The next morning, Kevin woke up to find that Abigail was not in bed beside him. Initially, he rolled over to try and get some more sleep, because it wasn’t unusual for Abigail to get up before Kevin did. But something was nagging at Kevin, so he decided to at least get up and see if she was all right. What he found disturbed him. Both of Abigail’s suitcases were sitting by the door and she was standing on the balcony. Kevin threw on a pair of jeans and joined Abigail on the balcony. “Wanna tell me what the suitcases are all about?” Kevin asked as he leaned against the railing.

“I’m going home.” Abigail replied. 

“Why would you want to return to Orlando just yet? I thought we agreed you’d stay on tour with me for a while.” Kevin said. 

“Not to Orlando Kevin. I’m going home to New York, but just for a short while. They’re the only family I have left and I feel guilty about turning my back on them.” Abigail said. 

“Are you sure this is something you can handle? We both know how upset you became yesterday after talking to your grandfather. You can’t tell me that all that hostility is gone.” Kevin said. 

“No it’s not. But I feel this is something I need to do. I need to do this to finally be able to close that chapter of my life. I hope I have your support.” Abigail said. 

“You will have my support no matter what decision you make Abi, you know that. I’m just concerned about you, that’s all. I wish I could make this trip with you.” Kevin said. 

“I wish you could as well, but I know you can’t. I just got thinking about all the time I spent with them as a child and I do have a lot of good memories with them. I can’t just turn my back on them.” Abigail said. 

“When do you leave?” Kevin asked. 

“My flight leaves at 11am. I’ve all ready called my grandfather and he’s expecting me, so he’ll pick me up at the airport in New York. Will you be able to take me to the airport?” Abigail asked. 

“I’ll see what I can arrange. The buses are supposed to depart at 9am this morning, but I should be able to get a flight into Boston later today without a problem.” Kevin said, knowing that the fact that Abigail was even asking him to take her to the airport meant that she needed him there. He wasn’t going to let her down, not at a difficult time like this. 

“If it is a problem, don’t worry about it. I can always take a cab to the airport.” Abigail said. 

“I’ll go make the arrangements right now.” Kevin said as he placed a light kiss on Abigail’s forehead. To say he wasn’t disappointed over Abigail’s decision would have been a lie. They were finally making some progress in their relationship and he feared this would set them back again. 

******************** 

Three hours later, Abigail was seated in a first class seat on her way to New York City. She was extremely nervous about returning to New York and about seeing her grandparents again. But as her last living relatives, she felt she owed them a visit. She needed to make it clear that she had moved on with her life and was no longer capable of revisiting her past as Alison Summers. She hoped they would understand. She also prayed that she could make it through these next couple of days without Kevin’s support. Of course she knew she could contact him on his cell phone no matter the time of day, but she had become so accustomed to feeling Kevin’s strong arms around her, that she hoped she could do this without his support. 

******************** 

As Kevin waited at the airport for his 12:30 flight to Boston, he couldn’t help but fear that he was loosing a part of Abigail. He wondered if it was possible for her to return to the place where she was Alison Summers and be able to walk away again. In his mind he knew that Abigail was desperately trying to put it all behind her, but in his heart he feared everything could change when she got there. Kevin was going to remind Abigail that the group had two days off coming up and he was going to offer to fly out to New York to spend it with her, but decided it would be best to give her some time with her grandparents. He would have to trust that she would call if she needed him. 

******************** 

Two hours later, Abigail walked off the plane and entered LaGuardia International Airport. She spotted her grandfather right away and instantly froze. She wasn’t sure how she should greet him. She certainly didn’t feel it was appropriate to run up to him and give him a hug, but she didn’t want their first meeting after so many years to be cold either. Abigail didn’t have to make that decision, as he approached her first. She could see the love in his eyes, but all he did was smile and say, “It’s so good to see you after so many years. You’ve turned into a beautiful woman Alison.”  

“It’s Abigail. Could you please call me Abigail?” she replied. Hearing the name Alison almost made her sick to her stomach. 

“I don’t understand why you felt the need to change your name.” Her grandfather said with much confusion. 

“How did you think I got out of prison?” Abigail said. 

“Out of prison? What are you talking about?” her grandfather asked. 

“I knew it was a mistake to come here. Did you just block that part of my life out? Was it convenient to forget about me while all of that was going on?” Abigail said, becoming more and more upset by the minute. She wished she had never come and craved Kevin’s touch. 

“I think we should save this discussion for when we get home.” Her grandfather said as she reached for her bag and offered to take it. 

Abigail followed him quietly out to the car and they drove home to their multi-million dollar estate. It was obvious that her grandfather’s business continued to thrive during the couple of years that they hadn’t been in contact. 

“I’ll show you to your grandmother’s room. She’s anxious to see you.” Her grandfather said as they ascended the long staircase. 

“What’s wrong with her granddad?” Abigail asked, feeling like a little girl again. She had always loved her grandparents immensely as a child, and was surprised at the rush of emotions that were taking over. 

“She’s got lung cancer. Unfortunately it wasn’t caught quickly enough and it’s spreading quickly. The doctor’s predict she only has a few weeks left to live.” Her grandfather said solemnly. Part way down the long hall her grandfather stopped and entered one of the many guestrooms. “This is where you’ll be staying. I’ll just leave your bags on the bed.” 

She followed her grandfather and paused for a second before she entered the bedroom at the end of the hall. Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure she was prepared to see her grandmother so ill. She recalled that she had never been sick a day in her life and knew this was a difficult fate for her to accept. Abigail took a deep breath and entered the room. The strong and healthy grandmother she had once loved, was now extremely thin and deathly pale looking. She almost didn’t recognize her.  

“Alison sweetheart! I’m so glad you decided to come and visit.” Her grandmother said, in the same cheerful voice she’d known all her life. 

Abigail decided she would wait to tell her grandmother about her name change. She pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and took a hold of her frail hands. Now that she was seated beside her, she had no idea what to say to her. ‘I’m sorry your so ill nanny.’ Sounded so impersonal. ‘It’s so good to see you.’ Didn’t seem appropriate either. She settled with, “I’m glad I made the visit as well.” 

“I’ll leave you two alone.” Her grandfather said. 

“No please stay Peter. I want to spend this time with both of you.” Her grandmother pleaded. So her grandfather pulled a chair up to the other side of the bed and sat quietly. 

“I was so sorry to hear about Frank’s death.” Her grandmother said with so much compassion. 

Abigail wondered how they could be sorry about Frank’s death, but didn’t mention anything about the three years she spent in prison. “I don’t understand. Did you two choose to ignore what really happened?” Abigail said. 

“I don’t understand your hostility Alison. Are you still having problems dealing with this death?” her grandfather asked. 

“How many times do I have to tell you that my name is Abigail now? And it seems convenient that you have forgotten the fact that I was convicted of Franks murder and spent three years in jail. Was it too embarrassing for both of you to admit that your only granddaughter was in prison? Is that why you’ve chosen to ignore it?” Abigail said angrily. 

“What are you talking about sweetie? What’s all this talk about prison?” her grandmother asked calmly. 

“Where do you two think I actually disappeared to after Frank’s death? It was all over the news and papers. Surely you couldn’t have missed the headlines.” Abigail said, confused over the fact that they appeared to have no idea what she was talking about.  

“We honestly thought you just moved away. That staying was too much of a reminder. We honestly had no idea that you had been convicted. Please believe me when I saw that sweetie. We had no idea.” Her grandmother said. 

Abigail stared at her grandparents in disbelief. She had a hard time believing that they had no idea what had happened. The realization finally hit her hard and as she broke down into tears, she said, “I thought the reason you never contacted me was because you were too embarrassed.” 

“God no sweetie. We thought you had just moved on with your life. And I don’t believe for a second that you killed Frank either.” Her grandmother said. 

“I have so many questions? What evidence did they have to prove you murdered Frank? How did you get out of prison? Why the name change?” her grandfather asked. 

“It’s such a long story.” Abigail said as she settled into her chair again.  

******************** 

Kevin became more distressed by the minute. Abigail had promised she would call him when she arrived in New York. Her flight had landed more than two hours ago and he hadn’t heard from her. He had tried calling her cell phone several times, getting her voice mail each time. ‘I should have never let her go alone.’ Kevin said as he sat in the plane, which was just landing in Boston. 

********************** 

It took Abigail forty-five minutes to explain the whole story to her grandparents. They were extremely upset to learn that she had been through so much unnecessary stress and heartache since Frank’s death. Her grandmother was now taking a nap, and her grandfather gave her some time to herself to get settled into her room. As soon as she opened her bag and saw her cell phone, she instantly remembered that she was supposed to call Kevin as soon as she arrived. “He must be worried sick.” Abigail said as she turned her phone on and dialed Kevin’s cell phone number. Reliving the whole story for her grandparents had taken her toll and she wished she could hide the fact that she was so upset from Kevin. 

As Kevin was getting off the plane, the ringing of his cell phone startled him. He instantly felt relieved when he saw Abigail’s name on his call display. “Abigail, I’ve been worried sick. Are you ok?” Kevin asked as soon as he answered the phone. 

“I’m so sorry I didn’t call sooner. Yes, I’m fine. I’m here at my grandparents place.” Abigail replied. 

“Thank god you’re all right. How are things there?” Kevin asked. 

“They had no idea Kevin. That’s why they never contacted me. They thought I’d run off to start a new life.” Abigail said. She was starting to loose control and tried desperately to maintain control while she had Kevin on the phone. 

“So you’ve told them the whole story all ready?” Kevin asked, surprised that Abigail still remained so composed. 

“Yep, every last detail.” Abigail said. 

“Are you ok?” Kevin asked. 

“I think so. You have no idea how good it feels to know that they still love me.” Abigail said, having to hold back the tears. 

“I’m so happy for you Abi. So I guess the trip was worth it then.” Kevin said. 

“Yes. I’m glad I came. I might stay for a few extra days. I have a lot of time to make up for.” Abigail said. 

Kevin was afraid this would happen, but knew he had to support Abigail’s decision. “Take all the time you need.” Kevin said. 

“I’m going to let you go for now. Will you call me later tonight?” Abigail asked. 

“I’ll call around eleven.” Kevin promised. 

“I’ll make sure I’m in bed by then. I love you Kevin.” Abigail said. 

“I love you too Abi. You know how to reach me if you need me.” Kevin said. 

“Yeah. Talk to you later.” Abigail said as she hung up the phone. She desperately wished that Kevin could be here to share this happy time with her. What would be the harm of introducing a little bit of her past to her future?.