CHAPTER 285: RECORDINGS?

Without hesitation, Abigail reached out for the phone. "Hello?" her voice was soft.

On the other end, Genevieve was silent for a second after she heard Abigail’s voice. Then she responded in a quiet voice. "Dawn..." she whispered. Then her voice cracked. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry," Genevieve burst out, and the sound of her crying filled the line. "I’m sorry for everything I did to you. For stealing your name. Your life. For being mean to you despite taking your place. For ever thinking of taking Jamal from you—" her voice broke again, "even though it ended up being Stefan and not Jamal. I’m so sorry that I lived so selfishly, Abigail. I used your happiness for my comfort and you never deserved that from me."

Abigail stood still in the middle of the store, tears gathering in her eyes and spilling down her cheeks before she even realized it. She didn’t say a word. She couldn’t. Jamal and Callan looked at her curiously, wondering what was being said, but Abigail just held the phone to her ear, letting Genevieve’s words wash over her.

"I don’t expect you to forgive me. I know I did and say lots of unforgiveable things," Genevieve continued between sobs. "I know it won’t be easy for you to forgive me. But if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Anything."

Abigail was silent for a while then she swallowed hard, then finally whispered, "I’d rather we had this conversation in person." She paused, wiped at her wet cheeks with the back of her hand then cleared her throat as she changed the subject. "Did you see the video he released?" She asked, knowing if Genevieve had seen it she would know who she was referring to.

"I did," Genevieve whispered.

"How did you see it? Are you okay?" Abigail asked, wondering how it must have made her feel.

Genevieve closed her eyes for a moment. "I saw it on TV while getting groceries. Thanks to Stefan, I’m okay," Genevieve said softly.

"I’m sorry he did that to you. You didn’t deserve that..."

"But he didn’t exactly tell a lie, did he?" Genevieve cut her off, "I wish he’d done it differently, but the truth is out now. And after all that I’ve done, I believe I deserve that and more."

Abigail was silent for a second then asked, "Will you be coming to Ludus with Stefan? I guess he’s told you everything."

"Yeah, he did. And I’ll be coming with him. But I don’t know how to face everyone yet. I think... I’ll stay here for the rest of the vacation as planned, and try to figure out what to do. I’m still too ashamed of myself and embarrassed to face you and your family." There was a small silence, then Genevieve added quickly, "By the way, I have recordings and documents, stuff I kept over the years. You can use them against Ryan. I planned to send them to you at the end of my trip."

"Recordings? You recorded your conversations with him?" Abigail asked, surprised.

She remembered the promise Genevieve had made to her before she left on the trip with Stefan, to send her something that might help her understand everything. (Chapter 231) Then she’d thought it was probably a voice confession from her, she had not expected it’d be actually evidence.

"Yeah. Growing up each time we argued he always threatened to kill me or cut me off a lot so I figured I gather evidence to use as leverage if the time ever came. So, I began to record our conversations and keep evidence of his crimes while we were in high school."

Abigail’s eyes flew open. "You really have them? Can you send them to me now?"

"Yes, I have them. But... I don’t have my phone. When I get the phone from Stefan I’ll send them to you," Genevieve promised.

Abigail nodded even though Genevieve couldn’t see her. "That’s fine. Send them whenever you can, and enjoy your stay there. We’ll talk when you get back."

"Thank you, Abigail. Thank you for being so kind to me despite everything I said. When I think about the last couple of days with you and realize now that you knew everything back then, yet treated me the way you did, I feel even more ashamed of myself..." Genevieve’s voice wavered, then warmed. "And I’m happy Pete turned out to be the real Jamal and Josh’s father. He’s a really great guy and what you both have is so beautiful. I’m happy you get to have a happy ending despite everything we did to you."

Abigail looked sideways at Jamal, who was talking to Callan and her lips tugging into a loving smile as tears gathered in her eyes. "Yes," she said softly. "He is a great guy. Ryan will likely get here by tomorrow and Callan and I will go see him together."

"Oh. Okay," Genevieve said then remembered Josh. "How’s Josh? Is he doing okay?"

Abigail smiled through her tears. "Hold on. I’ll get him." She lowered the phone and looked at Jamal. "Can you get Josh?"

Jamal nodded and soon returned with the boy bouncing in his arms. Abigail handed him the phone. "Say hello to Genevieve."

Josh’s face lit up at once. "Genny! How are you? Do you miss me?"

A sound came through the phone, half laugh, half sob. "Yes, Josh. I miss you so much," she cried, happy that she could still speak with Josh this way. She had thought the last time she saw him would the their last time together.

Josh grinned. "I miss you too. But we don’t live at the house anymore. So you have to come see me at Grandma Lucy’s place." He clapped a hand over his mouth, turning wide eyes on Abigail when he realized he’d slipped. "Mummy! I made a mistake. Is it okay for her to know where we are?" He whispered.

Abigail and the others who were listening to him laughed out loud. "Yes, baby. You can tell her. She knows everything," Abigail assured him, whispering back.

Josh leaned back toward the phone. "We’re at Grandma Lucy’s! And I’m having so much fun. I have lots of aunts and uncles and grandparents now. Everybody loves me. And I have my real daddy too. He is someone you know."

Genevieve’s laugh was wet with tears. "So, I heard. And I’m not surprised that everybody loves you. Of course they should. You’re such a sweetheart, Jojo. They can’t help loving you."

Josh beamed. "Like you love me."

"Yes, like I love you. I’ll get something nice for you when I visit," she promised.

Josh beamed. "I love you, Genny! I miss you. But I gotta go back to shopping for new clothes now. Bye!" He kissed the phone before handing it back to Abigail.

"He’s gone," Abigail told Genevieve.

Genevieve’s voice came softly again. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me speak with him. Can I... can I talk to Jamal?" She asked, since she was yet to speak with him because he had been talking to Stefan when she told Stefan she wanted to speak with Abigail and Stefan had asked Jamal to take the phone to Abigail.

"Sure," Abigail said before handing the phone to him. "She wants to speak with you."

"Hey, ma’am, Pete on the line," Jamal said lightly, and both Abigail and Callan chuckled.

Genevieve’s lips twitched. "Thank you, Pete," Genevieve whispered. "Thank you for being my friend, despite knowing everything."

Jamal smiled faintly. "That only happened because you made it happen. You’re welcome."

"I’ll give the phone back to Stefan now," Genevieve said, and the phone shifted again.

"Hey, Jamal. Thanks for everything. We’ll be back in a couple of days as planned."

"After now neither of us is taking a break from work for the five years," Jamal said, and Stefan chuckled.

"Yes, boss. I’ll call you later," he said, wanting to talk to privately Jamal about his plans later.

"Sure."

The call ended and Jamal turned to Abigail at once, studying her. "How are you? Why were you crying earlier?"

Abigail inhaled shakily. "She was apologizing to me. When I really think of all she did to me, it’s hard to forgive her. But when I think of what she might have been through... I can’t help but feel sorry for her too."

Jamal pulled her into his arms. "I can’t pretend to understand everything you’ve been through, but your feelings are valid. I remember telling you that night five years ago that all she did was from a place of jealousy and insecurity. I believe now you can see it."

Abigail wrapped her arms around him and looked up, remembering that night and all he had said. As they stared at each other intensely, Callan, who was still standing there with them cleared his throat deeply.

They both turned to see Callan grinning. "Don’t mind me. Go ahead. I just wanted to remind you both that I’m still here in case Dawn is going to blush later."

Abigail giggled, pulling away from Jamal. "Thanks for the reminder."

Jamal scowled at Callan. "Killjoy."

Callan chuckled. "Whatever you say. What are we doing now? Shopping for shoes? Bags?"

Abigail shook her head. "I’m tired. I’ll just pay for our stuff and leave. I don’t have to get it all today. I’ve gotten enough clothes to wear for a long time," Abigail said as she went to get Josh and the Bees.

As they walked to the counter to make the payment, Jamal took out his card. "I’ll pay."

"You don’t have to," Abigail shook her head as she took out Lucy’s card. "Lucy left me her card."

Jamal’s brow furrowed. "Darling, I’m not going to stand here and let another woman pay for my girlfriend’s stuff. I’m paying for everything. It’s one thing for you not to live with me, but this—"

"Did you just call my mom, your supposed first love, another woman?" Bella asked with a dramatic gasp.

Jamal chuckled. "That’s not what I meant."

"That’s what we heard you say. What else could you mean?" Brenda asked, folding her hands in front of her dramatically.

"At this rate he will say he doesn’t know us either," Bella said, and Brenda nodded in agreement as they both eyed him with mock displeasure and they all burst into laughter while Josh watched them with tired amusement.

Callan lifted him before Abigail could, when he noticed how tired the kid looked.

Jamal paid, and as they stepped out together with their bags, Abigail smiled, happy to be surrounded by such warmth and love. This was the kind of life she wanted for Josh. And she hoped Josh would grow up to be like Jamal. She couldn’t have chosen a better father for him.