A Penny For Your Thoughts

Chapter Twenty-Seven~

 He let out a shaky breath when he walked back into the house and shut the door. Abby tried to find something in his eyes that would mean something to her. Bad thing is, she found nothing. Nothing that was meant for her.

 God, did it always have to be like this? Where everything in Luke wasn't for her, it was always for another girl. When would she be the one that he would cry over? That look in his eyes meant something that she'd seen before and it was the look of regret. Seriously? This was her future too. This was her hard earned career on the line and he was treating it as if it was all on him. Like becoming a mother had none effect on her.

 He finally looked at her and gave her that weak smile that he always faked when something was wrong. How stupid she was to think that maybe, just maybe, they could actually be a real couple one day. That this thing inside of her would bring them together, somehow and some way. Maybe one day, they'd get married and tell the story to their grandchildren about how she was always the 'best friend' and how they fell in love!

 But who was she kidding? This wasn't a fairy tale. This wasn't a coffee shop romance. This was not at all the stories that her mother told her at night.

 His eyes were this ocean deep blue and the way he was looking at everything but her, it broke her. It broke her in more ways he would know. More than anyone would know. He didn't love her. She had to face the facts, and in this case, sooner was better than later. She matted her red hair down and shoved one hand in her pocket. This was the man she loved all her life.

 He didn't love her.

  "Luke..." Abby said unsure what she wanted to say. "Abby it's fine, don't worry about," Luke tried brushing it off. "No Luke!" she exclaimed, "I can't but help to worry about it. I am... This is your future Luke," Abby shook her head, "This is something you're going to have to live with for forever." She said pointing to her tummy, "If this isn't what you want for sure than-
   "Abby! Stop!" Luke yelled, "I want this. I want you." He said wrapping his arms around her. "No you don't!" she cried, "You want Michelle. I see that! Please don't... do not lie to yourself." "You don't understand what you're saying," Luke mumbled into her big curly hair. "Yes I do," Abby said in almost a whsiper, "I..."

 "Abs," Luke said concerned. Her eyes grew wide and beads of sweat began streaming down her face. "Abby!" he exclaimed. "Oh my goodness! Luke!" she screamed. "What! What's happening?" he panicked. "I'm having mad cramps!" 
  It was his turn to freak out. "Luke focus! Please just drive me to the hospital now!" She said. "Mom! MOM!" Luke yelled upstairs. Abby whinced and slid down into Luke's arms crossing her legs tight just in case this kid decided to come before it's time. "MOM!" Luke yelled again.

 "What?!" She came running down the stairs. She threw one look at Abby and gasped, "Don't just stand there you idiot! Get in the car!"

 In one quick move Luke swept Abby up and hurried her into the car. His mom followed Abby into the back seat and held her hand. "It's gonna be okay Abby," she assured, "It's going to be fast and you'll love the baby." "Just shut up!" Abby said.

 When they reached the hopsital, nurses eased Abby into a wheel chair and rolled her into a room.

  Luke and his mom waited outside the room for about an hour when she decided to go to the bathroom. Finally after an agony of an hour and a half a doctor came out and he stood up.

 "Is it a boy or a girl? Oh my goodness I'm a father! I'm a dad! Can you believe this? Is Abby okay?" he rambled on. "Calm down!" the doctor chuckled. He seemed confused, "Wait what?" "Abby simply had minor cramps which actually is serious. She believed they were minor contractions but they were actually just stress stomach cramps and the baby moving around," he said. Luke sighed in relief, "Oh good. Because we haven't bought clothes, a bed or even have a room for the baby yet. I don't even know the gender!" "We have you covered on that," the doctor winked, "It's gonna be a boy." Luke smiled big and then said, "Wait Abby wants it to be a surprise." "Too late she already knows," the doctor shrugged. "Can I see her?" Luke asked. "Of course!" the doctor said.

 Abby was sitting in a chair look stressed and Luke ran up to her hugging her by the neck, "Don't you scare me like that again!" A moan and a sob escaped from her lips and he pulled back to see what was wrong. "Why... why are you crying?" he asked. She wiped away tears and said, "Do you realize that if we had a kid tonight how not prepared we are? We don't have clothes, or a crib and bottles or diapers!" Luke wiped away his own tears and laughed, "Yeah... yeah I know. I'll go buy some boy clothes now." He stood there hugging her and a nurse shook her head, "You better not stress her out like that Mister. It's been for the baby. As you can tell baby turned around and around today!" He smioled and said, "Yeah I know. Don't worry I won't."

 The nurses gave them advice on what to do and what to buy when the baby finally came. His mother was waiting outside with some water bottles and got excited when she found out the news.
  "Oh Abby! We're going to buy boy baby clothes now!' she said  happily walking out of the corridor into the lobby. Luke noticed there was lots of patients and in the crowd he caught Mr. and Mrs. Hartford's glance. was

 "Luke..." Abby said when he quickly stepped away. "Mr. Hartford what's wrong?" Luke asked worried, "Why... why are you here?" he asked. Mrs. Hartford's eyes grew wide, "You don't know?" He shook his head scared for what she was about to say. "Michelle was walking home Luke," Mr. Hartford began to explain, "She got hit by a car that was speeding down the road. The conditions are... bad." "Oh my gosh," Abby covered her mouth. Luke's face grew red and he punched the wall next to him.

 "Sir! This is a hospital! Control yourself!" a nurse scolded. Luke slid down the wall and covered his face, "No. No. Please tell me this isn't happening." "Luke calm down," Mrs. Hartford shushed. "It's all my fault," Luke began to cry. "No Luke," Mr. Hartford said, "This has nothing to do with you." "It has EVERYTHING to do with me!" Luke exclaimed, "She was walking from MY  house."