Page 37 of Abigail
“Abigail!” Charlotte’s voice comes over the line. “How are you holding up, honey?” Leave it to Charlotte to be worrying about her when she already has so many other things to be worrying about. Abigail feels warmth and affection flooding her at her friend’s concern.
“I’m okay,” Abi replies with the same answer she gives anyone who asks.
“Abigail.” Charlotte’s voice gets stern. She can obviously tell bullshit over the phone as well as she can in person. Abi should have known better than to try to pretend like everything is fine with Charlotte. The woman is a true empath, or perhaps she’s just psychic and can read minds. Whatever it is, she can tell when you’re not sharing, and somehow, she knows when to push and when to let sleeping dogs lie as they say.
“Okay, okay,” Abi concedes. “I’m not fine. Is that what you want to hear? I’m freaked out most of the time. I’m trying like crazy to keep it from Ellie, but that five-year-old is really smart. She picks up on my mood so easily. I don’t want her to be afraid, but I need her to be safe more than anything else. How do I explain to her that a man she’s never met, who I’ve never mentioned to her, is her father? That he’s bat shit crazy and if she sees him, she needs to run like hell?”
“Whoa, honey,” Charlotte interrupts. “Calm down. I totally understand where you are coming from, and everything you’ve said is right. I understand you’re worried about telling her and how she will react, but Ellie is a strong little girl just like her mother is a strong woman. Don’t be afraid to explain things to her. Ellie needs to know he’s unstable, and she should avoid him at all costs. Perhaps, you and Robert can sit her down with the admiral and explain everything. She loves and trusts all of you. It won’t be an easy conversation, but children don’t see things the same as adults, and she may very well take this much better than you’re anticipating.”
“Really?” Abigail almost whispers into the phone. “You think so?”
“Yes, I do,” Charlotte answers. “Ellie is very bright for her age. She won’t understand all of it until she is much older but talking with her now before something happens is better than waiting. Remember how you felt when Robert and the admiral kept Todd’s release from you? Ellie could feel the same if you wait too long and she’s dragged into the middle of it unprepared.” Abigail sighs heavily.
“I think you’re right. I’ll have a talk with Robert on his lunch break.” Abigail smiles to herself. Charlotte has made her feel somewhat better with just a few minutes of her time. Abi should really just pay Charlotte instead of her therapist for counseling.
“Good,” Charlotte says in answer. “You know if you ever need anything, you just have to ask. Hawk and I will always be here for you and your family.”
“I know, Charlotte.” Abi is almost in tears at the kindness Charlotte has shown her in the last year. “I can’t ever thank you all enough for everything.”
“Now, now. No need for thanking me,” Charlotte scolds. “That’s what friends do for one another. Now on to matters of business. I have talked to several caterers about the banquet. I have some tastings set up over the next couple of weeks, and I wanted to see if you would be free to go with me? I’ll have some of the others go, too.”
“You know I won’t pass up the opportunity for some great food.” Abigail laughs. The two women spend the next few minutes going over their schedules, ironing out the details for meeting up to try out the foods. They discuss menu options and what would be the best main courses for the meals. Once all that is settled, they say their goodbyes and end the call. Abigail glances at the clock. She wants to check in with Jolene before she leaves for her meeting in a couple of hours. She heads down to the end of the hall to Jolene’s office as usual the door is open.
“Hey, Jolene.” Abi asks as she knocks on the doorframe, “Do you have a few minutes?”
“Of course,” Jolene smiles as she looks up. “I always have time for you.” Abi smiles in return, entering the woman’s office and taking a seat in front of her desk.
“I have had some personal issues come up over the weekend,” Abigail begins. “While I hope it has no effect on you or the shelter, I need to let you know what’s happening in my personal life, just in case something happens. My ex has been released from prison, and he showed up at Robert’s…our house this weekend. He was trying to see Ellie. At least, that’s what he said.” Abi looks up to meet Jolene’s gaze fearing what her boss is going to think about this fucked up situation.
“Oh honey,” Josie replies softly. “I’m so sorry that happened. I know you must have been frightened but don’t you worry about it affecting your job here. Hawk called me over the weekend as well as Admiral Jenkins. They have assured me they will be watching the shelter closely, especially when you’re here. Now don’t you go feeling ashamed about any of this. It’s not your place to be ashamed of your ex’s actions. His behavior is on him, not you and don’t you forget it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Abigail finds herself smiling at the fierceness in Jolene’s voice. “Thank you for understanding.”
“I understand much more than you know.” Jolene smiles at Abi, but it doesn’t really reach her eyes. There’s a sadness there that makes Abi feel even closer to Jolene. It’s like she has walked in Abi’s shoes before, and therefore she wants to keep Abi from going through what she’s experienced. “Now, what do you have on the agenda for today?” Jolene asks. Abi realizes she is wanting to change the subject from the heavy to something much less emotional.
“I have a meeting at Jacksonville Commons Recreation Complex at eleven,” Abigail informs her. “I’m looking to see if it will be a suitable site for the fundraiser.” Jolene’s eyes light up at mention of the event.
“Very good, Abigail.” Jolene gives her a genuine smile this time. “Let me know what you think about it, and we’ll discuss it at the next committee meeting later this week.”
“I sure will.” Abigail smiles back. “Do you have anything else you need from me before I go?”
“No, dear.” Jolene sighs. “Nothing at the moment, but I’m sure something will come up before the day is over. You know how it is here.” Abigail rises from her seat, nodding her agreement.
“Yes, I’ve gotten used to the unexpected in the months I’ve been here.” Abigail turns to leave. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you. I know you’re here late every night. You should let me help you more.” Jolene snorts out a half laugh.
“I have nothing else better to do than being here helping those who need us. Now go on, stop worrying about me. I’ve been doing this a long time, honey. I know my limits.” Jolene waves Abigail out the door. Shaking her head at the older woman’s determination to do be a superhero to the homeless, Abigail heads to her office to make a few phone calls before she leaves for her meeting.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Straw is furious. For the third time in as many days, this fuckwad has once again dared to try and deviate from his scheduled activities. Todd Jenkins is a fucking dead man walking as far as Straw is concerned. Admiral Jenkins loves his son and wants to believe that there’s still good in him somewhere, but as far as Straw has seen the man’s insane and nothing is going to change that. Therefore he has to go before he manages to slip his detail again and does something to hurt one of Straw’s girls.
Worm and Wallace are on Todd duty today. Todd is supposed to work an eight-hour shift at a diner where the work release program has gotten him a job. Later he has an appointment with his therapist. He went to work this morning as scheduled but snuck out the back of the diner about half way through his shift. The admiral has made the decision that if Todd fails to follow his work release plan again, they are to allow him to carry out whatever he has planned, up to a point. If at any time it becomes dangerous, they are to then step in, intervene, and alert the admiral. So, as hard as it is, Straw is hanging back watching the asshole to see where he’s going and what he’s up to.
Wallace had sent a group text out to everyone one on their team, the admiral’s men, and Hawk’s other Marine special forces team. Todd is on the move, and they are requesting anyone available to help keep tabs on him. Hawk immediately dismisses them all from duty for the rest of the day so they could organize and track the bastard.
Straw is watching from his position across the street from the homeless shelter where Abigail works. While he doesn’t know for sure, he suspects that Todd will go after Abigail again. He’s been watching the front door for about five minutes as his last known location was about 5 blocks from here, headed this way. Straw is scanning the sidewalk looking for any sign of Todd when a thought occurs to him. Is Abigail inside, or did she have errands to run today? He hadn’t asked her about her schedule this morning. His mind had been occupied with thoughts of ways of taking Todd out permanently after he tried to slip his guard detail yesterday afternoon. Straw calls Wallace. He needs details on where the bastard’s at right now.
“Wallace.” Straw hears as the call is connected.
