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"God bless you, Sweetheart," John hugged his daughter. "You've given your mother and I lot of joy." Her father quickly brushed away a stray tear and smiled at his little girl. "I'm putting you and your family into God's hands," he hugged her once more, "and I expect you to stay there. Always remember who you are, Abby. You are a child of God, and don't you forget it!"

"I won't forget," promised Abby, her voice breaking as she spoke.

"If you need any advice about the baby or running a household," said Izumi, hugging and kissing her daughter as though she didn't want to let go, "you call me. I don't care if it's day or night, you pick up that phone and call! And I wouldn't mind it one little bit if you only wanted to talk!"

Abby stooped down and kissed the three sleeping babies in the triplet stroller.

"Be good," she whispered to her sisters.

Under John's watchful eye, Jake placed Ricky into the car seat and made sure his baby harness was securely in place. When Jake looked back to see if he had John's approval, the father-in-law smiled with a confident nod of his head.

"Good-bye, Son," said John, shaking the outstretched hand that Jake offered him. "May God bless you."

"Study hard, and become a world famous painter!" joked Terry, shaking Jake's hand. "Don't forget about us, now!"

Izumi received a second hug from Jake, and then the young man helped Abby into the truck.

"Drive safely!" John called after them, as the vehicle started to pull away from the house.

"I will!" Abby lovingly waved back to her family. "Don't worry, Mom! I'll remember to call!"

Everyone watched as the red pickup truck merged onto the main road and drove off into the early morning darkness. In a few hours, the sun would rise over the horizon, and begin a brand new day.

"Well," sighed Jake, glancing back at Ricky's car seat, "we're on our way, Abby."

"Do you love me, Jake?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the road ahead of them.

"With all my heart, Baby," came his loving reply.

"Then, this journey will be a good one!" she exclaimed, with a confident smile.

"Abby, it already has," grinned Jake. "It already has!"

Full of life and love for each other, the small family went forward to meet their destiny. Though Abigail's journey was only beginning, our story ends here.

It is with much love and gratitude, that I bid Godspeed to my beloved AJ on this journey of their hearts. As it is for the rest of God's children, their future rests safely in His hands.

"Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my [Jake's] supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.

"The LORD is their strength [Jake and Abby's], and He is the saving strength of His anointed. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever."
~ Psalm 28:6-9 ~

end of chapter

A Note from Judith Bronte: The Inspiration Behind "Abigail's Journey"

Also read online (free) "Terry's Journey - A Sequel to Abigail's Journey"

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