Unfinished Business

Chapter 4

Abby

I continue to help my mom in the kitchen after watching Owen walk out with his daughter. I can't wrap my head around that fact that he has a child. I can't help but think about what we could have had. I force myself not to let the tears fall that are right on the edge of my eyelids. He has a whole life that doesn't include me and I wonder if he is happy with it. He must be right? The way he smiled when he looked at that little girl, said it all. I knew that smile. He once had that smile whenever I walked into the room. I don't know what I thought would happen when I got here and saw him, but this was definitely the last thing I expected.

"Will you take this to the table, please," Mom asks, holding out a bowl of salad to me. I nod and take it from her. As I walk into the dining room, I can feel his eyes on me. I don't look up at him when I place the bowl on the table or when I sit down. I look at my hands instead.

"Can I sit beside the Queen?" I hear Bree's little voice. I look up at her. She is standing in the doorway with her grandmother. As I look at her, I decide she is adorable and there is no way I can resent her, even a little. I give her a smile, a real one, and pat the seat next to me. She smiles and runs to the chair where I help her onto the seat. "Do you like Barbies?" She asks me as she wiggles around in the seat trying to get comfortable. I look at her with a huge smile, yep, she is adorable.

"I love Barbies!" I tell her. She smiles so wide.

"Did you hear that daddy?" She looks at Owen, who is sitting directly across from me. I chance a look at him briefly and regrets it. He smiles big at me and I don't miss the look in his eyes. What is he doing? Bree obviously has a mother so I don't know why he has the audacity to look at me like there is still some sort of feelings for me in him.

I look away to Bree. "How many Barbie's do you have?"

"So, so, so, many!" She throws her arms out wide to show me. I laugh along with the rest of the table. Bree starts in telling me every detail she can think of to tell me about the new Barbie house her dad just bought her and I make sure to act excited to hear about it. I contribute to the adult conversation only when needed and avoid Owen's stare for the rest of the meal. I breath a silent sigh of relief when Owen tells Bree it is time to go to bed.

"But Daddy," she whines.

I turn to her and smile, "I'll be here tomorrow too, and we can keep talking about Barbie. I might even have a few around here. Maybe we can play." I can't help but giggle a little at the sparkle in Bree's eyes when I tell her this. "But you have to listen to your dad, okay?" She nods hoping off the chair. She heads for Owen, who is in the doorway waiting for her, but stops and turns back to me for a hug. I hug her back and whisper sweet dreams. She turns and walks back to him. I feel my thoughts turning back to what could have been again as I watch him take her hand and walk out of the room. I force them away. I have to make it through this trip and when I get home, I will break down.

"Coffee?" Mom says, drawing my attention away from the empty doorway. I look at her and she gives me a sympathetic smile. I hate when she does that. She knows it still hurts, but I hate all the looks. I wave my hand in her direction, telling her to stop and not say anything. She nods and stands. The rest of us do too and walk into the sitting room.

We sit and while waiting for mom to bring the tray with coffee. "How are you sis?" Caleb asks, sitting beside me on the couch and throwing his arm around me. I nod and tell him all is well. I can't think while focusing so hard on not letting the thoughts that will send me into tears through. "The new job good?" I nod. I hear him sigh. He knows what I am doing and he hates it. He is the best big brother in the world. He hates that I still hurt over the past.