Can't Let Go - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,9
the who?” Abby asked, the room quieting around her as she concentrated on Hayley’s voice, needing to make certain she’d heard her friend clearly.
“I said,” Hayley replied. “I’m looking for Abigail the aunt.”
“Are you saying—” Abby already felt her mood brightening, even at the prospect.
“I’m pregnant!” The woman squealed, and Abby couldn’t refrain from joining her—she didn’t care about causing a scene.
“Oh my god, Hayl!” She breathed, forgetting all about the headache and the tasks her boss had given her, and now concentrating solely on the voice on the other end of the phone. “You’re sure?”
“I just went to the doctor this morning.” Happiness flooded through Abby. Hayley had been trying to get pregnant for the last year—and finally, it had happened.
“Have you told Blake yet?”
“Not yet. But I’m totally surprising him with a baby-themed picnic for a late lunch.” Hayley sounded so excited—and the feeling was contagious. Abby could hardly contain herself. Hayley had wanted this for so long,
“Isn’t it cold?” Abby asked. Her friends had moved to Kentucky once Blake had finished medical school where he’d taken a job at a small private practice with a few people he’d gone to school back east with. Hayley laughed and Abby pictured her shaking her head, maybe even rolling her eyes. Abby was pretty much clueless about what the weather was like anywhere that wasn’t on a coast—and, from what she remembered, this time of year on the East coast was still a little on the chilly side.
“No—it’s actually pretty nice.” Abby had only been to visit a very few number of times since they’d moved and had yet to get used to the weather. Well, that was certainly going to change now that a baby was on the way. Abby could only imagine how adorable Hayley and Blake’s child was going to be. “Spring starts a little earlier here than it does back in Boston.”
“Good—you can’t go getting yourself sick, now that you’ve got a little bun in the oven.” Abby grinned happily as she leaned forward, resting her head on her hand. “He’s going to be so happy, Hayl.” Abby saw Blake’s smiling face in her mind.
“I certainly hope so, otherwise we’ve been trying all this time for nothing!” Hayley laughed and Abby smiled, imagining her friend’s smile. “I’m so excited, Abby.”
“I am too,” she reached out and touched the edge of the framed photo she’d looked at earlier, suddenly longing to be near her. “You guys are going to be such good parents.”
“And you’re going to be the best aunt the world’s ever seen.” Abby laughed, nodding her head though her friend couldn’t see her. “Hey—and if you can hold off the wedding for a couple more years, you’ll have yourself an adorable little flower girl.”
“Or ring bearer,” Abby corrected, smiling. The mention of her pending marriage brought her back to reality and she withdrew her fingers from the frame.
“Or you could just call the whole thing off and track down a certain soon-to-be-uncle—”
“Let’s not get into this again,” Abby said, shaking her head. Hayley had made clear for quite some time the way she felt about Abby’s wedding. Ever since Eric, Abby’s fiancé, had proposed, Hayley had been certain to remind Abby of the future she had nearly had. “That was a long time ago, Hayl. Let’s let it stay there.”
“You know just as well as I do that you’ve thought about it.”
“Of course I have. But that’s a situation full of what-if’s. Eric and I—that’s reality.” She sighed, subconsciously touching her fingers to her temples once more. “Just like you and Blake. And the little one on the way.”
“I’m sure you could make a new reality, Abigail Lewis.” When Abby said nothing, Hayley sighed, signaling that she was dropping the subject. Abby was happy that her friend was so distracted—otherwise, this could have turned into a much deeper conversation. “This is probably the happiest day of my life, Abbs. I can’t wait to tell Blake.”
“You’ll call me tonight to tell me how it goes?” Abby wished she could be there with her friend. This was such a big deal—such a big moment in her life. This was something she was supposed to be there for.
“You know I will—he’s going to be so excited.”
“Tell him I send my love and congratulations.” Abby knew the conversation was coming to an end and she was suddenly reminded of the day she had ahead of her. But it didn’t matter now—none of it did. She was going to be