A Shocking Surprise

By Bonnie Jampol

Abigail gets this strange feeling on her wedding day and then finds out a shocking surprise that will change her for the rest of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543431124

Book preview

1

The Feeling

It was a beautiful, sunny day in May. There was a wedding going on in Park Hier. People were wondering why the wedding was starting late. Let me take you back to the morning where it all started, so you can see why the wedding had not yet begun.

The bride, Abigail, also went by the nickname Abby. She was twenty-two years old, five feet seven, and had reddish-brown hair. She had a thin, tan body, and beautiful hazel eyes.

It was about 9:00 a.m. when her cell phone rang. It was Devin, the groom. Devin Jr. was twenty-three years old and was six feet five. He had short blond hair that he spiked, a tan complexion with a muscular build, and blue eyes.

Hello, Abby said groggily.

Hi, Abby. It’s Devin, he said.

I know! What do you want? You woke me up, she said.

I am sorry. I was just checking to see how you are and if you are ready for our big day.

Yes, sort of! she said.

"What do you mean sort of? What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy or excited."

No, I am excited. It’s just … She paused for a moment.

Just what? he asked.

I have this feeling, she told him.

What kind of feeling? he asked.

I don’t know. She paused again.

Maybe it’s nerves because we are getting married today, he told her.

No! I know it’s not that, she said.

There was a knock on Abby’s door. It was her mom, Dorothy. She was five feet five and had short black hair. She was on the heavy side and had brown eyes and a medium complexion.

Hon’, can you hold on a minute? Abby asked Devin.

Abby, are you awake? her mom asked through the door.

Then what could the feeling be if it’s not the wedding jitters? Devin asked her.

Yes, come on in, Abby told her mom. I’m on the phone with Devin. Give me a second to finish my conversation with him, please."

Sorry, Devin. It was my mom. What were you saying? she asked him.

"It’s okay! I was asking you if it’s not the wedding jitters, then what do you think your weird feeling is?" he asked.

Her mom walked in and sat down on the bed next to her, waiting for her to finish talking with Devin. I’m talking to Devin, she said. It can’t be that, because I only get these weird feelings when something is going to happen. It could be good or bad, Abby said.

Hi, Devin, Abby’s mom said.

Tell your mom I say hi! What do you mean you get these weird feelings at certain times? You never told me about this before, he said.

He says hi! she said to her mom before answering Devin. I never told you because I haven’t had these feelings in years—until today, she said.

You should have told me about this before, so that if and when you got them, I could help you handle it, Devin said.

Does that change the way you feel about me? she asked him.

No, I love you. I just want to know these things, so I can be prepared for whatever might come our way—good things or bad, or even feelings that aren’t normal, Devin said.

I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think about it that way. I knew it wasn’t wedding jitters, though, Abby said.

You said you have had these feelings before? he asked.

Yes, but this feeling is different from any other feeling I’ve had, like I have a pit in my stomach and the life has been sucked out of me, she told him.

Wow! I don’t know what your other feelings were like, but this one seems bad. I give you my word that nothing is going to happen. It will be a great day today. You wait and see, he said.

I promise I will tell you anything and everything in the future. You’re right. Nothing can ruin this great day, she told him.

Abby, I know you have a lot to do, so please take a deep breath and relax. Everything will be fine, he said to her.

I am trying, but I’m afraid about this feeling. It’s not going to be a good one, Abby said.

I know. Just think that your mom is there for you, and remember how much I love you.

I hope you’re right. I want our wedding to be great and with no problems, she said.

Abby, you really need to finish up. We have a lot to do today, her mom said.

Hon’, I guess you heard I have to go, Abby said.

It’s okay. I love you, and I will see you at the altar, he said.

I love you. See you later. Bye, Abby said.

Bye, he said as they hung up the phone.

So, what did he say about you not telling him about the feelings you get? her mom asked.

He was upset that I never told him about it before. He just asked me tell him in the future. He did tell me that today will be fine, Abby said.

What do you think? her mom asked.

I don’t know. This feeling is different from any of the other feelings I’ve had before, Abby said.

What do you mean? her mom asked.

As you heard me explain to Devin, it’s worse than the others, she said.

I don’t understand what you mean.

For this one, I feel like there is a pit in my stomach, like the life has been sucked out of me. I have never felt like this before, Abby said.

Is there something I can do to help? her mom asked.

No, just give me a few minutes to see if it goes away, she said.

Yeah, but you know that they don’t go away. You have them until the situation presents itself, good or bad, her mom said.

Yes, but this feeling is different from the others, so maybe it will be different and ease up, she said.

Are you sure that you are going to be okay, sweetheart?

Yes! I have to. It’s my wedding day, Abby said.

Okay! You get ready then, and I will meet you downstairs in an hour.

Mom, thanks for trying to help, Abby said.

I will always be here for you, no matter what. I love you, her mom told her. She gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

Her mom walked out of the room. Abigail sat on the bed and thought, I don’t remember this feeling being this bad before. She just knew it was different from her other feelings. It was the worst she’d ever had.

Abby got up from her bed and started picking out clothes to wear. She chose a pair of blue sweatpants, a red T-shirt, and her undergarments. She walked out of her room toward the bathroom to go take a shower.

Abby saw her twin brothers, Matthew and Luke, in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. Matthew and Luke were identical twins. They were seventeen years old and had black hair. Luke wore his hair spiked, and Matthew wore his as a buzz cut. They both had green eyes and slim bodies, with tan complexions.

Hi, Sis! they said.

Hi! Where are you two off to? she asked.

We’re going to hang out with our friends before the wedding, the twins answered.

Aren’t you supposed to go with Dad and Devin and get stuff set up for the wedding? she said.

Yeah, but Dad said not till later. Devin has most of the stuff under control, Luke said.

Well, I think you two should double-check with Dad before you go anywhere, just in case things change or they need your help, Abby said.

We will check. We don’t want to ruin your day, Mathew said, really just to please his sister.

Thanks, Abby said to the boys.

They walked away. Abigail got on her phone. When she got into the bathroom, she called Devin in a panic.

Hi! she said in a panicked voice.

Hi! What’s wrong? Devin said.

I thought you were taking my dad and brothers and James, your best man, and your family for a wedding breakfast, Abby said.

I am. Why?

Because the twins are under the impression they can go hang out and play with their friends before the wedding, she said.

Oh! I just spoke to your dad a few minutes ago, and he was getting them ready so I can come get them, Devin said.

I was telling the twins I didn’t think so. The impression I got from them is they think it’s okay for them to go hang out with their friends, Abby said.

Hon’, please don’t worry about it. Go do what you have to. Everything will be fine. I will take care of it when I come over, and I love you, Devin said.

I love you too. Are you sure about the twins? Abby asked.

Yes, please go do what you need to, and leave them to me. Everything will be fine, Devin said to reassure her.

Okay, if you say so. I just know the twins. When their minds are set, it’s hard to get them to change.

I think I will be fine, and if I have a problem, I have your dad to back me up, he said.

I love you. It sounds like you’ve got it handled, she told him.

I love you too. Now go do what you need to, and I will see you later, he answered her.

She hung up the phone and turned on the shower. She was waiting for the water to get hot. While she was waiting for the water, all of a sudden Mary, her little sister, came barging into the bathroom. Mary was nine years old. She looked like her mother, with long black hair, brown eyes, and a pale complexion.

Don’t you knock? Don’t you see I am trying to take a shower? What do you want? Abby asked.

I have to go potty Mary said.

Well, go in the other bathroom. I want to take a shower in private, Abby said.

This will be the last time I can interrupt you and bother you. You are leaving us, and I will never see you again, Mary said.

What are you talking about? Abby asked.

My friends told me that when a family member gets married, they leave and you never see them again, Mary said.

Mary, that’s just not true. You will always get to see me, just not every day, I will always be here if you want to talk or if you need me for anything, Abby said.

You mean that you won’t leave us? Mary asked in an innocent voice.

No! I will leave to live in my own house with Devin, but I will always be a part of you and your brothers and sisters lives forever, Abby told her.

"Really? But how, if you won’t be here living with us?" Mary asked.

Even though I won’t be here in the house, you could come see me at my house or call me, and you will see me at family events, Abby told her.

You mean it? You’re not just saying that to get rid of me so you can get ready, are you? Mary asked.

No! It’s the truth. Now can you let me take my shower? And you need to go get ready, and I will see you downstairs in a few, Abby told her sister.

I love you, Mary said as she grabbed her and