When the Bough Breaks

Chapter 8

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Abby sat on the edge of Eric's bed and whispered softly to him that she'd never stop fighting for him. She was slowly losing her patience with Tom and was ready to just pick up and leave everything behind, including him.

She slept with Eric that night and held him tightly fearing he wouldn't be there when she awoke.

The next morning Tom had already called and set up visitation with the other families when Abby made her way downstairs. He was hesitant to bring it up with her but knew he'd better before Eric woke.

"Abby, I'm taking Eric to visit with Lindsay and Brian this afternoon."

"You're not taking my son anywhere near those perverts." Abby was too calm for Tom's liking and he worried about the repercussions of his decision.

"He's their son and they have a right to spend time with him."

"You never wanted him. You were just too damn busy at work to care about us. Eric is all I have. You have your precious ad work and God knows how many mistresses you've had over the years. I've spent the last seven years taking care of Eric and seeing that he was happy and healthy. I will not let you take him and expose him to undesirable conditions or people. I've raised him to be a good Christian boy."

"Abigail, I seriously think you need to see someone. The only reason I work so much is so that you can stay home with Eric and volunteer at school. I took this job so that we could send our son to college and give him a better life."

"His life was just fine; you took this job so you could isolate us."

"I'm not going to argue with you when our son is upstairs. Now I've set the meeting up and you'd better have him ready."

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Two hours later Abby sat in the car with Eric trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing. She knew that if she let Eric visit with those people she'd lose him forever. Sitting at the stoplight she debated about turning back before continuing on with her plan.

She was almost to the state line when she realized the consequences of her actions. Pulling over to the shoulder, she unbuckled and turned to face her son.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I don't know what I'm thinking. I just want you to be safe and I want you to know that I love you more than the world."

"I know, Mom."

"I know you do, Eric." Abby took a deep breath and tried to find the strength to go on. "I don't know what I'm doing. Do you remember those people you met the other day?"

"Yes, Mommy, they were nice. I liked the lady a lot."

"I'm glad, Eric. See they want you to spend some time getting to know them, so your dad thought it would be a good idea."

"Are we going to see them now? Is that why you packed my jammies and teddy?"

"No, Mommy was scared, so she thought it would be best if you didn't see them, but now I guess I understand that they do love you. I want you to understand that I'm doing this for you and because I love you and want you to have the best life possible."

"But where are we going, Mommy?"

"Home, sweetheart. We're going home to figure out how to deal with all of this."

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Tom sat at the table wondering how the hell he could've misjudged his wife so badly. He'd thought for sure that she'd do the right thing. He was dreading having to make the phone call to Brian. He'd given them hope and now Abby had taken that away from all of them.

He'd just made the decision to do this in person when he heard a car in the drive. Rushing to the window he finally let out the breath he'd been holding when he saw his wife and son in the driveway. Abby looked like she'd been through hell and back and Tom knew that in her own way she had. Still he was happy to see her.

Throwing open the door he ran outside to help her. "Abby, thank God, I've been frantic with worry."

"Don't worry, Tom, your reputation will be fine. Eric's here and ready to go meet with," Abby hesitated. "With those people. I explained to him that he needed to get to know them."

"Abby, I know this is hard on you, but you did the right thing."

"The right thing for who, Tom? You? Or our son?"

"Sweetheart, he has a right to know where he came from."

"Even if it means losing him?"

"He'll always be our son and maybe this way we'll still get to be a part of his life. We're doing the right thing for all of us."

"I hope you're right, Tom."

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Twenty minutes later Tom and Gus were sitting in the park snacking on hot dogs and soda when Brian and Lindsay walked up. Gus waved and turned his attention back to the hot dog.

Lindsay crouched to be on his level before speaking. "Hi, Eric, do you remember me?"

"Yeah, you're that lady I met."

"That's right. My name's Lindsay and this is my very good friend Brian. If it would be okay with you we'd like to just get to know you a little."

"I guess so," Gus responded, looking to his father for assurance.

"I understand you like to draw."

"Yeah, it's cool."

"I used to be an art teacher and now I work in a gallery. Maybe someday soon I could show you some of the paintings we have there."

"And I could show you some of the paintings I've made. My mom got me this really cool easel last year for my birthday and I paint every day."

"I'd love that. You know I try to paint everyday too."

"Really? None of my friends think it's cool, but I love to do it and mom says I'm really good, so she signed me up for some classes here."

"You're dad told us that. Did you know that your teacher is a good friend of mine and Brian's?"

"Really? Is he nice?" Gus asked looking up at Brian nervously.

"He's the nicest person you'll ever meet, Gus."

Gus looked up, confused that he'd been called by the boy's name he'd heard about the other day.

Lindsay shot Brian a look and he quickly looked away, unable or unwilling to stop the tears from slipping from his eyes. Gus felt sad for the man and closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around Brian's neck.

"Don't worry, Mr. Kinney, your son will come home soon."

Brian held tightly to the little boy, determined to make those words true once and for all. He had to find the right way to get his son home where he belonged without destroying his world in the process.

TBC.....

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