Judy Christenberry - Randall Honor

“Well? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not supposed to tell,” he said, but he was grinning.

Tori guessed at once. “She’s pregnant!”

“Yeah, but don’t let on you know, or she’ll kill me. We had a hard time and she wants to wait a little longer before she tells the family.”

“Russ, that’s wonderful. I figured it wouldn’t be long since Rich and Samantha are expecting. Oh, that’s great. How far along is she?”

Russ was still beaming. “About two and a half months. She said we can tell everyone at three months. I’ve been dying to tell Mom and Dad.”

“So she’s been throwing up every morning? I almost got sick myself when Samantha described her first three months.” She shuddered.

Russ frowned. “No. But she’s been getting bad headaches. Since school ended, she’s stayed in bed when they happen. But she won’t take anything for it because of the baby. I convinced her to go see Jon and she’s got an appointment Monday.”

“Maybe she should go see Doc Jacoby. You know, she’s used to him.”

“She’s already seen him once.”

“But I didn’t see the billing.”

“She paid him cash and asked him not to let you know,” he told her with another grin.

“The sneak!” She knew Russ would know she was teasing. Abby was like another sister in the sprawling Randall family.

He turned into the driveway of his new house. “Life is just almost too good, Tori,” he muttered. “Abby, the new house, now a baby.” He opened his door. “You want to wait here?”

“No, I’ll come with you. But I won’t say anything about the baby,” she promised.

“Be sure you don’t. I don’t want her mad at me. She’ll put me in time-out like she does the kids at school!”

Tori ignored that comment. Russ and Abby were so in love. They…completed each other, more than any people she’d ever seen. If he had to go to time-out, Abby would go with him. They did everything except their jobs together.

Since he had company with him, Russ pushed the doorbell as he unlocked the door. “Abby? Tori and I are here. Are you dressed?”

An eerie silence was the only answer. Tori frowned and followed Russ into the foyer. The house was curiously quiet.

“Maybe she’s still asleep,” Tori suggested.

“I’ll go check. Wait here.”

Tori pretended to study the furnishings in their new house. Abby had great taste and Aunt Megan had helped her decorate the house. Even though Russ hadn’t given her a budget, not wanting to deny his beloved Abby anything she wanted, Abby had used some family antiques she’d had from her parents, who were both dead now. And she’d bought some things from Megan’s store. She’d even gone to estate sales and auctions with Megan. The result was an eclectic collection of nice pieces. Very personal.

She could hear Russ’s voice calling Abby’s name. Again there was no response. Russ came back down the hall, looking into the different bedrooms.

“I’d better check to see if her car is here. Maybe Elizabeth picked her up and they stopped to shop before the meeting. She’s probably there already. I’ll look in the garage and you call the school, see if she’s turned up there.”

The closest phone was in the kitchen, the favorite room in the house, always filled with sunshine in the mornings. The door to the garage was off the kitchen, so she followed Russ across the den in that direction, praying he was right.

Something didn’t seem right to her.

Russ had his eyes focused on the left, going to the garage. Tori turned to the right for the phone. She was the one who saw Abby first.

“Abby!” she screamed.

Russ spun around. He saw his wife lying on the floor, not moving.

He ran to Abby’s side, wrapping his arms around her.

Tori grabbed the phone and called 911. Saying it was an emergency, she asked for a doctor. After she gave the directions, she asked for her mother, but her mother wasn’t working that morning.

Russ was kneeling on the floor, rocking Abby in his arms, tears streaming down his face.

Tori lifted the phone again and dialed the Randall ranch. Her mother answered the phone. “Mom, come quick to Russ’s house and bring Janie. There’s something wrong with Abby.”

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