Months passed with no more letters, any phonecalls, any visits or even any mention of Sam since the money was sent, Abi brought the car she wanted and used the left over money for the expensive driving lessons. Phil would carry on each day, leaving the past behind him. Yet during the night he'd lay in bed staring at Sam's picture, he'd think about what she would look like by that point, whether she ever thought about him or Abi.
Phil finished work one night and was walking down Canely High Street towards the ASDA to get some food for dinner. He saw a heavily pregnant woman drop a shopping bag, he ran over and helped her pick the bag up. "Thanks." A husky voice said and Phil knew it straight away, even after seven months of only having to imagine her voice. Phil looked up and locked eyes with the woman forever in his thoughts, she took the bag and pulled away feeling awkward. Phil attempted to strike up a conversation and break the thick ice. "I didn't realise it was you." He admitted shifting from one foot to the other.
"Would you not of picked it up if you had realised?" Sam asked.
"If it meant we could talk then I still would have done." Phil said.
"Well thanks." Sam said again, not knowing what else to say.
"How are you now?" Sam asked.
"I'm alright."
"How about Abigail?" Sam wondered.
"She's good, she loves her car." Phil told her. Sam's face lit up at the mention.
"How is she doing with it?" Sam and Phil began to walk along the high street again.
"Excellent, she's really progressed." Phil said. "You would be proud ... you look great by the way."
"Thank you, you look good too." Sam smiled, her hair was in a bun with peices framing her face and she was wearing some stylish maternity clothes.
"You're seven months gone right?"
"Yea, almost." Sam agreed.
"So what you been buying?" Phil asked noticing the Mothercare and Argos bags.
"Oh just some clothes for the baby, a nursing maternity pillow plus some 'Georgie and Friends' toys." Sam told him. "I'm so excited."
Phil smiled. "I can bet. Do you know what you're having yet?"
"Yep, a little girl." Sam told him.
"Aww."
"We'll be a family, that's all I really want Phil a family. I just hope Abi doesn't think we're replacing her." Sam admitted.
"Why don't you come round for a coffee or soemthing one day and talk to her."
"Erm ... well Hugh doesn't like me going out of the house much without him. He's quite protective. He doesn't want me or the baby to get hurt and lose us. It was only because he was working and I was shopping today. Plus Hugh wouldn't like me going round and seeing Abi after everything that's happened." Sam said.
Phil gave a smile, although he was really unimpressed. "So. When's the wedding?"
"Next month, sixteenth of August." Sam recalled.
Phil grinned. "Mrs Samantha Wallis."
Sam scowled at him before saying: "Look can you tell Abi that he night before I'm having a few friends from work round and she's welcome to either but if she doesn't want to then I understand."
"I'll pass the message on." Phil agreed.
"Cheers, we have loads of guests."
"Funny that." Phil muttered.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Nothing reallly. I just imagined you being married somewhere quiet, probably on a weekday so that people won't watch you but then have a big reception. Possibly on a hill or beach."
"And who was the groom?" Sam asked.
"I don't know, you hadn't decided." Phil admitted. "...But you weren't going to marry Hugh."
"I should get going." She hailed a London Taxi and put all her shopping inside. "Oh and for your information it's a church."
She climbed in and the taxi drove off.
Sam answered the door on the third knock and was pleasantly suprised to see her daughter stood on her daughter. "Abi!... Come in!"
Abi did so and unable to hold back their urges they hugged tightly, realising how much they really had missed each other. "I just wanted to pop by and see how you were doing." Abi pulled away and looked at her. "You've gotten so big!"
"I know, it's the little one inside me. Do you want a drink?"
"Tea please." Abi replied, following her mother into the kitchen. Sam bustled around making tea while Abi sat, looking aroudn the kitchen. It hadn't changed much. Sam turned back to Abi as the kettle boiled. "You look happier ... happier than you ever were with me."
"I think about you everyday ... mum."
"I think about you too." Sam admiteed feeling happier that Abi had called her 'mum'.
"Oh thank you for the car."
"That's alright darling, not trying to be funny but can we keep it from Hugh? I didn't tell him about giving you the money." Sam confirmed Abi and Phil's suspicions of it being a secret.
"Sure, I don't really talk to him anyway." Abi told her.
"That's a shame, you used to like him." Sam said turning back to the tea as the kettle clicked. Sam brought the tea over and there was a companionable silence as they blew on the hot liquid and sipped.
"I'm sorry for all the things I said and done." Abi apologised.
"All forgotten sweetheart. But I'm sorry too." Sam replied.
"Don't worry about it."
"You do know that you can come around whenever you want. I'm still your mother."
"I don't think Hugh would like it." Abi stated.
"Well he can deal with it, and if he loves me as much as he claims then he will." Sam said.
"That's what you said about Max." Abi said quietly. " 'If he loves me then he can deal with you being around because you're going nowhere'."
"I'm really sorry about Max, I was too wrapped up in myself to realise it was affecting you too."
"You weren't." Abi hugged her. "Mum, I was scared for you and I am so sorry for blaming you for him beating you."
Sam sniffed and smiled. "Like I said, all forgotten."
"So ... I hear I'm having a little sister." Abi said.
"Yes you are. I hope you want her to have you as a big sister."
"I do." Abi smiled. "I would like to have a little sister very much."
"What have you been doing since I last saw you?" Sam asked.
"I returned to college, I also have a boyfriend now, Todd. He's on my fashion course but the yar above and he has a baby boy, Ben. We started seeing each other on valentine's day, mum he is so sweet and nice. He treats me so well. He's also really hot."
Sam laughed, in the pit of her stomach she felt terrible knowing that she had missed out on so much. Too much.
"I need to make a confession to you." Sam started beginning to worry about what Abi would think she was selfish.
"Go ahead."
"Well when my friend from work, Jo, told me that Phil was buying you a car I felt jealous because I was suppose to buy you a car for your seventeenth birthday but then you were missing and I didn't want Phil to ... well ... replace me. And I know that's slepfish and I'm sorry."
Abi hugged her. "Mum, Phil could never replace you. And it's not selfish." They both held on tightly, shedding a few tears. Then starting to laugh because theyw ere crying for no reason.
"Look at us eh, two fools."
"It's not foolish to cry." Abi said.
Sam sighed. "I know but you know me, hardly ever cry but when I start it keeps coming and then I hate that I'm crying so I never want to cry in front of people."
"You should, it's not a weakness." Abi said wisely.
"You sound smart beyond your years." Sam said.
"Take after you then." Abi laughed.
"I hope you don't take after me." Sam admitted. "I want you to stand a chance in life."
"You have no idea how much I admire you."
"Thank you, that' really sweet darling."
The front door shut loudly. "Sammy you in?!" Hugh called. "Some pillock parked right in front of the front gate."
"Oh dear I'm probably the pillock." Abi muttered.
"Don't worry." Sam told her with a smile as Hugh walked into the kitchen. Hugh stopped as he saw the teenager.
"Is that your car?"
"Hi to you too." Abi answered cooly. "And yes that is my car."
"Oh right, hi. Did Phil buy the car?" Hugh asked, seeing whether he could use the 'gift' against her.
"No." Sam said before Abi had a chance. "I gave her the money, I'm really sorry I didn't tell you about it."
"When?" Hugh asked.
"February." Sam said.
"And you've only just decided to tell me?!" Hugh asked raising his booming voice. He lowered it. "I'm sorry, it's just quite a shock to suddenly find out that you bought her a car, and lied to me."
"I'm sorry Hugh, after everything Abi's been through she deserved it. I was just worried you'd think I was deserting you if I told you." Sam said.
Hugh smiled. He walked over and gave her a kiss. Abi was pretty sure that the sudden display of affection was for her benefit and was slightly grossed out. It was a kind of sign: 'She's mine now, stay away.'
Hugh broke away and they both had smiles placed on their faces. "That's probably the sweetest thing a woman's ever said to me Sammy."
"I had actually better get going." Abi stood, she felt like twisting the knife a little like he was always doing to her and Phil so as she took her cup over to the sink and bowl she added: "I'll see you at the hen night, it was really nice of you to invite me to that and the wedding the day you bumped into Phil down the High Street."
"You invited her to the wedding?" Hugh asked.
"Wll yeah, I mean she is my daughter." Sam said.
"Oh come on Sammy, she abducted you with Phil and tried to turn you against me yet now you want her to come to the wedding. Great!"
"Like I said Hugh Ab's my daughter ... why can't we put the past behind us eh?"
Hugh sighed. "Fine."
Abi grinned, she gave her mum a peck before going to leave. Hugh followed her out, acting like a good host. Abi opened the front door but Hugh pushed it shut with one hand. "You dare make a scene at our wedding," Hugh hissed.
"I'm not scared of a pathetic old man with petty threats." Abi scoffed.
"You should be, maybe even for your moters sake," he smirked and pulled the door open. "No get out."
"Someday you'll lose control,then you'll be screwed." Abi said before walking out, satisfied with having the last, hanging in the air, word.