Page 128 of Forbidden Fruit
For the first time, I don’t know which heartbreak would destroy me more.
By the time I reach her floor, I’m barely holding it together. Apartment 209 looms before me, the number etched in shiny brass. My palms are damp, my heart thundering in my chest. I raise my hand to knock, but before my knuckles make contact, the door swings open.
“My baby!” Abigail’s voice is warm and welcoming, and before I can say a word, she pulls me into a tight embrace. I melt into her hug.
“Hi, Abby,” I manage, a genuine smile somehow breaking through.
“Come in,” she says, stepping back and motioning for me to enter. I follow her into the apartment, my anxiety momentarily replaced by awe. The living room is spacious and bright, with high ceilings and chic, minimalist decor. The open floor plan makes it feel even bigger, and sunlight pours through floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Wow, Abby, this place is stunning,” I say, taking it all in. It’s a far cry from the cramped, rundown apartment I have in Paris.
“It’s no penthouse,” she says with a modest shrug, “but it’s what I could afford.”
“Stop, Abby. It’s absolutely beautiful, and I’m so proud of you,” I tell her, meaning every word.
“Thanks, hon.” She beams, and the warmth in her smile fills the room. “Come sit. I made PB&J,” she says, holding up a plate of neatly cut sandwiches.
I blink, surprised but touched. PB&J is a tradition for us, a balm for life’s worst moments. When I was sick or heartbroken, Abby would always make me a PB&J, sitting with me and holding me while I cried until the world felt a little less heavy.
“Thank you, Abby,” I say with a soft smile. But after a few seconds of lingering silence, I shift uncomfortably and decide to break it. “So…”
“I’m sorry I lied to you,” she says, cutting me off. Her hands find mine. “I shouldn’t have done it. I just… I didn’t know what else to do.”
I pause, letting the apology settle between us. “Iappreciate you saying that,” I say slowly. “But it still hurt. You and Calvin both kept me in the dark. I spent so many nights beating myself up, thinking I was this awful person who slept with your fiancé. Because that’s what I thought he was, to you. And even then, I tried to stay away. I really did. But I couldn’t. I’m sorry too.”
I pause, the question burning in my chest. “I get why you lied to Mom and Dad… but why me? Did you think I couldn’t handle it? That I wouldn’t keep your secret?”
Her gaze drops, shame thick in the silence between us. “No, nothing like that. It’s just… I wantedyouto be proud of me.”
The words land hard, like a punch to the heart. “Abby…” I tighten my grip on her hands. “You are my role model. I’ve always been proud of you, before Calvin ever even came into the picture.”
Tears slip down her cheeks as she leans in, wrapping her arms around me, holding me like she’s afraid I’ll disappear. “You have no idea what it means to hear that,” she whispers.
I pull back just enough to meet her eyes. “I mean it. I love you, Abby. No amount of money, success, or mistakes could ever change that. I hope you really, truly know that.”
She nods, though her voice wavers. “I know.”
I smile gently, squeezing her hands again. “So, are we good? You’re not mad?”
She chuckles softly, wiping at her cheeks. “No, sweetie, I’m not mad. I mean, it’s really weird to hear my kid is sleeping with someone I was pretending to be engaged with…”
I let out a short laugh despite myself. “Abby, I am your kidsister,” I tease, shaking my head. “I know you’ve always treated me like a child because of the age difference, but I’m not a baby anymore. Anyway, Calvin asked me to give youthis.” I reach into my bag and pull out the check, extending it toward her.
Her eyes widen as she takes it, and she gasps audibly. “This is a million-dollar check,” she says.
“Yep,” I reply. “He said it’s what you’re owed.”
She stares at it, a storm of emotions flickering across her face. “I can’t accept this… I want to, believe me, I do, but I’ve already taken enough from you.”
I frown, confused. “What are you talking about? Abby, this isn’t from me, it’s from Calvin.”
She shakes her head, pushing the check back into my hands. “I know, but I can’t. I haven’t been a good… a good mom to you. And I think it’s time I start being one.”
Her words throw me off completely, and I can’t help but laugh, a genuine, startled laugh that escapes before I can stop it. “Abby, what are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry,” Abigail whispers, her voice breaking as tears stream down her face. Her hands tremble as she reaches for mine, looking at me with fear and anguish. “I wanted to tell you, but I was so afraid of losing you.”
I frown, confusion overtaking me. “What are you talking about?” My voice is calm, but a pit of unease begins to form in my stomach.
