say the words. She watched his eyes change—saw the pain etch itself inside them. “Just go.”
“If this is what you want, Abby—if this is what will make you happy—”
“Get out!” She actually screamed then, the urge to throw herself into his arms almost undeniable. But she couldn’t do it.
“I love you, Abigail Lewis. I’ll never stop, no matter how much it hurts.” He held her eyes for several long moments, pleading with her the entire time. Her body actually began to shake as she stared, dying to go to him.
And then he was gone.
She felt the tears coming on and she willed them away. Abby struggled to maintain her breathing. She fought to keep her feet planted on the floor so that she didn’t run after him, telling him that she did love him—that she did want him. That he had given her something she thought she would never have.
Several moments passed before Abby could tear her eyes away from the spot Logan had just vacated. A few renegade tears had escaped, leaving a hot trail down her cheek. It took everything she could muster not to break down into sobs.
“Abby?” She heard another knock at the door now, another voice—this time her father. “Abby, dear, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Dad—I just need—” But he didn’t wait. He pushed the door open and was already walking into her room, his eyes full of concern.
“Was that Logan I just saw?” His eyes were roaming over her, taking in her appearance—the pain in her eyes, the tears on her cheeks.
“Don’t worry, I sent him away.” She couldn’t help the acidic tone in her voice. Isn’t that what he would have wanted her to do?
“Why, dear?” His question nearly knocked her breathless once more, but not because of the words—it was his tone. He almost seemed remorseful.
“Why was he here?” She tried to clarify. He couldn’t possibly have meant the question the way she’d taken it.
“Why would you send him away?” She couldn’t breathe for a moment.
“Isn’t it obvious?” She was lost. Utterly and completely lost. “Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?”
“Oh, Abigail,” he reached out and took her hand then, his eyes pleading with her. “All I want you to do is whatever will make you happiest.”
“Whatever will make me happiest?” Abby repeated his words. She pulled her hand away, feeling as if his touch burned her. “Did you really just say that? Did you really just tell me that my happiness is what matters most to you? Because if you really meant that, then we wouldn’t even be in this position. If you really meant it—Logan never would have left in the first place.”
“Abby—” But she didn’t let him speak. She couldn’t. She’d been holding this in for far too long.
“I was happy, Daddy. All those years ago—I was more than happy. I had Hayley. I had Logan. I had a bright future ahead of me.” She shook her head. “What do I have now?”
And suddenly, she knew the answer to that. She touched her hands to her stomach, the tears in her eyes fading.
Her father took advantage of her silence, doing his best to explain himself and console his daughter. He didn’t notice that she no longer needed consoling. “I was foolish, Abby. I know it’s late—and I’m sorry. But when you told me that Hayley had died—it nearly killed me. Not because it was Hayley, but because it could have been you. You’re the most important thing in this world to me, my dear. And all I want is for you to be happy. I don’t care if you find it with Logan—or with Eric—or with some homeless man on the street.” He paused.
“All I care is that you find it.”
It was as if everything was falling into place. It didn’t even matter to Abby that she had her father’s blessing—because, for once, she had her own.
“Abigail?” She realized that she hadn’t spoken for several moments and she turned to her father, her eyes wide—and, for the first time in many months—maybe even years, they were awake.
“I can’t be here, Daddy.” She shook her head, reaching back to try to undo her dress. There was a new urgency within her.
“Abby—”
“I can’t do this. I just—this isn’t what I want. This has never been what I wanted.” She reached up and tore the veil from her hair, taking with it the pins that had held her hair firmly in place. “This isn’t where I’m meant to be.”
“Where