A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

Chapter 19

Claire's POV

~Flashback~

My beautiful twins sit in their car seats asleep, with the sound of snowfall singing them a sweet lullaby. John, the kids and I made a trip to visit my parents on Christmas Day. It was getting pretty dark when we decided it was time to leave. The twins had already fallen asleep when we carried them to the car. Snow fluries blanketed the area when we left. Now it was a full on snow storm. Our lights only gave us a few feet of vision on the snowy, icy road.

I remember John, arguing over his present and how he wanted to return it. I grabbed his hand to calm him down and leaned over to kiss his cheek. He didn't see the driver coming through the intersection. We had the right-away, however the oncoming driver didn't stop. The driver rammed into the car at full speed.

Slowly, painfully and wearily I woke up to the sound of a constant beeping noise. My eyes were heavy and I could barely open them. When I managed to open my heavy eyelids, nurses and doctors stood at the end of my hospital bed.

"Oh good, you're awake. My name is Dr. Conners."

"Where am I? Are John and the kids alright? What happend to the other driver?", I asked with urgency.

"Ma'am, I hate to tell you this without your husband by your side, but one of your children died during the collison. The paramedics did all they could to save her, but they were too late. I am so sorry. I will leave you to recooperate and see if I can get your husband moved into this room. Again, I am very sorry for your loss." Dr. Conners said before he exited the room to leaving me alone.

For the first time, I had to expierence a loss so close to me that I couldn't take it. Not even my husband could cheer me up for a long time. We decided to move away from our home in Ireland, to a totally different place. This time it would be far away from our terrible past. We moved to America soon after Abby had her third birthday. She lost her accent and so did John and I. She went to a local school and we never spoke of Maggie. She was the daughter I would never have again.

Moving from Ireland to Kentucky was a big step in trying to get rid of the grief and sorrow that lingered over us back home. Abby only had one friend in Ireland. He was so sad when we told him we were moving. The day we left he gave Abby a golden locket with a picture of her in it. They had taken a picture before Christmas and we were at the hospital for a couple of months after that.

"Here Abby, I want to give you this before you leave.", the little boy pulled out the golden locket from his pocket and put it on Abby.

"It pretty, tank you.", she giggled before squeezing him in a hug.

"Don't forget me.", he said.

"Never."

~End Flashback~

Now there sits a young man in my kitchen who is asking me for permission to date my daughter and I couldn't be happier. He is what she needs. If she really loves him then that's all that matters.

"So, what do I need to do?", I asked Niall.

"Can you show me around some of these trails. I also need a picnic basket packed but I don't want to carry it on the ride. I really want to surprise her. Do you think you could do that for me?"

"Yes. I'll say that I need to talk to you some more and for them to go on without us. I will show you a really nice spot by the lake. It's perfect! Then you will ride out and catch up with them. I will come back to the house and pack your picnic and leave it at the lake. Does that sound okay to you?"

"That's so nice of you Claire. Thank you, really. I hope Abby likes this. I don't know if she likes surprises. Her favorite sandwich food is turkey and cheese with cucumber on the side. Could you pack that for her? I will have the same as well, if you don't mind?"

"No, I don't mind at all dear." I got up to go get a picnic basket and blanket from the pantry,"What kind of drinks would you like?"

"What do you have?", he asked.

"I could make some sweet tea. That's her favorite drink. Would you like some too?"

"Yes please, that would be very kind of you."

I went outside to tell Abby that I needed to talk with Niall for a short while and for her and the rest of the group to go ahead. She agreed and went on the ride.

I came inside to find Niall in the living room. He jumped when I entered the room. "I see you are looking at a picture of Abby. She always loved animals. She plans to be a vet."

"She does have a special way with them.", Niall said smiling.

It was only long ago that I saw a smile like that. Sure it was a weird coincidence that we both lived in Ireland. We even lived in the same town, but I remember a smile like that one. There was a small brown headed boy who always came by the house in Ireland before we moved. One day he got up the courage to ask Abby to play with him. From that day on they were inseparable. Now I see it was him. Niall Horan was this teenage pop star who grew up with us as neighbors and never knew it. Now he's found Abby again but he doesn't even realize it was her, the girl next door who moved away years ago. I haven't even told Abby about her past, about her sister. John and I chose to keep it a secret until she was old enough. I think now is time to tell her. With Niall by her side, I think she will be okay.

"So, what was your favorite memory of Ireland?", I asked.

"Well, it would have to be my best friend. She moved away when I was younger, but I still considered her my best friend. Her name was Abby.", he told me with a surprised look on his face.

"Niall, please sit down. I have something I want to share with you.", I pleaded.

"What's wrong? Did I do something?", he asked me.

"No, it's about me, about Abby and our past. Niall, that girl was my Abby. We were your neighbors, long ago in Ireland. She wears the locket that you gave her before we left. She doesn't know anything. She doesn't remember you. I'm sorry about this but it was the right thing to tell you about our past."

He just sat there with his head in his hands. He looked so confused. After a while he finally looked up at me.

"So all along...it was her. My Abby, your Abby, she is the same person?"