Tommy turns to face me. I no longer see a speckle of my Tommy. The person I am looking at has eyes that exhibit pure and unadulterated evil. “So, you spend a few nights away from me and then turn on me? It’s none of your fucking concern if I’m on drugs, do you understand me? Yes, I snort dope. What’s the big fucking deal?” Tommy snarls at me.
“It’s a big deal because I’m pregnant with your babies or did you forget about them in your drug haze? I will not allow my children around a meth head even if it is their own father!”
Tommy grabs me by my arm and pulls me closer to his face, “You are the reason that I use drugs. You got pregnant because you were too stupid to use birth control and now you want to use these kids over my head? You are one stupid girl for sure. You will not threaten me by withholding my children from me. They are just as much my children as they are yours,” he is now shouting at me. “Don’t you ever use my kids against me! You are nothing without me!”
Tommy is talking low but his anger is evident. I have to get the attention of my mom or Jason. I feel my chest tighten as Tommy’s hand tightens around my arm. I flinch as I see his free hand come down against the side of my face. Immediately I scream as the burning radiates across my face. “Get off of me! Let me go!” I scream as loud as I can.
There’s a commotion behind me and Tommy looks up. Tears are streaming down my face as he lets my arm go and rises to his feet. I move to the other side of the couch and put my hand over the spot where his hand, just seconds ago, had struck. I look up and see my mom and Jason making their way into the living room. Jason puts his arm in front of my mom ushering her back as he proceeds to walk toward Tommy. “What they hell did you do to her?” Jason yells at Tommy.
Tommy walks toward Jason and gets right up in his face. My heart is racing. These two do not like each other and I know this is going to end very badly for Tommy. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Tommy asks Jason then looks back at me. “You! You are fucking this guy, aren’t you? You fucking bitch,” he yells as he starts to come back toward me.
I begin to shake. My heart feels as if it’s going to pound out of my chest. Tommy raises his fist up, ready to pop me across my face. There’s nowhere for me to go. He’s blocking my only way up and, at this level, I have no leverage to fight back. Just as his fist is coming down toward my already damaged face, Jason grabs his arm. Jason spins Tommy around on his heels and pushes him toward the front door and away from me. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to hit a lady,” Jason says before he punches Tommy square in the nose.
Tommy places his hand over his nose immediately after impact. My mom runs for the bedroom. Jason takes a step toward Tommy as Tommy removes his hand from his nose and blood begins to squirt all over. “You broke my nose you fucking dumb jock!” Tommy shouts as he leaps toward Jason. A scream escapes my throat as Tommy wraps his arms around Jason’s waist and he pushes Jason back a few steps.
It doesn’t take Jason long to regain his footing but it gives Tommy enough time to throw a punch at Jason that finds its mark on Jason’s eye. Jason raises his fist again and, this time, makes contact with Tommy’s jaw. Tommy’s shouts mask my own screams. Mom makes her way back into the living room with her phone up to her ear. She begins yelling at Tommy that she’s on the phone with the 911 dispatcher and he better just get the hell out of her home and leave her kids alone. Tommy squares off to Jason and, for a moment there, my heart stops. Is Tommy going to take another swing at Jason?
Just as quickly as the fighting started, it’s ended but my heart rate is still elevated. Tommy walks out the front door, slamming it behind him. The force of the door slamming was so forceful that it knocked one of our family photos off the wall. The frame breaks and the glass shattered to a million pieces on the floor.
My mom comes running to me, phone still against her ear. I can’t make out what she’s saying to the operator from the sound of my own heart beating in my head. I’m shaking from the stress of the situation and looking up at Jason. He swipes his hand through his hair as he turns to look at me. He lets out a sigh and starts walking towards me. “Abigail, oh my God baby, are you alright?” He asks as my mom stands to let the officers in that just arrived.
Jason sits next to me and moves my hand from my face. His demeanor changes when he sees it. I can’t see it but I can feel the burning and stinging of Tommy’s hand. “I’m fine Jason. My face and arm hurts a little but I’m fine. You got hurt worse than me,” I say as I run my finger over the swollen spot of his eye where Tommy struck him.
Jason closes his eyes upon my touch and lets out a sigh. “Abigail, this isn’t healthy. The way Tommy flies off the handle isn’t healthy. Can’t you see that?”
I nod, letting Jason know that I understand. “I don’t want to be with Tommy anymore. Not while he’s on drugs,” I say. “This is what the whole fight was about. I brought up his drug use and he flew off the handle.”
“Abigail, people on drugs are unstable. You never should have confronted him about it. Tommy needs more help than you can give to him. He needs counseling and rehabilitation for his anger and drug use. You can’t devote yourself to stay by him during all that. You have two babies coming that don’t need to be around a father that is addicted to drugs.”
“I know, Jay. I’m not going to waste my time with this anymore. I’m so sorry that you got drug into the middle of this and, because of me, you got hurt. I always seem to fuck up. I’m the reason people get mad and end up getting hurt,” I say as I start to cry again.
“Abby, damn it, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, this is not your fault! And no, you didn’t cause me to get hurt. I got hurt because Tommy has an anger issue. I would rather him take his anger out on me than you. This is all because of him, not you,” he says as he kisses my head.
The police officers take our statements and issue a warrant for Tommy’s arrest. My dad comes in the front door as the officers are finishing up with our statements. Jason is sitting next to me and mom is in the kitchen starting dinner. He nods toward Jason and I and makes his way to the kitchen to check on Mom. He isn’t gone long before he reappears to talk to one of the officers. They step outside to talk in private.
“Abigail, I’m sorry that you had witness my anger surface. I know that the situation that was unfolding in front of you had to have stressed you out and that is not good for the babies. I’m sorry,” Jason says; the empathy showing on his face.
“Jason, you have nothing to be sorry for. I was already stressed and anxious when Tommy put his hands on me. All you did was defend me and you did it the only way that you could at the time. Tommy didn’t leave you any other choice in the matter,” I say as I lay my head on his chest and he wraps his arms around my shoulders.
The front door opens and Mike and Katherine rush in. I forgot that they were going to come over for dinner tonight. “What the hell is going on guys?” Mike asks referring to the police officers that are still talking to dad outside. Jason and I give him a summary of what happened.
Katherine stands there with her mouth wide open. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Katherine speechless. “What the hell? He hit you again?” Mike questions. “How long do you plan on putting up with this shit before you have enough, sis?”
I don’t know what to say. I’m still reeling from what happened and I don’t feel like getting into it with Mike. “Mike, your sister is still shaken up. Let’s cut her some slack and try to get past today, ok?”
Katherine decides that she is able to muster some words and decides to put her two senses in now. “Yea, Mike. Abigail had to have been scared and the stress and fear isn’t good for the babies. Let’s discuss this some other day, ok?”
Mike nods in agreement with Katherine and I am thankful. I am stressed and barely starting to calm down from the whole ordeal. Mike and Katherine find seats in the living room and start flipping through the television stations. Mike finds a comedy sitcom on one of the stations to try to lighten the mood. We are all
unwinding when Dad walks back into the house.
Dad walks over to me and kneels down in front of me. Jason lets me go so I can sit up straight and look at my dad. A tear trickles down his cheek as he wraps me in a warm embrace. He releases me and looks at Jason. Shakes Jason’s hand and gives him his infamous half smile of appreciation. “I talked to the uniformed officers. Since you and Tommy have a romantic relationship, they are charging him with domestic battery. Also, since he attacked Jason after Jason defended you, they are charging him with assault and battery. They have issued a warrant for his arrest effective immediately,” Dad says never talking his eyes off of me.
“Abigail, why didn’t you tell me you suspected Tommy of being on drugs? You know I would have helped you. You never should have confronted him on your own. That is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do, especially a pregnant woman on bed rest.”
“I don’t know dad. I wasn’t even one hundred percent sure he was on drugs. I didn’t want to mention it and everyone get mad at him and it not be true,” I say with my eyes on the floor.
“Abigail, look at me,” Dad orders. “I would rather investigate a claim and it be false, than to be kept in the dark and it be something that should have been investigated. You’re my daughter. From the moment you were conceived it has been my job to protect and love you,” Dad says as he wraps his arms around me in a hug.
Dad holds me for a long time as I continue to cry. It isn’t until mom comes in to tell us that dinner is ready that Dad releases me and helps me to my feet. “Why don’t we go eat some of your mom’s delicious food and try to get past today? What do you say princess?”
I nod my head and follow my family to the dining area. I sit next to my mom and she wraps her arms around me and kisses my temple.
Chapter Sixteen
It’s been a week since the attack. Tommy was arrested that night at his apartment. Dad and I have been talking to the district attorney and have requested that the charges against him for his violence against me be reduced to probation and mandatory anger management. Dad wanted mandatory drug tests but because the charges were not drug related. Jason requested that the assault and battery charge against Tommy be tied into the probation with the domestic battery charge.
The district attorney was more than happy to oblige to the charges and the punishment. Our correctional institutions are overpopulated and a trail would cost the tax payers a lot of money. Dad has decided that he wants someone with me at all times starting today since Tommy is scheduled to be released. Yes, I have a restraining order against him but Dad says that all a restraining order is is a piece of paper and paper doesn’t protect someone.
The only person that Dad’s rule really affects is moms. She has to plan all of her outings around my dad’s schedule or have Mike or Jason stay with me. I asked dad why Katherine couldn’t stay with me since she wasn’t in college yet and she didn’t work and dad scrunched his face up. “Abigail, your mom has a hand gun and can protect you by shooting his ass if he comes near you. If I gave Katherine a gun, she would shot herself in the foot. No way is she going to be the one that is left with you to keep you safe.”
In the end, Jason decided to stay over at the house with me most days anyways. After his first week of work, he was able to do a large majority of his job from a laptop in our living room. I have to admit, it has been fun having Jason around all day. We laugh and play video games or watch movies most of the day.
* * *
By the end of my four weeks of bed rest, we have all fallen into a routine. I changed my cell phone number while Tommy was in jail so I have had no contact with him. Bed rest was hell and I am glad that today is my appointment with Dr. Hubert. Hopefully, he will allow me off of bed rest so I can live life with the rest of the world. I feel like I have lost some intelligence by watching so much television. I did make an attempt at Sudoku. That was a total fail. I tip my hat to those that can actually solve those puzzles. I prefer crossword over puzzles involving math any day.
“Abigail, are you ready? We don’t want to be late for your appointment,” my mom calls out to me. She sure is an eager beaver. I think it’s because she knows that we get to see the little ones again today and she gets to be a part of that for once. I have to admit, I’m quite excited to see my babies too. I want to see how much they’ve grown in the past four weeks.
“I’m ready, Mom,” I inform her. “Just let me grab my purse and I’ll meet you in the car,” I holler back at her. It’s just mom and I today. Jason had to go to the office and work for a few hours this morning.
We arrive at my appointment right on time. The waiting room is empty. I sign myself in and take a seat between next to Mom. She is reading some novel she started the other day. I grab a magazine and flip through the pages. Man, some of these girls are gorgeous. Maybe I should ask Katherine to teach me how to do some fancy stuff with makeup. I push the thought out of my mind quickly. Asking Katherine to teach me makeup would be a horrible mistake. My babies would be grown and out of the house before Katherine finished “teaching” me.
I’m called back in no time at all. The nurse takes my weight and blood pressure. I have gained the ten pounds that I lost since my first appointment and my blood pressure is normal. I’m taken back to my room and told to go ahead and strip from the waist down as before. Mom waits on the other side of the door while I disrobe. She comes in as soon as I’m done and on the exam table. The doctor only makes us wait a few minutes before he joins us. “How have you been? Have you been on bed rest like I ordered?” Dr. Hubert asks.
“Yes, I have and my mom has been a stickler about it. I wasn’t even allowed a shower unattended,” I explain as I roll my eyes.
“That’s good. Just what the doctor ordered,” he says with a smile. “Well, let’s see how your cervix has healed from the trauma you suffered and then take a look at these babies.”
He puts my feet in the stirrups and starts the exam. It’s uncomfortable but not painful like it was in the emergency room. “You have fully healed from the trauma. If you wish, you can resume sexual activity but please be careful next time.” He says as he looks at me. I flush and refuse to make eye contact with my mom.
He grabs the ultrasound machine from out in the hall and places warm gel over my belly. “Now, let’s see how these little ones are doing,” he states as he places the wand over my belly. In no time at all, we see two babies on the screen. They are no longer baby beans. We are able to clearly make out arms and legs and heads. Oh, they are so adorable. I feel like my heart has just grown ten sizes seeing my babies.
“They are growing right on track. They are still measuring for a due date for January 10. However, I must inform you that we usually do a scheduled induction between 35 and 37 weeks because one or both may have a stunt in growth. What I’m saying is expect these little ones to be here before Christmas.” Dr. Hubert announces.
I glance over at my mom. She is sitting in her seat rummaging through her purse. She pulls out a Kleenex and grabs her phone. I’m certain she’s texting my dad to inform him that the babies will be here before the end of the year. My mom is going to be a terrific grandma and my poor dad is going to be sent straight to the poor house. She already started buying for the buggers and we don’t even know their gender yet.
“I will need to see you in another four weeks for a check-up. So long as nothing happens between now and then, all we will do is get your stats and do an ultrasound. We should be able to determine the gender of the babies at the next appointment. Under normal circumstances, we don’t find the gender out until 20 weeks; however, if you want to bring family and friends, we do have a larger room to accommodate up to ten people.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I say as I get into an upright position and my mom leaves the room so that I have privacy to dress. I quickly dress and grab my purse before leaving the room. I make an appointment for the twenty-third of July. I have to say, I’m excited to learn if we are having two boys or two girls. Secretly, I
am hoping for girls but I know my dad and brother really want boys. Katherine has already said girls only. She wants to dress them up in frilly dresses and bows that are twice the size of their heads. The only person who has not said what they prefer is Jason. All he wants is for them to get here and be healthy.
“Are we ready?” Mom asks me.
“Yea, I have an appointment next month. It’s a fairly early appointment. I’m not sure if anyone will be able to join us.”
“Oh honey, I’m sure the guys will take the day off of work for this. This is a big deal. We will finally be able to start the nursery in gender appropriate colors,” she shrieks with excitement
“Now mom, we don’t want to break Dad financially with these little ones,” I remark with a smile on my face.
“Oh, you just shush now! It’s not every day that you get to become a grandma and I am going to spoil these babies until the day I die!”
As mom is unlocking the door, I hear a man’s voice call my name. Mom and I both look up and see Tommy standing a few yards away. I glance at mom and she’s fishing out her phone and walking toward me. “Tommy, you are in violation of the restraining order. You were told to stay five hundred feet away from my daughter.”
Tommy holds his hands up to indicate that he is not a threat. “Mrs. Wilkinson, I am not here to harm either of you. I just want to talk to Abigail. I need to apologize to her.”
I look at mom and ask her to give us a few minutes. My heart is pounding but I need to talk to Tommy and hear him out. He is the father of these babies. “Fine Abby, I’ll be in the car. You two have ten minutes and then the conversation is done!” She exclaims as she climbs in the driver seat of the car.
I lean up against the trunk of the car and cross my arms over my belly and wait for Tommy to talk. “I know I was an asshole, Abigail. I don’t deserve a second chance to be with you; however, I think I deserve a chance to be a father to these babies. All I’m asking is to be there for the babies. I want to be included in the appointments for them, their birth and their life afterward. Can I please have that?”
On the Edge Page 17