Chapter 7

“I hate to tell you this, but you are pregnant. The test came back today.” Abby groaned inwardly. Until she heard those words, she had been holding out hope the home test was a fluke. The nurse kept talking, but Abby didn’t hear a word, her mind was far away. Abby knew Gary would be excited, but her feelings were far different. She wanted at family with Gary, but right now was not the best time to be starting one for her. She wanted to be able to relax and enjoy the moment, but right now she was already overloaded, and this pregnancy was not going to help. Numbly she scheduled a follow up appointment, vaguely realizing when the nurse said something about a sonogram. When Gary arrived home from work, he found Abby curled up on the couch, knees tucked underneath her. “What’s wrong?” He asked while taking a seat next to her. “The test results came back today.” She began tearfully. “I really am pregnant.” Taking her into his arms Gary stroked her hair. “It’s going to be okay.” He tried to soothe her. “All of this is a part of God’s plan. You have to trust him Abby.” Gary’s cell phone began ringing, and he grabbed it off his belt, intending to cut it off until he read the number from his Caller ID. Seeing Nick’s cell phone number made Gary’s heart sink. Something told him Nick was in trouble before he picked up the call.  “Hello?” He said into the receiver. “You have to help me.” Nick’s words came in short gasps. “What happened Nick?” Gary asked trying to force himself to stay calm. “I came home from work, and they ambushed me.” Nick said, his voice fading. “Why didn’t you call the station, or nine-one-one?” Gary asked. “I couldn’t think Gary. I knew I needed help and you were the first person who came to mind.” Nick said his words drifting away. “Okay hang on, don’t go to sleep Nick. I’m calling for back up right now. Help is on the way.” Gary said urgently. Picking up the cordless phone, Gary began dialing nine-one-one. While Gary talked to the dispatcher, Abby took the cell phone, and tried to keep Nick alert. Since she did not know him well Abby had an endless supply of questions. Weather or not the answers he gave were correct didn’t matter. What mattered was Nick stayed awake. Falling asleep could prove fatal if he had a head injury. When Abby heard the approaching sirens coming through the phone relief flooded in. A few minutes later, a paramedic came on the line letting Abby know they had arrived. She found out would be taking him to Central General, and made arrangements to meet Nick there. She hung up the phone as she followed Gary out to the car. The trip was quiet with Nick’s condition weighing on both their minds. After a lengthy wait, which was only made longer by the concern and uncertainty on their minds, a doctor emerged from the double doors of the Emergency Room. “Your friend is stable. He did attain a concussion, along with broken ribs and a bruised lung. He has a long road ahead of him, but I think he is going to be okay. He is going to spend the night in ICU so we can keep a close eye on him, but he should be moved to a regular room by tomorrow.” Gary sank into a chair after the doctor left, and didn’t say anything for several minutes. “I thought we had lost him for a while, but God was watching out for him.” He said finally. Abby sat down and put her hand on his back, but didn’t say anything.

 “Were you trying to give me a heart attack?” Gary asked jokingly as he walked into Nick’s room the next day. “Yeah I was. I thought you could use some excitement in your life.” Nick returned. The look of delight on his face turned to one of pain, and he gently laid a hand on his ribs. “Do me a favor, don’t make me laugh, it’s not fun.” Nick said. “How are you doing?” Gary asked quietly. “Not too bad really.” Nick returned. “Who did this to you?” Gary wanted to know. “The only thing I can figure is it might be related to one of the cases I have handled, someone I arrested, or their gang, seeking revenge or try to stop me from testifying.” Nick said thoughtfully.

As Gary left the hospital later his mind was turning over every case he and Nick had worked together. All of the ones that came to mind were not serious enough offences to justify a murder attempt on a police officer.  A startling idea occurred to Gary. If he and Nick had both worked the case which had gotten Nick attacked, was he also in danger, or would this put Abby in danger? Fear gripped his heart as he grabbed his cell phone off his belt, and punched Abby’s number. As he listened for Abby to pick up Gary was trying to decide the best way to protect Abby. When he heard her voice the relief was almost physical. “Honey, I want to you to be extra careful, it occurred to me if I worked with Nick to convict the person who attacked him I might be in danger, which would also make it likely you would be in danger as well.” Gary told Abby hurriedly. “You could be right.” Abby said thoughtfully. “I’ll be careful.” She said. “I hate to worry you like this, but I think it is better for you to be aware of what might happen.” Gary said regretfully. “I would rather know what was going on, so I can watch out, than to be a sitting duck.” Abby said. After a few more minutes of conversation, Abby ended the call to get back to work, and Gary cautiously made his back to the station. 

 “I haven’t said anything to Gary, but I still have not been able to shake the feeling of being watched the past few days.” Abby confessed to Kim. The two women were having lunch at an outside café. Abby couldn’t help looking over her shoulder every few minutes and jumping at every noise. “You should say something, at least let him know you suspect someone is watching you. Jay is still loose, and he might be stalking you. I know things are easy right now. You’re feeling insecure because of the attack on Nick, since there is a chance Gary might be on the hit list as well. The pregnancy has you on edge, and feeling like you are being watched, I don’t know how you aren’t going crazy. If I were in your shoes, I would be insane by now, plus you somehow manage to hold down your job, are you super woman, and just forgot to tell me?” Kim joked.” I’m not really functioning, just running on auto pilot, it’s the only way I can keep going.” Abby said sadly. “I should be able to enjoy the early days of my marriage, instead I am spending all my time worrying and looking over my shoulder.” Kim reached out and gently placed her hand over Abby’s. “Jay can’t run forever, he will eventually make a mistake, and get caught.” Gazing down at her food, Abby was silent and thoughtful for a moment. “When?” She exploded. “When will he get caught, after he totally destroys my life again, and takes the person who means the most to me?” Caught off guard by Abby’s outburst Kim just stared at her friend for a moment before finding her voice. “Abby, God is not going to let Jay destroy your life again, He is going to make sure Jay is caught and punished for what he has done to you in his time. You have to trust His timing.” Kim said reassuringly. “I guess you are right.” Abby admitted, “I’m sorry I exploded, I guess things are really starting to get to me, it’s just been going on so long. Keeping it all pent up was driving me crazy, I just couldn’t take it any longer.” Kim walked around the table, and wrapped Abby in a hug. “It’s okay. What are friends for anyway but to unload your problems on, you really don’t have to keep it pent up you can trust me with anything. Even if I don’t understand, I can at least listen.”

“I know, trust just does not come easy for me, I’ve never had a friend like you before, and I am having to learn how friendship works.” Abby said shyly. 

 As Abby drove home her mind drifted to the baby she carried in her womb. “I know I should trust you with this Lord but you know how hard trust comes for me. I do want a family, but why does it have to be right now?” Abby began to pray aloud, but found her thoughts to scattered for anything. Instead she turned the radio up, and began singing along with the music. When her cell phone began ringing she fumbled to turn the radio down, and fished it out of the cup holder. “Hello?” She said into the receiver. “Hey honey, it’s me. Nick is getting out of the hospital this afternoon, and I am going to take him back to his apartment. I thought you could run by and get a pizza and meet us back at the apartment.” Abby felt the ache in her back from the long day, and thought of telling him she would rather go home where she could stretch out on the couch, but then realized he probably didn’t think she would be safe at home alone. “Sounds great to me.” She lied, “Ask Nick want he wants on the pizza.” A muffled conversation followed before Gary as back on the line. “Sausage sounds good for us. What about you?” Abby thought for a moment. “Sausage sounds good to me, I am so hungry right now I could eat almost anything.” After stopping to pick up the pizza, Abby found her way to Nick apartment. Since she had only been there once with Gary, Abby struggled to remember the way. After pulling into a parking space she retrieved the food from the back seat. Gary greeted her at the door. “Hey. I missed you today. How was work?” After taking the pizza to the kitchen Abby sat down in the living room. Nick was reclining in one of the overstuffed chairs. “How are you feeling?” She asked quietly. “Like I have been run over by a truck.” Nick said seriously, but the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth gave him away quickly. Gary brought the pizza and plates in and conversation turned to the meal.

As Abby gathered up the pizza scraps and plates, it occurred to her they could have invited Kim to have dinner with them. “We’ll have to do this again soon” Gary suggested “and maybe we can invite Kim to join us the next time.” Abby almost dropped the plates she had been gathering. Was Gary reading her mind? When they were driving home Abby mentioned how she had just been thinking how nice it would have been to invite Kim to dinner when Gary brought it up. “I think Kim is starting to like Nick, and they would be perfect for one another.” Abby said thoughtfully. “Are you playing the match maker?” Gary asked suspiciously. “No, I’m not. If something happens then it just does, and if it doesn’t then I’m okay with it. I don’t think even you would deny they would be perfect for each other.” Gary was silent, and Abby counted it as a victory.   

 “All of your physical symptoms point to you being about three months along. The baby is a good size, and everything looks normal.” When she heard this Abby finally had to concede she really was pregnant.. “Abby? Are you okay?” The doctor’s question pulled her back to the present. “Yeah I’m fine. Just still reeling from the news. I still can’t believe I’m pregnant.” Abby said dazed. “It’s always a little shocking, even if you are suspect or are expecting it. Is this your first pregnancy?”

“No.” Abby answered, but refused to elaborate. As she made the follow up appointment, and left the office Abby’s mind was in a fog. Picking up her cell phone Abby dialed the station and asked for Gary. He came on the line as she was pulling out into traffic. “Hi honey, I just wanted to let you know I was headed back to the office, and tell you what the doctor said.” Abby said hastily, “She thinks I am about three months along, and everything looks fine” The relief in his voice was evident. “I’m glad you called me. “How’s work going?” She asked. “Fine.” He answered in a flat tone, which made Abby want to laugh. “You don’t sound like you mean fine you sound like you mean bored.”

“What else can you expect from a desk job. I feel sorry for people who do this every day.” Gary said sympathetically. “I’ll be glad when I can really go back to work.” Gary admitted. As Abby drove into the parking garage at Central General she dropped the phone back into her purse. As she made her way to the office, barely getting back in time for her first appointment after lunch she realized with disgust how seeing an obstetrician outside of the hospital. Keeping her privacy had been the main factor in the decision to seek a doctor outside of Central General. Abby had found Doctor Garrison while searching the phone book, and had immediately been drawn to her. She called and made an appointment the same day. Doctor Garrison had calmed Abby’s jitter quickly and taken her time explaining all Abby’s questions thoroughly. She had left from the visit feeling more confident. “Maybe things really are going to be turn out okay.” She said to her herself as she climbed into her car at the end of the day.

When Abby stepped through the door at home wonderful smells wafted from the kitchen. Gary stood in front of the stove stirring a simmering pot of beef stew. After setting her things on the table beside the door she went around the bar. Leaning down Gary kissed her. “This is a surprise.” She said peering into the pot. “I thought you might be tired, so I threw something together for dinner.” He said. “You are too thoughtful for your own good.” She said, smiling up at him. “Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes, if you want to grab a quick shower while we wait.” Gary said, as she headed to the bedroom. “I think I just might take you up on the offer.” She yelled back. When Abby stepped into the shower she let the hot water run all over her body, washing away the built up tensions and stress. She stepped out a few minutes later, and wrapped a towel around her hair. Catching a glace of her body in the mirror, Abby was suddenly drawn to it, and turned to get a better look. Abby slowly rubbed her hands over her belly, and imagined how it would look four months from then. Would she get stretch marks as many women?  Would it bother her to gain the weight? So many questions ran through her mind as Abby turned away from the mirror and began to dress. “I’m just going to forget about it for now and enjoy dinner with Gary.” Abby told her self aloud.

 After dinner, Abby and Gary watched the news before retiring for the night where Abby feel asleep in the secure embrace of her husband. The only dreams she had were of the baby in her womb no nightmares where able to invade. Abby listened to the water running in the bathroom as Gary showered. After a moment the sound ceased. Gary appeared at the bedroom door still drying his hair. “How did you sleep he asked, going into the closet he emerged carrying a blue shirt. “Where are you going?” Abby asked through a suppressed yawn. “I have to go in to work for a couple of hours.” He answered. “I thought you had the day off.” She said puzzled. “ I thought so too, but they are short handed and I have to go in for a while to help take up the slack.” He said regretfully. “But I will be back before you even have a chance to miss me.” Sitting up in the bed, Abby watched Gary dress. “I miss you the minute you walk through the door.” She returned. Leaning down Gary kissed her before turning to leave. “I will see you this afternoon. I should not be gone too long.” He promised. After he left Abby laid in the bed for a while longer before deciding to get up and get a shower. After her shower Abby called to see if Kim wanted to go out for lunch. Soon plans were made to meet at the outdoor café down the block from Abby’s apartment.

“What happened? I thought you were spending your day with Gary.” Kim asked after they had both place their orders for club sandwiches. “We were, but he was called into work for a while this morning. Instead of sulking around the house, I decided to get out and do something.” Abby said. “Well I am glad you did.” Kim said brightly. “I was just beginning to wonder what I was going to do today. Nick and I had plans to go to lunch, but he was called into work as well.” The way she dropped Nick’s name in the conversation caught Abby’s attention right away.