Page 82 of Claws and Feathers

But she had to go.

The phone stopped ringing and Abby looked up at the ceiling. She thought of Cooper and how he would react upon hearing of her death. The thought felt like salt in her wound. Abby hated to think of him hurting, but the truth was, she would only hurt him more alive. He would eventually move on from her death, find love again, and be happy.

Someday.

But for now, forright now, he loved her, and that gave her solace as the blackness took hold.

“I love you,” she whispered into the silence, hoping somewhere, somehow, he could hear her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

T H E A C C I D E N T

TWELVE YEARS EARLIER

“Happy Anniversary!” Abby skipped through the front door, tossing her backpack onto the couch and kicking off her shoes.

Her father followed behind her, squeezing her shoulder, planting a kiss against her temple. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. I knew you could do it.”

Abby beamed at him, then joined her mother in the kitchen. Gina was perched at the counter, dicing up fresh fruit. Abby wrinkled her nose in distaste at the cantaloupe.

Gina smiled. “Thank you for the kind greeting. Although I think your wake-up call this morning got the point across,” she winked. “I’ll likely be picking confetti out of my hair for days.”

Abby giggled at the memory. Her and Ryanalwayswoke their parents up with a confetti surprise on their anniversary. “Ask me what I did today,” she said. Abby bopped up and down on her knee-high socks, clapping her hands together. Her ponytail bounced in a similar fashion.

“You aced your history exam?”

“Lord, no.”

Her mother raised an eyebrow, but let it go. “You charmed your way out of detention?”

“What makes you think I had detention?” Abby asked, jutting out her bottom lip.

“Your brother tells me everything.”

Abby groaned. “Once again, no.” She took a step back and waved her arms around in a dramatic showcase. “Your favorite child is now a licensed driver.” Abby grinned brightly, unable to hold back a giddy squeal.

Gina set down the knife and wiped her hands against her checkered apron. She faced her daughter with a look of pride. “Oh, Abigail, that’s fantastic. I knew you could do it.”

“So, basically, this is me not-subtly asking you for a car.”

Her mother shook her head, planting her fists against her hips. “You waste no time, do you?”

“Ryan has a car. It’s only fair.” Abby puckered her lips and offered a look that screamed,‘give in to my innocent request, for I am full of adorable bewitchery’. She watched her mother’s eyes narrow in consideration, her house slipper tapping against the marble flooring. Her hair was pulled up in her favorite barrette, and a plum lipstick adorned her mouth. Gina Stone always perfected the look of stylish, yet comfortable housewife. “Please?”

Parents loved that word.

Gina exhaled as she turned back to the chopped cantaloupe and began tossing the pieces into a plastic bowl. “Your father and I will discuss over dinner tonight. Your grades could be better,” she replied.

Abby pouted. “Grades, schmades. At least I’m not failing.”

“Not exactly a promising life motto, Abigail.”

“What? School is dumb.” Abby twirled around in a circle, watching as her skirt, that was probably two inches too short, skimmed along her thighs. A thought crossed her mind and she perked up, glancing back over at her mother. “Ooh, I know! Can I drive you and Dad to dinner tonight? I’m super excited to be behind the wheel.”

“I don’t know, honey. I thought you had plans with Jordan tonight? Wasn’t there a movie you wanted to see?”

“His parents are making him tutor his little brother now,” Abby said with a huff. “It’s fine, though. I’ll TiVo the Buffy series finale and gorge on cupcakes instead. Pretty please?”

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