Scarlett was ecstatic. She took her phone out with excitement and said, "I'll call Josh and tell him to get everything prepared."
"There's not—"
Scarlett had left happily before Abigail could finish. She sighed. Fine. She can do what she wants.
Lawrence approached Abigail. Lovingly, he said, "You can go back to work if you have to. Your mother and I can take care of Analise. It's fine."
"I'm not that busy," Abigail answered. She was a little uneasy toward Lawrence and Scarlett's passionate attitude, but Analise would leave the hospital the next day. She didn't have to face these people anymore, and she was looking forward to it.
Sean knew what she was thinking, and he finally let go of his obsession, though just a bit. She equally refuses everyone who's hurt her.
…
The meeting with Gary was arranged to be at noon the next day. Gary said he wanted to see Analise, so Analise, who had left the hospital, came back for the visit, too. Gary was still in the ICU, so the visitors got changed before they went in.
Abigail noticed that Lawrence and Scarlett weren't looking as cheerful as before. They looked at Gary, their eyes red. Patricia was there as well. She held Gary's hand tightly, shedding tears in silence.
Noticing something, Abigail pursed her lips. Lawrence and Scarlett looked at her expectantly, and she slowly approached Gary.
"Abby…" Gary said quietly, his eyes filled with tears. "I've missed you."
Abigail didn't feel anything before that, but when Gary said her name, something touched her heart. She blinked, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm here, Grandpa."
Gary smiled happily. "I can't be with you anymore. I thought I could maybe see you one day, spend some time in the lounge back at home chatting and eating, but alas…"
The elderly man took a deep breath, but his breathing sounded like a piece of wood that was about to crack. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry…" Gary cursed himself. He failed to protect his real granddaughter because that fake, Kelly, tricked him.
Abigail quickly said, "I never blamed you. Any of you, for that matter."
"I curse myself… and what I…" he mumbled softly. There was regret in his eyes, but he no longer had the chance to make things up to the one family member he owed the most.
Abigail didn't blame him at all.
Gary looked at her and gently said, "You used to love sitting on my shoulders. I remember those times. You'd tell me to keep running ahead. We went to zoos, amusement parks…"
Abigail was tearing up, too.
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