for me. Don’t worry. Stay here in case they come back, okay?”
Abby nodded numbly, allowing Chris to help her onto the couch.
“You have to be at work soon,” she mumbled.
“No, someone’s covering me. I’m staying with you.”
As Abby’s mind continued to spin with the possibilities, her chest tightened and she pressed her hand to it.
“I think I might be sick,” she said. “I’m so hot, and my chest hurts. I can’t breathe.”
“Lay back,” Chris said, reaching for her wrist to feel her pulse. “Let’s put your feet up. Try to relax, Abby. Take some deep breaths. Everything’s gonna be okay.”
“I love them so much. They mean everything to me.”
“I know. Just close your eyes and take some deep breaths. I want you to stay right here while we wait.”
She reached for his hand, clasping it tightly as she closed her eyes. Time seemed to stop as they sat together in silence. The tightness in Abby’s chest passed, but her nausea wouldn’t subside.
As soon as Kathy’s headlights passed over the window as she pulled into the driveway, Abby bolted from the couch.
“Please, please have them,” she whispered. She ran to the kitchen door and opened it, choking back a cry when she saw Audrey and Sara.
“Abby, I’m sorry,” Audrey said as Abby reached for them both and pulled them close for a tearful embrace.
“You guys! I’m so glad to see you! Where were you?”
“Dad picked us up on the way home,” Sara said. Abby pulled back, glancing at Audrey.
“I’m sorry,” Audrey said, looking guilty. “I didn’t want to go, but Sara did, and I told her not to, but…I thought I should go to look after her.”
“Are you both okay? Did anything bad happen?” Abby asked frantically.
“We’re okay. He took us to the park and out for ice cream,” Audrey said.
“You know you can be honest with me, no matter what, right?” Abby asked.
“I know. I know what you’re worried about. We’re both okay.”
Abby felt weak as the sick feeling passed, and she led the girls into the house.
“Mom, thanks for getting them,” she called outside to Kathy, who was still in the driver’s seat of her car.
“I’m going back out,” Kathy said, backing out. Abby looked at her, confused.
“What about dinner? Aren’t you hungry?”
Kathy was already out of earshot, and Abby closed the door.
“Chris, will you eat with Sara while I talk to Audrey?” she asked, walking Audrey into her bedroom.
Abby stroked her younger sister’s hair, sighing as she considered.
“Aud…when you said you knew what I was worried about, what did you mean?”
“You don’t want Dad to hurt us, the way he hurt you.”
“What do you know about that?”
“I’ve heard Mom talking about it. That you and him…it’s a word I’m not supposed to say.”
Abby’s face crumpled with sadness. She had always hoped the girls didn’t understand the things Kathy said about her.
“I don’t think you’re a whore,” Audrey said defensively. “I know what that is, from school. He shouldn’t have done that to you. Grown-ups shouldn’t do that. You should have told someone, and he would have been in trouble.”
“You’re right,” Abby said with a small smile.
“I hate him,” Audrey said. “I don’t want to see him. I told Sara she should hate him, too.”
“Sweetie, it’s a hard thing. It’s hard to hate your parents.”
“Why don’t you hate Mom? I hate her, too. You’re the one who takes care of us, and she’s so mean to you.”
“Mom is…she’s sick, Audrey. Not just with her health problems, but with other things.”
“I don’t care.” Audrey’s hazel eyes, a match for Abby’s, darkened with anger. “She likes drugs better than us, and I hate her. She’s going back to Dad’s because he told her he’s got something good to share.”
Abby covered her face with her hands, anger swirling inside her at Audrey having to deal with such things at the age of 12. When her sister spoke again, she heard fear in her voice.
“If you ever leave, I’ll have to take care of Sara. I don’t know if I can.”
“I’ll never leave you!” Abby said, reaching for Audrey. “Never! You and Sara are everything to me, and to Justin, too.”
Audrey nodded, but Abby still saw shadows of worry on her young face.
“Let’s go get some dinner,” Abby said. “No more walking home from school. We’ll work something else out so this never happens again.”
Marla’s brows were furrowed with confusion as she walked into Abby’s office, staring over her glasses at a paper in front of her.
“Abilene?” she said. “Your name is Abilene?