Fresh Start, New Beginnings

Chapter 36

The morning came too quickly for Ryan, as he opened his eyes he was surprised to be in bed alone. He could hear clattering coming from the kitchen, he got out of bed and put his clothes on. Ryan headed into the kitchen to see what all the noise was about.

"Hey Ryan" Freya sung cheerfully "Mom's making pancakes, are you staying for breakfast?"

"How can I turn down your Mom's pancakes?" Ryan laughed as he sat next to Freya at the table. Ryan was great with her, he had so much time for her and enjoyed spending time with her.

"No-one can turn down my Mommy's pancakes" Freya giggled "They are the best ever"

"Thanks baby, you're right Mommy's pancakes are the best" Abigail put a jug of orange juice on the table and looked up at Ryan who was grinning widely at her, she smirked before turning round and continuing with the breakfast.

"So Ryan are you looking forward to dinner at Grandma's house today?" Freya's comment almost made Ryan choke on his juice "You didn't forget did you?"

Abigail shrugged at Ryan who thought fast "No course not, the juice went down the wrong hole" he replied "I cannot wait for dinner today" he looked back at Abigail and raised his eyebrows. Abigail was hiding a grin behind pursed lips, she was interrupted when the house phone rang.

"Hello" Abigail frowned as she listened to the voice on the phone.

"You ok?" Ryan mouthed silently, Abigail just nodded without speaking. The colour had drained from her face "Hey Freya why don't you go and get that picture you told me about last week" Ryan said as he watched Abigail hang up the phone. After Freya was out of sight, Ryan stood up and walked towards Abigail "Who was that?"

"It was Simon" Abigail exhaled "Dominic Hendly has been found dead in his prison cell" Ryan couldn't speak he just wrapped his arms tightly around Abigail and hugged her, he could feel her shaking.

"It's ok" Ryan said in a soothing voice "It's over now"

"No..No it isn't" Abigail stuttered "His family have released a statement to the press...They have said I am to blame"

"THEY WHAT?!" Ryan was furious, over the time they had been together Ryan had seen for himself how Hendly's attack had affected Abigail. Not just the way she behaved around fans, but the issues she had with herself and her body "WHY?!"

"Ever since the attack, his family have believed his side of the story" Abigail sat down on a stool "His parents think that I slept with him willingly and then lied about it to save my marraige"

"But surely the evidence...the bed sheets, the drugs in your system?" Ryan tried to make some sense of it all.

"Hendly told his parents I had paid someone to plant all the evidence" tears filled Abigail's eyes as she explained "This can't get out Ryan, I don't want Freya to think her Mom is capable of something like this"

"She won't, baby she knows you" Ryan put his hand on Abigail's face "She knows you wouldn't do that...do you think Nick knows?"

"It would explain why he was acting strange I guess" Abigail nodded "Maybe I should call AJ" Ryan handed Abigail the house phone "Hey its Abi, listen I need to talk to you about last night" Ryan got lost somewhere in Abigail's conversation. He had stopped listening after Abigail said 'Hey'.

"Right I'll try and get over there tonight" Ryan's attention was captured again by this comment "Yeah ok, you too, bye"

"What's going on?" Ryan asked with a harsh tone "Where are you going tonight?"

"To see Nick" Abigail's reply both infuriated and gutted Ryan.

"Nick" he repeated "You're going to see Nick?"

"I need to talk to him" Abigail frowned she was a little cautious.

"So you are introducing me to your parents this afternoon and then spending the evening with your ex husband, talk about spread yourself thin" Ryan snapped.

"I'm sorry" Abigail reacted "What's that supposed to mean" she yelled "You were the one who said I should talk to him...remember?"

"Yeah I know but I thought it could wait until you saw him again, when you dropped Freya off" Ryan argued his point "Not make a special visit"

"Why are you being like this? You told me to talk to him and then when I say I and going to you kick off" Abigail tried to understand what was happening "If me talking to Nick is a problem then why suggest it in the first place?"

"It isn't about you talking to Nick alright" Ryan finally caved "It's your timing"

"Because you are meeting my parents today?" Abigail exhaled as she looked into Ryan's eyes.

"Because I have made plans for us tonight and for the next few days actually" Ryan couldn't stay angry with Abigail when she looked at him like this.

"What plans?" Abigail was intrigued.

"Plans for all three of us, to stay at Disneyworld for a few days" Ryan looked disappointed "You always say how you miss opportunities to make memories with Freya...I was going to surprise you after dinner this afternoon"

"Oh baby, I'm sorry if I had known I never would have suggested going to see Nick" Abigail wrapped her arms after round Ryan's neck after roundness kissed him "I love you" she whispered.

"I love you too" Ryan inhaled Abigail scent as he buried his face in her hair "And don't worry about Hendly, we will work it out together" he said softly.

"I found it" Freya bounced back into the room with a piece of paper "It was under my bed" she giggled "Ew you guys were kissing again weren't you"

"Freya" Abigail scolded, Freya looked at the ground and handed Ryan the picture. Ryan's eyes widened, it was a detailed picture of her Grandma's dog Coco.

"Did you draw this?" Freya nodded bashful "Wow this is incredible Freya"

"Let me see that" Abigail took the picture off Ryan and gasped "Oh god baby this is beautiful, I think grandma would love this picture. Maybe we should take it with us"

Freya nodded proudly and put the picture inside her jotter "We better get a move on, I told my Mom we would be there early"

"I need to go and change first" Ryan frowned "I brought a change of clothes in the car" he added as he disappeared out the front door.

"I like Ryan Mommy" Freya sighed innocently "He makes you happy like Daddy used to"

Abigail ran her hand through her daughters hair, how could such a little girl pick up on something so big...