Fighting for Love

Chapter Four-Preston

I step off the plane, in full army gear. My friends all have people waiting, parents, spouses, kids. All I have is a little girl holding my hand, and a large pile of regret in my heart.
Ryan is in a coma, and he can't be brought to America. He's stuck overseas, in the middle of a war, with little to protect him. I can't help but feel like it's my fault.
"Sergeant Anderson!" I turn and salute Captain Cartel "At ease. Now I expect for you to take good care of her." Cartel's eyes meet mine.
"Of course. Please contact me if there is any change in Ryan's conditions. He's the only other family I have."
"Yes, I will. Now go home," I nod my head.
I start towards the shuttle, Abia in tow. "Where are we?" She asks me. The past couple weeks have been hard, but in our free time we were teaching Abia english and myself learning Arabic.
"Home," I pick her up, just as Dion, a friend of mine, smacks my back.
"Let's have dinner this week, man, and bring your little girl." He smiles at me, "Bently needs somebody to play with," I smile and nod.
"As long as he doesn't try anything," I chuckle, stepping onto the shuttle that will take me home. Abia sits between me and the window looking at the passing buildings. I wasn't completely sure how this would work but I was hoping for the best.
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Three years later, Abia is in second grade, and Ryan is back in the U.S. though he hasn't woken up. Neither one of us wants to lose him.
"Abby! We have to go!" I shout up the stairs. I grab her lunch and stand by the door, keys on hand.
"Prezzie? You have to put my hair up." Groaning, I take the pink thing from her hand and put her hair in a ponytail. I perfected the ponytail just three months ago when Dion's wife, Avery, showed me how.
I put the lunch in her backpack, and walk out the front door. I drop her off at school before going to work. I work at a construction company, that allows me the time needed for Abia and the army. I get a decent amount of money, and with the help from the state I manage to support us.
Before I get out of the car to go in, I get a flashback. By the end, I am shaking and out of breath. Deep breaths, I say to myself, repeating my old therapists words to stop my panic attack.
I was late to work because of my panic attack. I was diagnosed with PTSD two years ago. My attacks are random and it caused problems living with Abia. Now I can control them and not take it out on her.
"Anderson, your late." My boss said.
"I had an attack, I'm sorry." I look down and head to work. I load three trucks before my manager tells me to go home. As I leave, I call Avery. "I'm on my way home, I'll pick her up on the way."
"Okay and Preston, she had a really bad day today. They started calling her mean names. Just be nice," Avery says then hangs up. I clench my jaw. I know what people say about Abia. She still goes to the synagogue. I didn't want her to lose what she was raised with.
I pull up and shut the car down. "Abby!" I say walking in. Avery walks around the corner holding Evelyn, "Hi there," I smile at the little girl.
"Uncle Preston!" Bentley yells running up to me. "Can Abby stay for a little while longer?"
"Is it okay with your mom?" I ask crouching down to his level.
"Of course, Preston," I smile at Avery. Abia comes running into the room, launching herself at me.
"Hi there, do you want to stay here for a little bit?" I ask her hugging her small frame against my huge one.
"Yes, Bentley and I are playing house." And with that they take off running again.
"So what happened at school?" I question taking Evelyn. The one year old looks so much like Dion I can't believe it sometimes.
"A couple kids started calling her a terrorist after the teacher explained that the people responsible for 9/11 were from the middle east. Abby said she was from there and it went downhill." Avery starts pulling things from the cabinets for dinner. "The teacher was almost in tears, just like the past few years."
I knew that the kids would eventually figure it out but I thought we would have a few more years before it got bad. I hang my head in shame
I feel a hand on my shoulder, "Don't blame yourself, Preston. Kids are mean and Abby can handle it." Avery says to me.
"What would I do without you?"
"Probably die," Avery playfully shoves me. I laugh and Evelyn starts getting fussy. As I calm her down Avery asks, "Will you ever have more kids?" I look down at Evelyn.
"I'm not sure. I love Abby, but I can barely support us, let alone have more. Plus there is no one I could see myself getting close enough with."
"Do you want more kids?"
"Maybe," Avery glares at me behind her red hair. "Fine, yes, but I don't think I can handle it right now." Avery nods. "Do you want more kids?"
"Yes, but it's hard on the kids with Dion not around. Honestly I don't think he really wants the kids we have." Avery blinks back tears.
"He may not seem like it but he loves you guys more than anything. He used to talk about how he wants a whole bunch of mini Dion's and Avery's running around the house. He would gladly have more kids with you, and not just because of the kids," I wink at her.
Avery laughs, "You boys never change. Are you eating here?"
"If we can, if not I have food at home that we can eat," Avery shakes her head at me.
"You are staying." I put Evelyn down by her toys and start to help Avery. We work in silence for a little while
"Uncle Preston!" Bentley yells running into the kitchen.
"What buddy?"
"Can Abby stay here this weekend?"
"Let's wait and see what happens. Okay buddy?" Bentley nods. "Those kids will be the death of me." Avery agrees with me as we put the food out.
"Kids!" We yell in unison. Eating dinner with my family, without my brothers, both blood and not, makes me wonder if we will ever be a big happy family like we wished as kids.

Hope you guys like it!!
-JJ