A Little Sane

Chapter 23

Abbe could hear laughing from Jerome and Mercedes's room. It was around seven-thirty in the morning. She walked by and stopped to look in. Mercedes and Jerome were both already dressed. They were having a funny debate about comedy movies. They were also right in the middle of changing diapers and dressing the twins. Mercedes looked up and gave Abbe a warm smile.

"Good morning Abbe! Coffee was already started if you want to grab some."

"Good morning guys."

Abbe smiled back and headed towards the kitchen. Her smile faded once she passed their room. Days had gone by and it seemed like nothing even happened between them. Abbe wished so badly that they would just come out and say that she was bad at it or they were just trying to be nice not to hurt her feelings. Mercedes gave Jerome a confused look.

"I think something's wrong with Abbe... She's been seeming a little sad the past few days.."

Jerome shook his head.

"I don't know doll face. But, I'm sure she'll say something if anything is bothering her. Don't worry too soon."

Mercedes sighed and carried Jessie out of the room. Jerome followed her with Aislinn. Abbe stayed to herself most of the day. Mercedes and Jerome left for a job that lasted about four hours. Abbe had too much to sit and think up all whole list of crazy reactions from Mercedes and Jerome. She just knew everything was now weird and messed up. She knew they didn't like her enough. Abbe set and thought about every detail of what happened that night. She looked down due to a weird feeling and sighed. She had to go change her now wet shorts. The one thing Abbe was scared of, was the idea that they didn't like her so much that they were planning to kill her. She pictured Mercedes holding her down while Jerome either choked her or chopped her body up alive. She could see the sickening grins on their faces. The vision was so frightening for her that she considered running, but she stopped and looked at the twins. They made her smile. She couldn't abandon them. She started to think that maybe she was being over paranoid. She played with the twins and then put them down for a nap. She picked up a book that Mercedes had told her to read. It was the Locke and Key comic book series. She was already on comic book number three. She was really enjoying the mystery and suspense. Mercedes had told her she would. They were one of Mercedes's favorite comic book series. Abbe made herself a simple salad with grilled chicken for lunch. She stared in the fridge for what seem forever trying to decide if she wanted Honey Mustard or Ranch on her salad. She finally decided Honey Mustard. She smiled when she took the first bite. Abbe thought about her family. She hadn't thought about them in months. She came from a semi-wealthy background. Her parents did not like her choice to not follow their family oil business. She didn't agree with how their business treated animals sometimes. Her family told her that if she was not going to follow in their footsteps, that she was no longer apart of their family and would get no financial help from them. She hadn't spoken about her family to Mercedes or Jerome. They had no idea where Abbe came from. Jerome and Mercedes finally returned and the entire afternoon was spent playing boardgames. Everything still seemed to be Just as normal as it always was. After dinner was cleaned up Abbe stood by the fridge watching Mercedes and Jerome have a debate about whether it was better use a gun or some other sort of weapon. Abbe couldn't stand it any longer.

"Why haven't we talked about?! Did I do something wrong?!"

They stopped their conversation due to Abbe's sudden outburst. Mercedes looked at Abbe puzzled.

"Talked about what? Abbe are you okay..?"

Jerome was just as confused. Abbe let out a huge sigh.

"No I'm not okay. First I meet you and you seem so nice. Then you help me out."

Abbe pointed to Jerome. 

"I was terrified of you. Then I start to have fun with you Mercedes. We're friends, but I start to develop feelings. You start acting weird around me after I watched you guys have sex! You started holding my hand and kissing me cheek! You touched my ass!"

Mercedes and Jerome set completely shocked.

"I start to become less afraid of Jerome and feel sexual attraction to him too, but I really like you! Then you come on to me! We all three had sex together! then everything just fucking went back to as if it never happened! I am so confused!"

Abbe had started yelling. She was so tired of feeling like she was being dragged around.

"I can't tell if you guys hate me now or not! We never talked about what happened!"

Mercedes sighed. She set up straight. 

"I'm so sorry Abbe.. That was not the intention.. we don't talk about our sex after it's over.. I guess we just didn't want to make anything weird.."

Abbe shook her head.

"It was weird not talking about it... I don't understand where I stand.."

Mercedes scooted her chair away from the table and patted her lap. 

"Hey.. come here."

Abbe reluctantly set on her lap. 

"I did not mean to make you feel that way."

Jerome gently touched Abbe's arm.

"Me either.."

Abbe sighed. 

"Was I bad at it...?"

Jerome laughed and Abbe looked at him questioningly.

"No Abbe. You were not bad at having sex with me and my wife."

Mercedes gently grabbed Abbe's chin and turned her head towards her. Her thumb gently rubbed Abbe's cheek.

"I really am sorry. I don't want you to ever feel this way pretty girl. It's just... we are still married.. and our love is to each other.. but.. I think you can definitely expect to be asked to join every now and again."

Mercedes gave Abbe a reassuring smile, and Abbe couldn't help but return a smile. Mercedes gently pulled her chin down. Mercedes gently kissed Abbe for a minute. Jerome stood up and grabbed the dishes. Jerome turned Mercedes's head and gently kissed her. It shocked Abbe when he pulled away from Mercedes and leaned forward pecking her on the lips. Jerome returned to the sink to wash the dishes. Abbe started to look sad again. Mercedes started playing with her hair.

"What's wrong..?"

Abbe sighed and took a few breaths before speaking.

"I really thought you guys didn't like me anymore... so much that... I thought you guys were going to kill me.."

Mercedes looked at Abbe with a saddened look. A tear slowly feel down Mercedes's cheek. 

"Oh my God Abbe..."

She pulled Abbe down into a tight hug.

"Why would we have killed you? I can't even tell you how sorry I am that we made you feel that way.."

Jerome turned around form the sink.

"I wouldn't have hurt you Abbe. I know I hurt a lot of people and I understand your concern, but like I told you from the beginning... you really don't have to worry about me.."

Mercedes held Abbe tightly. She kissed her on the cheek when she pulled away. 

"Would you like to have a girls day tomorrow? Just us? We can go shopping a little and grab lunch somewhere. I'd say we could bring the kids, but I just don't want them out in the world just yet..."

Abbe smiled brightly and placed her hand around Mercedes's neck. 

"I would really love that."