Love You Moore Page 19

  “You know, we don’t have to go out, we could always stay in and I am dying to get out of this tight skirt.”

  “You read my mind.” Jimmy began to unzip her skirt.

  Holly was beside herself. “This is great, we need to go shopping to set up the nursery. The spare room off of your bedroom that is supposed to be an office is perfect for a nursery, what size is it like 12 x12 or so.”

  “Holly, calm down, we have plenty of time, according to my calculation we have until August.” Abby had to sit down, she was getting lightheaded from all the excitement.

  “Babe, you ok.” Jimmy ran to her side.

  “I’m fine, you really cannot panic every time I get a little tired or it is going to be a long six months.”

  “Six months, oh wow.” Jimmy was pacing again.

  “Honey, are you ok?” Abby and Holly looked at each other and smiled.

  “He’s starting to freak out Abbs.” Holly chuckled

  “Ok we need to call the folks and then you need to call your people.” Abby addressed Jimmy.

  “My people?”

  “Yeah you know, the people you need to call about the tour.”

  “What tour?” Holly inquired

  “Well, we were going to go on tour with Burnt Chocolate but now plans have changed.” Abby stated pointed to her stomach.

  “Ahhh gotcha” Holly winked

  All three of them took out their cell phones and call their respective parents. Holly’s parents were thrilled, Abby’s mother wouldn’t stop screaming for about five minutes and Jimmy’s mother couldn’t stop saying “Well bless your heart.” Plans were made for them all to visit LA again in the next few months and again to be present at the birth. Jimmy called Doug who then had to call the promoters, who then had to turn around and call the venues to cancel the tour dates. Mikey and Ben were disappointed they would not be touring but understood why. Abby received flowers from each of them the next day.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 22

  Jimmy was more attentive than usual, Abby loved having him around all the time but it was getting annoying. She couldn’t even sneeze without a look of panic streaming across his face. She was now five months along, well after the first trimester, the chance of having a miscarriage greatly decreased when she entered her forth month. Abby was sitting admiring the peridot and diamond ring Jimmy had given her for her birthday this past March.

  “It’s the baby’s birthstone.” He explained when she opened the box. She wasn’t sure what touched her most, that he had gotten her something that was significant to the baby or that he knew what the birthstone was for August.

  It was a beautiful April day and Abby had cabin fever. She hadn’t gone out much, anything that she needed Jimmy had gotten it for her or had someone sent to retrieve whatever it was she needed or wanted. However, today she just needed to get out of the house.

  “Holly and I are going shopping.” She told Jimmy. “I think we may window shop for the baby, I have always wanted to go into Smootch Children’s Boutique.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?” he started to get up from his desk.

  “No Jimmy I can manage going to town without you.” She kissed him on the cheek.

  “Well call if you need me and I can come right down, are you having Charles drive you?”

  “No I think I want to drive myself.” She rarely got to drive the Lexus GX10 that he had given her as an early baby shower gift. He had told her all the safety features it had so he felt comfortable when she and the baby were in the car.

  Holly came bounding down the stairs.

  “Ready to go Mamma?” Holly asked rubbing Abby’s belly.

  “More than you can imagine.” Abby sighed.

  Jimmy kissed Abby on the cheek and bent down and talked to her belly.

  “See you later Baby Riley.” He stood back up and smiled.

  “Nice” Abby commented. “See you later Honey.” She laughed as she and Holly walked out the door.

  Driving down Park Granada on their way to the shop Abby braked suddenly to avoid hitting a pedestrian that decided to not use a crosswalk. As Abby and Holly were commenting on the intelligence status of the individual they were rear ended by another car. The force of the impact slammed Abby and Holly forward the seatbelts cutting into their skin. Abby felt the baby shutter.

  “Oh my God.” Abby moaned and grabbed her belly, “Something’s wrong.” She turned to Holly.

  Holly had unbuckled and turned to face Abby. All of a sudden Abby noticed the blood. Her jean capris had a dark stain that was getting bigger. The first contraction drained all the blood from her face. Holly had called 911 and was trying to keep her calm. The contractions started coming one after the other along with the back pain. Abby was going into shock, she was losing blood fast. Holly was trying to keep her conscious by talking to her and keeping her focused. The pain was more than Abby had ever endured. Jimmy arrived at the same time the ambulance did. They put Abby on the gurney and loaded her in to the ambulance. Jimmy rode with her. Holly stayed to give the police report then followed in Jimmy’s SUV. Jimmy was waiting outside the emergency room when Holly arrived.

  “What’s going on?” Holly asked franticly. “Is she ok?”

  “I don’t know, the doctor hasn’t come out yet. This is bad isn’t it? I knew I shouldn't have let her go.”

  “Jimmy, she needed to get out of the house, she was going stir crazy, this isn’t her fault.” Holly demanded.

  “I know I know, I’m not blaming her.” Jimmy shook his head in disbelief

  The doctor came out the emergency room. It didn’t look promising.

  “Mr. Riley.” The doctor started. “Your wife has suffered placental abruption. We are trying to provide oxygen to the baby and stop the contractions. Your wife is stable for now but we don’t know if it will last. She has lost a lot of blood and the baby’s heart rate got very low. Right now it’s just a waiting period. We’d like to keep her here for awhile, at least until we’re sure she and the baby are no longer in danger. We’ve given her medicine to stop the contractions and some for the pain. She’s very groggy but you can go in and see her if you like.”

  “Can Holly come too, they are very close, like sisters.” Jimmy asked

  “For a few moments, she needs her rest.” The doctor conceded.

  Holly and Jimmy walked into the room. Abby looked very pale and very small in the hospital bed. Holly and Jimmy each went to a side of the bed and took her hands. Jimmy rubbed her head and kissed her forehead.

  “Hi Baby, how are you feeling?”

  Abby started to cry. “I am so sorry, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It all happened so fast, they guy walked out into the road then the car hit us from behind, then I felt the baby shake. This is bad isn’t it?” Abby was sobbing.

  “None of this is your fault Sweetie.” Holly assured her. I filled the police in on what happened and there will be repercussions for both the driver and jay walker. You are going to be fine and so is that little baby of yours.” Holly hugged her.

  “They want to keep you here for a few days to make sure you and the baby aren’t in any danger. It’s just a precaution, you lost a lot of blood.”

  “I know and they said the placenta detached, that’s not good.” Abby was still crying.

  “It’s going to be ok, Baby, I am going to stay with you until you are ready to come home.” Jimmy was trying to comfort her.

  “And if he needs to go somewhere then I will be here.” Holly insisted. “You never have to worry about being alone. Ok?”

  Abby nodded trying to hold the tears back but they still streamed down her cheeks. She was taken to a private room. This way she was sure to get the peace and quiet she needed. Jimmy insisted on that. A cot was brought in for either Jimmy or Holly to sleep on.

  The first night wasn’t peaceful for Abby, she tossed and turned as limited as she was, hooked up to IV’s and a fetal heart monitor. She was very uncomfortable. If she was
awake so was Jimmy. He would sing softly to her either a lullaby or one of her favorite songs from the radio. This relaxed her enough to drift off to sleep. The days were long and Abby was feeling guilty. Holly would try to keep her mind off the stressors and fill her in on the celebrity gossip.

  “One of the Hill’s girls is having more plastic surgery. Really how much work does a 21 year old need?” Holly read from one of the gossip rags.

  “Really.” Abby agreed.

  Abby was feeling better and was tired of being in the hospital. She was getting all sorts of cards and flowers from Jimmy’s friends and associates. Her parents would call a few times a day to check in. Jimmy had brought in her laptop so she could surf the web when she was bored. She was pointing and clicking when a nurse came in to take her vitals. Jimmy had gone home quickly to shower and Holly was in the café getting a soda.

  “Good afternoon Abby, how are you feeling today?”

  “Not bad Michelle, thank you.” Abby went to lay her laptop on the side table when she screamed. The laptop smashed to the floor. Abby clutched her stomach. She felt a warm sensation between her legs. She looked under the blanket. The white sheet was covered in blood.

  The nurse called a code Blue to Abby room. Suddenly there were more people in the room then Abby had seen her whole stay. Dr. Shelly was there treat her. She had been the doctor that cared for her after she was admitted.

  “Abby I need you to turn on your left side.” Dr Shelly demanded. “I can’t get a heartbeat.” She yelled out.

  Abby was in severe pain. She felt that the muscles in her back were trying to push out her stomach. Holly came back to the room amidst all the commotion. The nurse wouldn’t let her in the room. Holly called Jimmy.

  “Margret please get Jimmy to the phone. Get him out of the shower and to the hospital, something is wrong with Abby.” Holly hung up the phone and tried again to enter the room.

  “I’m sorry Holly, you need to stay out here.” Michelle informed her. “They need all the room for staff. I’m sorry.”

  Holly was pacing in the hall when Jimmy arrived, hair still dripping wet. He went to go in the room. A nurse tried to keep him out.

  “Look that is my wife and baby in there and I am going in.” Jimmy demanded.

  Right then Dr Shelly came out of the room looking very somber.

  “Doctor, please can I go in to Abby she needs me.” Jimmy pleaded

  “In a moment Jimmy.” She touched him on the arm. “I’m sorry, we did everything we could. Abby delivered the baby. It was too soon. We lost her.”

  “Lost her? Abby? We lost Abby?” Jimmy shouted.

  “No I’m sorry, the baby was a girl, we couldn’t save her, she was too premature and under developed.”

  “A girl?” Jimmy whispered.

  “I am truly sorry for your loss.” Dr. Shelly consoled

  “Can I see Abby?” Jimmy asked in barely a whisper

  “Certainly. She has been sedated but she’ll know you’re there.”

  “Jimmy, I’m so sorry.” Tears were streaming down Holly face. “I’ll let you go in alone.”

  Jimmy walked into the stark white room and went to Abby bedside. She was conscious but barely.

  “Jimmy” Abby started

  “Shhhh it’s ok. Rest now” he was running his fingers through her hair.

  “The baby.” She cried

  “I know.” Jimmy was crying too.

  “I’m so sorry.” Abby was sobbing

  “This is not your fault. We’ll try again. It will be ok I promise.” Jimmy tried to comfort her.

  Abby turned her head towards the window and closed her eyes. It was not going to be ok.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 23

  Abby sank into a deep depression. She was released from the hospital two days after losing the baby. She was assured and reassured that she could have more children in the future. Since the baby was more than 20 weeks they had to name it and have a burial. They named the baby Sophia Marie. There was a small service, just Jimmy, Abby and Holly were there. Both sets of parents wanted to come out but Abby insisted they all stayed home. Abby didn’t want to make a fuss, she couldn’t handle a crowd of mourners. She spent the following days laying in bed or out on her balcony staring into the horizon. Jimmy and Holly did their best to cheer her up but with no success. She wasn’t sleeping and she was barely eating. She would lash out at anyone that suggested she try napping or eating but then she would feel guilty for being harsh. Her hormones were all out of whack and she felt like she was going crazy.

  “Abby, Honey we need to move on from this, please why don’t you get dressed and we’ll go for a drive” Jimmy suggested.

  “Why don’t you take Holly with you, you two have been awfully chummy lately.” Abby snapped. “Why don’t the two of you go on that tour you wanted to go on? Get the bus ready and go. Both of you just leave.”

  “Abby.” Both of them surprised and shocked at her outburst. “You know there is nothing going on between us that is just ridiculous.” Holly defended.

  Abby looked at Holly, for the first time in her life she felt anger and almost hatred towards her best friend. Holly with her perfect body, perfect face, she who could have any man she wanted. Who’s to say she didn’t try something with Jimmy when Abby was locked upstairs in her room mourning the loss of her child. As soon as she thought it, she wanted to take it back, she knew Holly loved her more than anyone ever did, aside from Jimmy. She broke down and sobbed. Jimmy consoled her and Holly comforted her. She stayed in Jimmy’s arms for awhile and did feel better. She felt maybe the light was at the end of the tunnel. She took a shower and put on clean clothes. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time she got dressed. The rest of the day all three of them stayed together. They watched old movies and ate junk food. Jimmy wasn’t sure she was out of her gloom but knew it was getting better.

  The next morning Abby awoke to the pouring rain.

  “Awesome, just the type of weather to put you in a great mood.” She said sarcastically to an empty room.

  She got dressed and went down stairs. She could smell the coffee and really wanted some, she was hungry too. She stopped by the table in the foyer and picked up a stack of unopened mail. There were cards and letters from friends and family. Abby knew she should respond and thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Abby poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the small table in the kitchen. She took out a notebook and pen from the drawer so she could write down the names of who she needed to send a thank you card to. One by one it was the same thing, “Sorry for your loss, we’re thinking of you.” Or “With Sympathy, our thoughts are with you.” Abby opened the next card in the pile thinking it was the same type of sentiment. It wasn’t.

  “Now you know what it feels like to lose a child.”

  It was signed Mitchell’s Mother.

  Abby started to hyperventilate, everything she had kept inside, all the hurt, guilt, regret, anger bubbled up to the surface and she screamed. She let it all out. She was yelling staring up to the Heavens “Alright, you win, I’m an awful person, this is all my fault.” She was hysterical. Jimmy ran into the kitchen.

  “Abby what is going on?”

  “It's me, I lost the baby because I am evil. I did something bad and now I deserve nothing but pain and heartache” Abby threw down the card and ran out the door in the pouring rain into the back yard. She just ran. She reached the tennis court fence before Jimmy caught up with her.

  “I did it, I caused that boy to die, I was driving, not my uncle.” Abby was distraught.

  Jimmy grabbed her “I know Abby, I’ve always known, I knew before I asked you to marry me.”

  “What?” Abby asked in shock. “You know? How?”

  “Your father told me.” Abby stared at him in horror, how could her father betray her like this?

  “Before the night I asked you to marry me I went to see your dad to ask him for his permission. He said that he needed to get something o
ff his chest and that it was only fair that I know the truth. He told me about the car accident. He told me everything Abby. I don’t care. I understand why your dad did what he did. You were only a child and he was protecting you. You don’t need to be afraid that I will leave you. I love you. I knew you would tell me when you were ready.”

  Abby stared at Jimmy standing there in the pouring rain. Thunder clapping. She grabbed him and kissed him with more intensity than she ever had. She tore at his clothes. Her wet hair sticking to her face. He pulled her to the ground. They continued to tear off each other clothing, not caring about buttons or ripping fabric. He was inside her, she was digging into his skin, pulling him in deeper and deeper. The fervency of their love making was unparalleled to all the times before. All of the pent up frustrations they both had was released in that moment. She let go of all the guilt, all the anger. She was crying and she was laughing. He loved her with every fiber of his being. When they were finished, they picked up their tattered rain soaked clothing and ran into the cabana near the tennis courts. They wrapped in dry towels and sat in silence together, listening to the thunder storm. When the rain subsided, they ran to the house. Margret was in the kitchen and looked at them oddly as they ran through. She put on a pot of water to make them some hot tea, she didn’t need an explanation as to why they were out in the rain in just a towel, but she knew they would have a chill and need something hot to drink. As they were sipping their tea in dry clothing, Abby made a statement.

  “I need to go to the Knox County DA and tell him the truth. I can’t have it on my conscience any longer.”

  Jimmy took her hand, “We’ll go together.”

  Abby had Holly call her father and tell him we were coming in and needed to talk with him. Abby thought coming clean with him first was important. Holly was involved and she didn’t want her to get into any trouble for knowing after the fact. The car stopped in front of the District Attorney’s office. Abby took a deep breath. Jimmy was holding her hand.