Page 45 of Abigail
Dr. Redding appears at Straw’s right shoulder and peers down at Abigail. “Abigail, I’m Dr. Redding. I am proud to tell you that you are one lucky woman. If you are feeling up to it, I thought we would take that tube out. Would you like that?” Abi nods enthusiastically. Straw squeezes her hand gently in encouragement.
An hour later, Abigail is sitting up in bed with Ellie snuggled in beside her. Robert had helped her into the bed as soon as they entered the room. He had a hard time keeping Ellie from hurting Abi’s stomach when she climbed into the bed, but Ellie is so smart and considerate of others. She listens to everything Robert tells her about watching out for Abi’s IV’s and sore abdomen. She had been very careful not to hurt Abi as she’d settled next to her. Abigail is so happy to have her baby girl in her arms.
“Momma are you hurting now?” Ellie asks, peeking up at her. Abigail gives the little girl a smile. “I’m fine, baby.” Ellie beams up at her, then begins to ask her all kinds of questions about the IVs in her arm, the stitches on her arm from a cut she sustained in the accident. What’s wrong with her belly? After about ten minutes, Abigail is beginning to wear out. Robert knows Abigail’s needs so well. He knows she wants to keep Ellie with her, but she needs her rest. He signals to Tank to take Ellie.
Tank rises from his seat at her bedside, reaching out his hands to take Ellie in his arms. Abigail starts to protest when Robert takes her hand, drawing her gaze to him.
“You are tired, sweetheart. Tank will take care of Ellie. You need to rest so you can get out of here, okay?” Abigail nods, knowing he’s right, but she hates to see Ellie leave. She came so close to never seeing the little girl again. Abi gives Ellie a kiss on her cheek and a brief hug before allowing Tank to take her. When they are alone, Robert moves to sit on the bed next to Abi. She looks up to meet his gaze.
“Do you need something for pain?” Robert asks. His voice full of concern. She shakes her head.
“No, I don’t like how it makes me feel,” she answers, shaking her head. He frowns at her, and she knows he’s going to protest.
“You don’t need to suffer, Abi,” Robert scolds her. “I know you are in pain. You won’t heal as quickly if you’re under stress trying to deal with the pain. Let me call the nurse, yeah?” Abigail scowls at him, but nods in agreement. Her belly is really hurting. Once the nurse has brought her something for pain and helps her get settled into a more comfortable position, Robert sits down at her bedside, taking her hand.
“You scared the shit out of me,” Robert confesses caressing her hand. He’s staring at their joined hands. “Abi, I…I don’t know what I’d do without you.” His voice cracks, breaking Abi’s heart at the fear and anguish she can hear in his voice.
“Oh, Robert,” Abigail swallows painfully. “I’m so sorry.” Tears well up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
“It’s not your fault, sweetheart,” Robert says. “I know you couldn’t stop what happened…I swear my heart stopped when I saw your SUV roll. All I could think was I had to get to you and Ellie. That you both had to be unharmed.” Tears are falling down his face. Abigail reaches out for him, pulling him closer. Being mindful of her injuries, he slips into the small hospital bed with her. The hospital staff will likely not be happy, but she doesn’t care. She needs to have him close. Holding her. Touching her. Reminding her that she’s alive.
CHAPTERFORTY
Five days later, Straw is pulling into their driveway bringing his woman home. She’s healing but still has a way to go before she’ll be back to one hundred percent. He’s just happy to have her home. He smiles as he sees the balloons, streamers, and huge ‘Welcome Home’ sign. They have the absolute best friends in the world. Charlotte and the others insisted on planning her home coming party. That is just fine with Straw. It’s freed him up to put all his attention on Abigail.
Looking over at her, he smiles his happiness at having her back at home where she belongs. Despite all she’s been through in the last week, she’s still the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, her face is bruised as are her poor arms from all the IVs and blood draws. She has a painful looking incision over her abdomen from the emergency surgery to repair the laceration to her liver. Thankfully, her head injury wasn’t severe just a mild concussion. She must feel his eyes on her. She turns to look at him, smiling at seeing the decorations.
“So, looks like Charlotte and the girls have been busy,” Abigail comments, turning to look back at the house. She giggles a little before clutching her abdomen. She’s still sore, but Straw can tell she’s getting stronger day by day. She’s been working hard to get well enough to come home. The physical therapist even had to tell her to slow down. He was concerned in her eagerness she would overdo it and cause her to have set back. However, the doctor was impressed with her recovery and agreed to let her out a couple days earlier than he’d first indicated. Straw suspects that having Charlotte, Daisy, and Emma in Dr. Redding’s ear that they will make sure Abigail does everything he’s recommended at home helped. The women have declared they will check her wounds daily and ensure she’s following doctor’s orders.
“Yep,” Straw answers with a chuckle. “Couldn’t hold those women back for anything, sweetheart. They have been relentless in making sure that Tank and Ellie have been well cared for while we’ve been at the hospital. Now they’re ready to welcome you home so they can spoil you while you recover.” He looks over at her to see tears streaming down her face. “Oh, baby. Don’t cry. God, baby I can’t stand to see you cry.”
“I-I’m sorry, Robert.” Abigail gives him a watery smile. “I’m just overwhelmed. I’ve never had friends like this before. “Thank you,” she whispers, through her tears. “I owe it all to you. If you hadn’t been so persistent in getting me to go out with you. Bringing me home with you. I wouldn’t have this.” Her words hit him in a way that he knows she hasn’t intended but still the thought crosses his mind. She never would’ve been in the accident if he hadn’t brought her back here. Todd wouldn’t have found out where she is, meaning he wouldn’t have been able to hurt her. Guilt hits him like a sledge hammer.
“Don’t.” Abigail’s tone changes. A hard edge to her voice. “I see where your mind is going, and I forbid it. This is not your fault, Robert. I would go through that all over again if it means at the end, I get to come home to you, Ellie, and our friends. Now turn that frown upside down and get me in there to my party.” She arches a brow as he stares at her. Finally, shaking his head, he turns off the SUV and exits the vehicle just as everyone comes filing out the front door to greet them. He hurries around to her door.
“Okay, okay,” Straw begins as he opens Abi’s door. “She’s still healing so y’all just calm down.” He knows he’s wasting his breath. The women are all chattering at the same time, totally ignoring him. Tank carries Ellie down the steps to greet her momma. The rest of the guys are standing on the front porch grinning like a bunch of fools watching Straw trying to carry Abigail through the throng of women fussing over her return.
“Clear a path!” Straw grumps to no avail. Abigail chuckles, briefly at his frustration. Seeing her happy calms his annoyance. Smiling and shaking his head, he stands patiently until every one of the women have greeted and fawned over her. As they begin to settle down, he starts toward the steps once again, meeting Tank and Ellie at the bottom step.
“Hi Momma!” Ellie exclaims. “I’m so happy your home!” She claps her little hands together before leaning down to kiss her momma’s cheek. Abigail cups the child’s face in her hands planting kisses on her chubby little cheeks. Ellie pulls back when they are done, throwing her arm around Tank’s neck again. “I really missed you, but Uncle Tank took good care of me.” Her little face lighting up as she relates all the fun things they’ve been up to during Abigail’s hospital stay. Apparently Uncle Tank has thoroughly spoiled her while they’ve been gone. Eating pizza and ice cream, staying up late, watching cartoons, and playing whatever outside game she wanted. Ellie enthusiastically relates all their adventures.
“My goodness, my little one, you’ve been busy,” Abigail comments when Ellie finally concludes her list of their adventures. “I think Uncle Tank has spoiled you rotten.” Ellie face contorts in shock.
“No,” Ellie whispers. “I’m not rotted. Uncle Tank said so.” All the adults bust out laughing, shocking the poor child even more. Ellie frowns and begins to wiggle in Tank’s arms. “Let me down. You growed ups are crazy,” Ellie declares, causing the adults to laugh harder. As soon as Tank sets her down, she runs up onto the porch where Emir, Derifa, Jessie, and Joshua are waiting for her. The children run into the house and up the stairs, presumably to Ellie’s room to play.
Straw is finally able to carry Abigail up the porch stairs and into their house. He deposits her into the overstuffed recliner in the living room. Straw’s teammates follow, taking up seats on the sectional, love seat, and other recliners. The women head into the kitchen to finish preparations of the food. The tension that has been riding Straw from the moment Todd slipped Wallace’s sight finally eases a little. Having Abi back at home where she belongs has soothed some of it. The only thing that would fully make it go away would be if Todd were back behind bars. That’s something he needs to look into now that they are home. Straw’s phone chimes with an incoming text.
Admiral Jenkins: Have you gotten Abigail home yet?
Straw: Yes, Sir. She’s resting in the living room. Come on over; everyone is here. We have a lot to discuss.
Admiral Jenkins: Yes, I know. Be there in thirty minutes. I need to go by the house and pick up Marla.
Straw: See you soon
Straw pockets his phone once again before looking around the room, appreciating the feeling of family, safety, and love radiating around him and Abigail. He’s more than thankful for his band of brothers and even more so that Abigail and Ellie are now a part of this family. He nearly lost his love. It would have destroyed him had she not survived the crash and subsequent surgery, but she had survived. Now is not the time to dwell on the past but to focus on their future. No better way to do that than surrounded by family.
“Hey baby.” Straw kneels next to Abigail’s chair. “You need anything? How’s your pain?” Her beautiful face softens as she looks at him. His heart stutters as it always does when she gives him that look. Despite still having fading bruises on her face, she’s still gorgeous to him. She reaches out to take his hand in hers.
