are you going?” Her father asked, eyeing her curiously.
“Anywhere but here.” She felt a frenzied ball of laughter erupt inside her throat. “I love him, Daddy.” She laughed.
“Love who?”
“Logan. I love him—now, always—forever.” She was six years ago now, back on the beach. He’d promised her forever that night, knowing that he was leaving. Knowing that he would never love another like he loved her.
And, at last, Abby could say the same.
She would love Logan Sheppard forever. She would love him for the man he had always been—it had nothing to do with wealth or status. He could be a pauper sleeping in an alley somewhere and he would still be just as appealing.
“And I’m going to have his baby, Dad.” She leaned forward, excitedly pressing her lips to her father’s cheek. “I’m going to be a mom—and he is going to be an amazing father.”
“Don’t you think you should try the marriage thing first?” He asked, his eyes twinkling as he saw the happiness that his daughter was suddenly enveloped in.
“It’s too late—it’s already started.” She was glowing—absolutely radiant. He offered her a confused look, uncertain of what she was trying to say. “In about six months, you’re going to be a grandfather.” She watched as his eyes widened.
“You’re—?” Abby nodded, smiling from ear to ear. “And Logan?” She nodded again.
“It was the best mistake I’ve made in my entire life.” She began to step toward the door. “And he doesn’t even know!” She began fumbling with the remaining pins in her hair, feeling too constricted. She needed to be free of all of this—of this entire charade. She knew where her life was—and it wasn’t here. “I have to go to him—I can make it to Sacramento—”
“No, Abigail—no, Logan isn’t going back to Sacramento.”
“What?” She turned, confused. How would her father know where Logan was going to?
“Logan—he’s going back east. His firm is branching out—he just finished building a house—”
“He’s leaving? Today?” The urgency within her grew even stronger. “But—”
“I’m sure he hasn’t left yet—” Of course—he would have to go to the airport. She had to hurry—she had to catch him before he left. She hurried toward the door once more, yanking the door open, calling for Jenny. The young woman appeared instantly, as if she had been waiting for the call. Abby waved her in without delay.
“I—I can’t be here, Jenny. I have somewhere to be—”
“I was hoping you would say that.”
“But I can’t—it’s suffocating me.” She gestured to the dress and Jenny laughed.
“This is something I can fix.” Jenny leaned over Abby’s shoulder. “You might not want to stick around for this part, sir.” Martin seemed to realize what was about to take place and he laughed.
“Well, I think I have some news to deliver. There are guests waiting for an event that was never meant to take place.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Abby whispered as he passed by her. He paused, turning to embrace his only daughter.
“No, my dear—thank you.” And with that, he turned, leaving the two young women behind. Jenny immediately set to work, unclasping and unzipping until Abby was left standing in just her undergarments.
“Good luck, Abby,” Jenny wished as Abby pulled on the clothes she had worn to the church. “Don’t worry about anything here—we’ll make sure it all gets taken care of.”
“You’re a good friend, Jenny.”
“I try!” She smiled boldly at Abby. “Now go!”
She didn’t need telling twice. It was only a moment before she was dashing from the church doors out into the street, trying her hardest to hail a cab. When she came up empty handed, her eyes landed on the limo that had brought her to the church.
“Eric will just have to forgive me,” she muttered as she threw herself into the backseat of the waiting car, instructing the driver to take her to the airport.
“Ceremony’s over a bit early, isn’t it?” The man asked, a knowing smile on his face.
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
It was amazing, the lightness that surrounded her. She hadn’t felt so carefree, so blissful, in such a long time. She felt whole again. Like whatever had been missing was found, returned to its rightful place.
All she needed to do was make it in time. She had to find him—had to tell him that she loved him. That she’d never stopped. And that they had a future. Together—one they’d already started without even planning it.
It seemed to take forever to get to the airport, but as soon as they were near enough, Abby threw