Into The Unknown

Chapter 24

Ryan's POV

Well as birthdays go, it wasn't actually terrible. Fair enough it got off to a shakey start with yet another pathetic attempt from Nick's Mom, but let's face it nothing she did surprised us anymore.

I was just happy to be in our new home spending time with my family and friends, it was great to get everyone together and it made it even more perfect having Freya at home with us. She had taken the news about Abi's pregnancy brilliantly, but then I wouldn't expect anything else. Freya was an amazing kid and I enjoyed spending time with her. I just wish things weren't so complicated for her.

Neither me nor Abi mentioned Nick's Mom for the rest of the evening, just thinking about what she's done infuriates me. So much so that I could quite happily kill Nick for giving her then pictures in the first place, or just knock him out maybe.

"Hey baby did you wanna get out of here for abit, just me and you?" I suggest to Abi. I had been wanting to get her alone all evening, plus I was dying to test drive my new machine.

"Yeah okay" Abi was stood with Harriet and Eddie, Freya was in her bedroom. Our parents were in the garden with Brent, Drew, Zach and Tony. Leroy was in his office, Abi grabbed her denim jacket off the back of one of the dining chairs and took my hand. We snuck out of our front door like a couple of teenagers, I unlocked the door and we climbed up into the 6x6.

"Oh man this is beautiful" I couldn't believe the quality of the interior, it had obviously been customised by my wife. The seats were white with a black trim. As I start the engine I am surprised by how quiet seems, it isn't until Abi rolls down her window that I realise how loud it roars.

"Apparently it's luxury cacooned in power" Abi smiles at me. I didn't say anything to her, but the guy at Mercedes had already told me all the specs when I first saw this car "And it's all yours"

It was an incredible having so much power at my fingertips, I pulled away slowly and drove out of the gates and out onto the street. I already knew where I was heading, Abi's phone beeped in her hand. I glanced over as she read her message "What?" She has a smile on her face.

"It's Tony, he told us not to be long because your Mom has made a cake"

"Oh my god" Abi is giggling uncontrollably "I swear she thinks I'm 11 years old"

"Aww baby I think it's really cute"

"Exactly I am 35 years old, I can no longer be classed as cute"

"Well I think you're still cute" As Abi's hand touches my face, I feel her wedding rings catch against my ear and it's a sweet reminder of just how lucky I am "Where are we going?"

"You'll see" Little did Abi know I had been planning a little surprise of my own.

X-x-x

Seeing the confusion on Abi's face amused me a little, I know how much she hated not being in control. But on the other hand it was an amazing feeling knowing how much she trusted me. I pulled up in a pull in just outside Denver "Ryan what are we doing here?"

On the opposite side of the road was a huge old house, which had been run down almost beyond repair "What's that?" Abi looked a little concerned for my mental state.

"You remember last month when you were enrolling at the school and you said it was getting harder to choose new pupils because the spaces were getting more and more limited?"

"Yeah" Abi was frowning at me, she got out of the car and I followed.

"Well this house belonged to an old friend of my Dads"

"What do you mean belonged?"

"I spoke to him and he said it has all the appropriate permission to turn it into a school, even to extend it to make it suitable"

"Oh my god" I could see tears glistening in her eyes "Baby thank you" her arms almost crush me.

"Hey I know how hard it's been for you turning people away. At least now you have space for plenty more pupils"

"I love you so much"

"I love you too" I reply as I gently kiss her head "I have made arrangement with the right contractors, so it will be a habitable school before you know it and you don't need to do anything. Just select the right pupils and teachers"

Abi can barely speak, I pull her towards me and we look over at the house "When do we get the keys?"

"In a couple of weeks"

"I still can't believe you have done this for me, it's incredible"

"I just wanted to take some pressure off you, I know I can't do alot about Nick's family but this I can help you with"

"It's perfect baby, but you do help with Nick's family. You are the one thing that keeps me sane" Abi rests her head on my shoulder "Don't you think it's nice just having some space to breathe, some time to ourselves just to be Mr and Mrs Tedder for a change"

X-x-x

I noticed Abi's body tense up as soon as we pulled up on the driveway. There was a white BMW parked next to my Mom and Dads car "Please tell me he wouldn't be so stupid" Abi quickly got out of the car. I followed her into the house, my heart was racing as my eyes scanned the garden.

Sure enough sitting at the table was Nick "You fucking ass hole, do you have a death wish?" I grabbed his shirt and dragged him up off the chair. Rage filled my entire body, as I remembered the pain in Abi's face as she read the article.

"RYAN" I could here Abi calling my name somewhere in the distance, but I was far too furious to stop.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS HAS DONE TO HER, YOU PIECE OF SHIT?" I couldn't control myself anymore, I felt a sweet sort of release as my fist crashed into his face. I managed to hit him twice before I felt myself being pulled away.

"Ryan that's enough man" Zach's voice flooded into my ears. I felt Brent and Eddie also holding me back. Drew was stood beside Abi, they looked both looked just as shocked as everyone else.

"You have every right to be angry" Nick's words added fuel to a now roaring fire how dare he think he can give me fucking permission to be pissed off.

"I don't need you to tell me that" I yell furiously "What the fuck were you thinking Nick huh? Abi doesn't need this right now"

"Yeah I know that and I'm sorry, but do you not think it's hard for me too?" He did sort of make a point, but to be fair he wasn't in the same situation as Abi.

"You're not my concern she is, especially now" I tried to explain what was going on in my head.

"What do you mean especially now?"

I can't answer him, I shouldn't be blurting it out like this. I suddenly feel myself backing down, I have said too much already "Forget about it" I try and change the subject.

"No, what's going on?" Nick looks at me and then glances at Abi "Ab's, what does he mean?"

"I'm pregnant Nick" Abi's response shocks me, I wasn't expecting her to tell him "The reason Ryan is worried is because I am pregnant. And now all this bullshit has come out..."

"Shit Abi I'm sorry, I didn't think"

"That's the trouble Nick you never do, except when you're thinking with your pants" my eyes widen at Abi's outburst, I look around at our guests and realise how uncomfortable they must be feeling.

"Maybe you should take this inside baby" I whisper, Abi nods and gestures for Nick to follow her into the kitchen.