“Sometimes the way forward is painful, but I want you to know we will stand by you, no matter what choice you make,” her father insists.
“Thank you, both.” She swipes at her tears and jumps up. “I’m so angry at Burton for putting us all in this situation. I’m afraid of how this anger will make me feel when I see the child.” Shame has her hiding her face.
“The answer is simple. Adopt him and put him in a boarding school. You don’t have to have a daily reminder of his betrayal,” her Mother suggests.
Abbie whirls on her, “What? He’s lost his Father and his mother. He’s alone in this world. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Especially an innocent child,”
“Exactly!” Pride has her beaming at her daughter. “Surely God’s hand is in this.” Her Mother jumps up and steps to her. “He’s lost the only father he knows, and you’ve lost the husband. Who better to guide him through the grief? You’re both grieving the same loss.”
Abbie falls quiet and stares up at the stars, thankful for the brisk September breeze that helps to cool the anger she is feeling.
“If I do this,” Abbie asks, looking back at her Mother, “Will you love him? Can you love a child that isn’t mine?”
Her parents smile without looking at each other. “He will be ours the moment you claim him,” her Father replies instantly.
Abbie bursts into tears. Her mother pulls her into a hug, “It’s going to be okay, Abbilene. When the burden gets too heavy, give it to the Lord. He will see you through.”
“I hope so, Mama.”
Chapter 15
“May I come in?” Abbie says from the back door of the bakery.
“Abbie!” Stephanie runs to the door and tugs her inside. “Of course!” She pulls her into a hug, and Abbie smiles.
“I needed that,” she whispers. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too.” She pushes her back and looks at her. “Let me have a look at you. Same dark hair, beautiful eyes, but you are too skinny. Come try my new confections.”
“I was going to beg for a few treats for the train.”
“Train? Where are you going?” Stephanie asks as she pulls a pan of buns from the oven to cool.
“I thought the whole town would know by now.”
Abbie watches Stephanie closely. “Burton left a will, Stephanie.”
Stephanie turns and stops moving. “What did it say?”
“I thought Tucker would have spilled the beans by now,” Abbie snaps.
“He was worried about you, Abbie. If it makes you feel any better, all he could think about was how he could help you. His fear was that they would think he was covering for you.”
“Tucker should’ve been an actor.” Some of the anger towards Tucker cools. Stephanie never lies to her. “I know why Burton spent so much time in San Francisco,” Abbie tells her everything and Stephanie stands in shock, then bursts into tears.
“Why is my wife crying?” Ozwald grumbles when he walks in and finds his wife sobbing. She runs to his arms, he wraps her up and presses a kiss to her head.
“I’m sorry, Stephanie. It’s okay,” she promises and pats her friend.
“Okay! How can you say that, Abbilene?” Anger for her friend has her shaking with fury until a thought hits her. “Oh, my…” she falls silent and wipes her nose with a handkerchief from Oz.
“Do you know what this means, Abbie? We’re going to be Mother’s together!”
“What?” Abbie gasps and stares at the two of them as they smile at each other.
“Wait! Abbie’s having a baby?” Ozwald shouts, surprising both of them.
They start laughing until they both start crying and hold each other. After the hilarity calms down, Abbie sits with them and tells of her plans for the Mill and the child.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Abbie?” Stephanie asks.
“I’m terrified, if I’m honest. I don’t know anything about being a Mother.” Abbie answers truthfully.
“No, but you know how to love like no other,” Stephanie says, and Oz nods.
“He’s a lucky little boy. When do you leave?” Oz asks.
“I’m leaving tomorrow on the three o’clock Central Pacific train bound for San Francisco.”
Stephanie stares at her with growing concern. “Abbie, you’ve never been to San Francisco. You can’t go by yourself!”
“Yes, I can. I’ll tell you what I told my parents. It will be fine. I’m going to be gone no more than a week.” Abbie rises and smiles, “Congratulations. I’m so happy for the two of you. I’m kind of excited to get away. Sterling is very persistent. He keeps asking me to marry him. Maybe some time apart is a good thing.”
Stephanie frowns at her friend even as she moves to leave. “Take care of yourself and don’t worry about a thing. God is in control. I must get home and pack. I love you both.” Abbie hugs them and hurries home.
“Ozwald, this is unacceptable!” Stephanie says, pulling off her apron and tossing it on the counter.
“I agree. She’s got no clue what San Francisco is like. I can’t go with her Stephanie. Maybe Sterling…”
“No! I know what to do.” Stephanie grins, and Oz pulls her into a kiss.
“I love that look of mischief,” he teases.
“Will you love it when it’s your son or daughter?” she says, laughing.
“Always!”
“Good. We need to go visit the Sheriff!”
Tucker is writing up a report when the door flies open, and his sister walks in with his brother-in-law.
“What’s wrong?” Tucker demands.
“Abbilene’s in trouble,” Ozwald says.
“What?” Tucker grabs his gun belt and starts to strap it on when Stephanie groans.
“Not that kind of trouble, Tucker. Oz, I told you not to come out with it like that!”
“What are you two talking about?”
