Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 47~Introducing Dustin

When I woke up in the morning, I found that Elise was already awake and elsewhere in the house. I got up, showered and dressed, and then I went across the hall to check on Abbie. She was already awake too, so I headed downstairs, smelling food on the way down. I turned the corner and went into the kitchen, where I found them both. 

"Here," Elise said to Abbie, handing her a glass of water and two pills. Abbie, who was sitting on the counter, downed them fearlessly, which was odd for me to see. I knew that she'd have to be on medication now, but it was just weird not to see her get scared of taking pills because she always had this fear that instead of swallowing them she'd choke on them. Now, she didn't even hesitate. 

I came further into the room, saying, "Good morning!" I came up beside Abbie and kissed her cheek, and then I went over to Elise as she turned from the stove to face me. I kissed her lips and then went to the fridge to get something to drink. 

"You're in a particularly happy mood this morning." Elise said. 

Twisting the cap off a water bottle, I turned around and replied, "My daughter's out of the hospital, and according to her I am the best dad in the world, I have an amazing girlfriend who I love very much, and I get to eat cake today. Who wouldn't be happy?" 

"One of those is not like the others." I heard Abbie say, and I laughed while Elise just shook her head with an amused look on her face at the both of us.

"So nice of you to notice, Abbie." I said, and she grinned triumphantly. 

Soon, we ate breakfast and then while Elise cleaned up, Abbie took me up to her room to show me all the stuff she got while being in the hospital, since I hadn't really seen it yet. She did have quite a bit of stuff. Abbie showed me her two basketballs that were signed by her team and her classmates, the medal that she was supposed to get at the playoffs, the duck that Dustin got her, the card from Danika and her family, and the big card that came from her classroom. She sat in my lap on her bed, while I had myself propped up against the headboard and the pillows, holding onto the card. Elise was right, this kid was definitely loved. Abbie told me about the visit to her classroom too, the way the kids all pretty much lined up just to hug her. 

"It was really weird, but cool at the same time." Abbie said.

"What? You don't expect them to care that much?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Not really. I mean, maybe a few of my really close friends, but not the whole class. Even when Mom and I were leaving school as we were walking down the main hall, a couple younger kids ran up to me and gave me a hug. But the kids in my class barely even care that much about what they're having for dinner, so I just didn't think they'd react the way they did. A lot of them don't even talk to me." 

"Well, you put an impact on those around you with the things that you do." 

Abbie turned her head a little to look up at me, puzzled. "I don't remember doing anything." 

I laughed. "Honey, it wasn't anything you did special, it's just that you're always being yourself and you're not afraid to express who you are. You care for other people, and so in return they care about you. Really, it doesn't surprise me a whole lot that they love you so much." 

"Oh, ok, I get it. But, what about the kids that have barely spoken to me all year?" She asked. 

"I think maybe they want to talk to you, but for some reason they don't. Maybe they're really shy, or maybe they consider you to be like the popular kid and they're like an Uncle Johnny, so they figure you're someone that's off limits to them." I told her.

Abbie laughed. "Like an Uncle Johnny? That's a new way of putting it." She said, and I chuckled. "But I don't think of myself that way, as the 'popular kid' or whatever."