Secrets

Chapter twenty:

Abbys POV:

I guess I cryed myself to sleep because I woke up to sunshine in my face, my duvet covering me. I slipped out of bed and strolled, grogilly to my bathroom. I looked in the mirror to find my makeup smudged and my hair falling out of its ponytail. I decide to take a shower and get ready for the day. Once I'm done I put on jeans and a t-shirt and redo my ponytail. I looked fabulous. I redid my makeup and called Terry.

'Hey what's up?' I ask her.

'Nothing. What about you?' She asks.

'Um well my plan on asking my mum about my dad failed. I'm gonna search the attic after breakfast. Wanna help?' I ask messing with knick knacks on my bathroom counter.

'Sure! I'll be over in a bit. Anyone sleeping?' She asks. I walk out of my room and check every other room. Danny isn't in her room, nor Max. I check my mom's room, empty.

'No.' I say blanly.

'Ok, see you.' She says.

'Bye.' I say. I walk down stairs and go into the kitchen. I see a not on the counter and it's from my mom.

'Abby, I have taken Max to the doctor and Danny is with me. Jason is at work so do not bother looking for him,' like I would, 'I won't be back until three o clock because of errends, so if there are any party's they better be done by three. Help yourself to anything bit if you are leaving to go anywhere please call me.

-love mom'

I smile and head for the pantry. I grab cereal and get a bowl. I get the milk and pour it into the bowl. I get orange juice and pour me a glass. I get a spoon and take my meal to the kitchen table. Just as I take my first bite the doorbell rings. It's Terry. I yell, 'COME IN!' as I take another bite. Terry walks in wearing jeans and a t- shirt. She has her hair in a braid and she's wearing sandals. I smile and pat the seat next to me.

'Hungry?' I ask.

'You bet.' She gets her some cereal and some OJ and sits next to me. 'So, what are we even looking for?' She asks in between bites.

'I dunno. Something that screams ABBYS DAD.' I say giggling. She sips her OJ.

'Ok. Well, let's get crackin!' And with that we clean up and head to the attic.

...

'Oof!' I hear Terry say following a loud thud.

'Terry? Are you OK?' I ask making my way over to her.

'Fine!' She says getting up. I look at what she tripped over.

'What is that?' I ask. It's covered up in bubble wrap and it has a ribbon around it.

'It looks like a gift.' Terry says picking it up. She hands it to me. I undo the ribbon and take off the bubble wrap. I hesitate before ripping open the wrapping paper. There's a glass heart with my name in the middle.

'Oh my god.' I say holding it carefully.

'There's a note.' Terry says picking up a piece of elegant paper. I open it and read it.

'Abby, I know I am not there for you but I love you. I need you to know that. This is for you. It resembles my heart and love for you. Happy birthday darling.

-daddy'

'It's from my dad.' I say. Terry looks at me. 'He gave this to me for a present. He knows about me and cares!' I say, tears rolling down my cheeks.

'Well, then there must be more!' Terry says walking away. I follow her and see a box hidden behind stuff. I uncover it and open the lid. There's a million more presents in there. Neatly wrapped and each has a elegant card to it.

'Terry!' I call. She comes over and looks at what I found.

'Oh, wow. This guy must have wanted to know you.' She says bending down.

'My mom kept it from me. All these years, I thought he hated me.' Tears were now covering my cheeks and my eyes began to blur. Just then I hear a voice.

'Abby?' It's my mom. It urn to Terry with an alarmed look.

'Let's go!' She says pulling me along.' I cover up the box and hide the heart in a safe place and follow her down the steps. She and I walk down stairs to see my mother and sister.

'Hey!' I say. Max strolls in and gets and apple.

'Hi girls! Max had a 24 hour thing. He's okay.' She says setting Danny down and going over to do the dishes.

'That's great mom! Anyway me and Terry are studying. So no is allowed upstairs, ok?' I say and run back up. Terry follows.

'Okay, well what do we do now?' She asks. I shrug.

'I don't know. We can go back up.' I suggest. The stairs to our artic do not come down and go back up, there just regular stairs, but there behind the rooms and it's hidden.

'Sure.' She says. We walk back up and I go twards the box. I take u out the heart and place it gently next to me. I grab a small gift and open it. It's a bracelet. The card reads,

'Abby, I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your sixth birthday but that didn't mean I don't love you. I wish I could see you but it's complicated. Anyway, happy birthday. You are amazing,

-love dad'

'We have to find him.' I say. Terry looks at me.

'Um what do you mean we? I'm not going. I'll help but I have to stay here and continue school.' She says. She actually means that she needs to stay or she'll get in trouble.

'Ok.' I say. We leave and go back downstairs for lunch. As I eat I plan my trip to see my dad.