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Chapter 34
34 Letting Him Go Again
34 Letting Him Go Again (Winona)
The next day, I finally got the chance to catch up with Lisa. Apart from text messages to fill her in on Abby, I hadn't seen her since the night I took her home after her confession over the drugs scandal. "Wow, this suite is amazing. Can I go see Abby?"
"Sure. She's been awake and able to have clear fluids since the infection started clearing up."
"I'm so happy. Does that mean she's out of the woods?
I shake my head. "Far from it I'm afraid. Another operation next week. Jayden will be giving a blood,sample today, possibly Judy as well although I really hope I don't have to rely on her to do the right thing." We walk to Abby's room and she gives a tiny smile. "Aunt Lisa, yay!"
"Hey there, poppet. You feeling better?"
Abby nods, "I got jelly for dinner."
"Oh my goodness. That's amazing." Lisa sanitizes her hands and gives Abby a high five. "Winning!"
The nurse smiles. "I'll head off for dinner. Buzz if you need anything before I'm back."
"Thank you so much."
"There's enough toys in here to sink a battleship." Lisa says while looking around the room.
"I have the same number of flowers in my room."
"Jayden?" Lisa asks.
I nod. "Yes, Jayden."
"Mommy, who's Jayden?" Abby asks.
"Jayden is a friend of Mommy's."
"He got lots of toys for me."
"He did."
"And flowers for you?"
"Yes, tomorrow I'll bring some in for you to see."
"Does he love us Mommy?"
I looked at Lisa and she raised her eyebrows.
"Why would you ask that, Abby?"
"Cos if you love people, you buy them nice stuff." Her innocent little voice makes me smile.
"Friends do that too, sweety."
34 Letting Him Go Again
""Will he come see me?"
"He is very busy at work. Like Mommy. Maybe one day he will."
"Okay." She closes her little eyes and dozes off to sleep.
"They give her night meds to help her sleep." I whisper to Lisa. "Come on, let's go into the kitchen, pour some wine and catch up. Only one for me though. I need to be alert, just in case." "Kids just say the darndest things, don't they?" Lisa says as she sips her red wine. "She has a point though."
I nod. "Maybe. But yesterday, the three of us all had an adult conversation over this."
"Sounds boring. I've been having those with Lance too this week."
"Oh, how's everything there? Are you two friends still, after all that club stuff?"
"He seems to be okay about it." She shrugs. "Now spill the tea about yesterday."
"Jayden had memories and he kissed me."
"What?"
"I know right? Then Phillip walks in on us."
""Holy shit!"
"Then I had to tell Jayden he was the father and needed him to get his blood tested but I still didn't want him in Abby's life." I shake my head. It sounds so complicated when I say it out loud. "You didn't tell me I'd need snacks for this. What did he say?"
"After he and Phillip stopped acting like I was the Holy Grail they were both competing for, we all agreed that Phillip and I would raise Abby and Jayden wouldn't be in her life that way." "That is some heavy shit."
"Yeah, but it needed to be said. Now I'm worried that Judy needs to be tested too if Jayden isn't a match. I bet she doesn't make that easy."
"No way she will. But hopefully Jayden has the match."
"There's more."
"You're kidding me?"
I shake my head. "Nope. Ashlyn is pregnant."
Lisa almost chokes on her drink. "What? With Jayden?"
"I guess so. He seems to think so. The wedding is back on. Or will be."
"Unbelievable."
"Then we all had dinner together."
"The three of you?"
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I nod. "All three of us."
Lisa just shakes her head and smiles. "Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?"
I give a laugh and it feels good. After the past few days, I never thought I'd laugh again. "I just hope these operations are successful because waiting for a heart transplant that may never come might just kill me too."
Lisa takes my hand. "You are the strongest person I know. Abby is strong. Let's not think the worst."
"One thing is for sure. I can't be worried about stupid stuff like men and love. Life is way too short. I can choose happiness."
"You could do worse than Phillip. He really loves you."
I nod. "I know and now, I guess now I can let myself love him too. Now Jayden is out of the picture for good."
"But is he though?"
"He has to be. For Abby's sake. He will have his hands full with his own baby and I don't want a lifetime of fighting against Judy. I don't trust her as far as I can kick her. I want, we want, Abby to have a drama-free life." I feel good because I know I'm making the best choice for my daughter. "Judy will surely be satisfied."
"Hopefully satisfied enough to give us some peace. Not that I'll ever trust her."
Lisa has a drink. "Imagine if that baby isn't even Jayden's."
"There's enough drama now without you imagining more. Stop it."
"You could always move away again." Lisa screws up her face. "Actually, no. Don't do that please."
"Not possible. Jayden made me an offer I can't refuse. No more consultancy once Abby is back home. Phillip will take that over on his own. I'm going to be employed officially by Brennan Industries. It's a huge salary package in lieu of alimony and child support." "Are you sure that's wise?"
"After five years, I'll be set up for life. Abby will have all she needs, and we can go spend time together traveling as a family and I'll homeschool her. It's perfect in the long term."
"And in the short term you are tied to Jayden daily."
"I can handle it."
Lísa raises her eyebrows. "Good luck with that."