WORLD OF OUR OWN

Chapter 10

ABIGAIL'S P.O.V

So it's that girl named Cara from radio tour that replaced my spot in his heart. I was not good enough, apparently. Of course. That girl was way closer to his fame life than I could ever be. At some point, they would meet again. Bigger chance for Toby and Cara to start their real relationship than this stupid fairytale we pretended to play.

I'm so tired of lying.

"Mommy? You home?" I knocked her kitchen door.

"Hmm? Abby? Is that you? Come in, sweety!"

"Hey." I hugged Joan. "How are you?"

"Doing fine. How are you?"

"I'm doing good as well." I chuckled. "What are you making?"

"Trying to make pavlova here. Haha. But really I have no idea. Do you know how to make it?"

"On what occasion do we need to make pavlova, Mom?" I laughed hard. "But yes I might know a thing or two."

"Family gathering! Gosh..." Joan rolled her eyes.

"Hahaha. Let me help you."

I whipped the egg white, prepared the all-purpose flour, and heated up the oven for this lovely lady. Yes this was what I always did during my free time. I finished my homework earlier this morning and walked to this house. I could just feel it, Mommy Joan needed my help. This family gathering should be amazing. All McDonough relatives would be here by afternoon. Pavlova needed some attention.

And I needed some distraction.

"They're now on their way to Boston." Joan started a talk.

"Oh that's amazing! Boston then...?"

"I think Boston then home." She smiled.

"Wow. That's getting better. You must be missing them boys so much."

"I do." She measured the milk with the measurement glass. "Don't you?"

"Of course."

"Sweetheart, are you okay?"

Let's now fake a smile and cheer up the day. "Yes! I definitely am! Oh wait we need to set this cool for 30 minutes..."

"Did Toby hurt you or something?"

Joan understood me. She saw me beyond my fake expression. She's a mom. I ended up misplacing this one egg and hit it to the wall. All messed. Tried so hard to cover this broken heart from Joan but she made me to face her.

"Something's not right."

"Everything is going okay Mom. Trust me." I swept away my tears. "I've just had first day of period today. It was horrible. I feel like crying and emotional."

"Honey..." Joan wrapped my trembling body. "You never know how lucky I am to have one of my sons dating you. How lucky I am to just simply have you in my life. Thank you for being so patient with them."

"No I thank you."

I smiled. But this tears stream too soon took over my head. I cried against Mommy Joan's shoulders so loudly, deeply hurt. All flashback from that photo on his Instagram, the kiss on that cheek. It's basically the end of us. I probably wouldn't come here anymore because soon it's going to be Cara's family. This might be the last time I helped Joan cooking like a real daughter, because soon she's going to have another better girl her son could ever choose. Hurt, it hurts to know how easily people replaced you. The one who once promised he wouldn't do so.

"Pavlova's ready to bake!" I cheered.

"Oh right! Is it the time I should work with the blackberry sauce?"

"Would you mind?"

"Not at all! Sauce is piece of cake..." Joan rubbed my back. "Careful with the oven, sweet."

"Aye it's in." I checked the temperature. "Now we're waiting..."

"Fingers crossed it would turn amazing."

"It will Mom. Alright what's next?"

"I'm making chicken lemon. Do you think it would be perfect?"

"C'mon it's summer! Anything's perfect!" I sniffed and laughed. "Let me help. Oh I also have cool ice cream combination recipe. Do you have some?"

"I have three flavors in the fridge. Connor didn't finish his sweet treat but it's just too sweet to me I can't handle."

"Nice. Shall I combine?"

"Yes!" Joan hugged me. "Thank you darling."

"Not a problem Mommy."

The kitchen was like a World War zone but who cared. Dad Mark later came home in shocked as he saw us all messy with ice cream on cheeks and all over the aprons. But wasted no time mesmerizing our masterpiece which was the pavlova, he immediately started working with the barbeque table at the backyard. Before 3 pm, it's all done and clean.

"Damn, this taste good." Mark smirked.

"Ice cream, really, you could never go wrong." I danced around.

"Thanks for helping honey. Really I would've still been in trouble if you didn't come over this morning." Joan wrapped Mark's shoulders from behind.

"Mom, we have this radar among us, don't we?" I chuckled. "We have some smaller pavlova here. Before the guests coming. You want some, Dad?"

"Would love to!" Mark replied excitedly.

"How's hospital?" I cut a piece of this sweet treat for him.

"It was good. I had huge surgery today but we pulled it off. Just one accident, gladly."

"Thank goodness." Joan sighed a relief.

"Yeah. Glad all worked well for you." I washed the dishes manually. "Uhm I think I should get going after this."

"No! Where you going?" Joan stopped me.

"Need to check on Nonna, Mom. She needs me." I lied. Basically just wanted to walk away from this house because the chaotic part was over and I needed more distraction.

"Nonna?" She studied my face. "Really?"

"Yeah. I should leave before dust."

"Take care you sweet little girl." Mark gave me a kiss. "Pavlova was outstanding!"

"Hahaha. Thank you! Hope you have a great party tonight! Send some loves to Pops!" I kissed them both. "Bye bye!"

I walked outside through the kitchen door which led me to the garage first, then the backyard access, before it led me again to the main street at the front of the house. I turned around and waved again.

"Abigail, wait!" Joan walked to me.

"Yes Mom?"

"I... I don't know what's happening with you but I feel something wrong here. Sweety, whatever you're dealing with, I just want you to know that you're always welcomed here. This is your house. You even may sleep at any room you want. Anytime. Even in an escape, easily, day or night, please come. You've been a part of our lives, mine and Mark's. We love you."

Joan's soft voice hit me right in the feels. She knew it was an awkward goodbye. A goodbye that seemed I would never say again. A goodbye to sign I would never come back. Because who knows, I might end up being nobody's nobody. Sad. But Cara seemed to have more chances to make this parents happy than my hardest try, from now on.

Until then.