Ryan's POV
Abi didn't just falter, her whole body collapsed. I felt her heart stop the minute I reached out and caught her, her body was frozen "I've got you" I whispered, not sure if she even heard me. I could feel her tears spilling onto the sleeve of my shirt, her body was trembling against mine.
"Abi honey" Stella's voice came through the noise "Abi, we can see him"
Abi looked up at Stella and nodded, Leroy helped her stand and I got up behind her. I watched helplessly as she disappeared down the corridor and through a door.
Despair caused me to throw my head back and run my hands through my hair. I slumped down in the chair beside Leroy "Shit" I exhale and Leroy nods "What do I do now?" I'm not really sure what answer I am looking for but I just hoped he knew at least something.
Leroy couldn't give me an answer he just shook his head and looked at the floor, neither of us knew how Abi was going to react to this. Deep down I was praying that this wasn't that set back the doctors had talked about, the one thing that could send her back down the route of addiction.
×-×-×
We had been waiting for what seemed like hours, I stood up when I saw Abi walking towards us. She seemed okay...well as okay as she could be.
"I need to go home and get changed Ry" She whispered. I nodded and turned to Stella as Abi walked away with Leroy.
"I am so sorry Stella" I pulled Stella into a tight hug "Are you coming with us?"
"No honey there are still some things to sort out here" Stella smiled weakly "Frank's Brother Bill and his Mom are on there way"
"Okay we'll if you need us call okay" Ryan put his hand on Stella's arm.
"Okay" Stella nodded and then paused "Ryan, keep her close. Who knows which way this is going to throw her"
"You don't need to worry about Abi" I reassure Stella before walking away.
×-×-×
Freya was already in bed by the time we got home, the twins were sleeping in their crib. Tony and Harriet both stood when we arrived "Oh Abi" Harriet hugged Abi but she pulled away.
"I need to get changed" Abi brushed Harriet off and headed straight for our bedroom.
"How is she?" Tony asked as soon as Abi had dissappeared.
"She hasn't said anything yet, I think she's still trying to take it all in" I reply still unsure about Abi's reaction.
Within a few minutes Abi reappears wearing grey sweat pants and one of my goodies. Her hair is waterfall in around her shoulders ""It's okay for me to wear this right?"
As silly as this sounds, her question threw me. She has never asked me this before, she was my wife why would it be a problem of she wore my hoodie. I just nodded quickly "Yeah you know it is"
"Thank you for watching the twins and Freya" She turns to Harry and Tony "It's late you should both get home"
"Oh erm" Harry stuttered and Tony just looked at me "I can stay honey, if you need me to?"
"No we'll be okay, I have Ryan here. Unless you still need to rush off in the morning?" Abi reminded me of the interview we had on Good Morning America, first thing.
"I'll call Alice and explain what's happened" I replied and she smiled weakly "They can do it without me"
"Right okay well we'll head off then. I'll make some calls, shall I call Dylan?" My heart sank as I remembered the meeting Abi had with Dylan Shaw. It was for a new movie role which Abi had been working towards for the last couple of months.
"Why would you need to call Dylan?" Abi frowned and we all gaped "Just call Terry and tell him I won't be in to film tomorrow because I need to see my Mom"
"Okay honey" Tony nodded "Shall I release a statement?"
"Not yet I need to tell Freya first" Seeing Abi this together is a little unnerving if I'm honest.
I show Tony and Harry out, before heading back into the kitchen. Abi has started loading dirty pots into the dishwasher "Baby you can leave that" I say and I walk up behind her and guide her hand with the plate in down to the side. She puts the plate down and turns to me, her eyes are full of tears.
"He knew" She said in barely a whisper "He knew he was dying"
"What?" I was stunned "How?"
"He had cancer" Abi's voice was a little louder but still as shakey "Lung cancer, he found out around the same time I found out I was pregnant with the twins"
"Shit" I couldn't sat anything else. I didn't know what to say, I just stared at Abi. I saw the tear's fall down her cheeks and instinctively pulled her towards me.
"Why didn't he tell me Ryan?" Abi sniffed as she buried her face into my neck "He was dying and he never gave me the chance to say goodbye"
Her gentle sobs turned into weeping which completely consumed her, I held my body firm to support her weight as she lost herself in me.
×-×-×
"Here" we had moved from the kitchen to the lounge now. Abi was sat on the sofa with her legs crossed. I handed her a glass of Brandy, her hands were still shaking. I sat beside her and held my arm out so she could snuggle into my chest. She curled her legs around and rested her head on my chest "Why don't you call Dylan tomorrow and postpone the meeting?"
"Ryan the deadline for casting is tomorrow. If I let this go by I will miss my chance for this role completely. It's a fantastic role" Abi sighed as I stroked her hair.
"Yeah I know that, but we can get by without it" I replied "You don't need to do this"
"Yeah I do" Abi looked up into my eyes and swallow back her tears "My Dad was so excited when I told him about this role, he told me I needed to get it. I promised him I would"
"So you're doing it for your Dad?" that makes sense, I now could understand why she wouldn't let Tony cancel the meeting with Dylan. She had made and promise to her dad.
"Yeah, sounds stupid but getting this role is the one thing I can control" Abi exhaled.
"No it's not stupid" I reply quickly "it makes perfect sense. Your dad has always pushed you towards greatness, he always wanted the best for you"
"I still can't believe he's gone Ry, just like that" Abi broke down again "How am I going to tell Freya? She's already been through so much. And what about the twins? They will never know what an incredible man he was"
"Yes they will" Abi looked confused at my response "Because we will tell them about him everyday"
I felt my eyes tear up a little as it finally sunk in, the amazing kind and honorable man that I had known for the past 5 years...The great man who had raised the woman I loved was gone.
