Abby

We were halfway thru summer vacation. We drove back to Santa Monica so we could spend time as a family.

Chase had to run to the office every now and again to run a few errands but he would spend most of the time with us.

Caleb had visited us a few times, he was basically running the firm while Chase was on vacation.

We took Alex to Disneyland and California Adventures. He loved every minute of it.

We would take family walks on the beach and go out to dinner together.

I was getting used to living like this, being together, but then it dawned on me. This was ending soon.

The problem was I still haven't heard back from Chicago. I had no idea if I had something to go back to.

Should I apply for a residency in California? LA even? Ugh. Everything was so confusing.

I didn't know where my relationship with Chase stood. We're we a couple? We never really made anything official.

I checked online for hospitals that had a pediatric residency program. There was one in LA. I guess there was no harm in filling out an application. I filled it out and sent it in.

Today Chase had some work to do at the office so it was just Alex and I. I was upstairs using the computer when I realized the house was too quiet.

It wasn't usually this quiet when Alex was around. "Alex honey, are you ok? You've been way too quiet." I check all upstairs but he wasn't here. I went downstairs and I couldn't find him either. I started getting worried. Chase had a pool. What if he was outside? I ran outside and when I did I felt something hit me over my head and everything went black.

I woke up and my head was throbbing. I was in the pool house tied up to a chair. In front of me was Alex. He was also tied up to a chair and and had duct tape on his mouth. He had been crying. I tried screaming but there was duct tape in my mouth too. I looked around the room. It was dark.

Then I heard a voice "I'm glad your finally up bitch" I knew that voice. I could never forget that voice. Tiffany. She walked up next to me. "Why did you steal my husband bitch? Why did you bring your bastard child huh?" She said looking at me.

She looked sick. Not physically but mentally. It looked like she was going thru a psychotic episode.

I mumbled some words to try to get her to rip the tape off. "What are you saying bitch? I can't hear you." She said. She ripped the tape off. It hurt so much.

"I'm sorry Tiffany you're right. It's my fault. I promise to leave. Just untie me and we'll be on our way" I said trying to convince her to let us go.

"No, no, no. I can't just let you go. You have to suffer. Yes , you have to suffer so, much, just like I suffered." Then she slapped me. Alex flinched and cried harder.

"Shut up." She said closing in on him. Alex was crying harder.

"Tiffany your right, I'm such a bad person. I'm sorry. Please tell me. What can I do so you can forgive me." I said trying to get her attention back.

"How about you die" she said. My eyes widened. I had to calm down. It was the only way to get out of this situation.

"Ok, just do me a favor. Let Alex go. He shouldn't see that. Please, let him go." I said trying to convince her. "You're such a good person Tiffany. You won't let an innocent child suffer would you? Chase wouldn't forgive you. I know you want to be together with him. He'll be happy to know you let Alex go." I said, hoping she would accept. I just needed Alex to be safe.

"You know, you're right" she said. "Chase is going to be happy if I let the boy go. Ok fine I'll let him go." She slowly untied Alex.

He was young but he was smart. "Alex baby listen to me. I need you to go and play with Irene. She's just next door and I know how much you guys love to play." I told him. He nodded.

"Who's Irene?" Tiffany asked suspiciously.

"Oh she's a little girl who lives next door. She's Alex's best friend. Right Alex?" I said, he nodded. "Now go play honey. Have fun. You know mommy loves you." I said.

Alex looked at me. I knew he didn't want to leave but I also knew he understood he needed to ask for help next door. He knows Irene is in Chicago and not next door. I'm sure my little guy knows exactly what to do. He looked and me and blew me a kiss and ran away.

I had tears in my eyes but I held them back. What if that was the last time I saw my little guy?

"You're such a great person Tiffany." I said, sticking to my facade.

"Oh I know I am. You know, if you didn't try to steal Chase away, we might of been friends." She said.

"We still can be. I don't like Chase anymore. Alex and I can just leave and you can have Chase all to yourself." I said.

"No. I can't do that. I let you go once and then you came back. I have to make sure you're gone for good this time" she said.

She pulled out a gun. Oh crap. She was walking around the pool house. "You know it would of just been easier if I didn't find the damn donor. You would be dead by now. I only did that so Chase would marry me, but he tricked me. He put some stupid clause or something. Then I find out we're divorced. That's so unfair. I love Chase. I love him so much. Once you're out of the way, he'll come back to me. I just know it" she said. She pointed the gun at me.

"Wait Tiffany, you shouldn't do that. If you kill me, you'll go to jail and then you won't be with Chase. I'm sure Chase would be sad to see you in jail" i said and she pointed the gun away.

"Hmm I guess you do have a point, but it doesn't matter too much. My daddy can just get me out of jail. He has a lot of money so it's fine" she said laughing. Her laugh was just plain psychotic. She pointed the gun at me again. "Goodbye Abby" she said and she pulled the trigger.

"No" I screamed. I felt the bullet hit me in the stomach. I fell on the ground with my chair.

Just then the police came inside. They grabbed Tiffany.

I saw Chase run to my side and untie me. "No Abigail" he said. "Paramedics!" He yelled. "Abigail no" he said.

The paramedics came running in. "If I don't make it. Tell Alex I love him and I love you too Chase." That was the last thing I said before everything went black.