Doe Hollow

My Daddy Is Going To Kill Me

James searched the crowd for Abby as the picnic wrapped up, but couldn't find her anywhere.

"Hey," AJ said, catching up to James by the parking lot. "Aunt Karen said Abby left here with mom hours ago," he informed. "I don't know where they went, but Ricky and I are going to town to get some pizza and beer if you want to come." James nodded apprehensively.

"I'm sure everything is fine," AJ reassured him. "They probably just wanted some mother-daughter time or something."

"Yeah," James agreed. "I'll text her and let her know I'm going with you." He slipped his phone from his pocket and typed quickly.

I'm going out with AJ and RIcky. Hope you're ok.

He anxiously waited for a reply as he got into his car and pulled out of the parking lot to follow Ricky's truck toward town. The phone buzzed as James stopped at a red light and he nervously retrieved the text.

Everything's fine, just running around with Mama.

Feeling slightly relieved, James dropped his phone into the passenger seat and followed Ricky the rest of the way toward Possum Holler, Doe Hollow's only bar. He, AJ, and Ricky slunk into chairs at a table near the door and Paula, the owner's wife, came over to take their order.

While they waited for their food, AJ stretched in his seat and sipped his beer.

"Are you coming to the lake next weekend?" He asked Ricky. Ricky leaned back in his chair, shrugging.

"Yeah, I have to stop by one day this week and get my fishing license," he replied. "And I gotta get a new tire for my boat trailer or we'll be fishing from the shore." He added. AJ laughed.

"I'll come help you put it on," he said. "Do you want to come?" He asked, turning his attention toward James.

"Sure," James replied, seeming distracted.

"Dude, she's fine," AJ groaned. "I swear you worry like a woman." The three of them laughed. When the pizza arrived, they dug in, despite the piled plates of barbecue they'd had earlier in the day. While they ate, Paula brought around a pitcher of beer.

"Is everything ok with Abby?" She asked, refilling their glasses. James froze mid-bite.

"What do you mean?" AJ asked, wiping his hands on a napkin. Ricky leaned toward the table, a confused look on his face. Paula's eyes widened.

"I saw her coming out of the emergency room earlier when I was visiting my dad in the hospital," Paula replied hesitantly. "Y'all didn't know?"

James dropped his pizza on the table, and quickly picked it up and tossed it on his plate.

"You saw her at the hospital?" He asked frantically, pulling out his wallet and dropping some money on the table without looking at it.

"Yeah," Paula confirmed shakily. James grabbed his keys and stood quickly from his chair.

"I'll call you later," he told AJ, rushing out the door. Paula sat in his empty seat, setting the pitcher on the table.

"What's going on?" She asked, leaning toward AJ and Ricky curiously. AJ shrugged, chasing a bite of pizza with a sip of beer.

"No idea," he replied. Paula shook her head and stood back up.

"Y'all holler at me if you need anything else," she called over her shoulder, walking away.

"I hope Abby's ok," Ricky mused, grabbing another slice of pizza from the pan. AJ picked up the money James had left on the table and counted it.

"Hey," he said, putting the money back on the table. "Remind me to thank James for paying for the whole dinner." He and Ricky laughed over their beers.

James nearly tripped in his rush up the porch steps. He flung the screen door open and called for Abby as he tumbled into the house. Abby didn't answer, but James noticed that the bathroom light was on and rushed down the hallway.

"Abby," he sighed nervously when he reached the bathroom door. Abby was sitting on the floor, her head resting on the edge of the tub, tears pouring down her face. James grabbed a wash cloth from the cabinet and ran cold water on it from the sink faucet. He carefully wrung it out before kneeling beside Abby and gingerly wiping her face with the cold cloth.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly. "What's wrong?" Abby sniffled and took a deep breath. James' heart raced as he waited for her to respond.

"I'm pregnant," Abby finally said in a voice hoarse from crying. James' jaw dropped and he threw the wet washcloth into the tub, quickly wrapping his arms around Abby.

"Why are you crying?" He laughed, squeezing her. "That's the best news I could have imagined coming home to!" Abby pulled away from him and gave him a brooding look. James beamed at her despite Abby's dark mood.

"James, we can't have a baby right now," she replied, shaking her head. James gave her an amused look.

"We don't have much of a choice," he said, kissing her forehead. "Why are you so upset, love?"

"I went to the doctor today," Abby started, taking more deep breaths. James nodded.

"I heard, that's why I rushed home," he said.

"I have to stop taking all of my medications," Abby continued, tears threatening to spill from her eyes again. James' face softened.

"Don't be afraid, love," he murmured in a soothing tone. "You'll be fine." Abby pushed him away as he tried to pull her into his arms again.

"Do you know how crazy pregnancy hormones are on their own?" She lectured, pulling her knees up to her chin. "And I won't have any of my medications to keep my PTSD symptoms under control...It's going to be a nightmare." She wiped her eyes. James gave her a sympathetic look and ran his fingers through her tangled hair.

"You'll be fine," he assured her. "Everything is going to turn out fine, I promise." Abby looked at him skeptically.

"You can't know that," she said, her voice almost at a whisper.

"And you can't know that it won't," James replied firmly. "We just have to take it a day at a time and be optimmistic." Abby unfolded her legs and reached for him, this time allowing him to pull her close and hold her. She buried her face in his neck and clung to him, fighting sobs.

"We're not even married yet," Abby cried miserably.

"Why does that matter?" James whispered into her hair, "I love you so much, Abby; and I'm always going to look after you, for the rest of my life. Just trust me that this is going to be the best thing that's ever happened to us." Abby sat up and looked into his eyes.

"You're really happy about it?" She asked, biting her lower lip. James smiled from ear to ear.

"I couldn't be happier," he promised. Abby's face finally brightened a bit, and she smiled.

"Well, then I guess we only have one more thing to worry about," she said with a sly grin.

"What's that?" James chuckled, pulling himself up from the bathroom floor and helping Abby to her feet.

"My daddy is going to kill me," Abby replied. They laughed as they made their way down the hall to their bedroom. 

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