Episode 4.14

Davis Cabin

Abby stood in the doorway of the bedroom, watching Chad as he slept. He was so peaceful she didn’t have the heart to wake him up.

She finished buttoning her blouse over her camisole and raked her hair back with her fingers before pulling the envelope out of her purse. She closed her eyes, licked her lips, and sighed before taking several silent steps towards him, putting the paper next to him. Looking at this man right now, you would never know he wasn’t her husband.

She looked at him one final time before leaving him alone. Nothing more then a letter goodbye.

Dan Adams Apartment

“Dad, I am not moving!” Dan leaned against the kitchen counter, “I’m looking for a roommate. Don’t worry about me. Please.”

“Have you put an ad in the paper?” John Adams watched his son limp slightly from the healing pain in his stomach, “This is a three bedroom apartment. It was great when your brother and sister where here, but now they’ve moved on.”

Dan nodded as he took a drink from his bottle of orange juice. “I know that, Abby got married to Ethan and Sam’s at school in Ginger Falls. But Dad, I’m a grown man. I can take care of myself. I’m a police officer. I just need one other roommate and all will be good.”

John sighed, “I’m just worried about you Dan. I want to know that if something happens in the middle of the night you’ll have someone here to help.”

Dan replaced the lid on his juice and sighed, “Dad, give me a little bit of time, I just got out of the hospital. You and Mom, just got back together, let me do this on my own.”

John cracked open the water bottle next to him on the counter, “Only if you let Abby take care of her own life.”

“Fine, I’ll let her screw things up on her own. I’ll step out of it. I won’t be the over protective big brother. Is that what you want?”

“No, it’s what Abby wants.” John took a sip of the water and shrugged. “So when do you get back on duty?”

“Another week. They want to make sure this isn’t going to open if I’m chasing some purse snatcher or something.” Dan played with the juice lid, taking it off and putting it back on, “I’m a little afraid I’m going to end up behind a desk.”

“You might be behind one for a little while, but I doubt you’d be there long.”

Dan nodded, “I hope your right Dad. Because I want to keep people safe, I don’t want to push paper.”

Mercy Medical, Durango

“Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” Gary asked as he followed right behind his older sister Cassie towards they’re step-mother’s room.

“No idea, Dad was being weird on the phone when I talked to him earlier.” Cassie adjusted the basket she held in her arms. It had just a few things for Ariel, and of course a teddy bear for the new baby, and some blankets, a camera. Stuff they didn’t really need but was a nice gesture.

“Here it is.” Gary looked at the door, and then up at his sister, “We sure we want to do this?”

Cassie nodded, “Yeah, of course. You might not be the youngest anymore, but you get to be a big brother now.”

“That’s true.” Gary nodded and the noticed Cassie’s smile. “What?”

“Well if you treat this kid anything like me and Maggie, they’ll have one protective guy on they’re side.”

“Well I could just choose your boyfriend.”

Cassie laughed, “Nope, how about I choose your girlfriend.”

Gary cringed.

“Exactly.” She then opened the door and popped her head inside, “Hey, where’s the new bundle of joy?”

Ariel and her father smiled, “Coming up from the nursery. Come on in.”

Gary followed Cassie into the room, “So you pick out a name yet?”

Larry nodded, “We sure did.”

“So what is it?” Gary asked anxiously.

“Just a second.” The nurse came in with the baby wrapped in a blue blanket, “Cassie, Gary we’d like you to meet Hardy Howie Williams.”

Cassie looked at the bundle, “Well, another baby brother, looks like you get to be the oldest boy now to.”

Gary smiled, “Dad, what’s with the e sound at the end of his names?”

Cassie tried not to laugh, “You haven’t noticed that yet?”

“What?” Gary shook his head.

“Larry, Allie, Patty, Lily, Maggie, Cassie, Gary. The only one in the family without it is Ariel.” Cassie explained and looked at her father, “Though why is that?”

Larry shrugged, “Never did it on purpose.”

“So I’m gonna go call Maggie and let her know about Mr. Hardy Howie Williams.” Cassie went towards the door, and looked back once more at her new baby brother as Gary got to hold him in his arms.

210 Shavano Court

“Are you sure this is the prefect place?” Conner looked at the photograph Maggie had taken.

“Of course I’m sure.” She pulled her blond hair out of it’s pony tail and combed it with her fingers, “We’re getting married in a week and this is the place.”

Conner kissed her forehead, “Okay, then this is it. Just how do we get your family out here?”

Maggie smiled, “That’s the weekend Cassie moves into her dorm.”

“Great, you have all this set cause I need to run some errands.”

“Yeah, I’ve got it all set. All you have to do is show up.”

Conner kissed her for a moment, letting his lips rest on hers before pulling away. “Bye Mags.”

She watched him walk out the kitchen door before returning to the wedding plans. A surprise wedding, it would be perfect. No one would see it coming at all.

chirp, chirp Maggie’s cellphone began to sing.

“Hey, Cassie what’s going on?”

She could hear her sister suck in a breath, “We’ve got a new brother. His name is Hardy Howie Williams.”

“Are you serious?” Maggie put her magazine down.

“Of course, gotta love how Dad comes up with names.”

Maggie side, “I guess so. So little sister, when do you get to Pinõn Hallow?”

“Soon, are you still going ahead with your plan?”

“I sure am. So I’ll see you in a few days. I promise the dress isn’t horrific at all.”

Cassie laughed, “It better not be I have titles to represent.”

Hallow Hills Nursery

Adel carefully picked up Isabella as she slept. She had grown to love this child as her own, just as she had with Chad and Kip. No one was going to take her away.

She held Isabella close to her chest as she picked up the duffle bag in the corner and left the room, leaving the door wide open. She warned Doug, but she knew this was the only way things could be.

Hallow Hills—Jeff’s Room

Jeff Davis took a long sip of the red wine he held in his hand as he watched the driveway. Something was drawing him to it tonight.

The motion light turned on, and he saw Adel go towards her car, with Isabella in her arms. She was running.

Jeff had to decide; would he tell Doug or would he go after Adel himself.

Adel looked up to the house, her eyes connecting with Jeff’s for a moment before she lifted a hand to wave goodbye.

Jeff waved back and then watched her drive away. He had made his decision; he knew where he would find her and what he would do once he did.

Dan Adams Apartment

Abby opened the door to her brother’s apartment and found all the lights off. “Dan!” She yelled out as she closed the door behind her. She tossed her purse on a nearby chair and started towards his bedroom.

The light from his bedroom turned on and the door opened, “Abby, what’s going on? Where the hell have you been?” Dan leaned against the door frame looking exhausted.

She raked her right hand through her hair slightly shaking. “Ethan is going to leave me.”

Dan sighed, he had expected this, he had an idea of what his younger sister had done. How she had ruined her life. “Why is he going to leave you?”

She licked her dry lips, she looked at the spot just above his head for a moment before she answered, “I went to Chad last night.”

“Abby!” Dan took a step forward, disgust cracked through his face, “Why did you do that?”

“Because I had to say goodbye to him. I had to let Chad know that yes I do love him, but that I choose Ethan and that I can’t leave him.”

Dan pulled his sister into his arms and hugged her tightly. “Its going to be alright. Ethan doesn’t have to know. Just this is our little secret okay honey.” He kissed her forehead and continued to hold her as she began to cry.

There they stood, brother and sister in the hallway. Clinging onto dear life with each other, one comforting, and the other sobbing. The moment bonded them, connected them, these two together. Something that wouldn’t be broken by anyone else, or could it as Dan’s cell began to vibrate and chirp.

He pulled away slightly from Abby, still holding onto his younger sister as he answered, “Dan Adams.” He listened to the voice on the other end and he went pale.