Truth Aftermath

Chapter 40

It had been a long time coming, but at last, Jess and Abby Bauer were face to face in her hospital room, and as Jess looked at his daughter, he was reminded of Lorraine!

Clearing his throat, he gestured, asking, "Shall we sit?"

Abby swallowed, and as they sat down in chairs across from one another, Jess queried, "So, what did the doc say? When can you get outta here?"

Abby sighed commenting, "The doctor said I could go home as soon as Monday, as long as I have someone with me...You know, in case I get dizzy or have major headaches or whatever. Can I ask you something?"

Jess thought, Here it comes...

But he nodded, answering Abby, "Sure, Babe, what is it?"

Abby swallowed hard and asked him, "What happened after you left? I mean, we got birthday and Christmas cards, but nothing else, and when I asked Lor where you were, and why you hadn't stopped by to visit us, she said you got some out of town jobs delivering things, but that you were fine, and not to worry."

Heavily sighing, Abby then gulped and stated with a shrug, "If you were okay, you could've come to see us anyway! Are you remarried, or have new kids or something? Just be honest, Jess! I can take whatever you throw at me-"

But Jess shook his head replying with a groan, "No! No, I'll be honest, but no matter what I say here, it was no picnic, alright?"

Abby, bewilderedly commented, "Oh, c'mon, Jess! After everything Lor and I went through, it can't be as bad as all that-"

Jess cut her off immediately, answering quickly with a growl, "Yes, it can, and it was bad! Very bad!"

Jess then realizing he was frightening Abby, put up a hand, and sighed, stating, "I'm sorry, Monkey Puss...Abby..."

Reaching across to her, he gently took her hands in his own, and looking deeply into her eyes, remarked, "Okay, what I've gotta tell you is bad, but to start, I'm okay now... The thing is, Sweetie, your mom...Well, she went through some stuff after you were born. I really hoped you wouldn't have to know this until you were a lot older, but-"

Abby swallowed, asking carefully, "What happened to Lor, Jess? Was it me? Was I in bad shape or something?"

Jess gulped, and shaking his head, squeezed her hands gently, replying, "No, Babe...You were perfect. The light of both of our eyes..."

Abby shook her head querying softly, "I-I don't get it. Everything was great, except for what?"

Jess sighed and asked, "Do you know what postpartum depression is, Honey?"

Abby shrugged answering, "Just that people are sad a lot- Lisa, a friend from school, said her aunt was sad a lot, and they had to give her meds for it...Why?"

Jess remarked slowly, "Well, Honey, Lor was diagnosed with postpartum depression after you were born. Now, it didn't mean you weren't wanted! You were very wanted by the both of us, but the meds they gave Lor...Well, they helped her feel better, but she grew too dependent on them, even after she started to feel like herself. I first noticed it about three, four months after you were born, that Lor was changing a bit. See, the doctor had given her a checkup, and she told them how tired she was lately. The doctor chalked it up to taking care of you, but not to worry, it would get better. I came home late one night after work, and Lor was running around our place looking for her meds, saying that you were a bit cranky, and crying, and she couldn't calm you down, and she needed something to get her through..."

Abby gulped asking, "What was I doing? Was I sick?"

Jess commented, "No, Babe. You were teething early. Found that out after talking to the pediatrician. She told me just to get a washcloth or pacifier and stick it in the freezer for a bit, and it would help with the teething. Well, Lor couldn't find her meds, so she left me with you saying she had to go out for a while..."

Abby remarked as tears suddenly started to form in her eyes, "So that's when she started to flake out-"

Jess, puzzledly looked at her and queried, "Flake out? Honey, what do you mean?"

Abby sighed as tears slowly came down her cheeks, and she said quietly, "I-I remember when I was five, and this was before you left-I think you were at work one night, but I sort of remember Mabel yelling at Lor, telling her to think of me, and not screw up anything..."

Jess reached over to a tray nearby, and gave Abby a tissue, answering gently, "Go ahead, Sweetie. What did Lor say?"

Abby shook her head stating as she cried, "She-She hit Mabel, Jess! Was that why she flaked? Because of the drugs?"

Jess swallowed hard, and gently pulled Abby to him replying softly, "Yeah, Abby...I'm-I'm so sorry you were around that-"

But Abby pushed Jess away, yelling, "Why didn't you stop her? Or get me away from that-!"

Jess growled, "I tried, Honey! We all did! She didn't wanna hear it when Mabel realized what was going on, and confronted her with it!"

Abby confusedly asked, "Was I there?"

Jess shook his head answering, "No, Babe. You were six when Donovan had moved in, and Mabel asked him to keep you at his place so she could try to calm Lor down one night when I was out driving cabs. When I got home, Mabel told me what happened, and how Lor promised she'd get off the drugs..."

Jess sighed deeply and queried softly, "Abby, I know you don't want to think about the night Lor died, but Honey, I-I gotta know. Why were you in the car with her then?"

Abby answered slowly, "L-Lor was taking a nap after we got home from that Homeless Center place where I met Phillip King. Did you meet him yet?"

Jess was about to respond when Abby then shaking, continued, "Anyway, it was getting real late, and she wasn't awake yet, but we hadn't gone to get our pizza for dinner, so I woke her up to get her moving, and, I swear, Jess! She was with it, and I thought, Okay, we'll be alright, but then half a block from the pizza place, she started acting scared, like someone was following us! I kept checking the rearview mirror, but I never saw anything, and then she started yelling for me to get down, because she said someone was still after us, and then she drove faster, and jerked the car towards a telephone pole! I took the wheel to get us away from it, and yelled for her to look out!"

Abby was sobbing by then, replying, "That's all I remember, Jess! I swear! I-I couldn't save M-Mom!"

Jess pulled her to him and held her as she wept, and tried to comfort her remarking sadly, "I'm so sorry, Angel! I'm so sorry!"

After a few moments, when Abby was spent, she gulped, and asked,"So...Can you please tell me why you were at the hospital? Is that where you've been all this time, and why I'm just now seeing you?"

Jess heavily sighed, and answered, "Whew...Okay, Kiddo. I know that you've already been dealt with enough here, but I have to tell you what happened when your mom and I split..."

He stated, " I tried to help her get off the drugs, but she insisted that she was fine, and didn't need any help..."

Gulping then, Jess looked intently at Abby responding, "She was an addict, Abby. A counselor I went to about the situation told me that Lor had to admit there was a problem before she could get the help she needed. Well, Lor found out I went to see a counselor about her, and flipped out, saying that I didn't understand what she had gone through since you were born-like I said before, she adored you, but it was the drugs making her change. Anyway, that's when she told me to get out, that we were through."

Getting up from his chair, he walked towards the window to look out and remarked, "I just couldn't accept that she didn't want or need me any more, because I still loved her so much, and not seeing you was hell on earth! I blamed myself for not being able to help her kick the habit...So much so, that I-"

He stopped and Abby came over to him and touching his shoulder, queried, "What happened, Jess?"

Jess swallowed and replied softly, "I tried committing suicide-"

Abby cried out, "WHAT?!"

Jess, turning around to face his daughter, put up his hands, gesturing quickly, stating, "I-I know! It wasn't the smartest move I ever made, and I am getting help with therapy, but Honey, right now, as much as I love you, I just can't have us living together yet...I don't feel I can provide you with what you need, but would you consider staying with Donovan until I'm better?"

Abby, floored with everything her father had just revealed about himself and her mother, swallowed, and hesitating for a moment, answered softly, "Only if I can go with you to therapy, so we can heal together, alright?"

Jess was blown away at how mature Abby seemed, and slowly nodded, as they came together in one big hug!

-SMK-

A little while later, they went down to the cafeteria to meet with Lee and Amanda, and Jess remarked as he and Abby sat at the table with Lee and Amanda,"We have a long road ahead of us, and Abby wants to go to therapy with me, but she'll be living with Donovan, until I'm back to normal..."

Amanda smiled and nodding, commented, "That's wonderful, and we'll be sure to tell Phillip. He'll be so glad you're both together again."

Abby gave a half smile stating, "Yeah, and I just want to thank you both for helping us get a new start here."

Lee answered, "Well, we're glad you're both gonna be okay soon. But look, if there's anything else you need, let us know, okay?"

Getting a small notepad and pen from his jacket pocket, he wrote his and Amanda's numbers down, and handing Jess the slip of paper as they all rose from the table, commented, "Good luck..."

The four shared hugs, and as Jess and Abby left the cafeteria, holding hands, Lee, watching them head out, let out a deep breath, answering, "Whew..."

Amanda, concerned, queried, "What's the matter, Sweetheart?"

Lee shrugged, answering, "I dunno. I guess I have changed."

Amanda puzzled, asked, "I'm not sure what you're getting at. Care to enlighten me?"

Lee gave a half smile, and chuckling, took Amanda's hand, and squeezing it gently, stated, "Well, four years ago, when we met, could you see me handling anything of this particular magnitude?"

Amanda raised an eyebrow to her husband replying with a shake of her head, "Come to think of it...No way!"

Lee gave her a kiss then, answering, "Well then, I have to thank you for sticking with me, loving me, and evolving me...And don't ever stop!"

Amanda giving him a warm hug responding, "You got it, Big Fella...As long as you do the same for me-"

Lee, pulling back, queried, "Huh? Wait...I have no issue with you! You're perfect just the way you are."

Amanda shrugged commenting, "Well, I have improved in certain areas..."

Lee peering at his wife closely, asked, "In what ways?"

Amanda, grinning, whispered in his ear, and Lee chuckled aloud answering, "Ohh! Are-Are you trying to say that you're cleared finally to-?"

Amanda stated, "Well, I'm clear to go back to work, so it's naturally the next step, don't you think?"

Lee, smiling from ear to ear, took her hand and quickly gestured and responded as they headed out of the hospital toward the car, "After you, Sweetheart! Let's go home!"

And a few months later, Amanda learned she was expecting, and they began their house hunting, while Phillip's punishment was lifted finally, but he told his parents one night as they all sat around the family room, "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep volunteering when I can, okay?"

Lee shrugged answering, "As long as it doesn't interfere with your schoolwork, Pal, it's fine with us."

Phillip perplexed, stated, as he looked at his mother, "Uh, hello? He doesn't remember it's summer now?"

Amanda shook her head with a wry grin, "Alright, c'mon! He's still new with this family stuff, and we've had a lot going on this year, okay?"

Jamie piped up, looking at a house in the newspaper, and handed it to Lee answering, "I think we should get that one!"

As Lee looked at the one Jamie pointed to, Amanda chortled over his shoulder as she also took a peek, "Five pools, eight bedrooms, and four and a half baths?! Absolutely not, Mister!"

Lee put up a hand answering, "Well now, Honey, wait a minute...It comes with a stable, and-"

Then as the family started all talking at once, Dotty calmly got up from the wing chair, and going out to the patio, sat at the picnic table, remarking as she looked up to the heavens, "Well, Carl? Did you ever see this coming? Our Amanda started here married, then divorced, met Lee, and four years later, starts another grand adventure! And I couldn't be happier or prouder of our little girl!"

Then getting up from the picnic table, winked at the heavens, remarking, "I'd better go in and stop the bruhaha, Darling!"

And as Dotty opened the back door to re-enter the house, the boys clamored at her with the newspaper, asking her to choose what she might like as well!

Dotty shook her head, going to the stove to fix herself some tea, and thought, As long as this family is happy, it won't matter where we live...

The End