Free Long Road Home, The by Lori Wick Page A

no more than smile and nod until Lenore had come into the room.
    “Abby,” she had said kindly, “Anna doesn’t speak a word of English.”
    The whole thing had struck Ross as hilarious as he had followed his mother into the room, and his laughter had almost started Abby’s.
    Well, she thought, as she entered her bedroom, at least she knew the woman’s name and could think of her as more than “the cook.” Abby had eaten breakfast and then checked on Paul and found him asleep. As she entered her room, she thought how it was rather nice to have just one patient to care for, finally giving her some free time with which to settle in. And what a beautiful room it was to settle into.
    Morning sunlight filtered through two huge windows, and a double bed of a rich red mahogany wood with a full canopysat against the opposite wall. The rugs, curtains, and bed hangings were all in shades of pink, lavender, and blue. There was a small writing desk and a built-in closet.
    Abby attacked her trunk with a vengeance. She filled dresser drawers and hung clothes. The entire room had her things placed about it before she was finished. The last items she put out were a beautiful brush, comb, and mirror set that Ian had given her for her birthday. They had not been able to afford it, and Abby had looked at him with concern until he said he hadn’t stolen them and that was all she needed to know.
    Abby sank down onto the edge of the bed and pulled the pins from her hair. With her brush she took long, slow strokes, almost wishing the tears would come and hoping they could possibly wash away some of the pain that threatened to choke her.
    How long she sat, brushing and softly singing some of the hymns Ian loved she did not know, when there came a knock on the door.
    “Who is it?”
    “Ross,” came the answer from without. Abby, thinking she must be needed, hurried to the door with brush in hand.
    “Abby, I was wondering,” Ross’ voice trailed off slowly as he stood regarding the woman before him. If he had any doubts before, they were gone; he was sure he was in love.
    “Ross!” Abby spoke sharply a second time before he dragged his eyes from her unbound hair and only then to stare speechlessly into her eyes.
    Abby spun away from the door and grabbed her pins. Within seconds the gorgeous mass of red hair was pinned neatly into place. Abby then returned to the young man still gawking at her from the doorway.
    “Ross,” Abby’s patience had run out, “what did you need?”
    He recovered quickly and said, “Since you just got here, I thought you might like to take a walk and see some of Hayward.”
    It was said so sincerely, without the least trace of Ross’ usual cockiness, Abby couldn’t help but be touched.
    “Ross,” Abby came into the hallway and shut her door as she answered, “I really appreciate your offer, but I need to stay here in case Mr. Cameron needs anything.”
    If Abby had expected him to pout over her answer, she was to be disappointed. Ross looked down on her with an expression tender beyond his years and smiled.
    “Some other time—okay?”
    Abby nodded and watched as he moved down the hall. With her fingers pressing against her temples, her heart felt near the bursting point. His tender look had so reminded her of Ian that she had almost changed her mind about going with him.
    “Oh, Lord,” Abby prayed, “what am I to do without him?”

19

     
    The days went by and developed into something of a routine. Paul was civil at times, impossible at others. The doctor came over once and told Paul he was progressing well. The man had much praise for Abby and her care of Paul. Paul listened to it all with a bored expression on his face.
    Abby worried some about Paul’s assumption that Mr. Beckett had been instrumental in bringing him here and hiring Abby. A comment from Paul one day told Abby this was what he thought and she, rather cowardly, had not corrected him.
    Abby was not to know the day of reckoning