by Katie Ashley
He laughed. “Come on, you know you like it!”
Suddenly, white-hot anger overcame me. Using more force than a human girl should ever have, I shoved him back. He went flying across the kitchen before slamming into the countertop. The force knocked several plates and dishes to the floor. The noise was deafening.
Chaz stared at me in astonishment. “What the hell was that?”
Before I could say anything, Zach came running into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” he demanded. His eyes narrowed at Chaz. My skin became inflamed as Zach’s fury pricked my skin. He wasn’t just upset about Chaz coming on to me. Everything about Chaz’s behavior brought Bruce’s face to his mind and mine as well.
The intensity of his anger made me nervous. I cleared my throat. “Nothing. Chaz was just leaving,” I replied.
“Weelll, I’m not leaving til I get a good night kiss,” Chaz countered, as he lurched towards me.
Zach stepped between us. Pressing his hand firmly against Chaz’s chest, he said, “I hate to break it to ya, cuz, but you’re leaving empty-handed.”
Chaz arched his eyebrows. “Is that right?”
“Yeah, it is.”
And then it happened. Chaz lunged at Zach, and Zach punched Chaz in the face. Blood splattered across the floor. “No, no, stop!” I cried, when Zach started to punch him again.
Rafe blew through the kitchen door. I knew he must’ve felt Chaz’s pain and transformed from wherever he was. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
Chaz drug the sleeve of his shirt across his bloody nose. “My psycho cousin just punched me in the face.”
Zach looked at Rafe. “You wanna know why I did? Because asshat here kissed Cassie.”
Rafe turned to me for confirmation. I quickly bobbed my head. “But I took care of it, and it’s over.”
Zach shook his head. “You bet it’s over. And if he ever tries to put the moves on Cassie again, I’ll do it again. Only it’ll be much worse!”
“I’d like to see you try,” Chaz countered.
As they started to inch towards each other, Rafe stepped between them. “Okay, that’s enough. No matter what happened, you guys are cousins—blood, family, etc, get it? You shouldn’t be at each other’s throats.”
Chaz shrugged. “Whatever. I’m outta here. I don’t know why I bothered coming by here in the first place. It’s nothing but a bullshit hassle every freakin’ time.” He then turned and stormed out the backdoor.
Rafe didn’t say a word to us. Instead, he hurried after Chaz, leaving Lauren, Zach, and I alone in the kitchen. Lauren stepped forward. “Are you okay?”
I forced a smile to my face. “Believe me, I’m fine. It’s really not a big deal.”
Zach stared at me in disbelief. “Not a big deal? I’m serious, Cassie. If that horndog ever tries anything again, I’ll beat the shit out of him!”
“No, you won’t, Zach. He isn’t worth it anymore than Damian was worth it, remember?”
His shoulders drooped a little, but he finally nodded. “Whatever.” His breath exhaled in a slow wheeze. “I’m just glad it’s over.”
Before I could stop him, he leaned forward and brushed a strand of hair that had come out of my ponytail out of my face. I would’ve thought nothing of it had I not heard a strangled cry. My eyes met Lauren’s. She appeared stung by his actions.
Quickly, I jumped back and swatted his hand away. “I said I was fine.”
But it was too late. The damage had already been done. “Um, I guess I better go,” Lauren said, her voice a pained whisper.
“Wait, don’t go. I was going to fix us a snack.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I’ll see you guys tomorrow at school.”
I started to say something, but Lauren had already whirled out the door. It slammed behind her, causing me to jump.
At the look on Zach’s face, I knew I was 0-2 for the evening. He wore his emotions as a mask of anger and hurt. “Yeah, Cassie, I guess I better go too,” he mumbled.
I didn’t bother protesting since there was really nothing I could say to make it right. “Okay, then. See ya at school then.”
He nodded and then the backdoor slammed for the second time that evening. Raising my eyes to the Heavens, I blew out a long breath, causing the stray hairs from my ponytail to fan across my face. Shaking my head, I went to picking up the pieces of smashed plates and glass while desperately trying to figure out how to piece back together my two broken assignments.
Chapter Seventeen: ELIJAH
After I got in from the hospital, I’d spent most of the evening pacing the living-room floor. I made so many trips I began to wonder if I might wear a hole in it or even my shoes. Something alarming was happening with Abby. I didn’t know exactly what it was; I just knew she was troubled. The fear in her mind prevented me from gaining an accurate picture. And that frustrated me even more.
Just as her face once again popped into my mind and her pain wrapped tighter around my heart, the phone rang. Rafe grabbed it as he came in the room. “Yeah, just a minute,” I heard him say.
“Hey Jay-Jay, it’s for you.”
“Hello?” I asked, even though I already knew who it was.
“Hey, it’s Abby,” she said, softly. The strain in her voice was evident. “Can you come over? I…I need you.”
“Sure. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Rafe stared at me as I hung up the phone. “Is it trouble?”
“Yeah, from the way she sounded and what I can feel of her, it’s something pretty bad,” I replied, hurrying to the door.
I sprinted up the road and was out of breath by the time I reached her house. I had barely rung the doorbell when Abby threw the door open. She looked expectantly at me with red eyes, and I could tell she’d been crying. “Come in,” she said, and then spun around to start up the stairs.
When I stepped into the foyer, I noticed David sitting in the living room watching television.
He called to me before I could escape. “Well Elijah, I didn’t expect to see you tonight. How are you?”
“Good, Mr. Thomas. And you?”
“Good, thanks. Are you and Abby working on something for school?”
I didn’t bother gauging Abby’s expression. “Yeah, she’s going to try sorting out some chemical equations for me,” I said. The moment the lie left my lips I felt the lighting quick admonishment whenever we angels were dishonest.
David laughed. “I feel for you. I almost flunked out of chemistry when I was your age.”
Suddenly Abby appeared my side. She grabbed my hand and yanked me forward. “Well, I guess we better get to work,” I said.
“Good luck.”
For someone so small, Abby’s strength surprised me as she pulled me up the flight of stairs and flung me into her room. She closed and locked the door behind her.
I raised my eyebrows. “Abby, what’s going on?”
Without a word, she shoved me into her bathroom. Once again she closed and locked the door. I couldn’t help noticing how pale she looked under the harsh lights. Dark purple circles jutted under her eyes. “Abby, are you okay?”
She motioned to the bathroom counter where three objects I had never seen before were spread out. I stared quizzically down at them. One had two red lines within an oval, and the two others had the word ‘yes’ spelled out.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
Astonishment flooded her face. “You don’t know what those are?”
I blushed. “No, I don’t.”
“They’re pregnancy tests, Elijah.”
I stared at her and then over to the three tests. It took only a second glance for the realization to form in my mind. When I looked back at her in disbelief, she slowly nodded her head. “I’m pregnant,” Abby whispered, as fresh tears sprung in her eyes.
“But…” I kept trying to process the information.
She started pacing around the bathroom, wringing her hands. “How could I have been so stupid? Oh
God, what am I going to do?”
“Abby, are you absolutely sure you’re pregnant? I mean, are these tests one hundred percent accurate?”
“Yes, I think three tests makes it pretty clear. I haven’t been to the doctor yet, but I’ve got all the symptoms.”
My brows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been throwing up the past few mornings, and I’ve been so tired lately. And I’m really, really late.”
“Late?”
“My period,” Abby said.
Hot embarrassment flooded my face when I realized my ignorance.
“What am I going to do?” she repeated.
My head swam as helplessness took over my body. I had no experience in this area, and for a moment, I questioned why the Dominion would have ever put me into such a situation.
Then it hit me. Abby was going to have a baby, and I was the protector of children. That was why I’d been placed with her.
I really didn’t know what to tell her to do. I blurted the first thing that came to my mind. “I think you need to tell your father.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy?”
“He needs to know.”
She shook her head. “If I tell him, he’ll flip out!”
“This isn’t going to go away, Abby. You can’t keep it from him forever.” She still appeared unconvinced. “Would it help if I went with you?”
“Maybe.”
Abby started trembling all over. In that instant, I overcame my usual embarrassment and drew her into my arms.
“My life is over!”
“No, it isn’t,” I argued.
“Yes, it is.”
I pulled away to look into her eyes. “It’s a baby, Abby, not a death sentence.”
“It might as well be for me. Think about it, Elijah. I’m sixteen, unmarried, and the pastor’s daughter.” When I didn’t reply, she continued. “Not only am I not married, but the baby’s father didn’t want me, and he’s certainly not going to want a baby.” As the words tumbled out, Abby buckled, and if I hadn’t been holding on to her, she would have passed out.
I eased her down on the edge of the bathtub, and she brought her hand to her forehead. “Try putting your head between your knees,” I suggested.
She leaned over and buried her face in her skirt as her body shook with silent sobs.
I sat beside her, stroking her back in wide circles and once again feeling utterly and completely helpless. When she raised her head, she looked over at me. “I’m so scared, Elijah.”
“Don’t be afraid, Abby. I’m here for you, and it’s going to be all right. I promise,” I said.
“When you say it, I can almost believe it.”
“Then believe it.”
“I’ll try.”
I squeezed her hand encouragingly. “Now come on. Let’s go tell your father.”
“Please, Elijah. Don’t make me tell him. Not tonight.”
My heart broke with her pleading. “But he’s the one who will know what should be done. Besides, do you want him to hear it from someone else?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Then let’s tell him.”
I could feel Abby’s hesitation, but somehow she struggled to her feet. I rested one hand on the small of her back as I guided her towards the stairs. Abby halted on the landing, but after drawing in a deep breath, she started down them. When we walked into the living room, David looked up. “Taking a break so soon?”
Abby nervously cleared her throat. “Daddy, I need to talk to you.”
I followed her over to the couch to sit down. Then I took one of her hands in mine for encouragement.
Tears welled in Abby’s eyes. “I know what I’m about to say is going to disappoint you, and I want you to know how very sorry I am.”
David leaned forward. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
David froze. “What did you say?”
“I’m pregnant,” Abby repeated, this time a little louder.
Color flooded into David’s face. The vein on the side of his forehead pulsed. “You’re what?”
Abby stared down at her hands. “I said I’m pregnant, Daddy.”
For a long moment, the room was silent. David seemed to be having trouble breathing. Suddenly, he lunged at me. “How could you do this? I invite you into my home, my church, and you repay me by getting my daughter pregnant!”
My eyes bulged in horror as Abby pushed herself between us. “No daddy, it isn’t Elijah’s!”
David glanced wildly at me for confirmation. I nodded, and David exhaled. He sank down on the couch. “I’m sorry, Elijah.”
“That’s okay,” I whispered.
“Then whose baby is it?” David asked.
“Landon Miller’s.”
His eyes widened in horror. “That jerk friend of Chaz’s?”
Abby nodded miserably as she proceeded to tell her father the same thing she had told me before.
David sat in silence after she finished. His voice was strained when he said, “I still don’t understand how you could let this happen.”
“Daddy, I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t speak for a few minutes. When the words finally came, they shocked the whole room. “I can’t have you under my roof.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I said get your things and leave this house. I’m the pastor of a church. I can’t—”
“Please don’t throw me out, Daddy,” Abby pleaded.
David rose up from the couch. He kept his eyes firmly on the ground and jammed his hands into his pants pockets. “You have cut me to the core, Abigail. I can’t even look at you anymore knowing what you have done.”
Abby shot to her feet, but the rush was too much. I had to steady her as she swayed back and forth like she might faint. The sound of sobbing drew my attention to the doorway where Hannah stood. Tears streamed down her cheeks. When David literally nudged Abby towards the door, Hannah bolted out, locking her arms around her sister’s waist.
He froze. I thought the sight of Hannah clinging to Abby might change his mind.
But I was wrong.
In a heartbreaking gesture, David pried Hannah away from Abby. Hannah slung out of David’s grasp. She stared coldly up at him before running past me, up the stairs, and slamming her bedroom door.
I shook my head as David flung the front door open. “You’re going to regret this,” I said, as I wrapped my arms tighter around Abby.
David’s eyes pooled with tears. “I already do,” he replied. Then he shook his head one last time and closed the door behind us.
I practically had to carry Abby down the street to my house. When we entered the foyer, her hysterical sobs brought the others to the doorway. “What’s happened?” Sophie asked.
“David threw her out of the house,” I answered.
Sophie’s eyes grew round with disbelief. “Oh no, he didn’t.”
“But why?” Cassie asked.
I hesitated before I said anything. Abby raised her tear stained face. “Because I’m pregnant.”
Instantly, Sophie flew to Abby’s side. I knew her maternal instincts would start kicking into overdrive due to Abby’s condition. “It’s going to be all right, sweetheart. You can stay here with us tonight.” She drew Abby into her comforting embrace. Something about Sophie’s arms around her made Abby start sobbing again. “Shh, it’s okay. We’ll take care of you sweetheart,” Sophie murmured. “Come on upstairs, and we’ll get you into bed.”
“But I don’t have anything with me—no clothes, no pajamas…,” Abby moaned.
“Don’t worry about that.” Sophie turned to Cassie. “Can you find something for Abby to sleep in?”
Cassie nodded. Sophie smiled at Abby. “See? Everything is going to be just fine.” She pulled Abby up the stairs.
Gabriel met my eyes. “I’ve got to go see David. You stay here and keep watch over Abby. Get Sophie to
go over and check on Hannah.”
“Okay,” I said. Gabriel grabbed his keys and hurried out the door. When the door closed behind him, Rafe sighed. “Let me guess. That jerk Landon did this to her?”
I nodded.
“Yeah, I thought as much.” He shook his head angrily. “Maybe I’ll give him a little work over tomorrow at practice!”
“Rafe…” I warned.
He met my worried gaze and grinned. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll keep it on the angel side.”
“Good.” I started up the stairs, but then I turned back. “Not that I wouldn’t love to work him over myself.”
Rafe laughed. “Man, I’d love to see that.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you would.” Then I turned and hurried upstairs. I met Sophie in the hallway. “Gabriel wants-”
“I’m on my way now. Why don’t you get Abby settled in your room? You can sleep in Rafe’s room tonight.”
“Okay.”
Sophie smiled as she swept past me and down the stairs. I found Abby sitting on my bed with her knees drawn up to her chest. I shut the door behind me after I stepped inside. I sat down beside her on the bed. There were no words I could say, so I simply reached out to wipe the tears off her cheeks. Abby collapsed into my arms, pressing her face against my chest. I tightened my arms protectively around her.
“Shh, don’t cry. It’s going to be all right,” I whispered into her ear, but she only seemed to cry harder.
My shirt was soaked through with her tears by the time she pulled away. When she caught a glimpse of it, her face flushed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, Abby. I’m here for you no matter what.”
Abby stared into my eyes. “But why? Why are you here for me?”
The obvious choice would have been to reply, “Because I’m an angel sent to guard and protect you.” But of course I couldn’t say that. “Because you’re my friend, and I care about you very, very much.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I care about you a lot too. I mean, I don’t know what I would have done tonight without you and your family. Now I don’t have any family!”
“Abby, that isn’t true. Your father loves you. He’s just angry and hurt right now. He’ll come around. You’ll see.”
