Chapter 9

As soon as Biff

left the meeting,

he wanted a drink.

He headed

straight to the pub.

He stepped

up to the door.

He reached

for the door handle.

And then

he stopped himself.

He turned around

and went home.

“Abby! Abby!”

he called out.

“I did it!”

He lifted her

off the floor.

He started

to swing her around.

“Did what?”

Abby laughed.

“Abby, I went

to a meeting,”

said Biff.

“It was okay.

It really was.

Then I went

to the pub.

But I didn’t go in!

I stopped myself.

Isn’t that great?”

“That’s really great,”

said Abby.

“That makes me

very happy.”

“Me, too,”

said Biff.

“But I’m scared.

I don’t know

if I can keep this up.”

“You can,”

said Abby.

“I know you can.”

“Every day

will be a big step,”

said Biff.

Abby and Biff

made dinner together.

They had not done that

for a long, long time.

After dinner

they washed dishes.

“We’re in this together,”

Biff said.

“Washing dishes

or no drinking?”

laughed Abby.

“Both,” said Biff.

“And, Baby,

I’m so glad

you and I

are together.”

“Tell me more,”

said Abby.

“I like you

like this.”