me that Anna is here," Matt said.

"If you had listened to my message you would know..." Gabby replied dryly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"May I come in?" Casey asked.

"When we became so formal with each other, Matt? You know you don't have to ask..."

He came to stand close to the door, didn't go further in her apartment, he didn't even take his coat off like he always had done.

"Where's Anna?" he looked around avoiding Gabby's inquisitive eyes.

"She is sleeping in the guest bedroom..."

He went to the bedroom, a few minutes later he came back and Gabby was sitting on the sofa.

"I am gonna pick up her tomorrow after school," he said looking at her and turning to leave. Gabby got up.

"Can you tell me what's going on? I can't even recognize you right now… I called you a thousand times, Matt... Why did you ask Christie to take Anna home? Please, don't treat me like a stranger, like a mean nothing to you...," Gabby stated angry, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"I have to do what's necessary to protect my daughter... She won't handle it well when we tell her you are leaving for Florida... I think is better if she gets used to the routine she had before you came into our lives…" he said upset.

"Matt, I won't take the scholarship, I only agreed to know their program, that's it..."

"It's a matter of time when you get there, you will change your mind, it's bound to happen," he said disappointed.

"Why don't you trust me? It's so hard for you to believe in my love for you and Anna? " she questioned him with teary eyes.

"I trusted once in someone and she failed me..." he said with tears in his eyes as well. Gabby didn't know who he was talking about, who would have broken his trust. "

"So that's it? Is this the end?"

"I think we should end up now...," he bit his lip not to cry.

"Okay, if that's what you want..." she said wiping her tears.

He just nodded.

"Could you let me get Anna tomorrow at school again? I love her and I'd like to talk to her about all this..."

"Yeah... it's okay for me... You let me know when you're taking her home..."

They looked at each other for a few seconds, then left her place...

Matt had tears rolling down on his face... Meanwhile, Gabby was crying uncontrollably, after a few minutes suddenly a wave of nausea hit her; quickly she was in the bathroom, where she emptied her stomach. She wasn't ready for tomorrow...