Saving Abby by Steena Holmes Read Free Book Online

coffee with Abby. But the last two weeks—ever since their book signing, where she’d slept the entire three-hour drive to the city, had taken naps whenever she could, and had barely made it through dinner—she had gone downhill quickly.
    Maybe the strain of trying and failing to get pregnant for the last few years was just too much. From the moment they’d met, they’d shared dreams of having a large family, of their house overflowing with the tears and joys of children. As the years progressed, those dreams changed for him. He still wanted children, but he began to envision the two of them adopting or being foster parents, of taking in children who needed their help and their love. It became less about having a child of their own and more about having a child to love.
    But for her it was different. He knew the trip had been hard for her emotionally, and he’d done everything he could to help her with that, even to the point of extending their travel time to indulge her last-minute whims to visit more countries.
    It didn’t make sense. He hated seeing her so broken, and hated even more the feeling that there was nothing he could do to fix it.
    He made his way downstairs to the kitchen, where he’d put on a fresh pot of coffee, and picked up the phone to call Derek, who worked as an accountant out of his home office.
    “Is your wife working today?” Josh said.
    “She just came home for lunch. What’s up?”
    “Do you think she could squeeze Claire in? Or maybe drop by after work?”
    “There’s an extra charge for home visits, you know,” Derek teased. “But actually, is everything okay?”
    “It’s not an emergency, but I’m really worried,” Josh said.
    “Just a minute. Let me ask Abby.”
    Josh listened as Derek and Abby talked in the background. He heard Abby shout that he should go ahead and bring her in right away. Josh sighed. He wasn’t even sure Claire would have the energy to get out of the house.
    “You heard that?” Derek asked.
    “Your wife is an angel. Claire is sleeping, so how about I bring her in an hour.”
    “Perfect. That gives her time to finish her lunch. Abs says not to worry.”
    “I can’t help it.” Josh hung up and looked at the clock. He’d give Claire time to sleep and wake her up just before they needed to leave.
    Not worry? What was Abigail thinking? Of course, he was worried. He’d lost his mother because she had ignored the symptoms. He wasn’t about to lose Claire.

FIVE
    CLAIRE
    Present day
    D o you want me to come in with you?” Josh held the clinic door open for Claire.
    “No, I’ll be fine.” She yawned before rising on her tiptoes for a kiss while balancing a take-out tray of coffees. “I can’t believe you did this. I would have called and made an appointment, you know.”
    “I know, but you were taking your time, and I’m worried.” Josh gave her another kiss. “You sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”
    “All she’s going to do is poke me with needles. Unless you’re suddenly okay with the sight of blood, I’m sure you have better things to do than sit in the waiting room until I’m done.”
    Josh brushed a lock of her hair away from her face. “I’ll be just across the street in the bookstore.”
    “I’ll text you when I’m done.” Claire would much rather browse in the bookstore with him than get jabbed with another needle.
    Josh had woken her less than twenty minutes ago, saying he was taking her to see Abby. Getting dressed and being here was the last thing she wanted to do, today of all days.
    Why couldn’t he have just left her in bed?
    Today would be his birthday, the birthday of the son she gave away, a day that was always hard for her. Josh knew that.
    “Knock, knock,” Claire said into the empty waiting area. The clinic was still officially closed for lunch.
    Rebecca Elston, the medical receptionist, popped her head out of a door and smiled.
    “Dr. Cox was just telling me you’d be coming in.” Rebecca