What Might Have Been: Daniels Brother #4 (Daniels Brothers)

by Sherri Hayes

  “Yes.” She wondered what he thought about that.

  “All right. We’ll see you in a few.” She knew by we Chris meant him and his wife. Of course Elizabeth would come with him to see his ex-girlfriend.

  Chris hung up and she let her hand fall to her lap. Abby looked at Trent who was still sitting next to her. “He and Elizabeth will be here in about twenty minutes.”

  Trent pried the phone from her grasp and stuffed it in his pocket.

  As fear gripped her, Abby stood abruptly. “I need some more wine.”

  Before he could comment, she swiped her empty wineglass from the nightstand and hightailed it to the kitchen. Abby desperately needed to steady her nerves. Telling Trent had been hard enough. She had less than twenty minutes to find the resolve she needed to reveal her dark secret to Chris and his wife.

  She was polishing off her newly refilled glass when Trent strolled into the kitchen. He leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul and she wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

  When she went to set her glass on the counter, Abby miscalculated the distance and it went tumbling onto the floor. She jumped as broken glass flew in all directions.

  Trent hurried forward. He pulled her clear and moved her to stand in the doorway. “Stay there.”

  He carefully made his way through the glass, opening several of her cabinets until he found the trash can under the sink. Next, he located her broom and dustpan. He gathered the smaller shards into a pile, scooped them up, and dumped them into the trash.

  The entire time he worked, she stood there staring at him. Abby knew she should help him, but she couldn’t seem to get her limbs to move.

  Trent was putting the trash can back into place when the doorbell rang. It startled her so much she let out a squeak.

  Trent approached her and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Ready?”

  “Not even a little.”

  He stepped toward the living room and held out his hand for her. Abby looked at it, and then at him, before taking a deep breath and linking their hands. It was time to face the music.

  ***

  Of all the things Trent could have dreamed of Abby telling him, finding out she had borne his brother’s child hadn’t even been on his list of possibilities. He’d told her he didn’t know what he was feeling, but that wasn’t entirely true. His feelings ran the gamut from anger on his brother’s behalf to a fierce protectiveness at seeing Abby so obviously upset. One moment he wanted to take her into his arms and whisper that it would be okay. The next he wanted to yell and ask her how she could have kept such a thing to herself. Which is why he’d chosen to keep his own counsel for now.

  He stood off to the side as Abby went to open the door. She glanced back at him with her hand on the doorknob. Trent didn’t envy her. Chris would be upset, and rightly so.

  The doorbell sounded again, and Abby shivered. He resisted the impulse to go to her. This was something she needed to do on her own. He’d be there, but he couldn’t take the burden from her.

  She seemed to brace herself before twisting the knob and pulling the door open.

  “Chris. Elizabeth.” Despite how nervous she was, her voice was steady as she invited them inside.

  His brother saw him standing against the wall when he and Elizabeth stepped into the apartment. Trent did his best to keep his expression neutral.

  Elizabeth stayed close to her husband, plainly curious as to whatever was about to take place. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. Trent felt bad for her, too. This would affect her and Chris both.

  Chris took a good look at Abby and frowned. “You’ve been crying.”

  “It’s been a long day.” She rubbed her palms down her sides in a nervous gesture. “Do you want to have a seat?”

  Chris seemed reluctant to move, but Elizabeth took his hand and guided him over to the couch. Abby closed the door and trailed after them. She sat down in the high-backed chair a couple of feet away.

  Trent remained lounging against the wall, watching the awkwardness of the situation. He debated asking Elizabeth to join him in the kitchen to give Chris and Abby some privacy, but decided against it. Abby looked as if she was barely holding herself together, and he doubted Elizabeth would be all that eager to leave her husband’s side.

  “Tell me what’s going on,” Chris demanded, derailing Trent’s thoughts.

  “I need to tell you something and I thought it was better if I did it in person.” Her voice trembled and Trent knew his brother heard it.

  Chris’ hand twitched in Abby’s direction before he pressed it firmly against his thigh. “I’m here. You can tell me. Whatever it is.”

  Abby’s shoulders slouched a little. She clasped her hands in her lap and met Chris’ gaze. “That night we . . . we hooked up in Fort Lauderdale.”

  His brother stiffened and opened his mouth to speak—probably to offer an apology—but Abby cut him off.

  “Something happened that I need you to know about.” She took a deep breath but it didn’t appear to help calm her in the slightest. “I don’t know if we were too drunk to use a condom or if one broke, but . . . about eight weeks after I got home, I found out I was pregnant.”

  Chris clenched his fists and his breathing picked up. “What are you saying?”

  Elizabeth’s eyes were wide with shock. Trent could relate. He was still a bit stunned himself.

  Abby hurried to try and explain. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was scared and I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing. I kept making excuses not to call and tell you. Then . . . then I went into labor.”

  The color drained from Chris’ face as the tone of Abby’s voice changed. He knew something was coming.

  Elizabeth placed her hand over her husband’s, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “During delivery the umbilical cord got tangled around her neck somehow. By the time the doctor got her free, she was blue.” Abby’s voice grew softer. “They couldn’t save her.”

  Even though he couldn’t see her face, he knew Abby was crying again. Trent forced himself to stay put. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his life.

  “She?” Chris swallowed.

  Abby nodded. “Yes.”

  His brother stared at nothing in particular and then asked, “What did she . . . I mean . . . do you have a picture of her?”

  “In my room.” Abby stood. “I’ll go get it.”

  Before any of them could respond, she was down the hall and out of sight.

  Chris’ gaze settled on Trent. “You knew?”

  “She told me about five minutes before she called you.”

  “I don’t understand,” Chris said.

  Trent opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again when Abby reappeared. She crossed the room and held two pictures out in front of her. One he recognized as the ultrasound photo she’d shown him earlier. The other was new.

  Chris ran the tips of his fingers over the two pictures. “Where—”

  Emotion left the words lodged in his throat, but Abby seemed to understand what he was asking anyway. “She’s buried in New York.”

  Chris released a shaky breath, handed her back the photos, and stood. “We need to go.”

  “Chris, I’m sorry. I know I should have told you. I just . . .”

  His brother took Elizabeth’s hand and led her toward the door. He didn’t stop until he was halfway outside. His brother glared back at Abby, his eyes full of emotion. “Yes. You should have.”

  Abby wrapped her arms around her waist. She looked utterly defeated. “I’m sorry.”

  Chris blew out a breath and shook his head. “I need some time.”

  She nodded, but Trent doubted his brother saw it. Chris hurried down the sidewalk, leaving Trent and Abby alone.

  Trent walked across the room and shut the door. When he turned back around, he found Abby crumpled into a heap on the floor. He gathered her into his arms and
held her as she let go.

  They sat there until shadows began to fill the room. Trent helped her up, and then scooped her back into his arms. He carried her down the short hallway to her bedroom. The whole time, Abby kept her eyes closed. He had no idea if she knew where he was taking her or not.

  Trent got his answer when he laid her down on the mattress and went to remove her shoes. Abby opened her eyes and blinked several times, as if even the little bit of light coming in through the windows hurt her eyes. When he went to pull the blanket over her, she reached for him. “Don’t leave me.”

  Without giving it a second thought, he kicked off his shoes and climbed onto her bed. She snuggled against him. Trent placed a kiss on her palm and folded her hand against his chest.

  They didn’t speak and that was fine with Trent. Elizabeth would take care of Chris, and Trent would see to Abby. He could do that. And on some level, he needed to do it.

  Eventually Abby’s breathing evened out and he knew she’d fallen asleep. He ran a hand over her head and down her back. A lot had happened today and he didn’t know what it would mean for them—for the relationship they were trying to build. He was upset, sure, but it didn’t change how he felt about her.

  If she’d kept the baby from Chris out of spite or something, Trent was sure he’d feel differently. But that wasn’t what happened. He believed her when she said that she’d been scared. There was no way at twenty he would have felt ready to have a child.

  But, if it had happened, he would have stepped up and done the right thing. He knew Chris would have as well. Had she told his brother back then, Chris would most likely have married Abby. Surely she would have known that.

  Maybe that was another reason she’d kept it to herself. Abby knew Chris. Knew he would do the responsible thing.

  Trent closed his eyes and pressed his lips against her forehead. The anger on his brother’s behalf was fading and it was being replaced by sympathy. He ached for the young woman who’d found out she was pregnant after a one-night stand with her ex. He ached for that same young woman who was told her baby didn’t survive.

  Eventually his eyelids began to feel heavy and he let sleep claim him. His dreams that night were full of Abby, Chris, and Elizabeth. It was all a jumbled mess that didn’t make any sense and was immediately forgotten when he felt the mattress shift, waking him.

  He opened his eyes to find Abby on the edge of the bed. Her back was to him, but he could feel the sadness rolling off her.

  Sitting up, Trent scooted across the bed until he was behind her. He circled his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Despite the circumstances, it felt good to be here with her like this.

  Abby leaned into him. “Thank you for staying.”

  Trent kissed her neck in response, sensing she needed the reassurance.

  They sat on the edge of her bed, watching the sunlight slowly fill the room. There was so much that needed to be said, but neither seemed to be in a hurry to revisit the subject that was weighing on both their minds.

  When it couldn’t be put off any longer, Abby turned her head to the side and met his gaze. “I’m gonna make some coffee. You want some?”

  “Sure.”

  She got up and made her way out of the room.

  Trent scrubbed a rough hand over his face and walked the short distance to the bathroom. After taking care of business, he went to find Abby.

  She was standing in front of the large glass door that led to a small backyard behind her apartment. The smell of coffee brewing filled the air. As appealing as the caffeinated beverage was, Trent was drawn to Abby more. He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her.

  This time she didn’t seem to welcome his touch. She stiffened and moved several feet away, turning her back to him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Why are you still here?” she asked in barely more than a whisper.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  Abby met his gaze. “No. I don’t want you to go. I should. It would be easier if you did . . . easier if you and I avoided each other . . . kept it professional.”

  She paused and he waited.

  “What must you think of me?” Abby looked at him with wide eyes full of unshed tears.

  That protective instinct hit him again. “I’m not going to lie and say I don’t care that you kept something this big from my brother, because I do. I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now. But I know you, Abby. I know that you aren’t a vindictive person. I know that you had to have been scared when you found out you were pregnant.”

  When he didn’t go on, she prompted him. “But?”

  “But I don’t understand why you didn’t come to us. We were like family to you growing up. How could you think we would have abandoned you, or hated you, or . . . how could you think we would have been anything but supportive?” Maybe he shouldn’t have been so blunt about it, but he was feeling rather raw this morning.

  She looked out the large glass door again, as if she were putting up a wall between them. He didn’t like it. “That isn’t why I didn’t say anything.”

  “Then why?”

  Abby wrapped her arms around her middle again, hugging herself. “Because I know your family. I know Chris. And I knew that once he found out, he’d expect me to marry him.”

  Chapter 12

  Before Trent could decide how to respond, his phone rang. He wanted to ignore it, but he figured whatever it was had to be important if the person was calling at six thirty in the morning.

  “Daniels.”

  “Trent, it’s Brian.” There was an edge to his voice that got Trent’s attention. “Sorry to call so early, but you need to get here ASAP. It looks like the lock on the gate has been busted.”

  Trent looked at Abby, who’d turned her back on him again. He didn’t want to leave her—leave things like this. The thought crossed his mind to call Trinity and let her deal with it, but he dismissed the notion. He was the boss. Like it or not, it was his problem to deal with. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Keep everyone in the parking lot.”

  “You got it.”

  Trent disconnected the call and returned his cell to his pocket. Abby was standing in front of the coffeemaker, still not looking at him.

  He started toward her, and then hesitated. The set of her shoulders said she wouldn’t welcome his touch at the moment. “I need to go.”

  She nodded and reached into a nearby cabinet. “I’ll get you some coffee to take with you.”

  “Abby—”

  “Can we not talk about this right now? I’m really tired of crying,” she said.

  Even though he didn’t want to, Trent agreed. “Sure.”

  She relaxed her shoulders and continued to get his coffee for him. He had the urge to comfort her, but he resisted.

  Abby turned, one of those travel mugs in her hand. She held it out for him and he took it. Their eyes met for the briefest moment before she looked away.

  He gritted his teeth and forced himself to move toward the door. “I’ll call you later.”

  Trent didn’t wait for her reaction. She’d probably tell him he didn’t have to or something along those lines. He didn’t want to hear it.

  His worry over Abby was cut short when he turned into the parking lot in front of his office. The entrance to the yard where all their equipment was kept was at the far end. Brian and five other guys were waiting for him.

  “Sorry, Trent,” Brian said as he approached. “I figured you’d want to know.”

  Trent took a look at the damage and understood why Brian had called him. The lock was cut and even from outside he could tell some stuff was missing. He pulled out his phone and called Trinity.

  “A little early isn’t it, Boss?” At least she sounded like he hadn’t woken her up.

  “I know, but I need you to get here as soon as you can. There’s been a break-in.”

  “What?” she practically screamed into the phone.

  “I�
��m going to be busy dealing with the cops, so I need you here.”

  “I’ll be out the door in five minutes.” He could already hear her moving.

  When he hung up with Trinity, he motioned to Brian who was standing in a huddle with the other guys about ten feet away. “None of the guys have been inside the yard?”

  Brian shook his head. “No. I was the first one here. As soon as I saw the lock was broken, I called you.”

  Trent glanced up at the security camera he had positioned near the entrance. It looked as if the angle had been changed. Who knew if they would get any useful footage from it, but he’d cross that bridge later.

  At the moment, he had to get his guys moving. Just because their yard was now a crime scene didn’t mean the work stopped. They were going to have to improvise. “Put together a list of what everyone is going to need for the day. We can rent any machinery and you can go to the store and pick up the rest. I’ll take care of the police report, but we can’t just sit on our asses while we wait for them to do their thing.”

  Brian nodded and strolled back over to the group of guys. He’d been with Trent almost from the beginning. He’d make sure to get everyone moving in the right direction.

  While his crews figured out what they would need to get the day’s work done, Trent called to report the break-in. With all the drama going on in his personal life, he didn’t need to be dealing with this, too. Unfortunately, he was the boss. He didn’t get to choose.

  It took almost two hours for the police to arrive. There wasn’t any imminent danger, so in their book there was no need to rush.

  The detective showed up a little after ten. He was bald and looked to be in his late fifties. Trent walked through the yard with him as he asked about security and Trent’s employees. With his brother being a cop, Trent knew the routine. He also knew that he and his employees would be prime suspects until proven otherwise.

  None of the large equipment was stolen—that was a plus—but a good portion of his hand tools were missing. At first glance, he would estimate over five thousand dollars in shovels, picks, and drills were taken. There was also mulch and some small bags of gravel missing. Whoever it was had chosen items that could be picked up and moved without too much trouble.