Authors: Courtney Brewer
One Month Later
Abigail washed water over her face and stared at herself in the mirror. She didn’t remember the last time she felt so sick. She exited the bathroom and let out a breath. As she was climbing back into bed she heard her phone ringing. “Hello?”
“Hey Abby; it’s Chelsea.”
“Hey Chels;” she slid under the covers and groaned.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah; I think that I have a flu bug. I’ve been sick for the past couple of days.”
“That’s too bad. I was just calling to see how you’ve been since the fallout after the wedding.” Abigail had told Chelsea everything that had happened, from Todd’s wedding night she spent with
Travis to Todd finding them. Then ending with the fact that Travis had taken off; “have you talked to Travis?”
“No, but Todd has. They patched things up shortly after
Travis went to Florida. I’ve tried calling him, but he seems to be ignoring my calls. It’s for the best; he must have had a change of heart.”
“He hasn’t even called after they made up?”
Abigail shook her head and chuckled realizing she couldn’t see her head movement. “Nope; he got back into town a few days ago.”
“Have you tried going to his house? Maybe he doesn’t know how you still feel.”
“I considered that, but I’ve been so sick that I haven’t felt like seeing anybody. The funny thing is, I don’t have a fever and I have no other symptoms of the flu. I’m just so nauseous.”
“You don’t think…nah, nevermind.”
“Think what?”
“Is it possible that you’re pregnant?”
Abigail felt her stomach drop. She never really thought about that. “No, no; that’s impossible.”
“You used protection?”
As the realization hit her she covered her mouth. “I gotta go!” She ran to the bathroom and made it just in time. “Oh my gosh;” she moaned as she thought about it. She was late, but too preoccupied to even consider it. It was more than a possibility; it was the only thing that pulled everything together.
***
Travis looked around the living room at the half empty boxes. He had contemplated moving to Florida, but thoughts always went back to Abigail. If he moved to Florida, he knew that it was like running away from his problems. He stared at the phone in his hand and put it back on the table. He wanted to call her, but he was nervous that the time apart had changed her heart and mind.
He went back to the unpacking the boxes and when was finished it dawned on him. It didn’t matter if her heart was changed. Todd calling him and telling him that he had his blessing was everything he had prayed for. It was easier just knowing.
He still loved her, more than he could ever imagine. He didn’t want to mess that up. He grabbed his keys and hurried to the door. When he opened it he nearly knocked her over. They stared at each other until he laughed quietly. “When you came back to town this is how we first saw each other. I almost knocked you down.” She smiled and he pulled her into his arms. The soft embrace was everything he had been missing. “You look great.”
They pulled away and let out a slow breath. “Thank you; so do you.”
“I thought about calling you, but I was afraid.”
“Yeah, me too;” she looked as nervous as he felt. “Were you going somewhere?”
He nodded. “I was coming to see you.”
“You were?” She looked around him. “May I come in?”
“Of course; I’m sorry for making you stand on the porch. Abigail, I am so happy to see you.”
He closed the door and the awkward situation ensued. “How have you been?” She looked around and he watched as she looked at the various boxes in his living room. “Are you moving?”
“I thought of moving, but I realized that I couldn’t do that.” He closed his eyes and thought of all the adjectives he could use for how he was doing. “I could say that I’ve been doing well, happy, and wonderful. It wouldn’t be the truth.” He moved closer to her; when he grabbed her hand their fingers intertwined. “I’ve been miserable, unhappy, and lonesome. How about you?”
“That pretty much sums it up.” He smiled as he moved into kiss her; before their lips touched she opened her mouth. “We have to talk.”
He pulled away in surprise as she took a seat and patted the cushion next to her. “Okay;” he took a seat beside her and he immediately felt her fears. “What’s up?”
“Which story was the truth? Did you really mean that? Do you believe that you were falling in love when we were younger?”
“I meant every word. I remember perfectly when it happened too.”
“You do?”
“It was your 16
th
Birthday. That’s when I really started to notice you changing, but I was 21 and in college. It would have been perceived as wrong.”
“You could have something when I turned 18.”
“Abigail, when you turned 18 you were off to school and the last time we spoke we weren’t exactly on good terms.”
“That’s for sure.”
“We now know that we love each other; you do still love me, right?”
“I do love you
Travis; I tried to fight it, but now…” she paused and pulled something from her purse and placed it on the coffee table.
He stared at the applicator in fr
ont of him, the plus sign was evident. “Is this for real?”
“This is my 3
rd
test; it took me a week to come to you. They all had the same answer.”
“We…we used protection.”
“Not the first time.” His jaw dropped and he looked at her. “Oh my gosh! You’re really pregnant?”
“I know that this doesn’t fall in any plans that you might have, but…” before she could finish he pulled her close to him and kissed her. “Are you happy?” She asked between kisses.
“Abigail, I love you and that’s all that matters. You’re going to have my baby. I couldn’t be happier.” He got down on a knee and stared into her eyes. “I know that I don’t have a ring, but I will get you one. Will you marry me?”
“
Travis Jessup, I want to wake up in your arms every morning, until death do us part. I love you and I would be honored to marry you.” They kissed long and hard. He smiled when they parted.
“I will make you happy Abigail.”
“I have no doubt about that. Are you ready to tell my family?”
He nodded. They had made it through the hard parts. They were going to be happy; he would make sure of that.
Eight Months Later
Abigail smiled at her daughter who was sound asleep in her arms. “She’s going to be the smitten image of her mommy.”
She smiled at her husband as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed. “She has your eyes.”
“What do you want to name her?”
“I like the name Grace, because it was by the Grace of GOD that we got together.”
He smiled lovingly at her. “I like that. Does she get a middle name?”
“You choose; this is your daughter too.”
“Hm…how about Marie?”
“You want to use my middle name?”
He shrugged. “I think it fits; don’t you?”
“Grace Marie Jessup;” she smiled. “I like that.”
She leaned up and kissed him. “Are you up for company? Our families are here.”
“We have the rest of our lives to have her to ourselves. They’re excited to see her. I guess we can let them in.”
He walked over to the door and opened it up. “You can come in now.”
She laughed as the balloons, bears, and bags piled into the room. The response to
Travis and Abigail getting together was overwhelming. “She’s beautiful Abigail.” She smiled at her brother as he brushed a kiss on her forehead. He then turned to Travis and smiled. “Congratulations.” They shook hands and she smiled to herself. The interaction was a relief; she knew that Travis and Todd had made amends, but it was still good to see it.
Planning the wedding in only a month, was a lot, but she had her family and they were all so supportive. Watching each of them hover over their daughter made her feel blessed. She was happy and she would never take that for granted.