A/N: Abby's "Secret". LOL! Until 34! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-three

"What is going on?" Cameron demanded.

"Hi honey. How was your day? Mine was fine thanks for asking." Abby said sweetly as she casually walked inside and hung up her coat.

"Abigail." Cam said his voice serious. "Start talking."

"Are you nervous?" Abby asked with a wicked grin as she walked slowly towards him.

"Abby." He warned again.

She loved watching him squirm. "I met Lucy and told her I had something to tell you. She thought I was going to tell you I'm pregnant. Is that what you think???" Abby knew it was mean to tease him but she couldn't help herself.

It was as if she knocked the wind out of him. Cam was stunned at her words. What exactly was she saying??

Abby burst into laughter as she looked at him. "Oh God Cameron. You look like you're about to keel over. Relax sweetie - that's not it."

As Cameron got his breath back he realized that he was really disappointed that that wasn't the news she was dying to tell him.

As Abby looked at him she realized the same thing. Guess there was another conversation they needed to have someday soon. But right now - there was something else she needed to discuss with him.

She grabbed his hands, dragging him to the couch. She moved her hands to his shoulders and pushed him to sit down.

"Cameron" Abby said with a grin. "Sit down so I can tell you what happened today."

"I'm sitting." Cam replied, his voice nearly shaking "Abby - you're making me really nervous."

"Aw sweetie. Don't be nervous." She said as she plopped down on the couch beside him . She giggled as she took his face in her hands and gave him a quick kiss. Her eyes sparkled. She took a deep breath and and just stared at him.

"Abby - c'mon already!"

She laughed at the look on his face. He was so cute. "OK. I'm going to tell you. This morning I went for a walk and I came across this little bookshop. I've been there before - it's adorable."

"Ohh Kaaay." Cam said - not getting at all what this had to do with anything.

"There's a little seating area in the back - just like Gwen's shop. I took a book off the shelf and I sat there. It was a great book. I was there all morning and kept reading right through lunch. At about noon the woman who was working there brought me some tea and sat down with me."

"That's sweet." Cameron said. He loved to hear Abby talk. She could talk nonsense and he'd be riveted but this had to be one of her more boring stories. "Babe, I love you but what is the point of all this? You read a book and had tea and left me six hundred messages to tell me??"

"No. Silly. Let me finish. We started to talk - she's such an interesting person. It turns out she opened the bookshop 50 years ago with her sister. Her name is Daisy by the way. Her sister's name is Rose. Rose and he husband moved to California in January to be near her grandkids and it hasn't been the same for Daisy since."

She took a deep breath and continued on "Daisy's husband wants her to move too - but she can't. She loves the shop too much."

Interesting. Cameron thought that maybe Abby thought he should write an article about them or something. He still couldn't figure it out.

"Cameron." Abby said with a sigh. "I told her I wanted to buy it."

"Buy what?? The book you were reading?" Cam laughed. "That only seems fair Abs - you did spend all day there reading it."

"Yeah - I told her I'd buy the book. I told her I'd buy all the books." She said as she squeezed his hands tight.

"What?" He asked - still trying to process it all.

"She said she'd sell the store to me." Abby nearly bounced up and down in her seat.

"You're buying a bookstore?" Cam asked.

"Well - we'd be buying it really. But yeah." Abby gave him a goofy grin. She was so excited. "What do you think?"

"I think…" Cameron wanted to choose his words carefully. "I think maybe you should think about it a little bit." He had a job. A job that he loved. He loved to read and loved books himself but he wanted to be the one writing them not selling them.

"Oh I have. I've thought about it all day and it'll be great. I just need to talk to Alison."

"What?" She was talking in circles. He couldn't figure out what she was saying.

"Honey are you not paying attention?" Abby looked at him puzzled. She gazed into his eyes and kept talking - her voice getting more and more giddy with each word. She barely took a breath. "I know it's a big step but - honestly - I have my inheritance - it wouldn't really put a strain on us financially. I know Alison might not be able to buy it at this point - what with the gym and the house and all. But don't you get it? I want to buy the bookshop and run it with Alison. Just like Daisy and Rose."

"Abby. I know you love books - but does Alison?"

Her voice gained speed with each word, the tone rising in excitement. "I don't know - but see - this is the thing. It's so weird. Daisy's the book lover. She says she can't admit it to her husband but she wants to move too. She just can't leave. Not until she knows the shop will go to someone who'll love it. And Cam. I already do. I love every little thing about it. And you see, Rose used to run the children's story hour. She'd serve milk and cookies. The kids miss her terribly. Alison could do that - and she'd bring Katrina with her. I think that's a fabulous idea - but I also think we could sell coffee and tea there and Alison could bake. Don't tell Rafe but she can't stand making the low fat stuff she sells at the gym sometimes. You know how good she is - people will be lined up outside the door."

"Slow down sweetie. Breathe." Cameron could see the two of them now. It did seem pretty perfect. He looked over at Abby. There was no way he could resist saying yes to something that made her so happy.

Abby shook her head. She had to make him understand. "Cameron. It's like it's fate. Destiny. It's like Alison and I could actually be Daisy and Rose. I mean honey - think about it. What's my favorite flower?"

Cam smiled. "Daisies."

"And Alison's are roses." Abby smiled back.

"Did I luck out or what? Rafe." Cam laughed. "Sorry sucker. Boy I got off cheap."

She smacked him on the arm. "Cameron. Be serious. C'mon. To borrow Lucy's phrase - it's what the universe wants. I can feel it. So. Tell me. What do you think? I mean - what do your really think?"

Cameron leaned in and kissed her, taking his time over it. Abby sighed as he pulled away.

He gave her a huge grin. "I think - that if this is what will make you happy Abby - then it's what I want you to be."